The littered horizon as an artistic device. How to fix a blocked horizon. A littered horizon in the photo, how to fix it

Very often on the Internet you can come across a common phrase, which, in the opinion of many, can be used to “criticize” almost any photo: “The horizon is littered!”

- The horizon is blocked! - exclaim enthusiastic “critics”, convinced that they are right. But are they always right? Let's figure it out.

Yes, it is the “blockage” of the horizon that always looks uncomfortable and unexpressive. Most often, the “blockage” looks like an indistinct, uncertain tilt, which in no way participates in the compositional decision of the frame. Very often, such frames may not have any compositional solution at all and are simply a scan of the surrounding space. But it can turn out “beautiful” by accident, due to the coincidence of shooting conditions and camera settings. This happens sometimes.

But don't confuse the "roll" with a deliberate tilt, which is sometimes introduced into the frame and makes the photo more lively.

It's no secret that vertical and especially horizontal lines give the image a static quality and fill the plot with a certain calm. But this solution is not always suitable for us, especially if we want to fill the picture with dynamics.

Thus, it is the inclined lines that will give the picture life and create a sense of movement in the frame. Naturally, movement for the sake of “movement” will not improve the frame either, and this decision should always be supported by a specific idea in which dynamics will be the basis. This could be, for example, some kind of active action in the frame or a dynamically developing plot.

We should also remember that if we use tilt in a shot, it should be obvious, expressive and organized. After all, this is precisely what distinguishes a slope from a collapse. Any tilt is always a deliberate action, while a “slump” is spontaneous and uncontrollable. This is the main difference between these two, at first glance, similar concepts.

I talk in more detail about the options for using these techniques and their practical application at my lectures on composition at the Kyiv School of Photography. In these classes, we analyze in detail when and what is appropriate, which direction is better and in what cases, and also, most importantly, when it needs to be done. After all, it is not always that a new technique learned can work beneficially, and the moment of correctness is also very important.

Therefore, we are always happy to welcome everyone who wants to join us and wish you progressive creative growth and new ideas!

Greetings, friends!

In this article we will look at what “the horizon is blocked” means and look at visual examples of photographs with a blocked horizon. Without further ado, let's begin.

The horizon is littered: what does this mean?

The meaning of this phrase is obvious: the horizon line in the photograph turned out not horizontal, but tilted at a certain angle. When taking a photo, the photographer may not notice this. But when viewed on a monitor, this feature catches the eye and spoils the impression of the photo. Here's the simplest example:

A blocked horizon is a typical mistake of inexperienced photographers. Fortunately, it is not as critical as incorrectly selected shutter speed and aperture values, since minor distortions are easily compensated for at the retouching stage.

Sometimes you can come across the laconic comment “the horizon is full!” under a photograph in which there is no horizon line. Typically, such a “review” implies that its author thinks the photo is so bad that he does not want to waste time on constructive criticism.

It should be borne in mind that a blocked horizon is not always the photographer’s mistake. It may well turn out to be an artistic technique that the author used to highlight a certain detail of the photo. In this case, the term “Dutch corner” is used to emphasize that this is the author’s idea.

How to take photographs so as not to block the horizon?

Making the horizon line parallel to the edge of the photo is not difficult, the main thing is not to forget about it during shooting. It is enough just to monitor the horizontal boundaries of the frame in the viewfinder and control their parallelism to the horizon line. It’s difficult for beginners to keep track of everything without being distracted from the main subject of photography. But the skill is gradually developed, so there is no need to worry about lack of talent for photography. Let's look at another example of a littered horizon:

Almost any modern camera or smartphone has the ability to enable display of a grid on the viewfinder. With its help, monitoring the horizon line is much easier. When shooting from a tripod, you can use the built-in level. This is a small curved tube containing liquid and a water bubble. By ensuring that the bubble is at a special mark, you can be sure that the camera is positioned strictly parallel to the horizon line.

How to fix a blocked horizon in a photograph?

