Jim Gollan @ OCA Landscape: Horizon Line (1)

Requirement

3 to 5 photographs

Purpose

To show how placement of the horizon line affects the emphasis and graphic balance of an image.

Technical learning

Most landscapes require a decision about where to place the horizon line, particularly where the foreground lacks a point of interest
This important division of the frame determines the weight given to the elements as well as the graphic balance of the image.
Placement of the horizon in the middle creates a static image (although a point of interest in the foreground reduces this effect)
A higher or lower horizon will be more dynamic, giving prominence either to the sky (low) or the foreground and land (high), which in the latter case also adds to the feeling of depth

Exercise instructions

Find a landscape with a clear unbroken horizon line. Take a series of shots with the same lens and in the same position with the horizon line in different positions.

Images and review

Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset enjoys a swing in tides that opens up its beach to create a vast flat plain of sand, sea and sky. A great place also to experience the elements: fluctuating light and also wind rushing up the Bristol Channel. Each photo was taken under-exposed by 2/3rds of a stop to increase the contrast of the clouds and reinforce the stormy mood.

Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset enjoys a swing in tides that opens up its beach to create a vast flat plain of sand and sea. A great place to experience the elements. Each photo was taken under-exposed by 2/3rds of a stop to increase the contrast of the clouds and reinforce the stormy mood.

The beach and pier are the subject, to which the concrete path
and rail leads the eye particularly the initial curve
The mother and 2 children on the beach add interest.
The flags signal the strong wind.
The stormy sky provides background interest.

The sky and the beach are both points of interest,
placing the horizon line in the centre brings out the
contrast in colour and texture between them.
The path to the beach loses some of its impact as a
leading line.

The stormy sky is the subject.
The pier and beach provides some foreground interest
and information on location

The sky now dominates.
Low placement of the pier and beach stabilises
the image more strongly than in the previous one

My ranking by preference:

First image. Most content and the strongest graphics (although I would have liked less of the flat expanse of beach).
Fourth image. Best treatment of the interesting sky. Colours and tones of sky pull eye into the frame. Lower horizon trumps third image for graphical balance
Third image. Second best treatment of sky. Does offer more contrast between the sky and the beach
Second image. Lack of clarity about what the subject is. Interest falls off quickly.

Further learning

2 important considerations in deciding where to place the horizon line in a landscape are:

The relative levels of interest between land and sky. A dull overcast sky prompts placing the horizon line close to the top edge of the frame, whereas an exciting sky demands the opposite, unless also the foreground has features of interest.
The graphic effect. The natural tendency is to place the horizon line low in the frame: this adds to the sense of stability. However, balancing graphic elements, such as tones, textures or colours is also a consideration.

Other images

Tower Bridge after winter sunrise

The view from Tower Bridge from London Bridge after sunrise - shame part of the sky is blown out, partly as a result of using a compact camera (the equipment of choice when travelling to work!)

The Thames, the boats and the bridge dominate. The sky is just background.

The sky and the ray of light start to feature

The sky is now the subject

Even more so here

Chatham harbour

The harbour at Chatham on the River Medway - a vertical frame and in black and white (as the colours were dull)

The python-like channel in the mud bank leads the eye to the moored boat. The boat stops the eye from wandering out of the frame and send it back to the channel.