birds eye view

Use it for pattern

Reach for birds eye view when layout matters more than a single hero: it turns roads, rows and rooftops into a map. It backfires when faces or small gestures carry the story, because they shrink to dots.

Pair it with hard midday shadows or a grid of repeated shapes to make the overhead shapes read clearly.

Boundary: Not to be confused with aerial view — an aerial view can tilt toward the horizon, while birds eye view looks steeply down.