How to get a photo ‘holding up’ the Leaning Tower of Pisa

You can’t leave Pisa without getting the classic ‘holding up’ the Leaning Tower of Pisa tourist pic! A bit of fun and a fond memory to look back on, here’s how you do it…

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is an iconic, gravity-defying bell tower that has attracted tourists with its characteristic tilt for years. With a lean of about 3.99 degrees, it’s easily understood why this architectural oddity is a tourist hotspot. But the locale is also famous for an iconic holiday snapshot. When in Pisa it’s mandatory to capture the photograph ‘holding up’ the quintessential Italian attraction. People absolutely love to take forced perspective photos with the tower. It always makes for a good giggle later on. It just has to be done!

“Holding Up” The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Here we’ve master-crafted the way for you to get the perfect Instagram-worthy ‘holding up’ picture.

• Get yourself a side-kick 

  First things first you need an epic photographer to help you get your shot (a friend or family member will do). Trying to line yourself up with the tower is incredibly hard and intricate that it can’t be done alone. You need someone behind the camera aiding your pose, telling you to “go up a bit” or “to the left a bit more”. We suggest taking someone who’s got patience and isn’t bad with a camera. Depending on what pose you go for you could be there for a while, and it helps if you haven’t got someone who’s shaking with frustration holding the camera. No one likes a blurry picture!

• Perfect spot for the perfect shot!

  To begin with, try not to stand too close to the tower as you will end up getting an unimaginative photograph instead of the one where you are a super-hero trying to avoid the giant tower from toppling. And if you stand too far you might not get a sharp snap of the gigantic 186-foot bell tower. Therefore, you’ll have to walk around to find the perfect spot to prevent the tower from crashing to the ground.

• Creating an optical illusion

  In order to get the optical illusion right, you should be familiar with the forced perspective approach. Forced perspective is a technique used in photography in which a deliberate optical illusion makes objects seem closer or farther away, as well as smaller or larger than they actually are. All you need is to find the perfect angle and light to execute the fascinating shot you want to create.

• Last minute touch-up

  Keep in mind every visual element in your frame has to work together to make your photo look convincing. You can end up with a better picture if you make use of zoom lens, not lower than 35mm. The zoom lens allows you to re-frame your shot without having to move closer or farther away. Now, position your arms imagining that you are holding something. Put on the expression to complement your posture.

And voila! You’ve got yourself an incredible shot. With this technique, the tower can be held up, pushed over, hugged, and even kicked down. Your imagination is your only limitation.

Related article: Is it worth climbing the Pisa Tower?