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Diagonal lines in an important element of composition in photography.
Expert photographers use them to create striking visual effects in their work.
There are various types of lines that you can use to instill your images with life and make them captivating to viewers. These also include horizontal and vertical lines.
Diagonal lines can be used in different ways by the photographer to draw the viewer’s eye to a desired direction and create dynamic effects. In this post, I’m going to discuss the various ways in which they are used in photography as a composition technique.
So What Are Diagonal Lines?
Diagonal lines typically run either from top to bottom or left to right of the frame. They convey emotions and direct the viewer’s attention to a certain point creating points of interest.
You can employ this technique to highlight a significant element in a composition. Think of a person, a car or a group of objects.
It is worth noting that the use of this compositional element, just like other techniques in photography, has developed out of older forms of art such as painting.
Compose Your Photos Using Diagonal Lines
As mentioned you there are different ways to use diagonal lines in photography composition. These include:
- Leading Lines
Horizontal and vertical lines often create a sense of balance or harmony. Whereas diagonal lines usually create an impression of movement.
When shooting landscapes, for instance, they can be used as leading lines that help the viewer track the main subject of the image. These lines can take the form of roads and building edges.
- Introduce Tension
You can also use them to add the effect of tension in an image. While horizontal lines typically evoke a calm and serene atmosphere, diagonal lines introduce an element of tension an action in a composition.
Some photographers have even developed such mastery of the use of lines that they are able to juxtapose the sense of balance in an image using horizontal lines while permeating the image with tension using this technique.
- Create Depth
With the right camera settings and an eye for detail, you can create a very vivid sense of depth in your photos.
As a matter of fact, expert photographers often use diagonal lines in this way to create an impression of depth when shooting in a shallow field of view. This adds an extra layer of intrigue to images and creates very arresting impressions on viewers.
- Unbalance
Diagonal lines are perfect to create an impression of a lack of stability in an image.
For instance, with a tilted camera angle when shooting a building, you create the impression of unbalance even though the building is actually safe. This instantly challenges the perception that viewers may have about the subject of your photograph.
Tips on Using Diagonal Lines in Your Composition
Now that we have discussed what they are and the various applications of diagonal lines in photography, here are some of the ways in which you can take advantage of it in your own composition.
- Tilt Your Camera
In many situations, this can be considered a photography cliché.
But one of the best ways of incorporating diagonal lines in your composition is to practice shooting with your camera tilted at an angle.
This will allow you to create a dramatic effect in your images, and add more dynamism to your compositions.
- Look for Leading Lines
It is also essential to look for leading lines in your frame whenever you are shooting.
If you are capturing images of moving subjects, find a diagonal leading line in your frame and then wait for the subject to enter the frame before shooting.
- Practice with Vertical Objects Such as Trees and Buildings
Masterful use of this photography composition technique is a skill that requires regular practice. You should, therefore, start experimenting with everyday subjects that you come across, such as buildings and trees.
You can even use objects indirectly by taking advantage of the position of the sun and creating diagonal lines with shadows. With frequent practice and thoughtful study, you will soon perfect the art of composing a photograph.
- Look for Triangles
Triangular objects typically have at least one diagonal line.
Therefore, you can easily learn how to incorporate the use of diagonal lines in your composition by looking for triangles in the subjects you shoot.
In Summary
The use of diagonal lines in photo composition is a practice that has been around since the invention of photography, having been borrowed from painting.
However, with every new generation, photographers are finding fresh and innovative ways of using diagonal lines in their work.
By practicing how to use diagonal lines in your composition, therefore, you can permeate your images with a sense of drama that your viewers will find absolutely captivating.
Stefano Caioni is the founder of Pixinfocus. His passion for photography helps him explore new places and live new adventures.
