Project 52, Week 18, Interaction of lines

This week we put everything together and look for composition with different types of lines.

The photo Leading Lines Curved on Photo Junkie illustrates leading lines, horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines,curves, irregular lines and converging lines. 

This short article on How to Use Lines in Photography Compositions by Ron Bigelow  from PICTURECORRECT has 3 photographs illustrating composition with lines.

• The first photograph shows a fence with vertical and horizontal lines.  The shore line is irregular.  The fence goes from front to back and, in the background, stretches part way across the horizon.
• The railroad yard in the second photo shows vertical lines, straight lines, curved lines, diagonal lines, and converging lines.
• The last picture, "tube" illustrates arcs, curved lines, converging lines, straight lines, and horizontal lines.  Do you think the posters represent C-curves?

Peter Grossman's photo Two in One only shows straight lines, but they are vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and zigzag.  They definitely are interacting.

Things to consider:

• Do the multiple lines create an unpleasant, unsettling scene or do they make the scene and story more interesting and vibrant?
• Tip: Yes can be the correct answer for either choice.

Project 52, Week 17, Converging Lines

Let's get it together and look for converging lines this week.   Converging lines are two or more parallel lines that appear to become closer together at the farthest end from the camera. 

Things to consider:

• Converging lines can be straight or curved.
• They add dimension and depth to a photo.
• Leading lines are frequently converging lines.
• Be careful where you place converging lines - they may lead the eye completely out of the photograph.
• Avoid vertical converging lines in architectural photography

Suggested Reading and Photographic Examples:

1. How to Use Converging Lines to Enhance Your Photography by Darren Rouse from Digital Photography School, short article with photographic example
2. 20 Examples of Converging Lines from Tobky Photography Blog
3. 1 Minute with Willy - Converging Lines by Willy Foo from BananaManaTV; short YouTube video
4. When Are Converging Verticals and Lines a Good Thing from ePHOTOzine
5. How to Photography - Avoiding Converging Lines in Architecture Photography by Matthew Bamberg from PHOTOGRAPHYTIPS  (Sometimes you have to break a rule to keep a rule.)

Project 52, Week 16, Leading Lines

This week we use leading lines to improve our composition.  Leading lines are lines, real or implied, that direct our attention to the subject or that lead our eye into and through the scene. 

Things to consider:

• Leading lines can create a sensation of dynamic energy, graceful movement, distance, or dimension.
• Because most of us read left to right, we are used to viewing photographs that way so in many compositions it's better to have the lines go left to right. 
• But sometimes right to left improves the composition or maybe that's just the way the road goes. 
• And sometimes the lines goes front to back.
• Or even up and down.
• Slanted lines are usually better than straight up and down or straight across
• Leading lines can be straight, curved, diagonal, irregular, or even spiral. 
• Common leading lines are roads, fence rows, walls, walkways, and rows of plants, but leading lines can also be light rays or shadows, human limbs or a tree branch, a row of tombstones or a row of soldiers, a stair railing or stairway, just about anything can create a visual leading line.
• You can have more than one leading line in the same scene.  
• Don't just stand there.  Move around your subject, looking for the most appropriate leading line or lines.

Recommended Readings and Pictorial Examples:

1. Jim Zuckerman on Composition: Leading Lines from mac-on-campus; a little lecture between lots of pictures
2. Follow the Leading Lines from Family Travel Photos.com; a short article and accompanying photos
3. Leading Lines - Photography Composition by Nate Kay from Photography Blogger; over two dozen photographic examples of leading lines. Some are more leading than others.
4. Leading Lines by Darrel Priebe; a pdf document on 3 compositional elements - leading lines are on pages 2 - 8 from the Thousand Oaks Personal Computer Club
5. Bill Fortney  on Leading Lines - also talks about filters and camera positioning in this YouTube video:

Project 52, Week 15, Curves

This week we look at curves.  

Things to consider:

• Curve types include C-curves, S-curves, radials, arcs, and spirals. 
• Curved lines can imply slow, sensual motion or fast action.
• An S - curve is considered especially pleasing to the eye and is often found in nature.  A S-curve can be be seen in a winding road or river, the curve of a flamingo's neck, or the human body.
• A C-curve is almost as dynamic as an S-curve.  A C-curve can be seen in the shoreline of lakes, rivers, and coves, arcs and arches, and body parts such as pinnas.
• Curved lines can be leading lines.  Diagonally placed curved lines are effective as leading lines as they draw the viewer into more parts of the scene.
• Curves can be man-made or natural.  They can be implied or suggested by shapes, groups of objects, or by the placement/positioning of subjects.
• A closed curve is a circle which is a shape, more than a line. 

