We all want to create photographs that grab people's attention. So, the question becomes, "How can we make our photos more interesting?" One method is the use of lines. When properly utilized, lines can significantly improve the composition and impact of images.
Lines can affect composition in two ways. First, lines can create a mood in an image. By doing so, lines can add some emotion to an image and increase the image's impact. Second, lines can help to control a viewer's attention. Essentially, lines can lead the viewer's eye through an image. By doing so, lines help to keep the viewer focused on the image. In this article, we will take a look at four basic types of lines: horizontal lines, vertical lines, diagonal lines, and jagged and irregular lines.
Horizontal Lines
Horizontal lines are associated with a lack of change. Basically, they tend to create a feeling of homeostasis. Horizontal lines can create an image that appears locked at some point in time. We can use this to our advantage when we want to create a sense of timelessness in an image. Horizontal lines can also be used to create some contrast with other more dynamic objects in an image. Examples of horizontal lines can be found in buildings, skylines, and fallen trees.
Vertical lines can project either a mood of stability or peace. When projecting a mood of stability, they often function similarly to horizontal lines. This can convey an implication of substance or permanence. Examples of vertical lines used to impart a mood of stability can be found in rock formations, power line poles, and vertical lines of buildings.
Vertical lines are also excellent for creating a tranquil mood. Examples of this use of lines can be found in forest trees enveloped in fog, aged fence posts on a lonely plain, and a solitary figure standing on a quiet beach.
Diagonal Lines
Diagonal lines can be very powerful. They add a sense of action to an image. This tends to make an image more dynamic. Diagonal lines are effective because they tend to grab the attention of the viewer. The viewer's attention tends to wander back and forth along the diagonals. Now, objects such as streets and sidewalks are not the only thing that can be used to create diagonals. Color can also be used. For instance, a section of color in a flower could be used to create a diagonal. Some examples of diagonals are: the lines of parking lots, tree branches, hand rails, and corridors.
Jagged and Irregular Lines
Jagged and irregular lines take us one step further on the continuum of emotion and feeling. While diagonals move us into the area of the dynamic, jagged and irregular lines often impart a sense of unease, tension, or fear to the viewer of the image. Heavy use of jagged and irregular lines can cause a negative feeling in the viewer (which may be exactly what the photographer intended). Therefore, they are the tools of choice for the photographer who wants to create a feeling of disquiet or agitation in the viewer. Examples can be found in roots, a crocodile's teeth, stark mountain peaks, and the twisted metal of an automobile wreck.
As powerful as lines are in helping to create a mood in an image, they become even more powerful when they are also used to direct the viewer's attention. When using lines to direct the viewer's attention, two rules need to be followed. First, make sure that the lines always point toward the most important object in the image. This will direct the viewer's attention directly to that object. Second, make sure that the lines never point outside of the image. Lines that point outside the image will make the viewer's eye leave the image. This weakens the image and may result in the viewer losing interest in the image entirely.
Summary
Lines are an extremely effective compositional tool. We should use them to their maximum effect when composing our images.
However, lines are just the start. There is much more to creating great photographic compositions. To learn more composition techniques, check out Ron's three part article series on Advanced Photographic Composition.