‘How do I take a better picture?’ It’s a question that almost everyone asks at one point or another, whether they are a pro snapping shots of a celebrity with a giant SLR (single lens reflex) camera or an average Joe with a point and shoot trying to snag a nice sunrise picture on his honeymoon in Hawaii. This series of blog posts will help to answer that question one puzzle piece at a time until (hopefully) your shots come out looking as good as you want them to. Today’s basic photo tip will address the concept of s-curves.
You’ve seen them a million times. Your eyes have walked along their path on more occasions then you know. You probably don’t even realize what’s happening or why. In the blink of an eye you’ve made a journey without even taking a single step.
How did this happen? Well, it’s a nifty trick artists have been using since they realized the influence it has on our subconscious. It’s the power of s-curves.
Take a look at the photo below. I bet when you look at that picture you get the feeling of having traveled somewhere. The road just seems to wind away and where your eyes give out at the bend your mind takes over and leads you to the hills far in the distance. You don’t know that the road keeps on going, whether it straightens and connects with a highway, or if it actually does follow that tree line but that’s what you assume.
S-curves lead the eye through a picture using a shape (an S-like curve, thus the name). The most common s-curves are roads and rivers but mountain ridges, branches, and basically anything you can form a curve out of will work. The key is the shape and of course placement. (click pictures for more details)
You want to lead the viewer to something, past something, or towards something. Just having an s-curve doesn’t automatically draw someone in and through your picture. A road leading from one edge of the picture to the other, a river leading up to a mountain range or horizon, an s-curve needs to have a purpose. (click pictures for more details)
S-curves are everywhere so the next time you take a picture or look at a photo that catches your eye see if you can spot that s-curve.
Got questions? Feel free to ask.
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Love that “S” curve concept. Never looked at it that way when taking a pictures, but it does make sense. Good job!!