‘Leading Lines’ theme for competition

By Rex Dolby

Leading Lines will be the competition theme when the Wassenberg Camera Club meets Thursday,  July 14, at 7 p.m. at the Wassenberg Art Center on S. Washington St. in Van Wert.  The competition in prints and slides should produce another large crop of images.

A leading line, straight or curved, will guide the eye into a picture to the main point of interest.  This point of interest holds the eye in the picture.  Without it, the eye will follow the line on out of the picture.  Generally, a leading line will start in the lower left corner, but not in the exact corner, and continue up to the point of interest.

Such objects as a fence, pier, road, guard rail, river, path, fallen log, bent tree, bridge, sidewalk, railroad tracks, power lines, and architectural details can be good sources of leading lines.

Lines in a picture can produce varied psychological reactions.  For instance, straight lines may suggest coldness or hardness, while curved lines evoke softness or gentleness.  Make it an S curve, and beauty, elasticity, variability, charm, or strength may be felt.

Vertical lines suggest dignity, height, or strength, while horizontal lines suggest a sense of peace, tranquility, or repose.  Lines that are neither vertical or horizontal are termed dynamic.  Such lines suggest energy, force, or motion.

Intersecting lines evoke a feeling of strife or struggle. As you are out and about, try to look for these lines and note the reaction you have to them.