Introduction
Birds eye view refers to a view which offers a perspective that is similar to that of a bird in flight. Before the development of aircraft, a birds view of a particular object or place was just a hypothetical representation. Today, a birds view is most similar to a view from a helicopter or an ultra light aircraft. The view from a civil aeroplane may also be considered to be a birds view, but such aircrafts fly at a very high altitude and thus the view is not always clear.
History
Birds view is mostly used to create maps. It is the easiest way to represent the geography and topography of a particular piece of land. A birds view is also widely used to create plans for construction sites. A birds eye view is instrumental in presenting the floor plan of a building. Birds eye view is also popular in cinematography. This is because of the fact that it is difficult for most people to experience a birds view first hand. Thus, birds eye views are considered to be exclusive. Often, birds eye views of megacities and other beautiful locations are presented in videos, films and serials. Birds view is also common in the broadcast of sports events like cricket and football. Such views are mostly presented through a camera that is attached to an unmanned aerial vehicle. If the cinematographer desires a more dramatic effect, then often cameramen themselves shoot from a helicopter. The discovery channel featured an experiment where a small camera was tied onto the back of a trained hawk. The images from the camera are perhaps the closest that we have managed to get to an actual birds view. Also, a satellite image of a certain part of the earth qualifies as a birds view.
Features
Often, a birds eye view is confused with other views. There are many views which may seem to be like a birds view but are not. A birds view is a view from an elevated position which is more or less perpendicular to the surface that is being observed. It should not be mistaken for a view which is at angle to the observed surface. Let us illustrate this with the help of an example:
If you are standing on a tall bridge and you look directly towards the surface below, then you have a birds eye view of the area. However, if you are standing on top of a hill and are looking towards a city or a town located at the bottom of that hill; then you do not have a birds view of the town (or city).
Tips and comments
A birds eye view is also confused with an aerial view. An aerial view is a view which offers any perspective that can be observed by being suspended in mid air. It does not necessarily mean that the perspective is perpendicular to the surface being observed – an aerial view may also be angular. Also, a birds view can be distinguished from an overhead view through the fact that an overhead view generally focuses from a point which is at an angle to the surface being observed. This view is quite common in video games.
