Photography is a means of expression that we use to represent a reality. It can be the reality we see or the reality we have in our head, it can be documentary photography or surreal photography , whatever it is, we use it to show an image or a concept of the life that surrounds us. However, photography and its artistic brothers, such as cinema and painting, face the same problem. The world is three-dimensional (visually speaking), but neither photography, nor cinema, nor painting can, by themselves, represent three dimensions.
WHAT ARE THESE THREE DIMENSIONS OF WHICH WE SPEAK?
The three dimensions are width, length and depth . The width and length can be perfectly represented in a photograph or a picture; it can be any image with an element in it; A pencil, an apple or a baby. The most "complicated" part in photography is the depth, which is what gives the image a sense of three-dimensionality.HOW DO WE GET DEPTH IN AN IMAGE?
As painters such as Piero della Francesca discovered and theorized in S XV, the sense of depth and space is achieved through perspective , which is nothing more than the way we have to explain the distribution of space, through placement of the elements so that our brain is able to calculate its distance , its size, or its position. For example, our brain understands that more closeness implies greater size and greater distance smaller size, it is also able to interpret the depth through the progressive change of the colors of an image, and even through the tones of its atmosphere.WHAT IS THE VANISHING POINT?
The vanishing point is the place where two or more parallel lines (real or imaginary) converge towards infinity in an image. For example, imagine the lines that generate the edges of a road and its projection towards infinity; towards the bottom of the image. The place where these lines intersect literally or imaginary, is what we know as a vanishing point.HOW CAN I USE IT IN MY COMPOSITIONS?
The vanishing points are a visual and compositional element with a lot of visual force. Through the converging lines (called convergent lines) at one point, whether they are real (physical) or imaginary, you can direct the viewer's gaze to your image, directly to the point where these lines intersect. It is a way to mark the path, while narrating the degree of depth that your image contains.THE VANISHING POINT AND THE CENTER OF INTEREST
Surely you have already heard about the rule of thirds and how the intersections of the imaginary lines that separate the image into thirds have the greatest visual impact , right? The vanishing points generate a very similar impression in the perception of the image, attracting the gaze naturally towards them, so that any element located in a leak or on the way to it, will naturally stand out in your image.POINTS OF VIEW
Not everything is roads and train tracks. A good photograph can be anywhere, in front of you, but also above or below you. Buildings, sets of tree trunks, railings, stairs and in general everything that is made of lines can provide you with a multitude of possibilities in terms of vanishing points. Try to vary the point of view to look for these lines that are lost in the sky, or between your shoes, chopped, contraphotured, zenithal or nadires, you will see how the lines travel towards infinity and give you very interesting images.WIDE ANGLE
The wide angle is not only a low focal length lens to portray as much landscape as possible, it has many more possibilities. Have you tried using it to compose through lines or in part to them? As you know, the close-ups in a wide-angle lens, distort the area closest to the target distorted, exaggerating the perspective of the objects, while allowing you to introduce a great depth of field in the scene. If you want to give your leaks more impact and drama and you have one of these jewels among your photographic material, go for a walk with him in search of interesting leaks, you will not be disappointed .ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS
Architecture is perhaps the place where you will most easily find leaks with which to practice and unleash your imagination. You can practice with physical lines or with imaginary lines created for example through the repetition of patterns , which we also know as visual rhythm in composition. If you are interested in architectural photography, the vanishing point is a widely used resource to express the scale of buildings or places, and give volume and depth to the image.LANDSCAPES
The vanishing points in landscape photography are another way of adding interest to your images. For example, you can photograph snowy mountains in the distance, but if you have nothing that creates depth in your image, you run the risk that your image looks somewhat boring or flat . There are several ways to solve this aspect; from using a foreground to generate a sense of scale(large-close, small-far) or use vanishing points to guide the view through your landscape to a certain point. Cultivated fields, roads, rivers or tree trunks are just some examples of possible vanishing points that you can find in landscapes. Remember that almost any line is likely to create an interesting leak. The important thing is to vary the point of view or the frame until you find it.I FOUND A GREAT LEAK, NOW ... WHERE DO I PUT IT?
As always, there are no unbreakable rules, nor rules, nor manuals, but there are small aids on the way to your decision to opt for one thing or another.- Rule of thirds : Sounds to you, right? Placing the vanishing point in one of the strengths of this rule will naturally enhance the imaginary point of your escape.
- Breaking the rules : Once you know them and you've got tired of practicing them, use your instinct. The rules are always very general and it is impossible for them to adapt to all situations or to the tastes of each one. So you must trust your nose when looking for the best composition for each situation.
- Inside the frame : You can make those convergent lines intersect somewhere infinite but within your frame. If you do, the viewer's gaze will not need to "walk" out of your image, but will start and stop where you have decided to do so.
- Outside the frame : Another option is to place the vanishing point outside the frame. If you do, he who observes your image will walk through it until he leaves, and to complete it, he will need to do it through his imagination. You do so more participant and activate that person by contemplating your image.
- On the horizon : When you decide that the vanishing point is within the frame, there will be times when it vanishes directly on the horizon, especially in landscapes. Pay special attention to the horizon being straight , it is better to do it right from the beginning, and not have to re-frame later. Also, remember the law of the horizon, which indicates that the most interesting area of ??your image should occupy approximately 2 / 3 of the frame.
