LINES and More LINES

        While researching my previous blog about textures, I came across a number of other photography features I found interesting, and hope you will concur. Among my discoveries was information about the use of patterns to create good pictures; however, since it is so similar to the concepts about textures, I am passing it by until a future post. Instead, I opted to draw attention to the use of lines in photography. 

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 👉Lines are intended to direct our attention to important items in a photograph. 

A line is an identifiable path created by a point  moving in space. It is one-dimensional and can vary in width, direction, and length. Lines often define the edges of a form. 

               📏📐📏📐📏📐📏📐📏📐📏📐

There are two basic lines in geometry: straight and curved. 𐩘   

Straight lines are further classified into horizontal and vertical.  Other types of lines are parallel lines, intersecting lines, and perpendicular lines.  A line extends endlessly in both directions.

    That was a difficult principle to comprehend. How could it be endless?  God is the only one with no beginning or end!

 

Lines in photography are an immensely powerful element.  Proper arrangement of lines guides the eye around the image, often placing emphasis on the subject matter or conveying a sense of movement.

Implied lines are not actual lines that you are used to seeing. They are implied in the picture area. They are made by the way objects are placed within the boundaries of the picture. Often, an actual object will create a line, such as a tree, a railroad track, or telephone wires. Improper arrangement can draw the eye out of the photo or take away from the strength of                                                                 the  subject matter.

    Consider the different types of lines that can be used in photography. Horizontal lines may create a sense of calmness.

    Vertical lines  convey a sense of structure and strength.   

    Curved lines bring the eyes of the viewer on a course throughout the image. They flow within the photo and lead the viewer on a very pleasant journey.

  

  

    Leading lines are a special type of line that landscape photographers love ( and you'll find them in other genres, too.)  Leading lines are generally diagonal or vertical lines that lead the eye into the frame, from foreground to middle ground to the background.

               

     They guide the eye through the frame, carefully taking the viewer through the photo.

 They help to create depth, a sense of tension and dynamism.  

Without diagonal lines, you'll often end up with a static image.

 While looking for a definition of lines, I came across some other ways the word  is used, and it inspired me.  While preparing an article such as this one, making an outline can be helpful.  There are outlines in our pictures, too, no?  When I write about shapes in a future blog, I will address the importance of outlines. How many items can you recognize just be their outline???  🤍☆  ♢

   Coloring books are quite popular. The pictures are outlines to be filled in with color.

Several word processing programs are fairly easy to use. Incorporating Bold, italics and underline can produce a better quality piece. These three elements are frequently used by writers, and so the programs simplify their access.

      In photography, using lines can accomplish the same kind of thing in our photos--emphasize subjects in the composition.  There are photo editing tools which are readily accessible, just as there tools in word programs to enhance writing.  One of them can be used to straighten pictures. It provides for an easy fix. When I first joined our photo club, I did not even notice my faulty horizon lines!

 

How and where lines are placed in a picture can make the difference between an OK shot, and a fantastic one!  Architects, people who do drafting, and surveyors could not work without using lines. Every picture taken has borders, lines that contain the dimensions 

of the shot. 

I participated in marching band in both high school and college. Straight lines were significant if we were to look good. Looking good always helped us to sound good, too. When you watch a marching band, it is obvious if someone is out of step. Even while making turns, it was necessary to keep the line straight.  It helped us to keep the formations from looking sloppy. 

 🎷🎸     🎻🎼

I relished watching the British bands and military parading  in the coronation festivities of King Charles III. I was envious of their performance and appreciated the work each one contributed.

Lines can help our photos from looking sloppy, too!

Many cameras are equipped with a grid view which can assist with making a better composition.  It places lines over the viewfinder, dividing the view into 9 equal sections. That can make it easier to focus.

  

 (in memory of Herbie Weber)                                     When I peruse Hobby Lobby or Michael's to look at frames, I find there are many designs and prices, but I find the best bargains in thrift stores. Framing artwork and pictures is a way to complement the work.  Borders and frames can be added digitally to make the photo complete.  A future blog about frames is on my bucket list. Borders and frames would not be possible without the use of lines                                                              

A number of my friends really enjoy the adult coloring books available.  Some of the completed works are suitable for framing. But, I do not like to color.  As a child, I found it hard to stay inside of the lines.

At times, I find it  challenging to stay within the lines of life as well!  But boundaries are important. They can keep us safe, yet provide plenty of freedom while remaining within those bounds. 

Photography allows for great liberties as the product can be manipulated, provide many points of view, and offers a play ground for creativity.  I also find perspectives I may have overlooked.

When I began formulating this month's blog, the topic of lines seemed rather simple.  As you may discover, as I did there are characteristics of lines I did not think about before.

