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01/31/2008 12:47:52 AM · #26 |
IMHO: 1, 3 and 4 are more effective; 2 not so much. Just my opinion. |
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01/31/2008 12:49:29 AM · #27 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by Dr.Confuser:
I'm NOT saying tilt is bad, in and of itself. These are obviously on purpose. Sloppy or accidental tilt IS bad, IMHO. |
But I also think a slight, intentional tilt can be beautiful. There's too much of this everything rigid, lined up against the edges, shot straight on and literal style of composition. A slightly askew view can be a whole lot more organic and pleasing. It doesn't need to be dramatic and overt all of the time. |
I agree.
The shot from Tajmahal, that I showed, the reason why I shot that way was that any other way would be the way Taj is photographed many many time over. If I have to come up with something different I need to break out of shell and take something different.
Many times, as you say, tilt adds to energy of shot and it forces viewer to see it differently. |
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01/31/2008 12:51:47 AM · #28 |
Originally posted by zxaar:
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by Dr.Confuser:
I'm NOT saying tilt is bad, in and of itself. These are obviously on purpose. Sloppy or accidental tilt IS bad, IMHO. |
But I also think a slight, intentional tilt can be beautiful. There's too much of this everything rigid, lined up against the edges, shot straight on and literal style of composition. A slightly askew view can be a whole lot more organic and pleasing. It doesn't need to be dramatic and overt all of the time. |
I agree.
The shot from Tajmahal, that I showed, the reason why I shot that way was that any other way would be the way Taj is photographed many many time over. If I have to come up with something different I need to break out of shell and take something different.
Many times, as you say, tilt adds to energy of shot and it forces viewer to see it differently. |
I've been to Agra and visited the Taj. Your photo is exceptional. Perhaps the exception that proves the rule. |
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01/31/2008 12:57:01 AM · #29 |
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01/31/2008 12:59:07 AM · #30 |
I like number 1, 3, and 4. The tilts serve a purpose. In the subway station, the tilt makes the scene more real to me. If I had visited the place for the first time chances are I would have immediately started to look around and in doing so I'd be viewing the scene at an angle much like the one you showed and everything that comes with it (i.e. sense of vertigo, scale, etc).
Shot number 2, I don't like. The tilt looks forced but more than that the shot is just boring. It doesn't engage anybody but those who would know the guy. It doesn't tell a story or explain anything about what's going on and why it was important enough to capture.
Message edited by author 2008-01-31 01:02:13.
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01/31/2008 01:05:06 AM · #31 |
Originally posted by Dr.Confuser:
I'm NOT saying tilt is bad, in and of itself. These are obviously on purpose. Sloppy or accidental tilt IS bad, IMHO. |
I wouldn't even go that far. I'd say that there's a certain style of casual, improvisational, "accidental" if you will, image making where the casual disregard of such things as "true" verticals and horizontals lends an air of immediacy to the image. On shots like that, too MUCH tilt can look contrived, while just a little bit does the trick. It's not something I do myself anymore, mind you; I'm a stickler for accurate perspective whenever I can get it, but that's just me.
I'm happy to see people experimenting with this, stepping outside the rigid confines of geometry (as it were) and trying to create their own space. It can't do them anything but good, in the long run. I did quite a bit of this stuff when I was young, and encouraged my students to do the same; strange angles, unusual points-of-view, whatever it took to shake the tree a little. I probably ought to give myself another dose of that kind of thinking, actually, if I'm honest with myself. But I'm an old dog and I am comfortable with my old tricks.
R.
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01/31/2008 01:36:22 AM · #32 |
Originally posted by yanko:
Shot number 2, I don't like. The tilt looks forced but more than that the shot is just boring. It doesn't engage anybody but those who would know the guy. It doesn't tell a story or explain anything about what's going on and why it was important enough to capture. |
Heh. I agree with you about the shot itself - he's on my frisbee team, and this was just a shot I shared with our team. I only included it because it had some tilt.
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01/31/2008 03:10:36 AM · #33 |
maybe there aren't more tilted shots and you just need to go see a chiropractor :P
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01/31/2008 06:44:23 AM · #34 |
Which is why I was opening up a discussion on this. I agree, there are some shots where an extreme tilt entirely makes the shot, case in point is the monument posted above.
So, this thread is serving its purpose, its starting a discussion on a method, which is what this site is all about.....who knows, I may even try one.....ahhhh!
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
I'm happy to see people experimenting with this, stepping outside the rigid confines of geometry (as it were) and trying to create their own space. It can't do them anything but good, in the long run. I did quite a bit of this stuff when I was young, and encouraged my students to do the same; strange angles, unusual points-of-view, whatever it took to shake the tree a little. I probably ought to give myself another dose of that kind of thinking, actually, if I'm honest with myself. But I'm an old dog and I am comfortable with my old tricks.
R. |
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01/31/2008 07:04:57 AM · #35 |
strangely enough my shots always tilt to the left when i'm shootin tilted stuff...
  
maybe that's because the left side of my brain is more active or something??? ;) |
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01/31/2008 08:12:57 AM · #36 |
I think the most important thing this thread could accomplish is to show how or why to tilt an image and to articulate how or why the tilt works or fits the image.
I think tilts lend a nice dynamic to certain images which they really benefit from. There are times when it's overdone (like your neck snaps when the image is opened) and serves no purpose IMO but keep in mind it's a deliberate choice made by the photographer so look it it from that perspective.
I think there are plenty of voters who already have an "anti-tilt knee jerk reaction" who've never really learned to appreciate or understand the technique. Don't feed into that.
  
