"FLAT LAY" Photo Technique

aka "Lay Flat" or "Sideways Scene" Drama Technique

CreativeCarol, a member of our Writing Team, has written a Writing Team DRAMA lesson that uses photography to create a "tableaux" (creative photo) of various scenes in Luke 2's Shepherds and Angels story.

It adapts a photographic technique called "FLAT LAY" (also known as "Lay Flat," "Bird's Eye," or "Sideways Scene") in which the camera is pointed downward above the object(s) or scene/stage. This technique is commonly found on Instagram and YouTube to display products and parts of products on a table. Google "flat lay."

This "flat lay" photo comes from a "superhero" lesson about Jesus and where we are called to help.

Flat Lay could be used to create "temporary art" -- objects that are meaningfully arranged on a table surface for a photograph, then returned to their containers.   Think of it like "scrapbooking" but without the glue.

Here's a simple example we cribbed from the web showing a "flat lay" point of view where objects are combined and photographed as a reflection or to create a memory.

The photography helps students think about "message." It's both an art form and reflection.

"Flat Lay" with Live Actors  (for still photo or video recording)

Neil MacQueen, another member of our Writing Team, has written a Writing Team "Bethelehem Live Music Television Show" lesson that uses a cellphone/camera's video recording capabilities to create the effect of a "live tv show" while recording the show at the same time.

That lesson uses the "flat lay" technique with live actors moving on the floor (sometimes called "sideways scene.")  It could be done as a "still" photography of a Bible scene with reactions or re-enactments to a scene, or recorded live with movement as scripture is narrated.