A photographer uses implied lines to guide his or her composition. This is not a photograph of actual lines, as the name implies. Nonetheless, one might find that if one looks closely at the composition of the photograph, there is a vertical, horizontal, diagonal, circular, or S-curved contour line that serves to arrange the subject matter.
Types of Implied Lines
A photographer uses implied lines frequently to orient viewers’ perspectives, steer their gazes, establish focal points, convey perspective, and convey other meanings. Listed below are the 5 most common types of implied lines professionals use.
Vertical Lines
A photo with vertical lines represents confidence, strength, and growth. A tree or a geographical edifice such as a rock wall or waterfall is often the subject of implied vertical lines in nature photography. A strong vertical line is also reinforced by the subject matter of building photography.
Objects that are vertically oriented naturally “want” to be photographed vertically. Proper positioning of buildings and other man-made structures is crucial in photographs. Be careful when photographing prominent buildings. Keep them as straight as possible. Tilted buildings or trees might look strange unless they’re being used creatively.
Photographers use implied vertical lines to divide their compositions in keeping with the photographic “rule of thirds.”
Horizontal Lines
Many photographic images have implied horizontal lines. Consider the horizon in a landscape or seascape photo or Olympic swimmer navigating a lane in the pool.
Horizontal lines that are implied can suggest order and harmony; in a sense, they indicate that things are proceeding according to plan. A photographer can use implied horizontal lines to divide their composition using the “rule of thirds” as well.
The eye will follow a horizontal path from left to right when viewing a photograph. By interfering with the horizontal line and placing it in its path, the viewer can find the subject.
Vertical subjects will compel the viewer’s eyes to go up the subject. As a result, viewing becomes more enjoyable since the viewer is taken on a journey through each photo.
Diagonal Lines
The implied diagonal lines suggest motion and momentum. Oftentimes, these images are oriented diagonally, which gives the impression of continuous movement.
Contrary to horizontal and vertical lines in photos, diagonal lines are dynamic, energetic, and comforting. Think about a bird flying, a car racing, or an aircraft taking off into the sky.
Unlike horizontal and straight lines, diagonals create a sense of direction for the viewer by crossing from one edge of the frame to another.
Curved Lines
Beauty, elegance, and grace are communicated through implied curves. In nature, we are always surrounded by curved lines. As opposed to horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines, curved lines are able to lead the eye around an image. Curved lines meander through images like rivers.
Straight lines feel edgy and rushed while curved lines seem relaxed and unhurried.
The S curve is one of the most powerful and popular curves. Photographers embrace the S curve as a powerful and well-loved curve. Essentially, the S curve follows the shape and proportions of an S. The S curve is commonly used when photographing women. There is a gentle progression to the photo that flatters both the female body and the eye.
The S-shaped pose is often requested for fashion photography. A curving orientation is also common for jewelry and other manmade treasures when photographed properly.
The S curve is also used for a powerful effect in landscape photography. An example of an implied S curve in a photograph can be seen in a river flowing through mountains.
Converging Lines
Photographers often use converging implied lines — multiple lines in your shot that approach each other as they travel through it can grab the viewer’s attention. The railway tracks or roads that converge towards the horizon are probably the best-known examples of converging lines.
Convergent lines enhance the image’s depth and create a sense of further development. The feeling of depth is often enhanced in a converging line photograph by wide-angle prime lenses.
Leading Lines
In a photograph, leading lines can be used to direct the viewer’s attention to an important element. For example, consider a picture of a train running along railroad tracks. With the tracks in the foreground of a photograph and the train in the distance, the straight tracks provide a leading line for the viewer to gaze upon, guiding their attention to the train. Train tracks are more likely to follow a diagonal trajectory than horizontal ones, which subconsciously reminds us of train motion.
A sense of balance, focus, and spatial arrangement can be achieved with implied lines in portraits, composed scenes, or landscape photography. Photographers of all abilities and interests can use implied lines effectively.
Conclusion
In photography, implied lines give photographers a powerful tool to use as they see fit. The implied line or leading line in photographs can be formed by various manmade or natural structures and objects. Compositionally and in terms of image aesthetics, implied lines offer a lot of options.