---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You use the vertical edge as the point of…"
description: "\"You use the vertical edge as the point of reference, instead of the horizontal edge. I have a picture of a beggar, where there's an arm coming into the..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/garry-winogrand-2342_arms_you-use-the-vertical-edge-as-the-point-o_1729653.png"
---

#  You use the vertical edge as the point of reference…

![“You use the vertical edge as the point of reference, instead of the horizontal edge. I have a picture of a beggar, where there's an arm coming into the frame from the side. And the arm is parallel to the horizontal edge and it makes it work. It's all games, you know. But it keeps it interesting to…” quote by Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/garry-winogrand-2342_arms_you-use-the-vertical-edge-as-the-point-o_1729653.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/garry-winogrand-2342_arms_you-use-the-vertical-edge-as-the-point-o_1729653.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/garry-winogrand-2342_arms_you-use-the-vertical-edge-as-the-point-o_1729653.png)

> “You use the vertical edge as the point of reference, instead of the horizontal edge. I have a picture of a beggar, where there's an arm coming into the frame from the side. And the arm is parallel to the horizontal edge and it makes it work. It's all games, you know. But it keeps it interesting to do, to play.”

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Advocates using vertical references over horizontal to create dynamic composition, adding visual interest.

**In simple terms:** Use vertical lines to guide the eye and make images lively.

Key Takeaway

Experiment with vertical composition.

Themes

art visual storytelling composition

Mood

creative analytical

Type

educational inspirational

When to use this quote

- portrait photography
- advertising
- film framing
- graphic design

Key Concepts

vertical axis frame dynamics visual tension

Questions to Reflect On

- How does changing reference affect viewer perception?
- When is vertical composition most effective?

A Different Perspective

May not suit all subjects or styles.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Arm Coming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arm-coming-1418937/) [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Beggar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beggar/) [Edges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edges/) [Frame Arm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frame-arm-1418936/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Horizontal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horizontal/) [Horizontal Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horizontal-edge-1023078/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Parallels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parallels/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Vertical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-vertical-1418938/) [Vertical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vertical/) [Vertical Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vertical-edge-1418935/) [Working it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-it/)

## Related quotes

> [There's an arbitrary idea that the horizontal edge in a frame has to be the point of reference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/there-s-an-arbitrary-idea-that-the-horizontal-edge-in-a-frame-has-to/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [Daddy, What's the horizontal tango?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/daddy-what-s-the-horizontal-tango/)

[Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/)

> [I learned three important things in college-to use a library, to memorize quickly and visually, to drop asleep at any time given a horizontal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-de-mille/i-learned-three-important-things-in-college-to-use-a-library-to/)

[Agnes de Mille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-de-mille/)

> [True. There is a beautiful Jesus. He is frozen to his bones like a chunk of beef. How desperately he wanted to pull his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/true-there-is-a-beautiful-jesus-he-is-frozen-to-his-bones-like-a/)

[Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/)

> [A horizontal or vertical line lacks energy, compared with one that deviates from either. The difference between these graphic expressions is the difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/a-horizontal-or-vertical-line-lacks-energy-compared-with-one-that/)

[Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/)

> [Whenever I got a new studio I made the largest possible painting, and since the ceiling was low, the painting became horizontal. As I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rosenquist/whenever-i-got-a-new-studio-i-made-the-largest-possible-painting-and/)

[James Rosenquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rosenquist/)

> [Charity, vertical, humiliates. Solidarity, horizontal, helps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/charity-vertical-humiliates-solidarity-horizontal-helps/)

[Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/)

> [Our strategy is very horizontal. We're trying to build a social layer for everything. Basically we're trying to make it so that every app…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/our-strategy-is-very-horizontal-we-re-trying-to-build-a-social-layer/)

[Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/)

> [Those who cant stand perpendicular shouldnt be angry with those who are on the horizontal position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/those-who-cant-stand-perpendicular-shouldnt-be-angry-with-those-who/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [I am a completely horizontal author. I can't think unless I'm lying down, either in bed or stretched on a couch and with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-am-a-completely-horizontal-author-i-can-t-think-unless-i-m-lying/)

[Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/)

> [I use the phrase 'sibling society' to suggest a culture fundamentally without fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers, or ancestors. The thinking is horizontal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bly/i-use-the-phrase-sibling-society-to-suggest-a-culture-fundamentally/)

[Robert Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bly/)

> [Emphasis was usually put on the horizontal acceleration factor, for the simple reason that ordinary structures have a built-in safety factor for the vertical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-francis-richter/emphasis-was-usually-put-on-the-horizontal-acceleration-factor-for/)

[Charles Francis Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-francis-richter/)

