Using Lines and Shapes in Photography
Composing a good photograph isn’t just done by framing your subjects inside the viewfinder. In order to have better photographs, one should try to make effective compositions. A strong composition is the product of a thoughtful study of the environment around you, its lines, shapes, and the patterns they form.
Lines can have a very nice impact on your composition making it more appealing. They can grab the attention of the eye into a certain direction, they can add depth to the photo, and they can form interesting patterns.
Lines can be found all around us. Horizons are the most common of all horizontal lines that if placed on the top third will emphasize the landscape, while when place on the bottom third, more emphasis will be on the sky. To have the maximum impact, try not to cut your image into halves by placing the horizon on the center, and make all horizontal lines as horizontal as possible. Remember that this type of lines is usually more convenient to horizontal photos .
Vertical lines are even more obvious to us. It is a natural fact that nearly everything tends to grow vertically which is why vertical lines usually reflect growth and power. To avoid misusing the vertical lines, make sure that they are perpendicular to the top and bottom edges of the photo. Also remember that this type of lines is usually more convenient to vertical photos.
Another type of lines is the diagonal lines. Just look ahead of you along road or railway lines and you will sense a feeling of depth while your eyes will be set to their point of convergence of the diagonal lines. They can give a sense of speed and movement. A compositional convention is to avoid placing diagonal lines on the diagonal of the photograph as the photo will look split.
The perspective usually control how the lines exist inside the photo. By utilizing a different angle, a pair of parallel lines can easily become converging lines and lead the eyes into the photograph. Combining this with placing a subject at the convergence point will make an excellent composition.
Unlike lines, shapes are used to transmit the meaning of a photograph to the observer. Shapes are the 2D outlines of the objects, and they play a major role in making these objects recognizable. Contrasting an object with a different background is usually the best way to put emphasis on its shape . Thus, the edges of your object will be clear, and consequently, its shape will be very well defined.
Every object has its own distinct shape from specific angles, but some objects may look similar from different points of view. Because photographs have two dimensions only, choosing the right perspective is essential to present the object with the shape you want.
Understanding composition in terms of lines and shapes is one step forward toward more mature artistic expression.
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