Convergence brings the viewers eyes to the giant, upturned, tree roots in the photograph. The line of the coast converges with the line created by the horizon and the viewers eyes are drawn to that point.
Converging is when two things come from different directions and eventually meet (to be fair they could come from the same direction but separate locations – think two parallel lines starting a few feet apart and both slanting towards each other as to eventually meet). Convergence, in photography, is the process of using two leading lines (they can be made of anything) that converge on a point of interest to draw the viewer’s eye to said point of interest. Next time you head out with the camera try to pinpoint a subject of interest that you can use two separate leading lines that intersect right at your point of interest.
Using convergence does not mean that the lines have to physically touch or look as though they are touching. You can use a leading line that points towards your subject, if the viewer follows the leading line then it would make an imaginary line from the end of the leading line all the way through your subject. The human brain is an amazing thing, your brain will tend to complete a line even if it stops well short of the subject.
Just as converging lines can enhance the composition it can degrade it as well. If you have a leading line going right to your subject but then several feet (or miles in landscape photography) behind your subject another strong line converges with the first then the viewers eyes may be drawn to that point and have to work backwards to get back to your subject.
Do you have a great photograph that you used convergence in? Feel free to submit it to the photo journal via the link under Articles called Submit An Article. Enjoy!
