help with a straight horizon backround

[lukiedukie]

I'm hoping someone could help me with this. I have taken several shots of some frineds in front of a fire place wich had a horizontal mantel. when I saw the people throught the camera they were straight so i snapped the picture. when i viewed it later the people are straight but the horizantal objects in the backround are of sque and not horizontal like they should be. Do I need to set my camera on a trypod or is there some way to check myself before i snap the picture. any help would be appreciated.:dunno

[Lucky Hack]

Thats one of my biggest pet peeves, :splat and I have ruined enough shots that I purchased a tripod with bubble levels on it. ( I know it's a little extreme, but I'm a bit thickheaded and was having trouble getting a level shot with a regular tripod) If you decide to get a tripod for the setup shots, make sure that the level is on the head of the tripod and not the legs. It can get pricy but I haven't missed a shot since.

hoping this message finds you well -Ian

[lukiedukie]

thanks that's a great help. I don't really like using the tripod especially when you just want a shot on the go but i guess i'll have to make friends with it.

[Jerry Curtis]

Why not just rotate and crop in post? As long as you leave enough of a buffer around your primary subject, this might be preferable to using a tripod on times. Sure, use a tripod where necessary and convenient (always), but otherwise, fix the shot in post.

If the people are straight and a horizontal item off, it might be that you're shooting at an angle other than 90 degrees to the straight line. If you are, no tripod will help that situation... what you have there is the effect of perspective.

[lukiedukie]

i have photoshop elements and i am just learning how to use it. can you give me some directions on how to rotate the image-i know how to crop. thanks

[Andy]

i have photoshop elements and i am just learning how to use it. can you give me some directions on how to rotate the image-i know how to crop. thanks

in photoshop, you use the measure tool. if you have an uneven horizon line, you simply trace that line with the measure tool, then choose rotate image>arbitrary... and click ok

not sure if this translates to elements...

[jthomas]

Thats one of my biggest pet peeves, :splat and I have ruined enough shots that I purchased a tripod with bubble levels on it. ( I know it's a little extreme, but I'm a bit thickheaded and was having trouble getting a level shot with a regular tripod) If you decide to get a tripod for the setup shots, make sure that the level is on the head of the tripod and not the legs. It can get pricy but I haven't missed a shot since.

hoping this message finds you well -Ian
If you look on p. 144 of your D70 manual, you'll find there is a way to get a grid display in the viewfinder. I've never tried it, but if it works it would be a lot more convenient than a tripod.

[wxwax]

Don't forget that a wider angle lens will put a curve on your horizon.

[Lucky Hack]

If you look on p. 144 of your D70 manual, you'll find there is a way to get a grid display in the viewfinder. I've never tried it, but if it works it would be a lot more convenient than a tripod.

Your right! I totally forgot about that, when I got the camera, I turned the grid on and thought " what's that for?" and then promptly turned it off. I'm gonna turn that thing on permanently.

Thanks JT

hoping this message finds you well -Ian

[lukiedukie]

Why not just rotate and crop in post? As long as you leave enough of a buffer around your primary subject, this might be preferable to using a tripod on times. Sure, use a tripod where necessary and convenient (always), but otherwise, fix the shot in post.

If the people are straight and a horizontal item off, it might be that you're shooting at an angle other than 90 degrees to the straight line. If you are, no tripod will help that situation... what you have there is the effect of perspective.

Thanks I rotated the photos and croped per your suggestion and they look great.:clap