Lines and Shapes in Photography
Composing a good photograph isn't just done by framing your subjects inside the viewfinder. It is a process similar to painting in which you try to convey a message or strike an emotion. Recognizing lines, shapes, and the patterns they form inside a photo, and using these things to make an impact on the composition you are creating is essential so as to improve your photography.
Lines can have a very nice impact on your composition making it more appealing. Using them correctly can totally transform the mood of your photo as well as add a more depth to it.
Lines can be found all around us. The horizon, beaches and fallen trees, all can add interesting horizontal lines to your photos which can add a sense of stability to the picture. To have the maximum impact, try not to cut your image into halves by placing the horizon on the center, and make all horizontal lines as horizontal as possible. It is worth noting that horizontal lines usually look better in landscape orientation .
If you look around, you'll probably notice that vertical lines are even more abundant. Think of buildings, upright trees and light posts, they usually reflect growth and strength and when used correctly, they can provide interesting patterns especially when the photograph contains other elements. To avoid misusing the vertical lines, make sure that they are perpendicular to the top and bottom edges of the photo. These lines look best in portrait orientation.
Diagonal lines are even more usable than the previous two types. They can add depth to a photograph as well as creating points of interest inside your composition and if repeated, they can also produce nice patterns. They also give a feeling of dynamic action. It is usually better to have the diagonal lines away from the photo's diagonals so as to make it more interesting.
The lines' types and orientations are related to the viewpoint used in the photograph. Just by changing your point of view, you can turn horizontal or vertical lines into interesting diagonal lines. This can produce a totally different composition with more depth and more points of interest at the meeting point of the diagonal lines.
While lines may add a certain mood to your photograph, shapes usually provide the meaning. Shapes are the 2D outlines of the objects, and they play a major role in making these objects recognizable. Contrasting an object with a different background is usually the best way to put emphasis on its shape . Thus, the edges of your object will be clear, and consequently, its shape will be very well defined.
Objects may look the same from some angles and that may result ambiguity. To avoid this, choose an angle that will portray your object in a unique way.
Lines and shapes are abundant around us; we just have to remember how to utilize them efficiently.
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