Delderby wrote:
Yes - but a short explanation for the preference might be really useful to the OP and provide food for thought.
A pictorial example can be worth a thousand words, after all - that is what our hobby is about - and surely this forum is about sharing pictures and experiences?
As the OP I thank you all for your comments pretty much all of which were spot on. I agree the shadow in the foreground needs to be cropped out. Interestingly, there was a slight slope from left to right so the photo is level but the horizon is not. Since only I knew this, it's clearly tilted from everyone else's point of view so what should be done in this situation? Tilt the photo so the horizon appears level?
I was fully aware of compositional issues like the rule of thirds. I never intended this photo to be assessed from a professional point of view or would I ever enter it in a contest of any sort. It's sheer accident my computer and tablet created the two versions and I thought they might serve as the basis for this exact discussion.
SonyA580 wrote:
To quote film director John Ford in the movie The Fablemans ...., "You can put the horizon at the bottom or the top ..., never in the middle". I'm testing this theory with the attached rendition of your picture. I did not crop the picture but used PS to stretch the canvas vertically putting the horizon in the upper 1/3 of the frame. I'd be interested in hearing comments, one way or the other.
Cutting off the top of the trees is a no no in my book. It would be permissible if there was a figure or something of interest on the path going into the trees that was intended to be the focus/subject in the image.
Stan
FWIW: In the original, with the horizon line in the middle, the eyes are drawn to the forest, and if the viewer puts themself in the picture, your head is up and your lookin for an adventure on the road through the wood. With the horizon line in the upper third, the eyes are drawn more to the road in front of you. Your head is down, seeing just the road. As a painter, I am thought look for drama. With the H line too high, much of that is removed.
OldSchool-WI wrote:
_______________________(reply)
... You guys who criticize---"criticism" when the thread leader asks opinions---could for once simply shut your mouths.-------------------
So if you don't like my opinions, I should keep them to myself? ...Nice
I'll be sure to run my opinions past you first before posting.... Not.
SonyA580
Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer
If it looks good and it works, who cares
This was an experiment to test out a "rule" of John Ford's. I agree. The best rule is ...., no rules!
Do you have your iPad rotation locked in portrait mode? If not, there’s no reason that it would show as portrait when you rotate the iPad to landscape view.
fourlocks wrote:
My winter screen saver is generally a photo reminding me of a nice, warm summer day. I took this photo last June and it's presently my iMac's screen saver. However, my synced iPad decided to display the photo in portrait mode effectively cropping the landscape format into a portrait format.
Which format do you think provides the better picture? Why? Would you crop either, further? I'm interested because several friends had differing opinions.
I like the landscape version most, maybe crop a little more from the sky.
MLein
Loc: Bettendorf, IA
The only "opinion" that matters in photography is your own. If you like it, it's a good photo.
If you don't, move on or redo it 'til you do like it and are satisfied with it. Then it's a good photo.
Don't photograph to satisfy other people, won't happen. Need to be your own best/worst critic.
I too would crop out a bit of the shadow, but I'd also level the photo (eliminate the tilt).
Several have suggested leveling the photo. The OP explained the slope is the lay of the land. Leveling the image along that line would tilt the trees from vertical.
Stan
I think that everyone enjoyed the "landscape" version.
Yet, if (tweaked) just a little, the portrait might have as much
value as the other. I'm not sure how you would work that shot.
It's your's to enjoy the way you felt when shooting it.
The colors compliment the moment of the shot. I like them both.
The gravel road, coming in to the frame, has a lot to do with it.
StanMac wrote:
Several have suggested leveling the photo. The OP explained the slope is the lay of the land. Leveling the image along that line would tilt the trees from vertical.
Stan
Amazing, the land is sloped...
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.