Analysis of compositional lines in natural landscapes

Abstract

Nature was and remains an eternal companion of man, but at the same time, it is also a constant enigma. Man’s connection with nature is ancestral, and the need for this connection is constantly proven. Landscape design is the field where art (human creation) and nature meet, creating a field of endless possibilities in the development of outdoor spaces, but while the artistic side of the field is constantly improved and developed, sometimes the exploration of the natural side is left behind. The present study aims to identify and analyse the types of compositional lines that can be found in natural landscapes. For this, different photos from natural parks or Romanian reserves were selected and subjected to visual analysis. In the examined scenes, vertical, horizontal, diagonal, straight or sinuous lines (the most dominant) were identified, being suggested by tree trunks or logs, water beds or streams, paths, the topography of the land or the contour of the crown. Their properties, such as thickness or repetition, can provide diversity, animate a scene, and generate visual movement or invite further exploration. This work can serve as a basis for a more thorough study of natural landscapes and is relevant to landscape architects who support the use of natural style in their work or are interested in integrative landscape design for a better understanding of natural features, as well as researchers who want to explore the aesthetics of natural landscapes.