Sunday 8 July 2012

Exercise - Horizontal & Vertical Lines


30.06.12.Horizontals-Trees
f/5.6  1/1000  ISO-200
In this image, a line appears across the base of the trees and shadow, running parallel with the frame.

23.06.12.Horizontals-PierRailings
f/9  1/160  ISO-100
The man made feature of the three parallel lines create divisions and frames within the frame, leading the viewer to boats and horizon.  The plain bottom frames and the less crowded middle frames add some depth.

27.06.12.Horizontals-Colour&Pattern
f/16  1/200  ISO-160
I confess that this was originally taken as a vertical shot.  Playing around with the image, I felt it worked much better horizontally.  The contrasting horizontal line is not just created by the different shades but also the difference in texture and pattern.  The line having no pattern.  There is also the lines of the layers of the "brickwork Style" pattern forming horizontal lines.


24.06.12.Horizontals-OldPier,Swanage
f/16  1/200  ISO-200
OK, this is also a man made structure but the big difference to the railings picture is that the horizontal lines are behind one another.  You have the two clear horizontal lines of the top bars of the pier remains, the front one contrasting with diagonals below, as well as converging points on the new pier behind to the left.  There is also of course the horizon.


17.06.12-Verticals-Trees
f/13  1/200  ISO-2000
The tree creates vertical lines through their physical form, and also the dark contrast against the lighter tones in between.  The gaps between trees also create some vertical lines.




20.05.12.Verticals-Figure
f/11  1/20  ISO-6400
A vertical line extends from the fish at the bottom, up the arm of the sculpture.  Also, lines run up the legs and  the  general shape of the figure.

30.06.12.Verticals-ChurchWindows
f/18  1/100 ISO-3200
Thick vertical lines are simply created by the tall narrow shape of these church windows.  It is the  lines that grab the attention, before looking up to the smaller windows and then back down to observe the finer details of the windows.



2012.07.07.Verticals-FieldLines
f/5.6  1/50  ISO-250
These track lines through a wheat field were fairly equally spaced apart from each other.  Initially I was positioned at the far end of the lines but the low viewpoint made the lines more diagonal.  I walked up to the highest vantage point possible.  Choosing this perspective, I created a virtually true vertical line on the left, with the right hand line starting as a faint curve before becoming a more prominent straight line.
This view point also had the advantage of more background interest, which the viewer is led to by the lines.  There is also a clear contrast with horizontals lines, although I feel the verticals dominate.  
 
Examples of other work:

Clarke, G.(1997) The Photograph. First Edition. New York: Oxford University Press Inc.
Walker Evans: Graveyard, Houses, and Steel Mill, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 1935.
Looking beyond any message or meaning to this image, there are some distinct lines.  Horizontal lines form from the row of windows and the poles / structure at the front of the main building in the middle ground, as well as the chimneys and horizon beyond.
The chimneys also appear as a series of vertical lines.  The telegraph poles, although vertical lines, are not strong as the white cross dominates.

More distinct vertical lines can be seend in Lewis Baltz' Power supply No.1, 1989-92*.  The diagonal lines created by the perspective showing these rows of vertical lines, and the stripes on the floor, add tension to the rather sterile room.
*Cotton, C (2009) The Photograph As Contemporary Art.  Second Edition.  London: Thames and Hudson Ltd.

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