Put down the beer horizon — you’re drunk! 🍺🌊 Nothing ruins a stunning seascape faster than a tilted horizon. You don’t need luck; you need your camera level. Let’s fix it, fast.
Before we go any further, lets address the elephant in the room. The “I can fix it in Photoshop!” battle cry. And you would be right – you can, and I have. Hundreds of times. And its not hard at all. But – why have to fix anything at all?
The Problem: Crooked Horizons = Distracted Viewers
You’ve framed the perfect sunrise or sunset, the waves are sparkling, and the composition is spot-on… but the horizon? Off. Even a slight tilt makes your photo feel unbalanced, amateurish, and less impactful. Humans are wired to spot it — your audience will subconsciously feel the tension, even if they can’t explain why.
The Solution: A $7 Spirit Level
Here’s the secret weapon in every pro’s kit: a camera level. Here’s how it saves your photos:
- Perfect Horizon Every Time: No guesswork. The ocean stays flat, your cliffs stay grounded, and your composition stays strong.
- Faster Editing: Less cropping in post. Your verticals and horizontals stay true.
- Confidence in the Field: Focus on lighting, timing, and storytelling instead of tilting and re-shooting.
Pro Tip Alert!
Why I prefer the spirit level over the level in the camera? A couple of reasons:
- I like to leave the LCD display as empty as possible. As shown in the BTS shot, the only thing you will see is that histogram in the bottom right hand corner of the display.
- The spirit level in the hot shoe is always right there in my face
Behind the Shot
On a warm summer night I headed down to Conimicut Point to catch a sunrise. My setup is almost always the same – the cable release dangling out the left side, filters securely mounted to the front on my lens.
No matter how I have tried, I have always struggled to get straight horizons! Grid lines on the screen, the level in the camera itself. No matter what I tried, I always found myself making adjustments in Lightroom to get that horizon straight.
And that bit of green glow up on top? My trusty $7 spirit level!
Get the Gear: What I Use
Tripod adjustments for precision
Built-in electronic levels on my camera
Small hot-shoe bubble level for quick setups
Try It Yourself
Ready to see the difference for yourself? Here’s a quick exercise you can do on your next shoot:
Reflect: Notice how a level horizon creates calm, order, and draws attention to the subject instead of fighting the tilt.
Set Up: Grab your camera and tripod. Pick a scene with a clear horizon — ocean, lake, or even a distant skyline works.
Frame It: Compose your shot as you normally would. Don’t worry about perfection yet.
Check Your Level: Use your built-in camera level or a hot-shoe bubble level. Notice how even a slight tilt changes the balance of the composition.
Take Two Shots: One without adjusting, one perfectly leveled. Compare the difference.
Take the Next Step
Keeping your horizon straight is just the start—level shots make every image feel intentional and professional. Dive deeper with my workshops or books to see how small adjustments create big impact, and bring your photography from good to unforgettable.
Dive deeper into the lessons and stories with my fine art photography books
Learn hands-on techniques in my photography workshops—practical, fun, and inspiring.
Bring peace, beauty, and storytelling into your space with fine art prints.
Get Level – Bonus Challenge
Pick a scene with a clear horizon and experiment with keeping it perfectly level. Take three shots with different framing or angles, but keep the horizon straight. Compare the results—it’s amazing how level makes everything feel intentional.
