My photos are crooked

[olshroom]

I would estimate that 90% of the photos I take are crooked. I remind my self to keep the camera level but it doesn't seem to do any good. Perhaps one leg is 4 inches shorted than the other one. This could cause the problem. That way I have a slanted outlook. Do any of you have this problem or some other glitch in your photo taking?

 

[Butlerkid]

If I had that problem, I would set the virtual horizon display or simply watch the scale indicator in the viewfinder. Read your manual for good information.

 

[acnomad]

Another tip: display the gridlines in your camera's viewfinder and align them to horizontal or vertical lines in your scene as desired.

 

[Phil K]

I tend to hold the camera slightly slanted if I am not paying attention. I have the grid lines display on, and virtual horizon on in cameras that have the feature.

 

[Randy]

I got it and I fix in LR
and I use grid lines to lesson the problem
for sports and wildlife the problem is worse because your tracking a fast moving object and your concentration is on the object

 

[7006]

Happens to me often.
If I think about it I set the horizon display or check the level on the tripod.
Then I correct PP.

 

[socrreferee]

Happens all the time, even with gridlines or the virtual Horizon display. I'm sure there is a reason, but as Randy said, can always correct in post processing.

 

[Terri French]

I often get in a hurry and forget to check my ISO settings before I shoot.

 

[F15Todd]

Yes, uneven horizons happen to me all the time when I shot sports. My first few steps in post are an initial rating done through Photo Mechanic, I then move those selected over to Capture One and my very first steps there is to level and crop the image before I do anything else to them. As I have each images up for the level and crop I do a second rating of each image. Those that make the second cut while being cropped I will work further, the ones that don't are most likely never seen again.

 

[crazy]

lol, and all this time I thought it was an oddity of me being me

 

[Mitchell]

I have the same problem when I handhold. Any time my subject is not close to eye level, I tend to tilt my upper body and camera without realizing.

 

[Pa]

I've trained myself, through long practice, to look for vertical and horizontal lines in my viewfinder before pressing the shutter. I seldom have that problem any more. I do forget other things, however .

 

[menbrial]

i stopped drinking wine ( red and white ) before shooting ...that solved the problem

 

[West]

I have my Fn button programed for horizon, not sure if your camera has that option.

 

[MikEm13]

Try putting one foot on a 2x4.

 

[olshroom]

Try putting one foot on a 2x4.

Hey Mike, best suggestion so far.

 

[olshroom]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. It appears I am not the only one with a slanted outlook. I have added the grid to my view finder. And will be more aware of using it. Thanks again to all of you.

 

[gchappel]

I actually switched from Nikon to Sony partially because of crooked images. I have had 3 surgeries on my shooting eye and can not see well- everything is wavy and skewed due to retinal puckering. On nikon I learned to shoot loose, so I had room to recompose and straighten in post. With the mirrorless sony system, the level in the viewfinder is easier to use- at least for me.
I have found however if I continue to stress and think about things being level- I miss the important shots- the gesture. So I correct in post and shoot away.
gary

 

[olshroom]

I actually switched from Nikon to Sony partially because of crooked images. I have had 3 surgeries on my shooting eye and can not see well- everything is wavy and skewed due to retinal puckering. On nikon I learned to shoot loose, so I had room to recompose and straighten in post. With the mirrorless sony system, the level in the viewfinder is easier to use- at least for me.
I have found however if I continue to stress and think about things being level- I miss the important shots- the gesture. So I correct in post and shoot away.
gary

I know about distorted eye problems. I had 2 eye surgeries for macular denigration. I had to lay face down 24/7 for 2 weeks. If you find a camera that works for you that is great. I think it is better to get a crooked photo that not at all. You can always correct.

 

[Growltiger]

Which way are they crooked?
Beginners often find the left end is too low in many photos. The reason is that when they press the shutter button the right side of the camera moves down.