Lines can lead you to a destination or carry you away; they can delineate spaces, keeping a person in or excluding them. Lines affect a photograph similarly. They direct the eye, can set a mood, create order or chaos, add dramatic stress, or bring about calmness. Lines exist everywhere, and learning to see their effect can help make a photo compelling—ignoring their existence can lead to dull, uninspired images.
The most basic use of lines is to direct the eye to a subject. The leading line draws the viewer into the photograph and helps to add dimension. The classic picture of a road leading to the horizon is a perfect example of using a line to direct the eye to the background. In that case, the line becomes a subject. Using a wide-angle lens, the line can start oversized and become smaller and smaller, adding perspective. A leading line can be a body line of a vehicle terminating at a logo or defined subject or a guardrail ending at a car traveling down the road. In each instance, the line pulls the viewer into a photograph.
Leading lines do not need to be straight. Curving lines of a mountain road can lead the viewer through a scene to the car, add motion and interest, and allow them to imagine the feeling of driving the road themselves.
Horizontal Lines run from side to side, parallel to the top and bottom of an image. They can add balance and symmetry to a photograph and provide structure that can help create a sense of calmness.
The horizon of a photo often provides a strong horizontal line. It is sometimes best to position the horizon on a photo’s top or bottom line (see post about the rule of thirds.) The sky can be maximized if it is dramatic or interesting or minimized if it is boring.
Vertical Lines run perpendicular to the top and bottom of an image. They often add strength and height, making a subject feel imposing and magnificent.
Repetitive vertical lines, often seen in architecture, can also lead a viewer into an image and create a powerful visual effect, similar to a staccato drumbeat in music.
Diagonal Lines cut across an image at an angle, creating movement and energy. Diagonal lines are often used as leading lines and appear more natural and less rigid than straight vertical and horizontal lines. The dynamic nature of diagonal lines can awaken a dull image and bring it to life.
Diagonals draw the eye across an image, keeping viewers engaged. Natural features like streams, branches, and roads frequently cross an image diagonally.
Curved Lines, like diagonals, are powerful tools for making an image dynamic, introducing motion, and drawing a viewer through it. They are also highly effective leading lines, providing a natural path for the eye to take to a subject.
To effectively use lines in your photographs, follow this simple plan.
1. Identify the lines in your image. Are they vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or curved?
2. Identify the primary subject of your photograph and determine how the lines can help emphasize that subject.
3. Look at the overall scene and determine ways to minimize lines that confuse viewers. Too many lines, or lines that pull the viewer’s eyes from the subject can be confusing and make the image hard to understand.
If natural lines are not strong enough to be compelling, can the layout of objects in an image become an implied line that helps better organize the image and direct the viewer’s attention?
4. Determine the composition that YOU find most pleasing.
5. TAKE THE PICTURE!
