[dcstep]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Im not sure It would be as striking. The slope adds a nice visual to the image, it also suggests things about the road itself and the area.

It's so extreme that it almost becomes a dominating element. I think it detracts from the road and sky, because it's overpowering. I like extreme angles in certain circumstances (like a really low perspective of a skate boarder, or a tight, low perspective of a street performer, etc.).

Of course, this is all personal taste discussion. The photographer is free to do what moves him. There's no right or wrong and I don't want to imply that.

I'm just giving my point of view here.

[BrokenVert]

good point. I like low perspective and raked images...so this is right up my alley! haha

[M_Six]

I might have left the slant and just leveled the clouds. I thought the slanted background was a volcanic ridge or some such thing. Then I noticed the clouds are also slanted. Fix the clouds and I think the rest would stand on its own ok.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I might have left the slant and just leveled the clouds. I thought the slanted background was a volcanic ridge or some such thing. Then I noticed the clouds are also slanted. Fix the clouds and I think the rest would stand on its own ok.

Agreed, not all horizons are level (as I look out my window at the Rocky Mountains) so a sensible compromise is often needed.

When a horizon is ambiguous, then you need to look for something vertical or horizontal to use as a reference, assuming that you want a natural horizon. In this shot, I think the clouds are the best indicator.

It interesting to discuss horizons and whether to level or not. One like this, that's quite a few degrees off from natural is actually much more acceptable to me than one that's just a degree or two off. In a situation like this one, you can think, oh, the photographer meant for that to be like that. OTOH, when you have a sea scape and the horizon is two-degrees off flat, I can't help but think, "That's an accident and not intended."

Dave

[BrokenVert]

I didn't even notice the clouds. I just assumed that they were shape oddly!

[YYC335is]

It's interesting, I truthfully hadn't picked up on the horizon being off on the sea scape, it absolutely is and I do need to correct that. With regards to the road photo, BrokenVert and M_Six are actually correct that the clouds are oddly shaped, as well as the road being along the volcanic ridge.

The clouds in the photo are actually a really strange cluster than are perpetually hanging around the top of the volcano on the island, this is due to the trade winds that come in. The horizontal break line near the bottom third of the photo is truly level, and the rest of the angles are the natural slope of the volcanic ridge and odd trade wind clouds.

I definitely appreciate the feedback though (I am by no means a terrific photographer, I'm still quite novice and doing quite of bit of experimenting still), and I like the discussion that this has sparked.

[Itsed65]

I'm dying to come up with a caption for this one...

3 Amigos by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by YYC335is

It's interesting, I truthfully hadn't picked up on the horizon being off on the sea scape, it absolutely is and I do need to correct that. With regards to the road photo, BrokenVert and M_Six are actually correct that the clouds are oddly shaped, as well as the road being along the volcanic ridge.

The clouds in the photo are actually a really strange cluster than are perpetually hanging around the top of the volcano on the island, this is due to the trade winds that come in. The horizontal break line near the bottom third of the photo is truly level, and the rest of the angles are the natural slope of the volcanic ridge and odd trade wind clouds.

I definitely appreciate the feedback though (I am by no means a terrific photographer, I'm still quite novice and doing quite of bit of experimenting still), and I like the discussion that this has sparked.

Thanks for joining back in.

It's not too unusual for a horizon to be ambiguous, which this one certainly is, even if it may indeed be accurate.

I guess the point is, the photographer should always consider the horizon. Is it clear and, if so, is it level? If not, is the viewer likely to think that I didn't intend it to be level?

When doing my Raw conversion, I turn on grid-lines in my Raw converter and put any obvious horizon next to the grid line for a second, to make sure it's level.

Dave

[ddk632]

If you look at the very too of the clouds, on the right, the do look level.

I think it's a beautiful location and road, and the lack of a level reference point such as a foreground element that is clearly level, makes it difficult to orient oneself when looking at the shot having never been to that actual location.

I would not have fixed the clouds, but found a foreground frame of reference (while shooting, not in photoshop) to help the viewer orient themselves. Just throwing one more alternate solution into the mix.

It would be worth going to Hawaii and visit that spot to find a good foreground element, just to drive that road!!!

[dcstep]

Here's what feels natural to me:


RoadLevelCrop by YYC335is, on Flickr

[e90Mark]

Snapshot of my new TiAL.


DSC_1463 by Mark Geezy, on Flickr

[Itsed65]

Since we are talking about road photos

Turn One by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[YYC335is]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Thanks for joining back in.

It's not too unusual for a horizon to be ambiguous, which this one certainly is, even if it may indeed be accurate.

I guess the point is, the photographer should always consider the horizon. Is it clear and, if so, is it level? If not, is the viewer likely to think that I didn't intend it to be level?

When doing my Raw conversion, I turn on grid-lines in my Raw converter and put any obvious horizon next to the grid line for a second, to make sure it's level.

Dave

Thanks for the feedback. I'll be sure to keep this in mind.

Looking at your edit, as a photo I do like the cropping; but knowing what the landscape is actually like, it is a bit of a struggle for me to wrap my head around the mountain side now being the horizon.

[Weebl]

Yup, I've never seen a shield volcano laying on its side. You could always do one of those "selfie" shots where the phone is tilted...
I've probably been on that road and you captured it.

[ddk632]

Here's an old road shot from Iceland (2008) with my Rebel XTi -- it's quite dark but I like it nevertheless.

[ddk632]

Originally Posted by e90Mark

Snapshot of my new TiAL.

Cool shot!

[IRide]

Speaking of roads, a fall ride in Arkansas.

[Weebl]

I hope you live around there..
All I get is green or brown and it's usually brown. Very pretty.

[M_Six]

More roads.

[ddk632]

Originally Posted by ddk632

Here's an old road shot from Iceland (2008) with my Rebel XTi -- it's quite dark but I like it nevertheless.

Wow I just looked at this on my iPad and can't see the road at all. It's way too dark, needs a re-edit.

[dcstep]

I'm in:


Road on Biltmore Estate. by dcstep, on Flickr

[ddk632]

Nice, the M3 looks really good in that shot!