Image design: the vanishing point and how it works

David Lee

15.7.2019

Translation: Patrik Stainbrook

If you know what a vanishing point is, you'll recognise one immediately. It'll help you organise your image structure properly.

Lines that are parallel in reality converge towards one point on an image. This is the vanishing point. You'll find most of these lines in a city: houses, streets, lamps, tracks. They're rarer in the countryside, but are all the more noticeable, for example at a bridge or, as shown here, at a footbridge.

The same applies vertical lines. There, however, I usually try to avoid the effect by holding the camera straight (article in German).

The effect is particularly impressive when these lines are not only visible on the ground, but also at the sides or even at the top. This picture by Andrej Barnes seems so strong because the contrasting lines are mirrored at the top and bottom.

The vanishing point doesn't have to be in the middle. It can lie anywhere – even outside the picture. I like to place it far at the edge, but you can also use the rule of thirds.

Situations involving two vanishing points can also arise. The most common examples: house corners and crossroads.

The lines don't have to be exactly parallel to make a vanishing point apparent. Photos of mountain valleys also have a vanishing point. They appear even more interesting due to the irregular lines.

David Lee

Senior Editor

David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.ch

My interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.

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