Learn To Love Lines

In photography, lines are a great way to express an idea, set a mood, or direct the viewer’s eye into an image. They can be used to divide areas of a photo, create patterns or a sense of movement, or even establish perspective and lead viewers on a visual ‘journey’. In Part 1 of our series, we’ll take a look at horizontal lines, and what they can do for your photos.

Part 1 – Horizontal

You can’t spell ‘horizontal’ without the word ‘horizon’. That’s one of the most common ways these lines are used – to separate the sky from the land (or the sea). A horizon line gives photos stability, and it can establish a sense of place. Take a look at the image below:

Were you drawn to the big, solitary tree in the distance? That’s because the horizon line sets the scene first, and then allows your eye to view the tree as a point of visual interest.

When you’re composing an image using horizontal lines, one of the most important things to remember is to keep them as straight as possible, or else it might seem like the earth (or your tripod) is tipping over! If you think you may have captured a slightly crooked horizon during shooting, remember that there are several ways to correct it in post-production.

Something else to consider is where in the frame you decide to place your dominant horizontal lines. Try shooting a horizon so that it’s in the upper third of the frame. What happens? Do your eyes move from the horizon downward into the image, or from the bottom area upward to the horizon? What if you place the horizon in the lower third of the frame? You might be surprised at what you learn.

Typically, very strong horizontal lines shouldn’t be placed across the exact middle of an image. This is because the lines can divide the frame too harshly, making it difficult for your eye to determine which ‘half’ of the image is more important, and that can create an unsettled feeling in the viewer.

However, let’s consider the following photo:

Here, the horizontal lines that separate the water from the land and the sky are very close to the center of the frame. But does the image feel cramped or unsettled? It might be that the lines are soft enough to relax your eye as it travels around the image. And since the lines almost disappear toward the right side of the frame, your imagination may start to wonder exactly where the land ends and the sky begins. What effects do the horizontal lines have on your perception of this photo?

Finally, it’s important to realize that the Earth and all of its beautiful landscapes aren’t the only sources of horizontal lines. Try shooting a person asleep on a bed or a couch. Study man-made structures like bridges or fences. Create a still-life scene on a table or a bookshelf.

Go through your photos and see if you have any examples of horizontal lines and share with us on Facebook or e-mail to meg@lensprotogo.com. Up for prizes today (November 30, 2011) are 2 (two) $25 gift cards to LensProToGo.