Spiritual Photo Tip 7: Diagonal Lines

It’s natural to keep your camera vertical or horizontal to take a picture. You may find diagonal lines to include in your composition that way. But by turning your camera just a bit, you can create even more diagonal lines, making your image more dynamic.

The same can be true with life. We’re so used to doing things one way or another that changing things around a bit can be scary, unusual or even perceived as wrong.

Welcome to Spiritual Tip 7: Diagonal Lines – adding energy & creativity to your photo compositions & your life.

I addressed exaggerating the tilt of your camera in my post on Horizon Lines. Here, we extend it to anything within your photo.

I’ll often take more than one photo of the same subject. The first captures my excitement. Then, I slow down to appreciate all facets of it, cleaning the edges in my frame and looking for the best angle and placement of the elements.

A straight line can render the image static or boring.

A diagonal line adds energy to the design.

This line can be real (Left) or implied (Right).

If you’re close anyway, see if you can make that diagonal from corner to corner to make it even stronger. Or if it’s not a complete line, start one end in a corner.

If you miss the chance to do so when you’re taking the photo, remember you can always crop the image in a way to adjust that angle in-camera or on your computer.

Are you square? boring? bored? Do you always do things the same way? Walk in the same direction? Never waver from your routine?

Are you a victim of black & white thinking? I say victim because I know what it’s like to suffer from thinking my way is the right way and the only way. Your way becomes the straight way and everything else is plain crooked – which was a bad thing in my books.

Indeed, everything was either white (right) or black (wrong) with no room for grey (different perspectives, ideas, etc.). It made me a very effective autocratic leader & loner, but a terrible team player.

I remember when I broke that square into triangles when I was in my late 20s, leaving a lot more room for creativity and others’s ideas & opinions. 

If I extend the analogy, my straight lines gave way to a few diagonals in the mix, adding dynamism to the shape of my life.

I can’t remember what book or program helped me see how set I was in my ways and how fear-based my thinking was. I’m sure it was an accumulation.

But what freedom to realize that what I grew up thinking was only 1 possibility, one angle. What fun in trying something new, something outside my comfort zone.

When you let go of fear (of being wrong, of new situations, of being uncomfortable, of failure, etc.), you can take more creative risks.

I’m not talking about life-threatening decisions like getting into a car with a drunk driver. But I am talking about being open to new experiences.

For example, my decision to submit a proposal to CBNuit art festival in Corner Brook last September was a total stretch. I’d need to lead activities from morning until midnight, when my usual bedtime is 9pm. I’ll admit, I was scared. Driving 9.5 hours across the island to perform in a new setting during my sleep hours…. yikes!

But oh what fun, what fulfillment!

It went splendidly because I prepared as much as I could ahead of time, recruited volunteers, and took care of my energy levels the day before and the day after. Being a part of that festival made a real difference – in my life and for the hundreds who participated in my visionary art exhibition & activities.

I’d say that was adding a diagonal line in my usual straight routine.

Extend this week’s photo exercise by reflecting on your life. As you look for diagonals through your camera lens, see where you can add more energy and dynamism to your routine.

Try something new. Even walking in the opposite direction on your usual trail can open you to seeing with new eyes.

Then share your findings with your friends & colleagues. The best way to learn is by teaching others.