2020 Photo Challenge #17

April’s theme / technique: Being Creative with Lines

The six visual keys to a great photograph are:

    • Patterns
    • Texture
    • Lines
    • Light
    • Depth of field
    • Space

Lines are everywhere in our world. Just look around you. Seek them out to add visual impact to your photographs (in fact Becky ran a Square Challenge in October 2019 purely on lines – check out some of my entries for that if you want ideas) There are lines within nature which can be straight or curved, and man-made lines are everywhere in buildings and roads and even cars. Even a human arm is a line.

    • choose a subject and then look for lines in the scene that lead the viewer to it
    • find an interesting line then decide what your subject is going to be
    • start making looking for lines a part of every photographic outing and develop an eye for finding and placing lines in your composition.

Lines and perspective – Parallel lines  never meet or touch but as they disappear an impression is given that they do. This is what fools the eye and brain into believing that there is distance in the image.  It is best illustrated when using a wide angle lens. Be sure though to include the focal point which is also known as the vanishing point, which is the point where the lines disappear into nothing.

Diminishing Lines – Diminishing perspective of scale refers to the appearance of size that our eyes see. Take for example a row of telephone poles disappearing into the distance. Our brain tells us that they all should be the same height. But, because they are all gradually getting smaller the brain says they must be getting further apart. If you use this sense of perspective you will find it extremely effective in giving depth to your images. So when you are trying to achieve this, look for fences, trees, telephone poles, and similar repeated objects to include in your photo which will help create the depth.

Diagonal Lines – lead the eye from one part of an image to another and impart more energy than horizontals. It allows the viewer to scan the picture sweeping naturally through the frame.

Implied Lines – Are where there are no distinct lines but they are clearly part of the composition. Think about a line of people in a queue, a row of flowers, birds on the seashore.

This month's final assignment - Curved lines. Curved lines allow the viewer to explore an entire image, meandering from one part to another. S curves divide an image into equal parts and lead your eye through the image.

Paths 1-3 below are from the Eden Project in Cornwall.

(1) In the Mediterranean Biome you will see a curved path lead you through. This mosaic path with the central golden line represents the long tradition of olive oil as a symbol of light, life and divinity.

(2) These beautiful curved channels filled with coloured water are part of the ‘Sense of Memory Garden’ outdoors.

(3) And below another outdoor curved path which is part of the ‘Spiral Garden’

(4) This meandering trail passes through pine trees and later birch, rowan, aspen and willow on the Falls of Bruar (Scotland) route.

If you would like to join in with the 2020 photo challenge then please take a look at my 2020 Photo Challenge page. No complicated rules, just a camera required 🙂

    • Create your own post with some information about how you composed the shot.
    • Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
    • Add the tag #2020PhotoChallenge so everyone can find your entry easily in the WP Reader
    • Get your post(s) in by the end of the week, as the new theme begins next Sunday about Light.

Thanks to everyone who joined me this month with your wonderful lines. As always, please click on the links in the comment section to visit some very talented photographers. 

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Heyjude

I have lived in the UK for most of my life, but when young I definitely had wanderlust and even ended up living in South Africa for several years which was a wonderful experience. I now look forward to a long and leisurely retirement doing what I like most - gardening, photography, walking and travelling.

70 thoughts on “2020 Photo Challenge #17”

  1. Ah, this may be the hardest of the lot! I particularly like the meandering woodland trail here. Very peaceful and atmospheric.

    1. It was a lovely walk up to the waterfall (we only went as far as the first one as the rest of the path was a little more hazardous)

      1. Well, I’m glad you went far enough to get this delightful photo. I’m not sure when/if I’ll get a post together for this challenge. It seems particularly tricky 😦

  3. The criss-cross water channels are very stylish and Chelsea, and I like them, this peaceful Sunday morning. Have a nice day, Jude! 🙂 🙂

    1. Very Chelsea indeed. Once we are out of this situation I may apply for another locals pass next year and spend more time at Eden. It is a long drive, but the outdoor areas have been much improved. Plus there are a couple of other places I’d like to see close by.

        1. It’s only an hour or so to drive there, just as long as I leave before dark as the route back to the A30 is rather windy. It’s not far from St Austell and Mevagissey and the Lost Gardens of Heligan. I think there is actually a hotel at Eden.

  4. Pingback: 2020 Photo Challenge #17 | nowathome

    1. Yes, the mosaics are interesting. I should really have had more wide angled shots of curved lines, but I was hoping that by now I would have had the chance to travel and take new photos. Oh, well, best-laid plans of mice and men…

  9. I like your curves 🙂

    Sorry I have not played much this month, hopefully will be much more active in May with light

  10. I love how curved lines of a road draw the eye and hint at an adventure, Jude. I linked to your last week’s post with my Sunday Stills post today, no curves but many lines!

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