Suggested Readings and Photographic Examples:

1. Using Curves to Enhance Composition by Brian Auer from Epic Edits; many photos with good examples of using curves in different ways.
2. Curves in Composition by Scott Simmons from Learn Outdoor Photography; short article with 2 photos.  One illustrates creating a curve by the placement of objects.
3. Focus on Composition: The S-Curve by Mike Panic  from Light Stalking; short article with 3 examples
4. S Curve Composition from photo.net; just photographs of S-curves
5. Digital Photography School - How to Photograph a Rainbow from Enchanting Kerala; tips on photographing rainbows with accompanying pictures.
6. 33 Interesting Photos That Use Spirals for Composition from Light Stalking
7. The C Curve by Abid Changazi from Trekens; a photography of a C-curve created with 9 mm bullets.

Project 52, Week 14, Horizontal, Vertical, and Diagonal Lines

This week compose a scene with lines - up, down, or sideways.

Horizontal Lines:

• Horizontal lines go across a photo from side to side.
• They can be peaceful and calming.
• Horizons should be very straight or definitely skewed. 

Vertical Lines:

• Vertical lines go up and down. 
• They can show stability, strength, and power.
• Vertical lines should not sprout from the top of a subject's head unless it's a hat, crown, or hairdo.

Diagonal or Slanted Lines:

• If a horizontal or vertical line isn't straight, it's a slanted line.
• Diagonal lines can add drama to a photo and create a sense of movement.
• They can be straight, curved, jagged, irregular, or zigzag lines.
• Diagonal or slanted lines make effective leading lines because they lead you through more of the scene.

Jagged (Zigzag, Irregular) Lines:

• Jagged lines can make the viewer feel uncomfortable, creating tension.
• Or they can create a laid-back, no hurry mood.
• Or they can skip across the scene in childish glee.

Things to consider:

• Lines add visual interest to a photo and create depth and dimension. They can direct our eyes to the main subject or lead us through the scene. They can create a mood, such as tension or serenity. They can add stability or imply movement.
• "Lines" refer to direction or placement as well as type.  Vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines can be straight, curved, or irregular.
• Lines can take many different forms. Roads, fences, horizons, structures (man-made and natural), light, shadows, stairs, walkways, snow drifts, lava flows, and waves are just a very few examples of lines seen in photographs. 
• Lines can also be implied or suggested by shapes or by groups of objects such as tree lines, mountain ranges, and skylines, or by the placement/positioning of subjects.
• Remember the Rule of Thirds and avoid having lines dissect the middle of a scene. (and remember all rules can be broken when appropriate).

Suggested Readings and Photographic Examples:

1.  Basic Composition Techniques: Horizontal Lines from Expert Photography, short article, several photos
2. Basic Composition Techniques: Why You Should Know About Vertical Lines from Expert Photography; short article, several photos
3. Using Horizontal Lines in Photography by Darren Rouse from Digital Photography School; short article
4. Using Vertical Lines in Photography by Darren Rouse from Digital Photography School; short article, 1 photo
5. Using Diagonal Lines in Photography by Darren Rouse from Digital Photography School; short article with 2 photos 
6. The Magical Diagonal from Jason Smalley
7. Photography Composition: the Golden Triangle Rule by Mira Crisp from Crisp PhotoWorks  
8. Designing a Photograph: Points and Lines - Big City Nights by Nat Coalson from Photo Focus; good photo of irregular skyline framed by diagonal line
9. a jagged line awaits by Reathel
10. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition: Lines from photoinf
11. Digital Photography School - Getting Horizon Level in Photography from Enchanting Kerala; short article with tips on getting the horizon level

Project 12, Month 4, Lines

This month we'll be composing photographs with lines, a basic, varied, and fun compositional element.