all for now...
Message edited by author 2008-01-31 08:56:09. |
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01/31/2008 08:38:35 AM · #37 |
I love a good tilt! lol
But my reaction on photo is more about how it goes together as a whole... sometimes a tilt works, sometimes not, but my head isn't necessarily thinking 'it's all about the tilt'.
Can I say 'tilt' again??
;) |
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01/31/2008 11:17:01 AM · #38 |
Originally posted by PGerst:
Which is why I was opening up a discussion on this. I agree, there are some shots where an extreme tilt entirely makes the shot, case in point is the monument posted above. |
Though I'm even posting in support of the subtle tilt. That little touch askew which can set off an image from the geometric constraints of the rectangle it is in. Sort of the way that not quite standard sentence construction can make you spend more time with thoughts. This tilt doesn't have to happen in two dimensions though, you can consider it in how you square yourself up to a scene, for example shooting the front of a building. Do you have to be directly in front of it, or could you be off to the side, shooting across the face, with a gentle, not dramatic tilt adding some organic reality to the scene and not just making everything rigid. |
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01/31/2008 12:21:31 PM · #39 |
Just caught this post and want to comment as I come from the "old school" of thought regarding photographic composition. Back in the 60s we were taught that tilting an image could add movement to the composition as opposed to shooting it straight-up. This technique doesn't always apply and it's up to the photographer's personal disgression to determine whether it's appropriate or not. I find that using tilting in some of my photos adds interest to an otherwise ordinary composition. Using a circular fisheye lens also gives photos an interesting point-of-view and you might consider using one of these.
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01/31/2008 01:01:15 PM · #40 |
  
The true horizon seems to elude me after a few days or weeks at sea. Many of my water shots are out of level, but I sometimes leave them like that for the effect of motion.
I rarely tilt a landscape on purpose, and usually straighten them in processing if they are a little off. Sometimes a tilt is necessary to include a large tall subject like a building where there is not enough space to get it all in. That changes perspective and makes the subject look taller, which sometimes is the effect that I want to get.
My take is that tilt is totally up to the person holding the camera.
Like I said before, if there was a perfect photo, then we could all throw our cameras away, and just enjoy the one perfect shot that would satisfy everybody.
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01/31/2008 01:17:07 PM · #41 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
As a retired, professional architectural photographer, I have recused myself from voting on this challenge. By my personal standards, there are only a few images that are acceptable. But I'm not going to expose the entrants to that mindset.
R. |
I agree that professional architectural photography is a select art. But this is a creative challenge, at least that's how I interpreted it, and creative license prevails.
As a contract photographer for Trend, shooting listings askew is not acceptable and I'm constantly aware of this. But, when I shoot creatively tilting is definitely acceptable and in many cases adds interest to an otherwise ordinary composition. It's merely a matter of thinking outside the box, if you feel tilting adds something to your shot go ahead and tilt it.
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01/31/2008 02:57:11 PM · #42 |
I did this on purpose for a different effect, and this bridge was REALLY hard to get any perspective that looked good without the tilt.....hence my doing this in the Perspective challenge. It was a departure at the time for me, but I did like the way it worked out, and with a low 6, I'm thinking more liked it than not.
I do think this was a pretty extreme example, yet I have grown to really like it.
This one only has a slight tilt, yet I wouldn't change it for the world as I think it's helpful.
I like the effect when used properly.
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01/31/2008 03:09:48 PM · #43 |
they do score quite well if you take it to the extreme
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01/31/2008 03:13:02 PM · #44 |
I agree, both the above are effective.
At the risk of inducing mass disorientation, maybe we need a challenge along these lines:
Tilt - A tilted composition can add interest or drama to your photo's subject. Use it wisely to show off your subject to best advantage. |
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01/31/2008 03:19:26 PM · #45 |
Too much of anything gets tiresome, just like watching a slideshow with too much zoom/motion. Done right, it enhances the shot(s).
Performers often really do well titled as well as candids:
    
Well I think so anyway. |
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01/31/2008 03:21:14 PM · #46 |
Tilt actually gives you more height in the image since the diagonal is the longest dimension. Tilt can be used to emphasize the height of something.
Message edited by author 2008-01-31 15:21:44. |
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01/31/2008 03:28:42 PM · #47 |
Almost forgot:
I didn't get the horizon level in this moon shot and by accident, think it came out better.
*snort* |
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01/31/2008 03:59:34 PM · #48 |
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Tilt actually gives you more height in the image since the diagonal is the longest dimension. Tilt can be used to emphasize the height of something. |
Or to include desired elements without a wide-angle lens ...
My friend Lonny Shavelson recently co-authored and photographed the book Under The Dragon, and I noticed that almost all the pictures were at an angle, but I haven't had a chance to ask him about that yet. |
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01/31/2008 06:07:53 PM · #49 |
Originally posted by Dr.Confuser:
I agree, both the above are effective.
At the risk of inducing mass disorientation, maybe we need a challenge along these lines:
Tilt - A tilted composition can add interest or drama to your photo's subject. Use it wisely to show off your subject to best advantage. |
Your point was correct though, in some cases things could really be improved if there was no tilt.
Consider this photo:
[thumb]640757[/thumb]
With corrected version:
There is a subtle tilt in first one, its difficult to notice, but it is there. The second version which is corrected version is definitely better. |
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