How to Create Vanishing Points with Diagonal Lines in Landscape Photos

An effective vanishing point can guide the viewer’s eye to a distant point that begs them to wonder what’s at the other side.

What is a Vanishing Point using Diagonal Lines?

Including diagonal lines in photos can create a vanishing point that conveys scale, depth, and direction.  Lines that travel away from your vantage point naturally appear diagonal.  The vanishing point is where they converge or meet at the horizon. This effect can be observed by looking down the length of a long road with buildings along it. The straight lines of the road form a triangle that meets at the vanishing point on the horizon. The buildings decrease in size as they get further away, conveying a sense of scale. Framing this in a photo creates a strong feeling of depth, as if you could climb into the photo and fall towards the vanishing point. Diagonal lines can also guide the viewer’s eye towards a specific point in the image.

How do you Create Vanishing Points with Diagonal Lines?

To create a vanishing point using diagonal lines, look for significant lines that run through the scene. You can transform horizontal lines into diagonals by moving towards them. For example, a bridge that spans horizontally across a river appears as a straight line. But when you walk to one end of the bridge, it becomes diagonal, creating a vanishing point.

A wide-angle lens is useful for creating a vanishing point since it exaggerates the size difference between near and far objects, resulting in a keystone effect. This effect enhances the angle of diagonal lines. Shooting from a lower angle will also result in longer and more pronounced diagonal lines.

Diagonal lines can create a vanishing point even if they aren’t centered in the frame. They can enter from one corner and travel out of the frame, for example. Lines don’t even have to be straight, but it’s good if they’re somewhat parallel and moving in the same direction. Look for disguised natural lines like shorelines and mountain ranges. You can even create diagonal lines out of the clouds if they’re moving toward or away from you by blurring them using a neutral density filter.

Diagonal lines don’t always have to lead to a vanishing point that disappears. To the contrary, they can also be used to direct the viewer’s attention to a focal point, such as a road leading to a mountain.

By following these tips and experimenting with different compositions you can use diagonal lines to create a vanishing point that adds depth and dimensionality to your images. You can also create images that draw the viewer’s eye towards a focal point in the image for strong visual impact. Don’t worry if you can’t include diagonal lines in all or even most of your photos-sometimes they just aren’t there.