Friday 6 May 2011

Exercise - Implied Lines.

The object in the exercise was to look at the implied lines within an image, that is, how ones' eye travels around the image and what you can do to influence that. For this exercise I first looked at my recent pictures looking for implied lines, then, as part of my recent photographic marathon while on holiday, looked at some specific possibilities.  I find it easier to see the lines 'after the fact' than to deliberately produce them whilst shooting.  This is clearly an area of composition I need to think about actively.

Example 1.

Ruined Gateway at Torryburn.



















Here there is a clear implied line along the path leading into the old gate. The mind is lead into wondering what is inside.








Example 2.



Under the Abbey



























Here the lines between the stones act as implied lines and send the eye back in  the image toward the line of light coming from the doorway.
Example 3.

Deserted Coastal Defence - Charles Point








Here there are two implied lines, the first looking down the stair toward the person beyond the doorway, the second following the persons gaze to the opening on the left.










The following are from the second set of images made while considering implied lines.

Example 1.

Street Cooking






Here there is a clear eye-line from the cook to the cup of squid that is about to be dropped into the wok.








Example 2.

Hot Noodles for Sale!




Here the two bright red ladles point directly at the centre of the dish of noodles on the market stall.









Learning Points:
  1. Lines in a picture can be very obvious - but the more subtle implied lines are often more effective.
  2. Most of the above pictures show an implied line from right to left, western people usually read a picture from left to right (like the lines on a page), so lines that lead in the opposite direction set up a tension in the picture and may make it more interesting.
  3. Lines often lead the eye outside the image - therefore increase imagination of 'what is/might be'.

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