Your opinions please

brucenz

Hello

I snapped these pics the other night and have seen other photos when the photographer slants the street to make it more interesting. Are there any particular rules people follow when doing this and what would you advise me.

My examples:

David_S85

fixed your links. Since you have a SM account, it is best to use the img tag instead of the url tag. That will display the images directly in the post.

brucenz

David_S85 wrote: »

no pics.

now there are.

Richard

No rules here, but there are lots of strong opinions . I very rarely shoot on an angle (intentionally ). When I do, it's usually because I can't fit everything I want in the frame in a normal portrait or landscape orientation and don't have time to reposition myself or change lenses. Sometimes it works, more often it doesn't. Angled shots can add to a feeling of energy or motion, but I think that only works when there's energy there to begin with. It doesn't work as a substitute and often just looks gimmicky. Personally, I don't think the angle adds anything to these shots. The first one doesn't engage me, but I like the ghost effect in the second.

brucenz

Thanks Richard. That makes sense. I will remember that.

Richard wrote: »

No rules here, but there are lots of strong opinions . I very rarely shoot on an angle (intentionally ). When I do, it's usually because I can't fit everything I want in the frame in a normal portrait or landscape orientation and don't have time to reposition myself or change lenses. Sometimes it works, more often it doesn't. Angled shots can add to a feeling of energy or motion, but I think that only works when there's energy there to begin with. It doesn't work as a substitute and often just looks gimmicky. Personally, I don't think the angle adds anything to these shots. The first one doesn't engage me, but I like the ghost effect in the second.

sara505

Tilted horizons, buildings, etc. seems all the rage, but I can't stand it. It makes me dizzy, and furthermore gives me the impression the photog was drunk. Yeah, yeah - I know, it's art - but I am not a fan. Call me an up-tight old fart.

bdcolen

Always looking for a chance to pontificate - here's what I tell my students, for whom my only rules are "no bums," and "no tilted horizons."

Horizons are - horizontal - notice the similarity in the words? There are essentially five reasons for tilting the horizon in a shot:
1. The photographer is drunk;
2. The photographer has one leg shorter than the other;
3. The photographer tripped and released the shutter while falling;
4. The photographer is lazy and couldn't figure out how to take an interesting shot, and tilted the horizon to make the shot "interesting;"
5. Because of the limitations of the lens the photographer was using, tilting the camera was the only way to get the necessary elements into the frame.

Of the five reasons for tilting the horizon, only #5 is a legitimate one.

Yes, tilted horizons are in vogue. In fact, there are some photographers who tilt virtually ever shot and then say that that is their "style." Well, I'd say it's ridiculous. That said, is it okay to tilt a horizon as an element in a photo once in a proverbial blue moon? Sure.

But look at your tilted streets - they just look like tilted streets. Does the street really go down hill? No? Then why would you want viewers to think that it does?

You asked.:D