Posted by Mike Smith on October 13, 2006 at 12:26 PM
I find that most times when I shoot without a bubble level I have at least 2 degrees of tilt no matter how hard I try and tee up the horizon with the bottom/top viewfinder frame and recompose. When reviewing a days shoot I frequently muse as to how on earth I manage I get the levels so far out of true, especially with the hand held shots but also with the long lens work to a lesser extent
I came across this thread today and it seems to makes perfect sense why I have the problems....
"You normally rely on using both eyes to judge level (when not taking photos).
Now everyone has one eye that's higher than the other to some degree and your brain has programmed this level difference into it's horizon = level calc - It actually uses the slight level difference to help decide what is level! When you use your camera, you are using just one eye, but the brain still has the same level offset applied when you're trying to calc what's level.
So your initial view of what's level can consistantly have the level offset applied, and hence give you a consistantly tilted horizon - even though it 'looked' level.
You really have to work hard to correct this - as it's pretty much hardwired!"
I guess all us "slanties" will be staring in the mirror tonight checking this out
and then ordering a gridded screen tomorrow morning
Posted by John MacTavish on October 13, 2006 at 12:32 PM
How does this work for one eyed persons?
John
Posted by writepic on October 13, 2006 at 12:38 PM
thats quite funny. however i do find the grids in my S2 viewfinder most useful when doing anything with a water horizon in it. they are very easy to level up on.
having siad that, i've seen some photographers work who would have had to be laying down to get a horizon that wonky.
m
Posted by Dave Courtenay on October 13, 2006 at 12:55 PM
In that case i must have one eye on the top of my head and another on my chin-im a bugger for wonky horizons and now i have an explanation and a grid screen makes complete sense
Discussion
4 repliesI came across this thread today and it seems to makes perfect sense why I have the problems....
"You normally rely on using both eyes to judge level (when not taking photos).
Now everyone has one eye that's higher than the other to some degree and your brain has programmed this level difference into it's horizon = level calc - It actually uses the slight level difference to help decide what is level! When you use your camera, you are using just one eye, but the brain still has the same level offset applied when you're trying to calc what's level.
So your initial view of what's level can consistantly have the level offset applied, and hence give you a consistantly tilted horizon - even though it 'looked' level.
You really have to work hard to correct this - as it's pretty much hardwired!"
I guess all us "slanties" will be staring in the mirror tonight checking this out
and then ordering a gridded screen tomorrow morning
John
thats quite funny. however i do find the grids in my S2 viewfinder most useful when doing anything with a water horizon in it. they are very easy to level up on.
having siad that, i've seen some photographers work who would have had to be laying down to get a horizon that wonky.
m