As I dip my toes into the field of photography, I’m concentrating more and more on shapes, color, patterns, textures, light and lines. Lines are very important for photographers, much more than I originally thought.
There is wide range of lines, from straight lines all the way to suggested or implied lines.
Renown photographer Dan Simon, author of “Digital Photography Bible Desktop Edition” made a good explanation on this subject which I think is very interesting.
“Leading lines are lines in the image that lead the eye in a certain direction. They are a powerful tool for directing the eye through a photograph. In addition, certain types of lines can create a mood or feeling. If you place a line in a photo, the eye is drawn to it and tends to follow the course that the line takes.
Leading lines come in two basic types, straight and curved:
Straight lines can be vertical, horizontal or diagonal. Besides showing direction, straight lines can also portray certain feelings. Straight vertical lines convey strength. On the other hand, straight horizontal lines convey a sense of solidness and tranquility. Diagonal lines create tension and movement.
Curved lines lend themselves to the more graceful emotions. One type of curve—the S-curve—denotes both grace and femininity. If you’re taking a woman’s portrait, an S-curve is a very flattering look.”
Having said that, let me show you a photograph of a roofless house which depicts a series of horizontal and vertical straight lines. In my opinion, it displays quite well the magic spell of lines in a photograph. Here we go.
Photograph of a wooden framework of a house at Casco Viejo where the roof has been removed to be replaced. I liked the straight vertical and horizontal lines forming cute squares. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Interesting…thank you.
Hi Michael:
It was you who taught me. The journey is exciting, much more than actually getting there.
Regards,
Omar.-
Omar…you are teaching yourself (smile). Looking forward to see what you will do with a DSLR. When you get a DSLR (camera body and lens), get a UV filter to protect the lens glass from scratches, dust and so on. The filter screws on to the outside of the lens. Perhaps also…on very humid days…you might need to occasionally and lightly wipe the outside of the filter. Condensation on the filter glass gives pictures a foggy look. Use 100% cotton only (like an old soft under or T shirt).
Hi Michael:
You see, I’m always taking tips from my Guru. Thank you Michael. Will do. Saving every cent to get me a brand new DSLR.
Regards,
Omar.-
I know nothing about real photography, but I learned my lesson re: foggy lenses when I traveled to Galveston one day. The move from the air conditioned car to the warm, humid outside air produced some images that were truly puzzling. Eventually I figured it out – it was as though my camera had developed cataracts!
Now, I keep the camera in a bag in the back seat of the car rather than right in front of the AC vents!
Hi Linda:
Thank you for your tips regarding foggy lenses. Since I own a “Point-and-Shoot” camera, I don’t have to worry about this isssue. However, when I buy an DSLR camera, I will certainly consider your valuable suggestions.
As you can see, I’m still learning the ropes in the field of photography. It’s a fascinating hobby.
Regards,
Omar.-