#3 Where to Place the Horizon for Highest Impact?

In the previous lesson, we talked about the horizon and how photographers use the horizon to keep their shots straight. But did you know, where you place the horizon can have a big impact on your photo? That’s what we’re going to talk about today.

You might think this is trivial. Does it really make that much of a difference where you place the horizon? Feels like we’re nitpicking here? But that’s the point. I want you to start thinking about these little things. Here’s a famous quote:

You don't take a photograph, you make it. — Ansel Adams

(Speaking of Ansel, that’s an important name you should know. Many consider him to be a god of photography, like how Tendulkar is to cricket, and Federer is to tennis.)

See, everybody knows how to take a photo. Only a few know how to make one. Putting just that little bit of extra thought into your shot is going to separate you from the crowd. In the next few lessons, we’re going to hone down on the different ways you can frame your shot. These are tried and tested patterns, and keeping these patterns at your fingertips means you won’t have to reinvent the wheel each time. If you are a programmer, you know what design patterns are. It’s the same here. OK, let’s watch the video:

As you saw, the key takeaway is interestingness and emphasis. Emphasize what is interesting. De-emphasize what is not. So, let me ask you: where have you been placing your horizons?