This is one of those geometries that I find hard to make a decision about with respect to lining up verticals or horizontals. The composition is not a problem and you have balanced the lamp post well against the clock tower. The lamp post is lined up squarely and I don't mind the lean on the clock tower but I would feel uneasy about the horizontals of the building. I think I would try setting the horizontals but I really don't know if I would be happy with that either. I have had similar shots of my own and not resolved the situation. I'd be interested in how other photographers make a choice with this type of arrangement. What's your opinion Ben?
Gavin, I think your question has a very good point. The question like this is often comes to my mind as well. Honestly, I did not give too much attention to the geometry on this one, but I tried to get the snap of look when you just look up the scene. When you do this the geometry is not that important but more you look into what is there and how it looks. Human eye is naturally adjusting this sort of error in subconscious mind. Since you mentioned this, once it reproduced in photograph, you have more time to look at details in frozen frame. Therefore, correcting this maybe not that bad idea. I can play collecting geometries with Photoshop (lens collection) but I decided not to be done on this particular shot. However, line the horizontal may give us more natural look but then I have to decide the building or the sidebar of this pole. This is a good advice, Gavin. I often keep how I took the photo or do level the horizontal of main subject in most of cases. However, it depends on the subject. If I try to do this on vertical, I often encounter need for help of the "lens distortion correction". When I stack, I will try few tricks and make versions and leave it for day or two. Then I come back to compare. My wife suggested that print the versions and put on the wall, shuffle every day and pick one at end of the week. Well, that is good idea too. That process is all part of fun, Gavin.
I think you posted a very good question to think about, here. So, Thanks for that!
I would like to know how others look for that point, too.
Tena koe ehoa I think this is a great comparative shot of forms and shapes Ben and if I may dive into the conversation between you and Gavin, I tend to agree with you in that there is a compromise of the horizontal or vertical axis in either direction you go with this image. What I would tend to suggest is that in situations where image content is similar look to compose it within a portrait orientation.... why? Images like this have a strong vertical nature and that ultimately becomes the first photographic element to consider as a photographer. "How do I impress visually the vertical nature of this scene?" What a portrait orientation also does is close down the width of the image without adversely compromising the relativity of forms and shapes with each other but, furthermore allows an impression of height within the composition/frame that emphasises the vertical nature of both comparative elements. This allows you as a photographer to impress upon viewers a sense of height as well as the comparative nature of the forms and shapes within this scene. As it is at the moment we are only able to see the top of these juxtaposed forms without any validated sense/scale of height or the relative vertical nature both would have. Just wanted to add my inert 5 cents worth.
Thanks, Ndiginiz. Welcome to the conversation and I'm glad you did dive in.
I also took vertical shot for this tower and prepared for Nelson Daily Photo to show the area. I will more consider vertical alignment in such compositions because you already have a some comparison of scale. On the other hand, this has very limited element since I cut off more of bottom part and relative position will distort the scale of lamp post and clock tower. The alignment is also distorted but I think it gives hint of scale relative to the lamp post straighten up in close to the camera position. It's fun and sometime risky as well to use distortion as a tool for visual impressions.
CBD, Nelson, New Zealand
Beautiful vivid puffy sky and interesting clock tower too.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Love the sky and the tower. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those geometries that I find hard to make a decision about with respect to lining up verticals or horizontals. The composition is not a problem and you have balanced the lamp post well against the clock tower. The lamp post is lined up squarely and I don't mind the lean on the clock tower but I would feel uneasy about the horizontals of the building. I think I would try setting the horizontals but I really don't know if I would be happy with that either. I have had similar shots of my own and not resolved the situation. I'd be interested in how other photographers make a choice with this type of arrangement. What's your opinion Ben?
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone!
ReplyDeleteGavin, I think your question has a very good point. The question like this is often comes to my mind as well.
Honestly, I did not give too much attention to the geometry on this one, but I tried to get the snap of look when you just look up the scene. When you do this the geometry is not that important but more you look into what is there and how it looks. Human eye is naturally adjusting this sort of error in subconscious mind.
Since you mentioned this, once it reproduced in photograph, you have more time to look at details in frozen frame. Therefore, correcting this maybe not that bad idea.
I can play collecting geometries with Photoshop (lens collection) but I decided not to be done on this particular shot. However, line the horizontal may give us more natural look but then I have to decide the building or the sidebar of this pole.
This is a good advice, Gavin.
I often keep how I took the photo or do level the horizontal of main subject in most of cases. However, it depends on the subject.
If I try to do this on vertical, I often encounter need for help of the "lens distortion correction". When I stack, I will try few tricks and make versions and leave it for day or two. Then I come back to compare. My wife suggested that print the versions and put on the wall, shuffle every day and pick one at end of the week. Well, that is good idea too.
That process is all part of fun, Gavin.
I think you posted a very good question to think about, here. So, Thanks for that!
I would like to know how others look for that point, too.
I like this one Ben. That is such an interesting building and clock tower. Quite unique.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sky too. Looks to have been a great day for wandering about.
Tena koe ehoa
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great comparative shot of forms and shapes Ben and if I may dive into the conversation between you and Gavin, I tend to agree with you in that there is a compromise of the horizontal or vertical axis in either direction you go with this image.
What I would tend to suggest is that in situations where image content is similar look to compose it within a portrait orientation.... why?
Images like this have a strong vertical nature and that ultimately becomes the first photographic element to consider as a photographer. "How do I impress visually the vertical nature of this scene?"
What a portrait orientation also does is close down the width of the image without adversely compromising the relativity of forms and shapes with each other but, furthermore allows an impression of height within the composition/frame that emphasises the vertical nature of both comparative elements. This allows you as a photographer to impress upon viewers a sense of height as well as the comparative nature of the forms and shapes within this scene.
As it is at the moment we are only able to see the top of these juxtaposed forms without any validated sense/scale of height or the relative vertical nature both would have.
Just wanted to add my inert 5 cents worth.
Thanks, Ndiginiz. Welcome to the conversation and I'm glad you did dive in.
ReplyDeleteI also took vertical shot for this tower and prepared for Nelson Daily Photo to show the area. I will more consider vertical alignment in such compositions because you already have a some comparison of scale.
On the other hand, this has very limited element since I cut off more of bottom part and relative position will distort the scale of lamp post and clock tower.
The alignment is also distorted but I think it gives hint of scale relative to the lamp post straighten up in close to the camera position.
It's fun and sometime risky as well to use distortion as a tool for visual impressions.
Very good comment and thank you Ndiginiz.