Things to consider:

• Lines add visual interest to a photo and create depth and dimension. They can direct our eyes to the main subject or lead us through the scene. They can create a mood, such as tension or serenity. They can add stability or imply movement.
• "Lines" refer to direction or placement as well as type.  Vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines can be straight, curved, or irregular.
• Lines can take many different forms. Roads, fences, horizons, structures (man-made and natural), light, shadows, stairs, walkways, snow drifts, lava flows, and waves are just a very few examples of lines seen in photographs. 
• Lines can also be implied or suggested by shapes or by groups of objects such as tree lines, mountain ranges, and skylines, or by the placement/positioning of subjects.
• Remember the Rule of Thirds and avoid having lines dissect the middle of a scene. (and remember all rules can be broken when appropriate).

Suggested Readings and Photographic Examples:

1. Using Lines in Photography by Gloria Hopkins; an article with photographic examples of many different kinds of lines
2. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition: Lines, mostly photographic examples from photoinf
3. Advanced Composition - Part I an article on using lines to improve composition from Ron Bigelow Photography
4. Draw Viewer’s Into The Photographic Composition With Lines from Advanced Photography Tips
5. The Spaghetti Principle from thehyperfocaldistance.com; interesting article using pasta to demonstrate horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines.
6. Using Lines to Improve Photographic Composition from The Photo Argus; short article with photos
7. Using Lines in Composition by Steve Owen from Steve's Landscapes and Images; types of compositional lines defined
8. 15 Stunning Staircase Photos from photoble;15 photos of staircases with all kinds of lines.
9. Jim Zuckerman on Composition: Leading Lines from Mac-On-Campus; article on leading lines with pictorial examples
10. Jim Zuckerman on Composition: Lines by Jim Zuckerman from Mac-On-Campus; article on various types of lines with pictorial examples

Some Examples of Types of Lines:

Leading Lines: "Leading" lines lead the viewer to an object or through a photograph. They can add a dimension of depth to an otherwise flat scene. Leading lines can be straight, curved, or even zigzag.  Most people read from left to right and they'll follow a leading line the same way.

• Photography Tips: Leading Lines, by J Bernat, photographic examples
• Leading Lines of Light from Lori Kolbenschlag Photography
• Using Leading Lines in Photography a video by Julieanne Kost on compositing with Photoshop from AdobeTV

Horizontal Lines: Horizontal lines go across a photo from side to side. They can be peaceful and calming.  Horizontal lines should be very straight or definitely skewed. 

• Basic Composition Techniques: Horizontal Lines from Expert Photography, short article, several photos
• Using Horizontal Lines in Photography by Darren Rouse from Digital Photography School; short article

Vertical Lines go up and down. They can show stability, strength, and power.

• Using Vertical Lines in Photography by Darren Rouse from Digital Photography School; short article, 1 photo
• Basic Composition Techniques: Why You Should Know About Vertical Lines from Expert Photography; short article, several photos

Jagged (Zigzag, Irregular) Lines: Jagged lines can make the viewer feel uncomfortable, creating tension.  Or they can create a laid-back, no hurry mood. Or they can skip across the scene in childish glee.

• Designing a Photograph: Points and Lines- Big City Nights by Nat Coalson from Photo Focus; good photo of irregular  skyline framed by diagonal line
• a jagged line awaits by Reathel

Diagonal or Slanted Lines: Diagonal lines can add drama to a photo and create a sense of movement.  They can be straight, curved, or irregular lines.

• The Magical Diagonal from Jason Smalley
• Photography Composition: the Golden Triangle Rule by Mira Crisp from Crisp PhotoWorks

Curved Lines: Curved lines can imply slow, sensual motion or fast action.  An S-curve is considered especially pleasing to the eye.  Curve types also include radials, arcs, spirals, and C-curves.

• Using Curves to Enhance Composition by Brian Auer from Epic Edits; many photos with good examples of using curves
• Curves in Composition by Scott Simmons from Learn Outdoor Photography; very short article with 2 photos.

Converging Lines: Converging lines are parallel lines that appear to become closer together at the farthest end from the camera.

• How to Use Converging Lines to Enhance Your Photography by Darren Rouse from Digital Photography School, short article with photographic example
• Basic Composition Techniques: Converging Lines from Expert Photography; article with accompanying pictures

That's a lot of lines!
The photo Leading Lines Curved on Photo Junkie illustrates leading lines, horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines,curves, irregular lines and converging lines.  The photo of the windmill and flower field also illustrates leading lines, horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines, and converging lines.  See how many examples of each line type you can find.