Hiking back after a long day I was blessed to get a beautiful sunset rolling in with a cold front. I found this leading line with the highway and cars passing along the mountainside as well as the trail path to the left winding to the mountain itself, engulfed in clouds. I loved the composition, and despite being exhausted from the hike, stayed on the edge of the mountain to watch the sun set.
This is blended with several photos for exposure stacking and to merge the car lights winding around the road. The main image is f14, at 27mm, and 13 seconds on a Tamron ultrawide.
EDIT:I've been told by someone that the image looks slightly crooked. While the tripod was leveled I can see that the mountain does seem to appear crooked. I've tilted the picture slightly in this image. However, I'm not sure if I like it more or less. I don't want to tilt any more as I don't want to lose the framing of the mountain by the clouds at the top.
Any recommendations as to which is best?
I've been told by someone that the image looks slightly crooked. While the tripod was leveled I can see that the mountain does seem to appear crooked. I've tilted the picture slightly in this image. However, I'm not sure if I like it more or less. I don't want to tilt any more as I don't want to lose the framing of the mountain by the clouds at the top.
Any recommendations as to which is best?
Trevor, I suggest you repost this image at left, so we can scroll directly between them. As the OP you can edit the whole page, and if you then delete your own comment, this comment of mine will disappear with it.
I've just edited the post to include both pictures in the original message. Does this work for comparison?
Yes, now we can A/B them. So this series of comments is redundant and confusing for the new viewer.
I'd delete this whole stem. Trevor & just edit the text at left to suit.
If you just asked without explanation, Trevor, which I prefer I'd opt for the second image. If I had to say which image was "right" without being told, I wouldn't know, as there aren't clues like sea horizons, buildings, lampposts or trees. There's not much in it - the apparent tilt doesn't create a disturbing effect for me.
I wouldn't rotate it like this if I knew the original was from a levelled camera myself. I prefer to depict what I saw accurately in general.
Thanks Chris, this was exactly the type of feedback I was hoping to get. I think I prefer the second as well, but I agree I generally like to leave the image as leveled from the tripod.
Mountain and clouds are awesome. Rotated does it for me and I’d also crop the bottom to begin near/at the roadway. Not sure whether that would work for 4:3 though. Either way, hike rewarded.
Cheers, Rob
Thanks Rob, the cropping with the roadway beginning at the bottom worked well for a 4:5 which was how I ended up framing this for instagram. I think I like the rotated one a bit better as well.
Nice what’s your IG? Will follow.
It’s @trevor_parker_photography, thanks! There should be a link there from my fstoppers profile as well
I have on several occasions had the same experience. The camera is leveled when taking the photo, but when I look at it afterwards the composition makes it look out of level.
I also think the second picture looks better, and that is what we do in post process, making these small adjustments to make the result better. So I think rotating the picture a little is the right decision.
Very nice photo by the way.
Thanks Kjell!