Tip 8 - Know Where To Put the Horizon

 Whether you choose a horizontal or a vertical orientation, try to keep the horizon perfectly level, because even the slightest tilt can distract the viewer.  You can always crop it to have a level horizon after the fact, if you need to, but do your best to take pictures with a level horizon right out of the gate. 

 It's typical to put the horizon smack dab in the middle of your viewfinder, but this is another easy thing to improve!  Us the Rule of Thirds we learned about last week, and place the horizon line on the upper or lower third dividing line.  You can be more extreme and place the horizon even lower or higher - but whatever you do - try to create something a little more interesting than just a horizon in the middle of the picture!

Jim Miotke suggests a that to figure out whether to put the horizon in the top or bottom third, ask yourself, "Which is more interesting and pretty - the sky or the land/sea in the foreground?"  If it's the sky, place the horizon low (you will show more of the sky this way).  If the foreground is more interesting, then put the horizon high (so you capture more of the sea/land).

In this image above, Beverly Burke placed the horizon near the middle of the composition; it is also slightly tilted. 

The second image (below), is more dynamic and balanced...not to mention MUCH more interesting!  Beverly placed the horizon near the lower third and has the gorgeous sky taking up more of the frame.  See what difference placement of the horizon makes? 

~ excerpts taken from Better Photo Basics: The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Taking Photos Like the Pros, by Jim Miotke