Project: Lines

Exercise : Horizontal and Vertical Lines.

The use of vertical and horizontal lines in design. The brief was to take four photographs each demonstrating the use of vertical and horizontal lines.

Photograph 1

Photograph 1 illustrates a steel girder support column. The contrast in colour immediately draws the eye to it.

Photograph 2

Photograph 2 is simply the edge of a wall. I have used a wide aperture to throw the background out of focus, making the vertical line the centre of attention.

Photograph 3

In Photograph 3 I have framed a tall building under construction as the vertical line. The vague reflection in the river offers continuity to the line.

Photograph 4

Photograph 4 shows a dark lamp post contrasting against a very pale sky.

Photograph 5

Photograph 5, the first of the horizontal lines, is a red painted spar against a black background. Again, a shallow depth of field keeps the eyes firmly on the horizontal line.

Photograph 6

A line of motor scooters represents the horizontal line in Photograph 6. Although not as demanding of the attention as in the previous picture, the line is still a fundamental design element in this composition.

Photograph 7

In Photograph 7 I have used a stark contrast in colour to represent the horizontal line.

Photograph 8

Similarly to the picture of motor scooters, Photograph 8 is an evenly spaced line of objects, in this instance, a line of park benches. The slight upward tilt of the composition guides the eyes of the viewer through the image to the right.

Exercise : Diagonals

Brief, to take 4 photographs demonstrating the use of diagonals in composition.

Photograph 9

Photograph 9 is a straightforward point of the camera into a long corridor creating many converging lines.

Photograph 10

Photograph 10 shows a number of shadows being produced by the sun shining through a red glazed window.

Photograph 11

A similar type of composition to the corridor shot, Photograph 11 was taken with a tilted camera along the side of a building.

Photograph 12

In Photograph 12 the sun has cast the shadows from railings across the pavement creating this pleasing diagonal effect.

Exercise : Curves.

Demonstrate the use of curves to emphasise movement and direction.

Photograph 13

Photograph 13 demonstrates the use of a large foreground subject which then leads the eyes away along the line of benches and through the frame in an "S" curve.

Photograph 14

In Photograph 14 I have used a shallow depth of field and focused on the nearest car, then used the curve in the row of parked vehicles to take the viewer through the frame.

Photograph 15

Photograph 15 is a symmetrical shot of opposing fence curves. The eyes are drawn to the crossing point of the two railings.  Again a shallow depth of field helps to hold the attention.

Photograph 16

Photograph 16 uses the shallow curve of the wall and line of trees to take the viewer through the frame up to the solitary person sitting on the bench.