Line: most important photography element

The most important element in photography is the line. it is the prime substance in photography. Now the question arises what is the line and its impact in photography? There are various definitions of the line that can be found on the web and in dictionaries.

It is a junction point between two points. It can be also defined as “where a point continues.” In photography, the line can be present in various forms.

A. Horizontal line B. Vertical line C. Diagonal line D. Curve line

Line is inevitable

The line(s) in photography represents a composition as a static or dynamic. it helps the viewers to understand the proper meaning and situation of the object. Another question may originate in the viewers’ minds. If someone captures an image of a piece of white paper, the line is absent. Because it represents a white page only without any line. Is it? Let’s explain. When the viewer sees the image it comes with boundary lines at the edges of the picture. Hence, the line is inevitable in a picture and the most important element in photography composition.

It intimates the contrast, shape, pattern, movement, and drama in a photograph’s composition. It renders a psychological effect or response to the viewers’ minds.

A. Horizontal Line

Horizontal line(s) in a photograph tend to cost a feeling of reposeful, duration, and stability. The horizontal frame runs to assist the same behavior. More than one horizontal line creates drama, and rhythm and put a good impact on the viewers’ attention. The best example of the horizontal line is to capture the horizon in a photograph. The street sides, sea sides, and group dancers‘ pictures in concert represent horizontal lines.

B. Vertical Line

It conveys different moods in a composition. It represents growth, power, and so on. For example, buildings, poles, trees, raindrops, waterdrops, cumulonimbus clouds, etc.

C. Diagonal Line

It communicates with the viewers about the subject more dramatically. It helps them to reach the most interesting point in the photographs, It interacts with the viewers to read from the starting point to the optimum point where the prime drama is waiting for. For example the paths, fences, groups of trees in a line, and so on.

D. Curve Line

It conveys the soft, smooth pattern to the viewers’ minds. They can settle down and feel happy.

There is indeed no hard and fast rule for the line which creates a pattern in the percipients’ minds. But the psychological survey proves the above feelings of lines present in a photograph. The photographers have full freedom to escalate the above thoughts and establish their thoughts to the viewers.

The above communication proves that a photograph cannot be made without a line. It works as a pointer to reach the most important area of the photograph. The line is the most versatile element of art. Lines give a structure to photographs which helps to carry the viewers’ expression from the foreground to the background.

Sometimes the viewers may connect themselves with an imaginary line. For example, the subject is looking at a mountain peak. In most cases, a photograph may read from left to right and the visible or imaginary lines help them to reach the dramatic area or the optimum point of the photograph. Therefore, the line is an unavoidable element in photography.

My next post will be another vital element – shape.

Acknowledgment: various photography related websites and pexels