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A vanishing point is created on a 2 dimensional image to give a sense of depth that imitates the 3 dimensional reality it portrays. A vanishing point is a spot on the image where converging sets of parallel lines come together to give perspective, depth and the illusion of an apparently 3 dimensional image on a 2 dimensional plane.
Traditionally, in art, a vanishing point is created by using an object, or objects, with one, two or three separate sets of parallel lines which all converge at the vanishing point. This gives the impression of 3 dimensionality within a 2 dimensional image. In itself, this was a massive leap forward in representational art that evolved from the older 2 dimensional style of painting and drawing which made no real attempt to create the illusion of 3 dimensionality or depth. The technique is commonly used in paintings, graphic art and, of course, photography.
Above is a simple example of a photograph that has a vanishing point. The vanishing point in this image is at the farthest point of the road, although it is barely visible. The converging parallel lines of the road lead the eye ‘into’ the image and gives the audience a sense of depth, distance and the space that is enclosed in the frame.
What is a Vanishing Point in Photography?
Within photography a vanishing point is a spot on the horizon line of the image where the various parallel lines meet. This manages to create the illusion of depth which helps to make the viewer feel like they are looking at the real thing instead of a 2 dimensional representation. The actual vanishing point can either be visible to the viewer, as in the example above, or implied without being shown in the photo.
Photographs are 2 dimensional and so when we look at them our brain looks for ways to orient our perspective of the image. One of the first things that our brains manage to pick up on are leading lines, especially if they help to illustrate the depth of space in the image.
When these lines are parallel and converging together, even if the vanishing point itself is not visible, our brains automatically use these as references and allow us to perceive the space in a 3 dimensional way! It’s partly for this reason that the early use of vanishing lines during the European Renaissance was such a revolutionary moment in the history of art.
An important thing to remember when you’re using a vanishing point in your photography is that the lines themselves don’t have to completely converge and the vanishing point itself doesn’t have to be visible. This is because the brain will still pick up on the converging lines and see the depth and representation of space and if you asked the average person they could even point to the exact spot where the lines would have converged if they were visible!
This powerful spatial representation ability of the brain makes leading lines, and especially vanishing points, one of the most impactful techniques that any photographer can employ in their work.
Vanishing points can also be used to give your photographs a sense of scale and give flat compositions interesting and engaging depth which will help to captivate your audience and give an image a stronger sense of narrative.
Three Main Types of Perspectives that you can Create with Vanishing Points.
Single point perspective: This is the easiest and most commonly used technique and simply requires a single vanishing point in the center of the photo. This draws the viewer into the image and gives the image a sense of depth. Note that in the example below the vanishing point is not actually visible but the implication of it is enough for the brain to pick up on it and identify the perspectives that it implies.
Two point perspective: In an image with a two point perspective there are two vanishing points, usually with one on each side of the image. This creates a vanishing point that almost appears to be in the foreground of the photo as well as the back which can give the impression that the viewer is looking into the image from within it! In this sketched example of the technique you can clearly see how the two vanishing points, one on each side, compliment one another and work together to create the sense of 3 dimensional space.
Three Point Perspective: This is a more complicated technique and uses converging lines that vanish into three points. In the example beneath you can see how the lines converge in multiple points throughout the image with the surreal spheres hanging over them. This builds a powerful and 3 dimensional sense of space that makes the viewer feel like they are actually within the image!
Multiple Vanishing Points or Perspectives.
This is most commonly found in architectural photography and can be emphasized by using a wide angle lens in your work. The lines of the buildings and structures often converge away from the center towards the sides of the image. This is contrasted by a single vanishing point in which case the parallel lines generally converge towards the center of the image.
It’s not always easy to use multiple vanishing points in a single image however the results can often be spectacular! The point in the foreground from which the lines lead away doesn’t to be in the center of the photo either and can often be more impactful when placed off-center, as in the example above. It can also give the impression that a choice needs to be made. To make the best use of these techniques you need to constantly have your eyes peeled for new creative opportunities in your work!
Best Ways To Use Vanishing Point In Photography
After understanding the basics of using vanishing points in your work you can start to experiment with this exciting technique. Good use of vanishing points can transform your photography into epic shots that burst with strong narratives and interesting points of focus. Once you have mastered the concept then you should always be keeping it in mind when you are composing your shots.
- The Setting: Before you take a photo take a moment to analyze the scene in front of you. Take your time looking for strong parallel lines in the composition, find striking angles and look for vanishing points that can create a narrative within the image. In most settings there is the opportunity to use a vanishing point so there’s plenty of chances to practise.
- Focal Points: Once you have analyzed the scene you can look for some interesting or relevant focal points. The vanishing points can then be used to draw your viewers eye to the place, or places, in the photo that you want them to focus their attention on. This is a crucial technique to incorporate narratives and portray a sense of depth in photography. For instance, if you were taking a photo of a beautiful sunset you might want to look for parallel lines that converged beneath the sunset which could give the image a greater sense of drama than if you just took a photo of the sunset on its own!
- Make use of the depth of field. You can further manipulate the vanishing point in your photography by changing the depth of field. For instance, you could reduce the depth of field in the photo so that the vanishing point was out of focus or vice versa, you could choose to keep it in clear focus.
- Where are you going to put the vanishing point? Once you have identified the vanishing point you can play around with where you want to place it in the frame. Do you want it in the center or towards the side? This will change the feel of the image and will draw the attention of your viewers to different parts of the photo.
- Remember the leading lines. When you’re looking for focal points and vanishing points don’t forget that you need parallel lines to create these effects. Look for features in the scenery to work with to point your viewer’s attention where you want it to go – and most of the time at least you’ll need to do this by using leading lines. So one of the first things you should be doing is to look for those precious leading lines!
- Think laterally! When we talk about vanishing points we usually think of them leading to the horizon but you can also use verticals as well! So look up and see what you can find. A classic example of this powerful technique in action is skyscraper photography but you can also be more creative with it. How about getting low down to the ground and looking for vertical or other more usual vanishing points. This is an especially good method if you’re working in street photography but it also works well in other scenery such as a forest for example.
Vanishing Points are a Potent Compositional Tool in Photography.
When you are using vanishing points and playing with the focal points in a photo try to keep in mind why you are doing it. Is it the primary feature of the image or is it designed to highlight something else?
Whatever your reason for doing so try to emphasize the effect to get the most striking results. Keep on experimenting with the composition by taking several shots of a single scene with different emphasizes to see what works best.
Be Creative and Original When Using Vanishing Points in Your Work.
Of course vanishing points can be used in a huge variety of ways from classic train track type shots to more creative alternatives. One of the best things you can do to get the hang of using them in your own work is to keep a close eye on what other photographers are doing to learn from what you feel they are doing right. Once you spot something that you love then make sure you practise it and start to use the technique in your work!
At other times though, you’re going to have to rely on your own instincts to pick out the perfect vanishing points in a photo to portray the meaning, emphasis and perspectives you are trying to put across to your audience.
Most of the leading lines that you’ll find in the world around you are man made but don’t forget to use natural features and formations where you can. Coastlines and other geological formations can offer stunning opportunities to create surprisingly powerful vanishing points that can really make your viewers sit up and pay attention!
However you decide to use them though, vanishing points should be in your tool kit and can be one of the most important factors in creating striking compositions in your photography.
Have you used the concept of vanishing points in your work?
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