There’s a concept when composing photographs (or video) called “canted angles.” Also called Dutch angles, oblique angle, German angle, is a type of shot where the shot is composed with vertical lines at an angle to the side of the frame, or so that the horizon line is not parallel with the bottom of the camera frame.

This is not something I usually play with. More often than not it looks odd to me. I prefer absolutely simplicity when composing my shots and horizons can never been too straight. However, I did wander onto a shot of mine I took of a teen riding his motorcycle on the open plains and thought the idea of a canted angle really worked and made the shot more interesting.

Many movie directors frequently use canted angles. I’m not sure it is something I will work with a lot when making Montana photos, but when the feeling is right I may incorporate it more into my shots in the future. What do you think?