In just about any image you make, you’ll find that there are lines – vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or curved lines. They could help improve the image or not. it’s up to you to find out whether you can use those lines to enhance the outcome of your photo or not.
One way lines enhance images is by adding dynamic impact to the photo. Another way is to lead your viewer’s eyes towards the subject of the image. With these things in mind, you must be wondering, “Just how can I make the lines work for my image?”
Different lines add different impact to a photo. Horizontal lines suggest stability and rest, vertical lines suggest growth and power, while diagonal lines draw suggests a direction which the viewer’s eyes should follow.
How exactly do you work with such lines? Here are some tips:
Horizontal lines – You’ll find that if you want to establish a calm effect to your image, horizontal lines work best.
- Framing an image horizontally will emphasize on the horizontal line, thereby making the stabilizing effect of the line more prominent.
- Framing unbroken lines may make the image come off as dull. Finding something in the foreground to break the line can help add impact to the photo.
- Avoid placing the horizontal line right in the middle of the image because it makes the photo look unfinished. Try placing in on the top or bottom third of the image.
- Layering different textures horizontally can, in itself, draw a viewer’s attention towards the image.
- Lastly, keep horizontal lines, well, horizontal. Even the slightest tilt in a horizontal line will stick out like a sore thumb because your viewer’s eyes will more likely follow the line before they focus on the subject.
Vertical lines – If you’re aiming to focus on height, growth, and power, incorporating vertical lines into the image may suit your image best.
- In relation to how you can best frame an image with a horizon, vertical lines can be best accentuated by framing the image vertically.
- Keep vertical lines parallel to the sides of your image viewer.
- When taking a photo of a vertical subject while looking up to it, keep the middle line as straight as you possibly can. You’ll find that the lines naturally tilt towards the center as it goes further up. This is called key stoning.
- Placing the vertical line in dead center of the image can work for certain effects. But as much as possible, keep the line on the left or right third of the frame to avoid making the image appear too segmented.
- Repeating vertical lines can make for a striking photo, especially if they’re contrasted with other irregularly strewn shapes.
Diagonal lines – If you want to direct your viewers through your image, incorporating diagonal lines into your image can be useful.
- Studies were done regarding which diagonal line has more draw to the viewer’s eyes. Using a left-to-right diagonal line which originates from the bottom of the image going upwards appeals more naturally to the eyes.
- Avoid cutting the image in half by situating the diagonal line from one corner to the other. Place the diagonal line a little bit off center, instead. Use objects in the image to emphasize the segmentation instead of the line itself.
- Keep in mind that in as much as using multi-directional diagonal lines can suggest action, using too many diagonal lines pointing towards different directions can be distracting for your viewer.
- As with horizontal and vertical lines, multiple diagonal lines going in the same direction can actually make for a powerful image on its own.
There you go, a few tips on how to utilize various lines in composing your photos. I hope these tips help you as much as it did with me. Remember, though, that getting the hang of it may take some practice, so get started and look for powerful lines that you can experiment on.
If you have comments or additional tips you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to drop me a line over at the comments section so we can talk about it some more.
