Photography,  photos & notes

The power of lines in photography

Last Updated on 07/04/2022

Lines have a unique power in photography as they arrange and divide the subject’s space, guide the viewer’s eyes, and create different senses with their forms and qualities. They can be obvious or suggested and they can be categorized as horizontal, vertical, oblique, and curved. 

One of the first things I try to define when I have a potential photo composition in me is lines. And, lines are one of the first things I communicate when I look at a piece of art. Of course, this doesn’t happen only to me; our eyes are created in this way to understand the perspective and search for lines and shapes in order to be oriented. 


The power of lines in photography


Lines are not only dotted out for a walk, but also one of the basic and significant elements of every visual composition.

Paul Klee

There are many different kinds of lines one can meet in a composition. There are horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curved, and implied. Every one of them creates a different impression and feeling to the viewers. 

Lines belong to the initial and strong tools in all fine arts and, of course, in photography. In the book “Digital Photography Composition for Dummies”, Simon Clark compares the lines of a photograph with the queen of the chess; when lines dominate in a photo and capture the viewer’s interest, the photo becomes powerful; like the strength of the queen that can move in all three dimensions: linear, vertical and diagonal.


Horizontal lines


Horizontal are the lines parallel to the horizon and represent the surface of the earth according to the horizon. That’s why these compositions can give us a sense of ease, relaxation, fun, and happiness. They express stability and calmness because they are lying down and don’t disrupt or distort our vision.


Vertical


Vertical lines create a sense of majesty and grandeur as they give a sense of height to the scene (Art with Heart – Assisting the Work by Ph. D. Ruth L. Cohen). They suggest an uplifting power and potential energy. When vertical lines are straight and parallel to the side of the photos, they express a sense of strength and stability that enhances the main subject or point of interest.


Curves


The famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi said that in nature there are no straight lines or sharp corners and therefore buildings must have neither straight lines nor sharp corners. The meaning of curve lines may vary by form. Soft and shallow curves are more pleasant and would create a feeling of safety, relaxation, and comfort. They could also express sensuality as a representation of human curves. On the other hand, deep and acute curves may cause a sense of frustration and turbulence. Moreover, the S curve, the line of beauty, carries a more positive meaning of perfect grace and harmony.


Diagonal lines


Diagonal lines have a dynamic and imply action and motion when they play a leading role in the composition and guide the viewer’s eye. Especially, if they start from the left bottom corner and move up to the center, they offer more depth as a natural viewpoint. But, they could also represent tension and instability, if we use multiple and asymmetrical oblique lines. 

That’s why is essential to choose the proper lines in order to express our distinctive view of a scene in an ultimate way. For example, if I want to express a feeling of tension and frustration, maybe horizontal lines are not suitable. An oblique angle or sharp curves would suggest these off-balance feelings in a better way. 


Yet, I think most of the time the meaning of lines is captured and served by the composition subconsciously since the scene itself triggers our feelings and leads our senses to capture it according to our emotional understanding.


blog signature xo-xo Joanna

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