Diagonal Lines in Composition : Lead the Viewer’s Eyes

Diagonal Lines in Composition can lead the eyes of the viewers. If we want to produce photographs that are more than just random shots, we know how to apply some rules of composition. For example, a simple rule with sure effect is the rule of thirds. Many of the rules and principles of photographic composition are meant to make sure that the viewer’s eyes stays within the picture, for example, to the main subject. The purpose of these rules is similar to that of the tricks in the literature that are used to create suspense and induce a player to continue in the book and reach the conclusion or the most important events narrated. Diagonal Lines in Composition may be of more importance than Horizontal Lines or Vertical Lines.

Diagonal Lines in Composition : Lead the Viewer’s Eyes

A universally recognized way to lead the viewer’s eye is to use diagonal lines. The human eye, when it finds a photo in a diagonal line, it tends to follow it. In particular, the diagonal lines follow more naturally are those which extend from a point from the bottom left corner to a point in the upper right corner of a photo. The diagonals that start exactly start from one corner of the photo are less pleasing to the eye than those that start from other points on the edge of the photo.

Diagonal Lines in Composition

Obviously, it is not always possible to introduce diagonal lines in one click. You should always observe very carefully the scene you are framing for any lines that can help us. If these are not present naturally, then it is possible to introduce an artificial line – artifact. Here are two simple ways to do this : rotate the camera, or change point of view, consistent with the orientation that should keep the items within the scene, check the perspective, for example by exploiting fences, walls, roads, perhaps amplifying the perspective effect by means of a reduced focal length.

As often happens, a great way to assimilate the concepts of the composition is to study the works of good photographers. So we should try to look carefully at photos that have really impressed us and understand which of these employ diagonal lines to attract our eyes into the scenes. A more active way to practice for the use of diagonal lines in photographic composition is to consciously try to introduce diagonal lines within our compositions. For this purpose, it is essential, whenever you take a picture, carefully consider all the elements of the scene and what may need to change if we want to introduce the diagonal lines.