Leica breaks the rules?

[Krosya]

Ok, this is , I guess, more of a typical standard in photography, some call it a rule. Matter of opinion and personal vision I suppose. And yet, I thought I'd get your opinion on this - following links from Leica website:

First Elmar. Photo that is there - roof is tilted and a chimney kinda grows out of guy's head - sort of breaks common rules of photography:

http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/m_system/lenses/468.html

Now this one is for a Summilux - interesting photo, yet horizon is clearly tilted - again - something that should be avoided:
http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/m_system/lenses/466.html

Is it me - or Leica, being perfectionists as they are, should have chosen better executed photos for their website?

 

[gavinlg]

I think you may have too much time on your hands.... haha!
You could always say that leica is a very conservative company and always follows the rules, but you could look at it this way as well:

While all the other manufacturers went to SLRs and massive kits, leica stayed with and persisted with rangefinders. While all the other manufacturers went all digital, leica still make and sell film cameras.
They've also made a film AND digital SLR.
For these reasons, they could probably break as many photographic rules as they wish

 

[gavinlg]

That second picture is beautiful...

 

[gumanow]

As Garry Winogrand would say... what tilt?

 

[nksyoon]

Tilted horizontals can add to or subtract from the picture. I don't like it in the first, but in the second I do.

Here's a post discussing the use of tilted horizontals and other stylistic "tricks" in current photojournalism:
http://5b4.blogspot.com/2007/05/kratochvil-pellegrin-uimonen-and-new.html

 

[MartinP]

I would say that the photos are perfectly aligned to their subjects. In the one case, the verticality of the mans head, in the other to the horizontal line along which one finds the eyes of the characters.

Aren't "rules" about horizons etc. more intended as a photography-for-dummies checklist for users who can just about press the button, rather than as infallible guides to "perfection" ??

EDIT: I just came back to the thread and my entry above could probably do with several "smileys" dotted about. I meant that, where it works to give the photographer what they want, the usual guidelines should be ignored without any doubt. The point I was intending to make is doing this deliberately (and successfully) rather than by accident is a positive thing.
🙂

 

[jsuominen]

That second picture is beautiful...

Yes it is and more Ragnar Axelsson's aka 'RAX' photos are here http://www.rax.is/ if you are interested. I bought his book 'Faces of the north' about a year ago and it's very good. He has shot almost all photos on his website and book with Leica M gear, although some of them are shot with MF RF Mamiya 7s.

 

[alcaraban]

Tilted roof and horizon don't disturb me at all. I even think that #2 looks much better this way. I would prefer the chimney in another place, though.

 

[Krosya]

I like the second (Summilux) photo too. However, while I understand that it was the photographer's vision and photo looks good even with tilted horizon, yet it and first photo (Elmar) once I noticed those things - they bother me and my eyes just right away goes to that. Summilux photo to much lesser degree, as it a beautiful photo, but still takes attention away for me.
"Rules for dummies" or not - certain compositional things just do or don't work in some instances.

 

[pvdhaar]

Looking at these photos, there's one thing that's perfectly clear to me. These aren't snapshots. I'll hazard a guess that more effort has gone into them than we can imagine at first.

And mulling it over some more, I can't see how these pictures could be improved taking into consideration what they're meant for, and that's to draw attention to the capabilities of the lenses. The tilt makes the pictures more dynamic than if they were level, and the chosen apertures separates the subjects from the backgrounds perfectly.

Grrr!!! I want an Elmar and a Summilux now..

 

[iml]

Tilting horizons can add dynamism. Every rule of composition should be broken at some time. I like both of the sample photographs.

Ian

 

[Didier]

...First Elmar. Photo that is there - roof is tilted and a chimney kinda grows out of guy's head - sort of breaks common rules of photography...
...Now this one is for a Summilux - interesting photo, yet horizon is clearly tilted - again - something that should be avoided...
...Is it me - or Leica, being perfectionists as they are, should have chosen better executed photos for their website?

This post remembers me a very funny blog article about great photographers here.

 

[colinh]

Now that, Ian, is a brilliant photograph 🙂 I must learn to tilt more.

Didier, it wasn't "brainless" at all.

As to the original question. I sometimes have my doubts... some of the shots on the Leica website look decidedly unprofessional, as do some in the LFI magazine. Maybe they deliberately don't choose postcard picture after postcard picture (as seen probably on Canon and Nikon sites).

It's odd, I keep coming up against the "Is it Art?" and "Was it deliberate?" questions in this forum...


colin

 

[Krosya]

This post remembers me a very funny blog article about great photographers here.

Aha, so you know that you were RUDE in your original post since you changed it. Hmmm. Reminds me of some other posts...............😡

 

[leif e]

I love the second shot and I dont think that the tilted horizon is bad at all. If the only thing in the picture was the horizon I would probably be really bottered. You should check out the rest of his stuff as well. www.rax.is

True, Erik! And; thanks for the rax-link! Fantastic pics!

 

[lushd]

Isn't there a "rule" about not putting the subject of interest in the centre of the picture?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/73041278@N00/280031573/

Lovely picture by the way.

And you did it with a Leica!

 

[Didier]

Isn't there a "rule" about not putting the subject of interest in the centre of the picture?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/73041278@N00/280031573/

Also very interesting to see that Krosya has Bob Shell, who's conviction he found correct and lawful, as his first flickr contact! 😀

 

[peter_n]

Faces of the North by Ragnar Axelsson is a truly inspirational book.

 

[Krosya]

Also very interesting to see that Krosya has Bob Shell, who's conviction he found correct and lawful, as his first flickr contact! 😀

If you are trying to start a fight - you'd better do it some other place. If you are just being a rude smartass, well, it really is YOUR problem.
Plus what does Bob, being my contact on flickr, have to do with his conviction? I don't like Hitler either, yet I watch movies about WWII.
Where is a moderator when you need one?😡

 

[Krosya]

Isn't there a "rule" about not putting the subject of interest in the centre of the picture?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/73041278@N00/280031573/

Lovely picture by the way.

And you did it with a Leica!

I didn't say that I follow the rules all the time. 😉 But I try.
And thank you.