When you work on your next photo op, consider how lines may be used to enhance your shots.

                                                      

 

CAN YOU FEEL THIS??

    When I mentioned this month's theme about textures, to a friend, she responded, "That's going to be kind of hard, isn't it?"   She was right, but I'm not easily dissuaded when it comes to photography.

    TEXTURE.  How can we "feel" texture in a two-dimensional view?  What is texture and how is it relevant to picture-taking?

       📷   When talking about photography, texture refers to the visual quality of the surface of an object, revealed through variances in shape, tone, and color depth.  It is an element of art that refers to the way an object feels to the touch or looks as it may feel.  It brings life and vibrancy to images that would otherwise appear flat and uninspiring.   

    That description certainly resonated with me.  One of my primary goals in sharing my work is that the viewers will find inspiration!  As I wrote in many prior posts, I want my blog followers to feel something when they read the content and view the photos I publish. In this case,  that is meant literally!

    People will relate the images they see to their encounters to form a connection to the subject.

    There are many things in our daily lives that have texture.  🍓🍭🏈  When captured in a picture, it can make it much more interesting. We relate to that which we know.

  

Soft, smooth,rough, and sticky are all examples of textures.   🍦  🍌     When examining smaller, everyday objects like flowers, shells, tree bark, peeling paint and 🐞🐌 insects, texture can be used to help highlight just how intricate these objects are.  We aren't used to seeing tiny things on a grander scale, so when taking photos, texture helps tell the story of what we've often overlooked by making them the focal point of eye-catching shots.  It can also give you some new and creative photography ideas.

    A little research produced an enormous amount of information! One website listed 400 words to fit the category. I could not find a definite number of words to describe texture.  Some, such as food and architecture, had their own adjectives describing composition.

    When I gather information for the article, it can be overwhelming and time-consuming.   ⌚   I may have been able to get this posted a few days ago, had I stopped with what I had already written. However, I would have lost out on things I learned for myself. I found out that some subjects had textures of which I was unaware.  In addition to the self-interest advantages, I  felt that you too, might benefit from the  information.  

I learned that there are 3 types of textures:    ✋tactile,   👀  visual, and  👂  audible.  Audible?? I never thought of that before! It refers to how an object or a room sounds. 

     I found so much new information that it kept me interested in finding more. There are enough resources about the topic. I could spend much more time studying it even if I do not write any more about it here on the blog.

     

Texture in geology is about a rock's micro structure in relationship between the materials of which a rock is composed.

 

 I unearthed  😋 information about soil texture and something I'd never heard of and failed to comprehend very well--texture linguistics. 

💻There is a process called Mipmap used in 3-D computer games and other imaging systems for texture filtering. (If you don't understand, you can research all of this info on Wikipedia.  I investigated, but still do not comprehend some of this new information!)

    I've played a flute for over 50 years, and had a music major in college, [ only for one semester] but never heard that music has texture.  📯🔔🎼🎹🎵🎻🎷

Texture in music is how the tempo, melodic, and harmonic materials are combined in a musical composition determining the overall quality of the sound.

    I even came across a YouTube musical video intended to be used by elementary-age students to help them understand the word. ( check ScratchGarden.com) It had the old "bouncing ball" over the words. {For those of you old enough to recall, we saw that used in some musical cartoons on TV when we were children.}

    Some artwork, while 2 dimensional, sometimes does have 3, although not considered so by most people. In the art world, there are visual textures and implied textures. A painting may apply heavy brush strokes or incorporate something in the medium to produce a piece of art that one can almost feel.  

   

Sculpture offers the opportunity to feel the work that other forms of art do not provide.

In Photography, the texture is implied due to the flat production of photos.  Check out these two photos. 

The green slime is visible only in the second picture, but having that information would help you to make a choice about if and where you may want to dip your toes!

   I came upon this unusual creation while photo-hunting in The City of Brotherly Love. Is it a masterpiece, or a compilation of junk?  How many objects can you identify that were installed into the work?  Personally, I like it, and found it to be quite creative.  There was no information about it, such as the designer, nor even a title. It was simply there on a traffic post near City Hall.                                                                                                                                                                  Texture is considered one of the 7 elements of photography, along with line, shape form, space, value, and color.  Two prior blogs were about the use of color: See  "Smell the Pastels" and Color my World  July 2022.    Future blogs may center on the additional 5 elements I've not yet addressed.

I may revisit the topic of Texture. It is a fascinating aspect of photography.   I need to hone my skills so that my photos will reveal texture more often, more clearly, and more detailed.

    How might you apply what you have just read?  Were there any shots you could "feel" more than others?   For now, I hope you found some inspiration.