Where Do I Put the Horizon - A Personal Development Exercise

A dead center horizon placement does not communicate where the photographer wants to direct the viewer’s eye

Hello everyone. This article is an exercise, not a formal assignment. The goal of an exercise is less about producing a memorable image and more oriented to encouraging the photographer to experiment and learn from the experiment.

Exercise Concept

The placement of the horizon is a simple yet powerful experiment as where the horizon is placed tells the viewer what is important.

We have known for years that a horizon that is dead center communicates that both sides of the horizon are equally important, meaning that the photograph is not directing the viewer at all and thus saying that neither portion is of consequence. It could of course just be poor composition, but let’s presume that you are past that.

Completing the Exercise

So find a scene with a clear horizon that has very distinctive differences above and below the horizon and where either side could be the primary subject. Consider a stormy sky over a country lane as an example.

this image directs the eye to the city clearly communicating where the photographer wants the view to look

Make three images. The first image should place the horizon dead center, dead being an accurate description. For your second image, place the horizon below the center line to place the stormy sky and its story in the majority of the composition, try about 2/3s. For the third image, place the horizon above the center line to focus the viewer’s attention on what is happening below the horizon.

Obviously you may have to change exposure settings for different luminosity levels and you should do so, treating each image as the only one that you are making.

Wait a day, then bring the RAW images into your editor of choice. View each image full screen and using a notebook and writing instrument (yes the old paper and pencil trick) write down your initial emotional response to the image, followed by what story it is telling, what the primary subject is and how the composition directs the viewer to the primary subject.

You do not need to share the images with anyone, and I recommend storing them in your Personal Development Collection. If you do not have one, this would be a good time to make one. All committed photographers do so, having effectively a lab book documenting all the experiments that they have done, available for a mental refresh or a reminder.

this image states that the sky is most important. But there is very little there that would engage a viewer. the composition is not fulfulled by the subject

Wrapping Up

I hope that you engage in and enjoy this exercise. I wish you great success.

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