Dividing the frame - exercise position of horizon

I took a sequence of photographs on Pewley Down, Surrey, near to where I live. It was rather cloudy morning, with the sun hidden behind clouds.

The pictures were taken with my Nikon 200 using the 18-70 mm lens set at 18mm. The settings were similar with aperture f/14, shutter speed 1/180th and Iso 250. Some adjustments were made in Photoshop and Lightroom to enliven the fields and hills whilst retaining the interest in the sky.

Image 1: Low horizon

The sky dominates the frame, but it is reasonably interesting. The clouds seem to be slightly threatening as if rain is expected. The hills and fields feel slightly vulnerable.

Image 2: Horizon one third up the frame

Sky is far less threatening. The land in the foreground seems to have become the dominant visual element. The land has no particular point of focus so the eye wanders across the scene. A peaceful scene of the countryside.

Image 3: Horizon at the centre of the frame

The land is the predominant visual element in the frame. The eye scans the fields and into the distance, but seems to only fleetingly look at the sky. The picture seems rather heavy and lethargic.

Image 4: Horizon two thirds of the way up the frame

The texture of the grass and plants in the field in the foreground have become more of a focus of attention. The hedges of the field lead the eye towards the far hilltop on the horizon just to the right of centre. The sky has become merely a backdrop.

Image 5: Horizon three quarters up the frame

The field in the foreground has become the major element in the frame. The hill on the horizon is in a central position, and it now seems to have little significance in the image. The sky is narrower and almost closed off. The sky again seems to present a rather brooding or threatening atmosphere to the picture.

Image 6: Horizon close to the top of the frame

Not surprisingly, the visual impact is similar to the previous image 5. The sky is rather brighter however and it seems slightly less threatening.

On balance, I would choose image 2 as the type of picture I would present as characteristic of Pewley Down on a fine winters day. The possibility of using the horizon position and sky to convey a different mood is something that may be useful for future reference.