It happens that the photo turned out well and you want to save it, but the horizon is blocked and greatly spoils the impression. Fortunately, in most cases this problem can be solved quite simply. The easiest way to eliminate this defect is to use the frame tool in Adobe Photoshop. It is enough to perform the following sequence of actions:

1. Open the photo in Photoshop.
2. Bring up the Crop tool (by pressing the C key).
3. Rotate the photo to compensate for the obstructed horizon angle.
4. Press Enter to apply the edits.
5. Crop with the crop tool.
6. Save the result.

The rotation function is present in almost any image editor (including Microsoft Paint). But most of them will introduce serious distortions into the photo, so it's better to use Photoshop or other specialized photo editors.

Discrepancy between the visual and real horizon

In most cases, leveling the horizon is not difficult, the main thing is not to forget. But with some types of shooting, there are a lot of distracting details in the frame, and sometimes the real horizon line does not correspond to the one that looks natural within the frame of the scene being filmed. This happens, for example, when shooting landscapes, especially seascapes.

To explain this phenomenon, the concept of perceptual horizon is used. This is the name of an imaginary line that appears horizontal to the observer in the finished photograph. From the definition it is obvious what this term means. This a perceived horizon that does not always correspond to the real one. Even when shooting on a tripod with perfectly aligned frames, when viewing the finished images, it may seem that the horizon is blocked.

An experienced photographer can avoid such mistakes, since already at the shooting stage he can clearly see when the perceptual horizon in a photograph does not correspond to the real one. For example, if he sees that the distant objects that make up the background of the frame are tilted, then he takes them as the main reference point. At the same time, looking at the resulting image, it will be impossible to guess how “cluttered” the real horizon is on it.

Conclusion

So we have figured out, friends, what the phrase “the horizon is blocked” means. Yes, in some cases this feature can be used as a stylistic device, but this requires experience and artistic taste. Therefore, the first thing you need to learn is make the horizon line strictly parallel top and bottom edges of the photo. Always keep an eye on this, and then no one can blame you for a blocked horizon.

Thank you for your attention!

Greetings, dear readers! In touch with you, Timur Mustaev. Often on various forums and groups dedicated to disassembling and evaluating photographs, you can find constructive criticism regarding the horizon line, namely its obstruction.

What is a horizon line, a blocked horizon, and how did it actually fall, let’s figure it out?

Officially blockage- this is a failure to observe parallels between the horizon line in the photo and the horizontal line of the monitor or camera screen.

This error is quite common among novice photographers and is not as critical as, for example, an incorrectly set value and, which globally affects the final result.

However, in fairness, it is important to point out that blocking the horizon can act as an artistic device to give special expressiveness to the photo.

Naturally, this technique has nothing to do with the series of photographs “me and my cat.”

What to do to avoid horizon blockage?

In the newest models of cameras you can find a rather useful gadget - an electronic level, which, like a construction level, performs the same function.

If your equipment does not have such useful features, purchase the first LED level you come across in a specialized store, which is installed in a standard shoe, in place of an external flash. Such camera level can be bought on Aliexpress.

Also, many cameras have markers and grids in the viewfinder, which are conventionally superimposed on objects/subjects and are not displayed in any way in the photograph.

This method allows you not only to correctly navigate the position of the horizon, but also to correctly create the overall composition of the frame.

For people who are not looking for easy ways, one of the most basic and inexpensive ways to get a straight horizon line is to constantly compare it with one of the boundaries of the camera screen.

A blocked horizon in the photo, how to fix it?

If, when viewing the footage, you discover the presence of this error in the photo, you will have to resort to a radical method - deleting all such images! Kidding!

This problem can be easily solved in Photoshop.

For this:

• Insert the photo into the program.
• Press the key WITH. This is the frame tool.
• Twist and rotate the photo in the desired direction using the round arrow (usually located in the corners of the photo) until the desired result is achieved.
• Press Enter to confirm the result.
• Perform cropping.
• Save the photo.

