Photographers are storytellers with one aim in mind: to create the tale within a single image. To this end, the cameraman uses experience to consider every available tool for the shot. An invaluable tool for composition is the use of leading lines in photography. These bring structure to the picture, adding an extra dimension to the story.
The method has been in use for centuries, both in oil paintings and, more recently, in camera work. The idea is to usher the viewer around the image by the use of lines which occur within the picture. Focus can be placed centrally or to one side, to achieve a particular effect on the viewer. It is all about telling the story.
As in any good story, there must be a beginning, middle and an end. The beginning is often the standpoint of the observer; the middle is the way the paths draw interest from one area to another. The end is the focal point of the completed story. As an example, there is a picture of a child. The child is crying, with arm outstretched downward, pointing to the floor. On the floor is a dropped ice cream. The whole story can be seen, due to the arm acting as a continuation.
The lines do not need to be straight like arrows. Curves and arcs can evoke more emotions as they wander across the picture. A river or stream is a good example of this. A narrow channel of water starting in the lower left of a frame can twist through a valley towards a sparkling sea in the background, allowing the observer to wander through the picture. A procession during a street carnival will allow the viewer to follow the same route as the revelers.
Birds and beasts create their own trails that can be used to good effect in a picture. The arc of a toucan's giant bill can be followed to reveal a juicy berry on a branch while perhaps below that, the converging paths of a web chillingly point to a spider waiting to catch its dinner. There are infinite variations of this type in the animal kingdom.
Artificial guides are also a fine source of viewer persuasion. Anyone familiar with the image of the Eiffel Tower in France will know that the eye automatically follows the sweeping column all the way to the very top of the construction. Fashion photographers often take advantage of the lines within apparel or on the backdrop to emphasize and focus on the parts of the clothing that are considered important.
Unseen lines can be just as effective as their visible counterparts. A line of stars in the night sky can lead to an exceptional celestial object, giving it full attention. A simple glance in one direction from one side of a photo frame will make the viewer want to see what is on the opposite side, thus sharing in the experience without a specific line to follow.
Using leading lines in photography must be carried out to perfection. Without the guiding paths to follow, the eye is allowed to wander aimlessly around the picture without any real thought as to what the story is about. Even worse, when the lines are used inappropriately, they can confuse and distract the viewer from the meaning that is being conveyed. There are times when leading lines can be used to great effect, but knowing when to employ them and when to omit them is the sign of a good photographer.
The method has been in use for centuries, both in oil paintings and, more recently, in camera work. The idea is to usher the viewer around the image by the use of lines which occur within the picture. Focus can be placed centrally or to one side, to achieve a particular effect on the viewer. It is all about telling the story.
As in any good story, there must be a beginning, middle and an end. The beginning is often the standpoint of the observer; the middle is the way the paths draw interest from one area to another. The end is the focal point of the completed story. As an example, there is a picture of a child. The child is crying, with arm outstretched downward, pointing to the floor. On the floor is a dropped ice cream. The whole story can be seen, due to the arm acting as a continuation.
The lines do not need to be straight like arrows. Curves and arcs can evoke more emotions as they wander across the picture. A river or stream is a good example of this. A narrow channel of water starting in the lower left of a frame can twist through a valley towards a sparkling sea in the background, allowing the observer to wander through the picture. A procession during a street carnival will allow the viewer to follow the same route as the revelers.
Birds and beasts create their own trails that can be used to good effect in a picture. The arc of a toucan's giant bill can be followed to reveal a juicy berry on a branch while perhaps below that, the converging paths of a web chillingly point to a spider waiting to catch its dinner. There are infinite variations of this type in the animal kingdom.
Artificial guides are also a fine source of viewer persuasion. Anyone familiar with the image of the Eiffel Tower in France will know that the eye automatically follows the sweeping column all the way to the very top of the construction. Fashion photographers often take advantage of the lines within apparel or on the backdrop to emphasize and focus on the parts of the clothing that are considered important.
Unseen lines can be just as effective as their visible counterparts. A line of stars in the night sky can lead to an exceptional celestial object, giving it full attention. A simple glance in one direction from one side of a photo frame will make the viewer want to see what is on the opposite side, thus sharing in the experience without a specific line to follow.
Using leading lines in photography must be carried out to perfection. Without the guiding paths to follow, the eye is allowed to wander aimlessly around the picture without any real thought as to what the story is about. Even worse, when the lines are used inappropriately, they can confuse and distract the viewer from the meaning that is being conveyed. There are times when leading lines can be used to great effect, but knowing when to employ them and when to omit them is the sign of a good photographer.
About the Author:
Parker Michaels is a new media consultant and freelance photographer. For more information on leading lines in photography, visit www.photo-junkie.com.
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