How to Take Better Photos-3:
Tips and Examples

Where to Position the Horizon

Cameras make photos in a rectangular format so you can choose between horizontal or vertical positioning.

Copyright Lundy Wilder © 2005
Horizontal photos have the horizon across the long dimension of the photo and this emphasizes the space from right to left. A person looking at the photograph typically sees it left to right, just as we read a page in the Western world. This gives horizontal photos a sense of wide open space but you usually need to include some foreground objects to give the photograph a feeling of scale and add perspective.

Vertical photographs, by their nature, can convey a feeling of depth. Viewers tend to see the image from the foreground back and then the sky or ceiling.

Copyright Lundy Wilder © 2005	Copyright Lundy Wilder © 2005
The very nature of these subjects called for a vertical format. The church was very tall and narrow, so the vertical orientation reinforces that feeling. The sail on this boat shot straight up to the sky, so vertical was again a natural choice.

The classic pleasing position for the horizon is a third of the way down the frame. But putting the horizon in other places can create a more dramatic effect. Just keep any water level !

The Background-The most overlooked area of the beginner’s photographs is the background. A cluttered or confusing background can ruin an otherwise good photo. On the other hand, when background adds something to the subject, it makes the overall composition more meaningful.

Copyright Lundy Wilder © 2005

This dancing couple was at the Foley, Ala 'Arts in the Park Festival'. The photo looks more in context with the musicians shown in the background. The Ford dealership was sponsoring the music it seems and that sign along with the drummer, singer and guitar player adds a home-spun appeal to this afternoon small town event photo.

In the following photo, both the foreground and the background help establish the purpose of this business--a cafe--the blackboard offers menu choices and the pastry in the foreground reinforces the theme of the picture. If the picture was pulled in tighter and only showed the friend and a cash register, he could be most anything, a dry cleaner or barber, etc...

Copyright Lundy Wilder © 2005

Page 3.............................................Continue on to more photography tips...

Link to Us , Do Not Copy