It's hard to keep the camera level

[marchyman]

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So it's a genetic thing?  😉

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[NigelG]

Just to give a (pretty experienced) target  rifle shooter’s perspective if it helps (and forgive me if this is Grandmother/Egg territory)

When target rifle shooting at distance - where precision is obviously critical - one cants the rifle inwards towards your eye so that one’s head always remains vertical, even though this results in the parabola of the shot being complicated by lateral as well as vertical deviation.

Secondly one takes a closed-eyed breath and then re-sights to see actually where you are pointing when relaxed. This is because, at the point at which you release the shot, your brain is focussed on that job only, and your muscles will involuntarily relax to a tiny degree. If you are “pushing” the rifle (or camera) towards the target, that muscle relaxation will drop your shot a couple of degrees down to the right (assuming you’re right handed) or even more so if you don’t cant the rifle so your head is upright.

I would guess that a lot of consistently tilted horizons is due to a combination of tilting your head perhaps so your nose clears the camera body and then “pushing up” the camera to achieve a horizontal image. At the point of pressing the shutter you will inevitably “droop” and the end result will be a couple of degrees out. Obviously this is magnified by the fact that you can’t “cant” the camera like you can a rifle if you’re aiming for a level horizon.

If I doubt try framing a shot, closing your eyes, breathing-in, holding, breathing-out, and then seeing where you are actually pointing.

Obviously not relevant for street shooting etc but maybe of some help otherwise...

Edited November 2, 2021 by NigelG

[NigelG]

TLDR (as seen from behind the camera)

In my experience most right-handed people will push “up” with their right hand to level the camera as they are inclining their heads to the right while framing. When they push the shutter their muscles naturally relax against that “push” and drop the camera clockwise  to the right…

 

Edited November 2, 2021 by NigelG

[Herr Barnack]

On 11/10/2020 at 2:02 PM, Jeff S said:

Studies show that people lean a little more to the right, conservatively, as they age.

Best to remain level headed.

Jeff

Only in the northern hemisphere, though.  In the southern hemisphere, it's the opposite.