At first I struggled with this project as there isn't anywhere locally to the horizon. To avoid having to travel long distance in order to complete this project I once again used the Trans Pennine Trail to help me find a suitable scene to shoot. Although no true horizon can be seen along the section of the TPT I used, there is a visible horizon. A True Horizon is where the sky appears to meet solid ground, or sea. All I could find was a Visible Horizon; this is where the sky appears to meet a line of objects such as buildings or trees. My examples below contain a line of trees that create a visible horizon.
01. 55mm, 1/640sec, f/11________02. 55mm, 1/640sec, f/11
03. 55mm, 1/320sec, f/11________04. 55mm, 1/160sec, f/11
05. 55mm, 1/125sec, f/11
Admittedly the scene is not what we would call picturesque but it is adequate for the purpose of this project. I'm quite disappointed with these photographs as it was in fact a very nice day, by the time I found a suitable place to shoot, the sky had clouded over. I feel that the first image contains too much sky; with the second however, the balance appears more pleasing to the eye. The third image, having an equal amount of sky and ground doesn't feel very comfortable to look at. The fourth has slightly more ground than sky and looks quite pleasing. The last image has too little sky and appears cramped. The second and fourth photographs are my favourite but between the two I feel the fourth is the best. With there being a lot of detail in the foreground, my eyes feel comfortable skimming over this in clockwise circles, starting at the bottom. Had the second image contained a large subject that breaks the horizon, I feel this would have been my preferred shot.
I also decided to shoot the horizon in portrait to see if my preferred placement is reciprocated within this format.
01. 55mm, 1/800sec, f/11____02. 55mm, 1/800sec, f/11
03. 55mm, 1/400sec, f/11____04. 55mm, 1/125sec, f/11
05. 55mm, 1/125, f/11
Again I feel that the second and fourth shots are the most visually pleasing. The first has too much sky, the third has an equal amount of sky and ground yet appears unbalance and the last looks very cramped. The fourth again is my favourite because the majority of the detail is in the foreground. The second would again benefit from having a subject breaking the horizon; if the sky had not been so dull, it could have been a much nicer and more appealing photograph.
In conclusion, I feel it all depends on the main area of focus in a photograph to determine where the horizon should be positioned. If the foreground contains the most detail then a higher horizon is more pleasing. If there is an object/subject in the sky or breaking the horizon then a lower horizon would be more appealing. If the horizon it self is the main focal point then placing it around two thirds of the way up the photograph creates the most aesthetically comfortable shot.
In conclusion, I feel it all depends on the main area of focus in a photograph to determine where the horizon should be positioned. If the foreground contains the most detail then a higher horizon is more pleasing. If there is an object/subject in the sky or breaking the horizon then a lower horizon would be more appealing. If the horizon it self is the main focal point then placing it around two thirds of the way up the photograph creates the most aesthetically comfortable shot.
