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Horizons?
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Have realised in my practicing landscape photography that my horizons take on a life of their own spoiling shots. Any tips??? Cheers
Straighten them! :twisted:
On a more serious note – reading between the lines, I’m guessing what you are really asking is “How do I get horizontal horizons?” Well, if you’re shooting digitally, you have two options and as usual, one is better than the other.
The first and easiest thing to do is put your camera on a tripod and get yourself a Hotshoe Spirit Level. This will assist you in setting up your camera to ensure horizontals and verticals remain horizontal and vertical.
The other, more labour intensive way is to do it using Photoshop as described here and on a few other sites too.
Hope this helps!
Nice link Thorsten…but..what are the advantages of using the Photoshop method (assuming your horizon is crooked in the first place) over say something like Picasa (Straighten tool)..which takes literally a few seconds and does all the awkward bit for you? I tried using PS and gave up…but if there was an obvious benefit I would learn how to do it and spend the time doing it.
Cheers
Robbie
8)Hi, thanks for reply there is a level on my tripod. Does a hotshoe spirit level do the same thing or is it better? Also i am shooting with film as i am doing a beginners course in film photography for a few month trying to get to grips with basics. Any tips for hand holding camera and getting straight horizons too?
ThanksJust spotted your reply robbie but as i was saying am using film. Generally B&w as we have to learn to develop in the dark room too.
CiaraOh right…but then again…if you end up with a dodgy horizon..there’s nothing stopping you scanning the image and then editing it. Just a thought :-)
How are you getting on with the course Ciara? Wouldn’t mind doing something similar myself….most experienced people around here seem to think it would be well worthwhile to do a film photography course to enhance your digital knowledge.
Its the first time this course has been run, i am in the midlands. Course needs alot of tweeking, they took on too many budding photographers.Its just hour and half in the week. Have learnt a good bit, and am loving using the darkroom (just started that 2 weeks ago). purchased the nikon d80 Sunday (friend picked it up in NY), feel i will learn even more when i can seee the images straight after taking shot, great way to practice
Delighted to hear you’re getting stuck in with film. I love digital and there’s nothing at all wrong with it (I haven’t put a roll of film through my camera in about 2 years) but in spite of that I think there’s a lot to be said for learning the basics with film. It’s a good foundation on which to build.
Your horizons problem is a good example of the benefits of learning with film. Digital users would simply decide that “Ah sure I can do it later on the computer” However, it’s always preferrable to do get as much right in the camera before pressing the shutter release, regardless of whether you use film or digital.
A level on a tripod may or may not be useful – it depends on where it’s located. I think given the fact that a hot-shoe bubble level is so cheap, it’s an investment worth making. It sits right on top of your camera and that makes it really easy to use.
Of course if your hand holding, then that’s a different story. All I can recommend is practice, practice and practice. Can you see any little black lines in your camera when you look through the viewfinder, either horizontal or vertical ones? These are part of the focussing screen in the camera. See if you can use these to help you line up your shot before taking it. Some cameras allow you to replace the focussing screen with a different one, with different guide-lines on it. It might be worth checking to see if you can get one with a grid on it.
Oh for sure Ciara, Pre digital our hobbies would have cost us sooo much more…notwithstanding the price of the higher end cameras.
Speaking of that…do you mind me asking how much you got the D80 in the states for? I’m looking at picking one up myself and have been checking out European web based suppliers. I have a friend who travels quite a lot from the States and I can get there myself pretty cheaply..so might be worth my while looking there if they are considerably cheaper?
Expresbro wrote:
Nice link Thorsten…but..what are the advantages of using the Photoshop method (assuming your horizon is crooked in the first place) over say something like Picasa (Straighten tool)..which takes literally a few seconds and does all the awkward bit for you? I tried using PS and gave up…but if there was an obvious benefit I would learn how to do it and spend the time doing it.
Cheers
Robbie
8)I don’t suppose there are any advantages to using PS over some other application such as Picasa. If it gets you the results you want with as little fuss as possible, then that’s the way to go.
Oh okay..thanks Thorsten. I thought maybe there was a quality issue or something..or that maybe you lose less information. I’ll stick to Picasa for those basic things for now then..there are enough other things to learn right now :D
Btw… I would have been one of those people who just shot without a care to horizons and stuff thinking I’ll just sort it later. Since joining up here I’ve tried to think more about what I’m shooting at the time..so I totally agree with you on that.
No black lines in my camera, but will defo invest in hotshoe level, great tip! As i am writing Q’s in beginners section PS work write out of my league til i read up on it. Wouldnt even know how to hook up camera to computer!!!!!!!!!! Ha ha
Expressbo i bought th d80 with 18-135mmlens for 1219 dollars in b&h. That is approx 950 euros. Argos now doing it for 1200euro!! Go to http://www.bhphotovideo.com.
CiaraFORMERLY greeneciara
There are grid lines in the D80, at least there are in mine [Oh joy to be able to say that! :D :D ]
Sorry p&s, must clarify …no lines in my film camera. Have not yet got to hold my new camera, friend not home from NY til sunday….cant wait
The grid lines in the viewfinder can be switched on/off in the menu, at least then can be in the D70, and I think in the D200. I seem to recall that they were off in the D70 default factory settings and had to be specifically selected. I keep mine on all the time so tend not to notice them any more.
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