By the way, paying attention to convenience and developed habits, I want to say that I categorically do not accept the cropping method in Photoshop and use the usual, well-known Paint: I open the photo, select the desired area, click “Crop,” and save.

Paint also has a function for rotating a certain number of degrees in one direction or another to align horizontal lines, but, in my opinion, this method spoils the quality of the photo, and I don’t use it.

Other lines involved in the composition

Continuing the topic, I cannot help but mention the various lines that participate in the construction of the frame or interfere with it.

Most often, lines add life to a photograph, express dynamics, indicate direction, lead the eye to the main object, emphasizing its significance.

A photograph consisting of horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines cannot but interest the viewer in itself.

Lines mean various geometric structures, building decoration, power lines, railway tracks, highways, road markings, alleys, etc. Even a tabby cat can fit perfectly into the frame and emphasize something.

Finding the right lines is quite difficult; everything requires practice.

When photographing monuments or architectural objects, pay attention to the surrounding lines. They will help convey the story of the photo to the viewer in the best light.

In landscape photography, horizontal lines symbolize a state of peace: sleeping people, a forest, fallen trees, the “contact” of sky and sea - merging together - all this speaks of balance, a certain constancy and the absence of time.

However, a photo that embodies exuberance and variety of lines may be too oversaturated and boring.

Therefore, if you are shooting an ocean coastline touching the sky, drag some object into the frame, for example, a passing ship or the setting sun.

It is important that everything is in harmony and complements each other.

When photographing landscapes, portraits and architecture, it is not advisable to place the horizon line in the center. It is worth understanding that this will lead to dividing the frame into two parts, and this is unacceptable according to the rule of thirds.

Now you know some other little tricks that photographers know. Before concluding, I would like to recommend a course - (if you have NIKON) or My first MIRROR(if you have CANON). Thanks to it, you will learn a lot about your DSLR camera. How to set it up correctly, what settings to pay attention to, what to consider and what to pay attention to when photographing. In a word, you will switch to “YOU” with your camera. I recommend this video course, especially for beginners.

My first MIRROR- for owners of a CANON camera.

Digital SLR for a beginner 2.0- for owners of a NIKON camera.

By subscribing to blog updates and commenting on articles, you help make the content better! Don't forget to share the material on social networks.

All the best to you, Timur Mustaev.

The horizon line is an important compositional element in photography. If your camera is tilted while exposing the frame, you will get a frame with a so-called obstructed horizon, when objects in the frame seem to fall to the side. This is one of the most common mistakes beginner photography enthusiasts make. However, if necessary, a littered horizon can always be straightened out in any graphics editor, albeit with some deterioration in picture quality. But the question of how to correctly position the horizon in the frame in order to make the photo most advantageous for the viewer seems to be much more difficult. An incorrect position of the horizon can distract the viewer's attention from the most important and interesting details, thereby ruining the whole idea of ​​the photo.

In photography theory, there are several fundamental rules, one of which concerns the location of the horizon line. This rule states that you should not place the horizon line directly in the center of the frame, but rather place it at a distance of about one-third from the edges of the photo. That is, in other words, the horizon line should be placed closer to the bottom or top of the frame, guided by the grid.

However, as you know, any rule has its exceptions. What can we say about such a creative activity as photography. Following this rule is not always the optimal solution. The choice of location of the horizon line in the frame (top, bottom or middle) will depend on what you want to shoot and what you want to focus the viewer's attention on. In this regard, we can dwell in more detail on which horizon location would be preferable in a given situation:

The horizon is closer to the bottom of the frame

One of the most common and widespread options for the location of the horizon line is the lower horizon. By placing the horizon closer to the bottom of the photo, the top area of ​​the photo becomes dominant. It is she who attracts the viewer's attention. Selecting the lower horizon makes the most sense when you need to pay more attention to the background or when there is simply no foreground in the photo.