> [“Payne sought clarification. “Vertical or horizontal?” “Horizontal, of course.” “Sorry but I can’t help you.” “Will you pipe down for a minute? Naturally she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-lynskey/payne-sought-clarification-vertical-or-horizontal-horizontal-of/)

[Ed Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-lynskey/)

> [The print is devised so that I can cut the dresses on the bias, so they work around the body. It's not like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galliano/the-print-is-devised-so-that-i-can-cut-the-dresses-on-the-bias-so/)

[John Galliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galliano/)

> [“I felt more solidly composed, now that I was horizontal. I was impossible to knock down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/i-felt-more-solidly-composed-now-that-i-was-horizontal-i-was/)

[David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/)

## More by Garry Winogrand

> [ \[Photography is \] likewise even French impressionists. So the Sculls bought pop. It was politics, and they moved with it. And I think that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/photography-is-likewise-even-french-impressionists-so-the-sculls/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [It's got to do with the contention between content and form. Invariably that's what's responsible for its energies, its tensions, its being interesting or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/it-s-got-to-do-with-the-contention-between-content-and-form/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [I don't think anything happens without the press, one way or the other. I think it's all done for it. You saw it start,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/i-don-t-think-anything-happens-without-the-press-one-way-or-the-other/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [I don't really have any faith in anybody enjoying photographs in a large enough sense to matter. I think it's all about finances, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/i-don-t-really-have-any-faith-in-anybody-enjoying-photographs-in-a/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [When I see something, I know why something's funny or seems to be funny. But in the end it's just another picture as far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/when-i-see-something-i-know-why-something-s-funny-or-seems-to-be/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [There are things I photograph because I'm interested in those things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/there-are-things-i-photograph-because-i-m-interested-in-those-things/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [There's no way a photograph has to look... in a sense. There are no formal rules of design that can apply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/there-s-no-way-a-photograph-has-to-look-in-a-sense-there-are-no/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [I don't have anything to say in any picture. My only interest in photography is to see what something looks like as a photograph.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/i-don-t-have-anything-to-say-in-any-picture-my-only-interest-in/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [I'll come back to New York. I think I'll start focusing in more on the entertainment business. I have been doing some of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/i-ll-come-back-to-new-york-i-think-i-ll-start-focusing-in-more-on-the/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [There is no special way a photograph should look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/there-is-no-special-way-a-photograph-should-look/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [It's a lot of work organizing something, whether it's a show or a book, and I don't want to do it every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/it-s-a-lot-of-work-organizing-something-whether-it-s-a-show-or-a-book/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [I have a good friend who's a very good printer. And he does a certain amount of printing for me. I do all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/i-have-a-good-friend-who-s-a-very-good-printer-and-he-does-a-certain/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [I never saw a pyramid, but I've seen photographs; I know what a pyramid or a sphinx looks like. There are pictures that do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/i-never-saw-a-pyramid-but-i-ve-seen-photographs-i-know-what-a-pyramid/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [I develop my own film. And I work in spurts. I pile it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/i-develop-my-own-film-and-i-work-in-spurts-i-pile-it-up/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [People are going to have a good time, you know. One can go have a good time at these big openings in museums. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/people-are-going-to-have-a-good-time-you-know-one-can-go-have-a-good/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

[Explore all 171 Garry Winogrand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

## More Arms quotes

> [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/)

[Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/)

> [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/)

[Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/)

> [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/)

[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/)

[Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/)

> [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/)

[Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/)

> [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/)

[Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/)

> [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/)

[Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/)

> [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/)

[Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/)

> [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/)

[Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/)

[Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You use the vertical edge as the point of reference, instead of the horizontal edge. I have a picture of a beggar, where there's an arm coming into the frame from the side. And the arm is parallel to the horizontal edge and it makes it work. It's all games, you know. But it keeps it interesting to do, to play.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Garry Winogrand"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/you-use-the-vertical-edge-as-the-point-of-reference-instead-of-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Arms"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/you-use-the-vertical-edge-as-the-point-of-reference-instead-of-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/garry-winogrand-2342_arms_you-use-the-vertical-edge-as-the-point-o_1729653.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/garry-winogrand-2342_arms_you-use-the-vertical-edge-as-the-point-o_1729653.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/garry-winogrand-2342_arms_you-use-the-vertical-edge-as-the-point-o_1729653.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You use the vertical edge as the point of reference, instead of the horizontal edge. I have a picture of a…” — Garry Winogrand",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Garry Winogrand",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You use the vertical edge as...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/you-use-the-vertical-edge-as-the-point-of-reference-instead-of-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/you-use-the-vertical-edge-as-the-point-of-reference-instead-of-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
