Positioning the horizon
The horizon naturally divides a landscape, and sometimes it can be the most important element, particularly if there are no salient features in view. In this exercise, I had to find a landscape with a clear horizon line, and take a number of photos with the horizon in different positions. It was difficult to find a view like the one in the course materials around where I live, but I tried with several views of Stowe. Although the horizon line is obscured by the trees and the building on the left, it is still quite an important feature
In the first image, the line of the horizon is more or less in the middle, and the line is also emphasized by the edge of the water. I find this image quite static, and the water is not an interesting enough feature to devote so much of the image to it. If it had been really still, with a clear reflection of the building, it would have probably worked well. The second image works better, I think. The lower horizon line gives more prominence to the moody sky - and i do think the images a little dark, and the sky is not interesting enough. This is also a feature of the third image. Placing the building much more in the corner also gives it some interest, but I miss the fact that the lake is not in view, although this is probably because I know the area so well, and I know the temple overlooks a lake.
In the next series of images I also experimenting with moving the horizon line, although the images are of slightly different areas of the same beach in northern Brittany.
In the next series of images I also experimenting with moving the horizon line, although the images are of slightly different areas of the same beach in northern Brittany.
I like these two photos. The first one, with the high horizon line, gives a feeling of the sheer size of the never-ending beach. Not entirely sure I like the footsteps in the foreground, because they seem to compete with the seagulls for attention.
The second photo, with the low horizon line, also works well by emphasizing the stormy sky, and the seagull in the top centre, although very small, draws the eye upwards |
I quite like the position of the horizon in this photo too, although it is not as interesting as in the image on the left. As well as looking at the effect of moving the horizon line, I was also experimenting here with the shape of the frame, which links with the next exercise.
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