In landscape photography, this technique is often used if the photographer wants to show the viewer a mesmerizingly beautiful sky, a stunning sunset, or bizarrely shaped clouds. You don't want to place the horizon too low if there is nothing at the top of the frame that might interest the viewer. This will make the photo rather boring and not expressive in its content. For example, an empty blue sky may not always look interesting and attractive, so it makes sense to slightly raise the horizon line.

— The horizon line is closer to the top of the frame

The opposite option is when the horizon line is placed closer to the top border of the frame. This is a good solution for those photos where you need to particularly emphasize the foreground. Indeed, in this case, the lower area of ​​the photo image already becomes dominant in the composition. The sky or sunset in the background will only add to the picture. A high horizon is preferable when there are some interesting objects or details in the foreground that carry a certain meaning.

The horizon is closer to the top of the frame

With the upper and lower horizons, you need to remember about the vertical lines located at the borders of the image. These could be trees or architectural structures. Due to the placement of the horizon, these lines may turn out to be concave towards the center, or, conversely, they will bend beyond the boundaries of the frame. These possible shortcomings can be corrected during image post-processing.

An interesting option, which is, as we have already found out, a deviation from the generally accepted rules of composition. The main difficulty that a photographer faces when placing the horizon line in the center of the frame is the imbalance of the photograph, that is, when one part of the frame will visually “outweigh” the other. In practice, it can be quite difficult to determine the correct balance of a photograph, so this position of the horizon should be used only in exceptional cases when the overall idea of ​​​​the photograph requires it. For example, placing the horizon in the middle will look most advantageous in photographs with reflection, where it is initially much easier to obtain a balanced composition.

In addition, in such a situation, the picture will look even more interesting and attractive if the horizon line is interrupted by any objects, for example, going from the earth's surface to the sky. These could be trees, posts, structures. Due to them, a certain relationship will be built between the upper and lower areas of the image. When using a central location, you should be extremely careful: the horizon should be placed strictly in the center of the frame, and not slightly higher or lower. Otherwise, it will worsen the holistic perception of the photograph. If you decide to think about placing the horizon line in the center of the frame, then remember that the rules of composition can be violated, but this must be done thoughtfully, weighing the pros and cons.

Is it possible to shoot landscape or architectural photography without a horizon at all? For example, the concept of a horizon when shooting indoors is, in principle, meaningless in itself. Of course, this is possible and, moreover, in many cases it is completely justified. Why break the picture with a horizon line if the blue sky is not able to add anything interesting to the composition of the frame, only visually making the photograph heavier. In this situation, it is recommended to focus on individual details of the landscape, simply leaving the horizon line out of the frame.

So, the choice of placement of the horizon line depends entirely on what you want to achieve and what to focus the viewer’s attention on. For example, if you plan to draw attention to a bright foreground, then the horizon line should be placed at the top at a distance of one third from the frame borders. If you want to focus on the background, then choose the lower horizon. In some cases it is beneficial to use a central position, but it is important that individual areas of the photograph are balanced.

Regarding the horizon line, there is only one recommendation addressed to photography lovers. Before you press the shutter button, think twice about the composition of the photo and evaluate the frame using the viewfinder or LCD monitor. Spend some free time moving the camera up and down and left and right to determine the best angle and position of the horizon line. This will help you avoid mistakes that could spoil the impression of the photo. Electronics will help solve the problem of a blocked horizon. Fortunately, many modern digital cameras have an electronic level function to facilitate leveling the device.

In fact, the question of how to correctly position the horizon line in a photograph is largely debatable. Everything depends not only on compositional rules, but also on the personal preferences of the photographer, as well as on his creative idea. Sometimes even a photograph with a blocked horizon, which contradicts all generally accepted rules of composition, can make an incredibly strong impression on viewers.

An unusual court case is taking place in Tver. At the center is a debate about the artistic value of wedding photography. The customer is dissatisfied with the work performed, and the reason as a whole is as follows:

- I don't like it!

