Camera Tilt - A Mini-Rant

[Dominantly]

suck it

:lmao:

 

[Christie Photo]

So... what is it with the whole camera tilt thing?! Could someone please explain to me why it is SUCH a popular technique?

I'm not a big fan either. But I will venture a guess:

Today's cameras make it possible for just about anyone to make exposures that are adequately exposed and in focus. Along with the advances in camera technology came a flood of camera users, feeling secure they could produce images consistently enough to offer themselves for hire. Although they have little or no background or training in posing or lighting, these people continue to get plenty of customers, working for very little or no pay. Countless mediocre images pour into the market daily. So.... when the camera gets tipped to one side, diagonal lines suddenly appear in the composition, providing a bit of motion... some interest. None of the players, customers and camera users alike, has a clue why the image strangely stands out from others. It just seems nicer.

It's either all that, or I'm just as you... baffled by the whole phenomenon.

-Pete

 

[Pugs]

suck it

:lmao:

Oh! No you di'n't! LOL!!:lmao:

 

[KmH]

suck it

:lmao:

Hey! Balboa Park! I used to skate there and terrorize tourists all summer long zipping up and down the sidwalk.......Great memories, I was skinny then. They passed a law.....:lmao:

 

[Dominantly]

Sure is Balboa Park! I went there a little while back for a walkabout with my camera...
Couple photos in here if interested Structures - Dominant Photography-- Brandon Fischer

 

[Pugs]

Sure is Balboa Park! I went there a little while back for a walkabout with my camera...
Couple photos in here if interested Structures - Dominant Photography-- Brandon Fischer

I didn't recognize it! But... then again, I've only been there once. My buddy got married in La Jolla in September and my wife and I made a day trip out of Balboa Park.

 

[CSR Studio]

But I can tell you why it's so popular ... people love it. I generally include one tilted shot and one selective color shot in client photos, even though it sometimes pains me to do so, and people eat them up. Almost always result in an order.

Do your clients really like it that much because mine don't like it at all. I even have cleints telling me when we sit down to talk the first time that they don't want any of the tilty pictures.

Another buzz word for use of things like HDR, Tilt, selective color, etc... is trendy. At some point or another you have seen it work well and even make money or possibly it defined a well known artist's work, but then a lot of the time the newbs like myself think "hey that's cool looking, and they're a pro, so I'm gonna try that out to see if I can get the same 'pro' look" (while all the other rules of composition fly out the window) and that's when the trendy stuff gets overused, and people start to hate it.

I think there's a time and place for all sorts of gimmicks(for lack of a better term), but kind of like what bigtwinky said, when people are learning them they will tend to try it out a lot, and not always in ways that work well. But then again how will you know what works and what doesn't until you get comfortable with the technique?

as a side note: I'm still working on the basic rules of a good composition, I don't always get it right, but I won't be giving up on the technique any time soon.

I understand that new photographers are trying different things but if you aren't at the point to know when something is enhanced or not by a gimmick then they should stick with the basics until they get to that point. Don't you think?

As a side note, a technically good photograph that evokes emotion is never boring.

 

[rufus5150]

Do your clients really like it that much because mine don't like it at all.

When I ask for ideas, it's almost always the first one that comes up. "Can you do those angle shots? I really like those."

 

[CSR Studio]

Do your clients really like it that much because mine don't like it at all.

When I ask for ideas, it's almost always the first one that comes up. "Can you do those angle shots? I really like those."

I'm sorry for you. Sure glad mine don't like it! :mrgreen:

 

[Antithesis]

I think sticking to stringent compositional rules is just plain retarded. If everyone did that, then we wouldn't have any variety, just the same old crap. I've actually heard some pretty strong criticism of people like Ansel Adams for being so damn mathematical about his composition. I know that probably sounds dumb, but in my opinion the drama of the moment in his photos are more important than a perfectly horizontal horizon.

I've also had photography teachers tell me to add some tilt to photos, because it can often add drama to an otherwise boring shot. And, working as a wedding photographer for almost a year, tilting your camera was the norm. If you had a good subject in front of you, you'd shoot a horizontal, portrait and everything in between, and often the angles in between will end up being the more interesting photos. You can only arrange a bride and groom so many ways, or take so many dancing shots before it's time to tilt the camera and hope for some interesting photos. I've applied this outside of wedding photography, even to some landscapes and stuff, and it really can add interest.

I know that sounds haphazard, but show me one photographer who doesn't experiment with composition like that, and I'll show you a series of boring ass photos that look like everybody else's who adheres strictly to the rule of thirds and the golden ratio. Breaking those rules is freeing and can help you see your subjects in a different way. Granted, there is a time and a place for everything.

