Dividing the frame 2

Exercise 12  Positioning the horizon

Using a local seascape I took six photographs varying the position of the horizon to see the effect of placing the horizon high, low or towards the middle of the frame. 

P89: f/10 @1/160  28mm

P90: f/10 @ 1/160  28mm

Positioning the horizon towards the top of the picture as in P89 and P90 gives greater prominence to the foreground which in this case adds little to the overall image. The effect would likely be different and maybe more interesting if there were different foreground detail.

P91: f/14 @ 1/260  28mm

P92: f/14 @ 1/250   28mm

Though the horizon in P91 is centrally placed, what could be a static composition is rescued by the foreground detail. If I had to choose one image I would opt for P92 with the slight foreground detail.

I was expecting P93 to appeal more to me given the overall effect ( more sky ) results in an unequal division less static than say P91 but this was not the case.


P93: f/14 @ 1/250  28mm
  



P94: f/14 @ 1/250   28mm

The last shot (P94) really does not work for me. The prominence of the 'flat' sky dominates and overwhelms the picture rather than adding anything. I feel that much of this comes from the actual scene selected though and the effect of the horizon's position on the composition would change if there were more interest coming from the sky e.g colour /shape / texture.

What I think this all shows me is that moving the horizon up and down in the frame can work equally well as other factors come to have a bearing on how the overall effect works e.g. the foreground detail / the look of the sky etc.