Converging Vertical

Don’t let your Image Collide with itself

As an art form or by design converging vertical can introduce an element of mystique into an image.  But more than likely it is an indication you weren’t holding your camera level when you tripped the shutter.  In a cityscape with lots of tall skyscrapers this is to be expected.  When taking images that are important for architectural or technical purposes it is important to remove converging verticals.

What is a Converging Vertical

These are the lines of a building (usually walls) that if the line were mathematically extended beyond the image they would eventually converge or cross.  In real estate photography this is the one biggest complaint pointed out by the pros to the amateur newbies.  “You have to watch those converging verticals”.  It is like a rite of passage.  First to be told, then to tell a newbie once you have learned to fix your own.

You can see when the grid is overlayed the walls in this image appear to be tipping back away from the street.  This isn’t the case.  It has to do with the angle of the camera lens to the subject.  In software like Photoshop Elements you can use the Filter Menu, Correct Camera Distortion tool to correct both vertical and horizontal distortion.  Here is the after of the same image with the vertical fixed.

You can see how much better this looks and I’m sure the people inside the building feel better about the walls not caving in on them.

Whenever possible avoid converging vertical by checking your camera for level, or using a viewing grid in the view finder itself.  When you can’t avoid converging verticals remember to leave room around the photos edges.  When you fix converging vertical the image will be smaller.  Don’t crop the shot in camera then find out when you go to fix the verticals the top, bottom or sides of the building are removed from the image.

Converging Verticals Rule of Thumb

Allow 20% around the image edges when you know you have converging verticals to fix.  It will save you having to go back and reshoot.

Fix those verticals and your photographic reputation will improve.  Trust me, there are plenty of people judging your work and one item on everyone’s check list who is a serious photographer is converging verticals.

The photos for this post were graciously provided by Teresa Boardman.  She even put the grids on the images.  Thanks Grass hopper.

Tags: converging verticals, photography as an art form