 

[stephenrapoport]

....and relax!

 

[gsgary]

I think sticking to stringent compositional rules is just plain retarded. If everyone did that, then we wouldn't have any variety, just the same old crap. I've actually heard some pretty strong criticism of people like Ansel Adams for being so damn mathematical about his composition. I know that probably sounds dumb, but in my opinion the drama of the moment in his photos are more important than a perfectly horizontal horizon.

I've also had photography teachers tell me to add some tilt to photos, because it can often add drama to an otherwise boring shot. And, working as a wedding photographer for almost a year, tilting your camera was the norm. If you had a good subject in front of you, you'd shoot a horizontal, portrait and everything in between, and often the angles in between will end up being the more interesting photos. You can only arrange a bride and groom so many ways, or take so many dancing shots before it's time to tilt the camera and hope for some interesting photos. I've applied this outside of wedding photography, even to some landscapes and stuff, and it really can add interest.

I know that sounds haphazard, but show me one photographer who doesn't experiment with composition like that, and I'll show you a series of boring ass photos that look like everybody else's who adheres strictly to the rule of thirds and the golden ratio. Breaking those rules is freeing and can help you see your subjects in a different way. Granted, there is a time and a place for everything.

You shoot weddings with an E420 ?

 

[epp_b]

As with most things, moderation is key. Most of the time, tilting is used by talentless hacks who think it improves a dull photo (it doesn't).

 

[c.cloudwalker]

I think sticking to stringent compositional rules is just plain retarded. If everyone did that, then we wouldn't have any variety, just the same old crap.
Agreed until you change the word "rule" for that much nicer one "guidelines." What you call rules are not really so except for the noob. The noob (nothing bad intended here, btw, as we were all noobs once upon a time) has a lot to learn and having somewhat strict rules to deal with allows him to concentrate on what is more important, at first.

The rules allow him/her to come up with a decent photo if not a creative one. As the noob progresses, he/she can throw away all the rules and come up with his/her own vision. But you have to know the rules and know how to apply them before you can break them.

And you have to have a reason to break the rule before you break it. Just breaking a rule does not make you creative. Sorry. Every artist breaks the rules all the time but "I'm going to tilt this shot to be creative" is not creative. Actually, considering how many people are tilting their shots today, I would think it is more creative not to.


I've actually heard some pretty strong criticism of people like Ansel Adams for being so damn mathematical about his composition. I know that probably sounds dumb, but in my opinion the drama of the moment in his photos are more important than a perfectly horizontal horizon.
Lol at the skewed horizon. Most of the time someone mentions a skewed horizon, I need a ruler to see it and I had never heard so many people worried about horizons until I joined forums. That said, mentioning a name is dangerous. You like Adams, fine but I don't really. His photos are beautiful but they bore me to death. And I don't see the drama of the moment... 1/60th of a second in the life span of nature is like a speck of dust. No drama.

I've also had photography teachers tell me to add some tilt to photos, because it can often add drama to an otherwise boring shot.
Doesn't sound like a teacher I would want. Sounds to much like "well it did not work in color, let's make this B&W..."

And, working as a wedding photographer for almost a year, tilting your camera was the norm. Not in my work. If you had a good subject in front of you, you'd shoot a horizontal, portrait and everything in between, and often the angles in between will end up being the more interesting photos. Is it really or is it what the non-creative person (the client) sees as being creative? You can only arrange a bride and groom so many ways, or take so many dancing shots before it's time to tilt the camera and hope for some interesting photos. Are you sure it is not a case of your own creative limitation? I agree that there are only so many ways to arrange a bride and groom but do they really want to be arranged any other way? Maybe a wedding is not a time to be that creative. Maybe it is more a time to capture the event. I had the opportunity to think about this last summer when my son got married and the photos were extremely disappointing. Nothing wrong with them per say. Just your typical boring wedding photos which only my son and his bride will cherish.

Granted, there is a time and a place for everything. Amen to that

Not trying to be mean. Just trying to bring in a sense of reality.

 

[Christie Photo]

Agreed until you change the word "rule" for that much nicer one "guidelines." .... Just breaking a rule does not make you creative.

Maybe a better yet description is the phrase "conventional wisdom."

I couldn't agree more. Merely abandoning (or failing to learn) what is widely accepted as "good" is not in and of itself creative.

Simply put, producing work that is different is not the same as producing good work that is different.

-Pete