Lines, Lines, Lines - How to Use Lines in Improving Your Photography
Do you want to improve your photography? If you do, then come and join me and discover a technique I learned (and am still learning) as I go through my adventures in photography.
Lines in Photography
Lines come in many forms – vertical, horizontal, diagonal, wavy, curved, curled, spiral, twisted, broken, converging, radiating. Think of a descriptive term about lines and you most likely will find one such line.
Artists have long known about the power of lines in their art. This can be literal or implied. So, to improve composition in your photography, one of the basic tips is to use lines.
Vertical and Horizontal Lines
Using lines in photography can add impact or a new dimension to your photographs.
Vertical lines make your eyes move up and down in a picture. The lines can enhance the feeling of depth, magnificence or dominance.
Horizontal lines on the other hand make your eyes go left to right or right to left. Horizontal lines create a sense of serenity, calmness and timelessness
Diagonal lines
Diagonal lines increase dynamism in a picture.
Curved, Curled, Wavy Lines
Use curved, curled or wavy lines to create softness and sensuality.
Radiating Lines
Radiating lines create a feeling of openness, happiness. When I see radiating lines as in the following photos, I can't help but smile.
Converging lines, Vanishing Point
One of the most dynamic effects that you can produce in your photos is to look for the vanishing point created by converging lines. If you also use blur at the same time, then this results in the feeling of being sucked into a vortex. This is shown in the following pictures.
S-curve
Using an S-curve creates not only a pleasant but also a dynamic photo. This is shown in the photos below.
Lines are Made to be Broken
I love working with lines but sometimes they, especially straight lines, can be monotonous if there is no other element in the picture. So it, is usually a good idea to break the lines somewhere along the way and add an element of interest or surprise to break the monotony.
If you remember the photos above, I used a glass to break the monotony of the horizontal and diagonal lines. In the photo of horizontal lines, I also captured a bird to break the static effect of the lines.
The next two photos show more "broken lines" and the element of surprise.
Tutorials About Lines
It is fun to play with lines in your photos. It is an on-going lesson for me to discover which lines work best in a picture.
If you want to know more about lines in photography, below are some tutorials that have helped me discover the powerful effects of lines. Have fun!
http://digital-photography-school.com/working-the-lines-in-your-photography
