Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Art of Composition - 1

Playing with line, shape, and just the way we frame things.  I caught a beautiful day moon at 11:00 in the morning yesterday.


I thought when I was setting up the shots that I would prefer the vertical (portrait) orientation shot ... which is unfortunately a little more than the zoom on my p&s could handle.  But after uploading the photos, I much preferred the landscape orientation.  I can't decide why.

Ignoring the focus (I know the landscape is better focused, but I'm trying to look at the shapes and elements in the photo, not the clarity), which orientation do you prefer and why????

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Definitely horizontal but can't explain why. :) Something about how the moon is frames by the leaves.

Amy said...

Hmmm, very interesting question Cheri. I think, in this case I agree with you. My first thought would be a portrait one too, but the landscape one is working here because it gives a greater indication of vastness for me and that's what adds interest to the shot!

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

These are cool shots, Cheri. I suppose it depends on what I'm shooting, but I tend to use landscape the majority of the time. One thing I like about that is that I can usually crop the shot after I upload it and make it portrait if I want later on.

I like the horizontal shot in your post - like Maya, I like how the trees frame the bottom of the shot.

Anonymous said...

Always having to be different to the rest - I like the vertical one best, I don't know why it just appeals to me.

scrappyjacky said...

I prefer the landscape as well....I think it's partly because the tress frame it so well...but also the leaves on the left of the vertical photo look unconnected....almost as if they shouldn't be there!

Anonymous said...

I do think the composition is better in the landscape photo, and probably that's why it appeals to most of us. I agree with Jacky, I think the framing in that photo really sets off the moon. Great job! I don't think of taking photos of the moon during the day!

Krystal K Grant Photography, LLC said...

I prefer the horizontal composition for the emotion that it evokes. The trees frame and ground the viewer, and there's just a hint of them which is aesthetically pleasing. The eyes are drawn naturally(by the rule of thirds) to the moon, but the large amount of blue gives a sense of the vastness of the sky and the view. THe portrait shot on the other hand has a lot more trees in it, with no apparent reason unless to purposely make me feel crowded, as if in a forest, unable to get to the wide open sky. Although I am an outdoors/woods kind of person, it's not the best place for sky viewing. Ok just my long-winded thought early this morning! xoxoxox

Melissa said...

I definitely prefer the landscape - what a lovely photo.

Anonymous said...

I like the landscape better, too. It just draws the eye. Great photo!!!

Cheryl said...

I too prefer the vertical one as the the view just looks so far away and drags your eyes to it x

Miriam said...

The landscape one for me too, I like the framing and the position of the moon within it. I think the leaves in the portrait are distracting rather than framing. Great post.

humel said...

Lovely shots, Cheri :) I'm in the 'landscape' camp here, for the same reasons that others have given - I like the way the trees form a continuous frame along 2 sides of the photo, and I like the proportion of blue sky xx

Ginger said...

Yup... landscape here too for all the reasons listed above :)Great shot!

Kimberlee said...

Nice capture of the moon. Great job. :D

alexa said...

I'm a landscape pereferrer too - the framing seems to work better. Great shot of the daytime moon!

Kelly Miller said...

I think the landscape one is more aesthetically pleasing because the trees create a \ shape, which creates a clear line and energy in the photo -- both of which emphasize the moon.

However, in the portrait orientation, the trees create a V, which detracts from the moon.

My 2 cents!