By Tony Bridge
All photographs are composed of a series of compositional elements. One of the most powerful of these is the line.
Lines begin somewhere and go somewhere and therefore imply movement. Using strong oblique lines (lines which are neither horizontal nor vertical) adds energy to your photographs. When these lines converge, the sense of energy and distance is substantially increased.
Curved lines in a photograph create an effect completely different to that of straight lines. Curved lines have the effect of slowing the photograph down and suggesting time passing. Because a curved line takes longer to get from point A to point B, it suggests a tranquil, restful mood and having time to get there.
The restful nature of a curve allows us to dwell at length on the photograph.
Tony Bridge is a New Zealand-based professional photographer. See more of his images at www.thistonybridge.com
Straight Lines: The stencilled number anchors the photograph in time and space, but the converging oblique lines suggest motion. Converging lines lend a feeling of energy. (Photo by Tony Bridge.)
Curved Lines: Curved lines have the effect of slowing the photograph down and suggesting time passing. It suggests a tranquil, restful mood and having time to get there. The restful nature of a curve allows us to dwell at length on the photograph. (Photo by Tony Bridge.)