Exercise: Positioning the horizon

A frame can be divided in to multiple areas. This division can be due to a number of characteristics such as colour, or light and shade. In this exercise I used the horizon as a dividing factor. I placed the horizon at a number of positions within the frame and captured images.

Horizon at bottom of frame

With the horizon at the bottom of the frame the sky becomes the dominating element of the composition. This composition feel extremely unbalanced and I do not feel it is a successful image.

Horizon at bottom third of frame

With the horizon placed at the bottom third of the frame the sky maintains its position as the most dominant element in the image. However, as more of the foreground is visible the image does work and has a dynamic feel about it.

Horizon in middle of frame

In the frame above the horizon is placed centrally within the frame. The ground and the sky are equally balanced and the frame is relatively static. In this particular image there is still a slightly dynamic feel as the hill in the foreground is sloped. However, this slope is overcome by the general balance in the picture which gives it a much more static feel than any of the other compositions in this exercise.

Horizon at top third of frame

With the horizon placed at the top third of the frame the image produced is dynamic in nature and interesting. The eye is drawn across the foreground and then on to the sky. In my opinion this image is successful and interesting. I prefer to this image to the other horizon placements (which have no foreground interest) due to the interesting nature of the ground in the scene.

Horizon at top of frame

With the horizon placed at the top of the frame the ground becomes the dominating element within this composition. Since such little of the sky is visible the image produced is less interesting than the compositions where there is more sky visible. This image is dynamic as the eye is drawn along the ground from the bottom of the frame towards the horizon. However, the images with more sky visible were preferable and I do not feel this image really works.

Horizon in middle of frame with foreground element

In this final image the horizon is placed centrally. However, while this previously produced a static image the presence of foreground interest overpowers the central horizon giving depth to the image and creating an interesting image. In my opinion this was the most successful image taken in this series. The eye is drawn to the flowers in the foreground and then discovers the horizon, the ground, and the sky afterwards.