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Leading lines
Leading lines are lines that guide your eye to a spot on your photograph. Leading lines add depth to the two dimensional photograph and make the image look more dynamic.
The fence and the shadow are the leading lines guiding the viewer to the monument in Cabo da Roca.
The path creates two leading lines: A vanishing point.
Let’s look at Brunelleschi’s Linear perspective Theory without getting too theoretical about it!
Brunelleschi was a painter, architect, and sculptor in the 15th century. He created depth in his works by applying the Linear Perspective Theory to his architectural designs and art pieces. If you want to learn about composition, study Brunelleschi’s beautiful works.
The idea was to use geometry to create depth in architecture and art.
I’m chose to keep this very simple, and if you want to learn more about Brunelleschi, his theories and how he applied them, I have added links below for you.
One leading line will guide the viewer to a specific area of the image. Two parallel leading lines create a vanishing point and will create more depth in a photograph and guide the viewer’s eye to a specific area.
You can also have several single leading lines going to different photograph parts to enhance specific things or they can all guide the viewer to one thing.
-Leading lines allow you to enhance things and areas in your photographs.
-Leading lines make a viewer look at a photograph for a longer time. Lines create interest and the viewer will look for more details in your image. You want people to spend more than three seconds looking at your work!
How should you implement this theory? My tip is to slow down when you photograph. Look at the scene that you want to shoot carefully. Are there any leading lines that you could use to enhance something or to divide the image? Lower the camera and raise the camera to see if anything changes in the frame. Keep looking for the lines.
*If you find a leading line, use it. If you don’t see any leading lines, find the best angle and take your photograph.
Practice!
Practice looking for leading lines when you are not photographing so that this will become natural to you. With time, leading lines will be showing up all over the place!
Remember that this is just a tip that will help you to take better photos.
Happy Shooting!
Marguerite
Many leading lines guiding the view to the house in the back.
Nature creates leading lines with texture and divide the image.
Note that the lines are also created by the top of the structures and when that happens the vanishing point is even more enhanced.
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Marguerite Beaty, Blogger, Photographer & Artist
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