This is the fifth part in a series of tips looking at the “rules” of photographic composition.

While these “rules” are by no means exhaustive or compulsory, learning how to use them will help make your images more aesthetically pleasing and help you move from taking “snapshots” to more professional-looking photographs.

How about subscribing to the Fotonomy Blog RSS Feed to avoid missing any in the series?

Remember to check your horizon is horizontal!Reminding photographers to check that they have a Straight Horizon may seem over-obvious and unnecessary, but you’d be amazed how often it is forgotten.

Even the slightest deviation from the horizontal (unlike my terribly wonky one used in the photograph to the right) can be glaring and distracting from an otherwise interesting landscape.

The good news is that it’s a simple few seconds fix in any decent photo editing software.

Take the time to check as part of your post-processing routine. You’ll be glad you did.

Have a go and post a link to your photographs with a Straight Horizon in our comments. Most of all, have fun!