The remit here is to find a viewpoint that gives a reasonably interesting landscape in which there is an unbroken and clear horizon. View the scene, considering different positions in which the horizon can be placed in the frame.
Take a photograph of each position ending up with sequence of images with horizon placed from low to high. Note as to whether this works or not.
Write short note on the effect of the placement, noting which I prefer and reasons why.
I travelled to Muscat, and made my way over to Qurum, where, 50metres below the Crown Plaza hotel which sits on limestone cliffs overlooking the Gulf of Oman is a minute beach, this is separated from the main beach by a small fresh water inlet. There are wonderful view of the Qurum beach and headland. I have passed this location on many visits to this area and wanted to spend time there to photograph. Local fishermen leave their boats here on the beach.
Equipment used
Nikon D7000
18-105 lens
ISO 125
Aperture Priority
Tripod
I positioned myself midway between the boats and the shoreline, on the small inlet where I could see clearly, the headland to the right of me and the inlet of water and sun shades on the beach to the left. It was possibly the windiest day of the year, and I had to ensure that my tripod was anchored firmly in the sand, as the strong coastal winds were threatening to blow myself and the tripod over.
Horizontal Format
Vertical Format
What I see is that the positioning of the horizon in one of three places dramatically affects the perspective of the picture.
A composition of 1/2 ground and 1/2 sky should not be empty, there should be subject matter that is interesting to look at, in one or both halves.
My preference in this exercise are the vertically formatted images, and in particular fig. 6. There is detail throughout this image, all be it driftwood which in hindsight I should have moved.
Below are images I took in August whilst in South Africa, these show that subject matter is important when placing the horizon.
Take a photograph of each position ending up with sequence of images with horizon placed from low to high. Note as to whether this works or not.
Write short note on the effect of the placement, noting which I prefer and reasons why.
I travelled to Muscat, and made my way over to Qurum, where, 50metres below the Crown Plaza hotel which sits on limestone cliffs overlooking the Gulf of Oman is a minute beach, this is separated from the main beach by a small fresh water inlet. There are wonderful view of the Qurum beach and headland. I have passed this location on many visits to this area and wanted to spend time there to photograph. Local fishermen leave their boats here on the beach.
Equipment used
Nikon D7000
18-105 lens
ISO 125
Aperture Priority
Tripod
I positioned myself midway between the boats and the shoreline, on the small inlet where I could see clearly, the headland to the right of me and the inlet of water and sun shades on the beach to the left. It was possibly the windiest day of the year, and I had to ensure that my tripod was anchored firmly in the sand, as the strong coastal winds were threatening to blow myself and the tripod over.
Horizontal Format
Fig. 1 f/14.0 1/160 sec 32mm
Lowest placement of the horizon. From this angle, the upright poles on the edge of the shoreline lead the eye to the centre of the photograph. The cliff edge to the right is balanced with the greenery on the right. The main beach in the background can just be made out.
Fig. 2 f/10.0 1/400sec 58mm
Middle placement of the horizon. No leading lines in this photograph, the posts dominate the picture and the driftwood is more prominent There is more shape to the flow of the inlet of water and the waves on the Gulf of Arabia can be seen.
Fig.3 f/9.0 1/320sec 85mm
High placement of the horizon. The five posts and the positioning of the edge of the inlet lead your eye to the left edge of the photograph. Again the driftwood is dominant as it is centrally placed.
Natural division into thirds.
Fig. 4 f/10.0 1/400sec 62mm
Low placement of horizon.
It felt very natural for me to take these vertical images at the same location to compare. In this image the sky contains no detail, creating a completely empty space.
Fig. 5 f/10.0 1/320sec 62mm
Middle placement of horizon, here there is more detail in the photograph, the posts lead the eye to the left
Fig.6 f/9.0 1/320sec 105mm
Upper placement of horizon, this image is divided naturally into thirds, and the post and drift wood balance each other.
My thoughts on this exercise
What I see is that the positioning of the horizon in one of three places dramatically affects the perspective of the picture.
A composition of 1/2 ground and 1/2 sky should not be empty, there should be subject matter that is interesting to look at, in one or both halves.
My preference in this exercise are the vertically formatted images, and in particular fig. 6. There is detail throughout this image, all be it driftwood which in hindsight I should have moved.
Below are images I took in August whilst in South Africa, these show that subject matter is important when placing the horizon.
Moremi game reserve
Sunset in Botswana, detail in sky and reflections in foreground, create a pleasing image.
Great depth of field
Sunset at Ihaha Camp, Chobe national park
Silhouettes of elephant leaving Ihaha to cross Chobe river. Focal point here is the sun, which lit the sky.
Good depth of field
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