Vertical Lines in Photographic Composition

Vertical Lines in Photographic Composition transmit force, momentum, growth. If the vertical lines are repeated, they give a rhythm to the photograph. In previously published article, we wrote about the Horizontal Lines in Composition, horizontal Lines in Composition can appear naturally in a photograph “ the horizon. In this article, we will see what role Vertical Lines in Photographic Composition can have and how we can exploit them.

Vertical Lines in Photographic Composition : Preface

Each type of line in the picture induces particular feelings to the viewer. Vertical Lines in Photographic Composition can transmit force, momentum, growth. If the vertical lines also are repeated, they give rhythm to the photo and it may increase the dynamism. In a photograph, the vertical lines can be identified as very common elements such as the trees, standing people, buildings or other architectural elements.

Vertical Lines in Photographic Composition : The Usual Practice

When you want to highlight vertical elements in a picture a good idea can be to apply the rule of thirds. For this purpose, it is good to align the vertical elements with the vertical lines identified by the subdivision in the third photo. Another way to strengthen the vertical elements of the picture is to use the vertical orientation of the camera, that is what you get holding the camera with the shorter side down. If, however, you use the horizontal orientation, the effect that you can get over it and it will suggest that the vertical lines can not be contained by the photo. This can also be a way of giving greater strength to the vertical lines.

When the vertical lines play an important role in the composition of a photo, it is important to make sure they are really vertical. First, for example, let us be careful that they are perfectly vertical already inside the viewfinder before shooting. We avoid also the backward or forward inclination, since in that case the vertical lines converge and become so skewed and would get a different effect. Finally, it might be appropriate to use a lens with a focal length greater than or equal to 50 mm, in focal lengths of less than amplify the effect of perspective, as we have seen in the article on focal lengths.

In order to have artistic and creative compositional tool vertical lines in our arsenal, you need to train yourself to recognize the shooting scene and to use them appropriately. As we saw in the use of diagonal lines in the composition, the first way to train is to look at photos that we liked and figure out if these vertical lines play a key role. Finally, it is essential, every time you take a picture, to get accustomed for using any vertical elements in the scene and integrate them into the composition.