In principle, no one has canceled the subjective opinion. And wedding photography is an area of ​​service where artistic value is an important component. The main thing is to decide what quality criteria may exist in this area. This is what makes this process so interesting.

The lawsuit initially raised six claims about the photography. But 5 of them were rejected by the court, leaving only one:

1. Lots of photos taken diagonally.

At the second meeting, two more complaints were voiced:

2. White balance is not accurate. There are photographs in which the brightness is increased, the balance is changed towards “warm” and “blue” colors.

3. High depth of field in many photographs. The central characters are sharp, but everything in the background is blurry.

So, the complaints have been voiced, let's try to figure it out.

Diagonal shooting

Indeed, the classical understanding of composition requires that the horizon be parallel to the edge of the photograph.

Moreover, a huge number of novice photographers who are trying to come up with something original start shooting diagonally. And the result in this case is most often simply awkward. Instead of working on composition, on exposure, on color balance, young people look for dubious originality and say:

- And that’s how I see it!

In this case, it is really worth advising novice photographers to adhere to a strict rule - do not block the horizon.

But does this mean that diagonal shooting cannot be used at all? Does this mean that a blocked horizon in photography is always a defect?

I think many will agree that this is not so. There can be many justifications for shooting diagonally. Here are a few:

1. In order to convey a feeling of dizziness, unearthly joy.

2. To compositionally align the bride and groom in the frame. Usually the groom is taller than the bride, but at a wedding they are equal characters.

3. To add dynamics to a somewhat monotonous frame.

4. In some shots the horizon is not so obvious and there is another strong compositional detail that is not parallel to the horizon.

In general, the bottom line is this: yes, diagonal shooting should be avoided unless there are compelling reasons. But if the reasons exist, then the reception cannot be considered a marriage.

Color balance inaccuracy

Just as with diagonal shooting, of course, the photographer must be able to shoot with the correct color balance. Providing the correct color rendition is not such a trivial task. This requires both high-quality photographic equipment and experience. And, again, beginning photographers should make it a rule to always strive for the most accurate and natural color balance.

And, again, did this mean that you can’t work with changing the color balance at all? Can any deviation be considered a defect?

For example, if the day is cloudy, then there is not enough blue sky outside. A feeling of grayness appears. At the same time, the balance is correct. But the photographer adds a little blue and blue into the frame. So that the feeling of the street is perceived as a street more accurately.

There is another common technique: adding so-called “warm” tones - orange-yellow. Their purpose is straightforward: to add warmth to the frame.

Many photographers add color to make the frame look more vibrant.

Other games with light are also possible:
− complete removal of color to make the frame black and white,
− removing color and then adding one of the shades to it,
− turning some area of ​​a photograph into black and white, and leaving another part in color.

All these are artistic techniques that may well be appropriate and give the right mood.

High depth of field

What can we say about this? In my opinion, this cannot be an application for marriage at all. High depth of field is a very common technique in photography. Moreover, it is usually possible with fairly expensive optics, although this is not the point.

A high depth of field allows the eye to fully concentrate on the central object. However, many characters remained in the background. They are out of focus and blurry. But this does not mean that they are not visible at all. Paradoxical as it may seem, sometimes a more blurred silhouette can give more mood and better intonation in the frame.

So how do we resolve this dispute?

So, there are just more questions? Can shooting diagonally be a waste? Yes maybe. You need to be able to shoot straight. But it may not be a marriage. It depends on the taste of the photographer.

Could an unnatural white balance be a problem? Could be a marriage. Or it could be a deliberate artistic device. At what appropriate.

How can you distinguish a marriage from an appropriate artistic device? We can only rely on personal taste. Time will tell how the court in Tver will decide.

What to do to avoid marriage during wedding photography?

The Image Factory studio, which is the defendant in this lawsuit, posts examples of wedding photography on its website. And he does the right thing. Everyone has their own techniques, everyone has their own taste. If you like what this studio shoots, order a shoot. If not, look for other photographers. You won't be able to redo the wedding a second time.