A new photography challenge...

Ever look at a photo and think that something was not quite right? You stare at it for a while but just cannot put your finger on what is wrong? You tilt your head in concentration...and that is when it hits you! Your camera was crooked!




The human eye and brain is incredible. Our brain just fixes these minor details before we are even consciously aware of them. (A notable exception to this rule is my Aunt, who can pull in the lane way, and as she is stepping out of the car comment that the living room portrait is a hair off. It drives her bonkers. She would correct wall hangings at Buckingham if she could! I like to deliberately shift all the pictures at my mom's house about a centimetre when I know my Aunt will be visiting.) But for the rest of us, it is just not something that registers. We spend our entire days tilting our heads, in one direction and then the next. We are always changing our perspective of the horizon. It is amazing we do not get dizzy! Despite this automatic compensation, we can look at a crooked photo and know that something is off, but still not be able to decide what. Many times we need a rather blatant kick in the right direction: like someone saying: "Your picture is askew." And then you wonder how you could have possibly missed it, especially since now that is the ONLY thing you can see! -sigh- Thank goodness for modern computers and post-production software.

Most software comes with the ability to fix a horizon. Picasa and Faststone are free viewers that offer some excellent photo editing/photo fixing for people who just want to give their photos that extra edge without becoming full-blown photographers or graphic designers. You will be amazed how much a straight and true horizon line can affect a photo.




Here is my challenge: Find an old photograph or take one deliberately that is crooked. For our computer-savvy here on SOS, give a try at fixing it on the computer. For those less savvy or with a non-digital photo, scrap it to make it straight again. :-) Good Luck!

As I write this, I cannot help but think of a small child who is still learning to compensate for this kind of constant shifting of orientation. How interesting and active the world must seem to them...always tilting, always moving! (and now we know why babies spit up all the time -- they are constantly dizzy!!)

Awesome challenge and so very true about the babies!! LOL!!!

LOVE your photo too btw!!

LOVE your photo.

Great challenge and I will try to find a photo but I am not like your aunt, I suck at seeing this stuff, she would probably have a ball at my house.

What a wonderful photo!

Great photo Janet. I have tons of landscape pictures I could use for this.

great challenge!

love your photo... I am "known" for my deliberately crooked - off centre - at an angle photos.... I do it deliberately...

Kelly: HAHA You gave away next weeks challenge! I love taking photos at an angle, too, it can add a lot of life.

Oh Janet you are wicked wicked wicked... you know ALL my photos are crooked LOL
Of course that is why did this isn't it? I am on this like a bee to honey

I think you can tell I edited this photo. The first one is the original crooked one & the second one is the edited one.

Nice fix, Stephanie!

It's amazing how that little tiny fix makes it look better. :-)