SKP PhotoTips - Leading Lines

Sometimes what makes one photo more interesting than another is the viewer's ability to 'discover' something that might not be obvious at first glance.  Admit it, a couple of years ago you probably stood at a mall kiosk, tilting your head, trying to find the hidden 3-D image inside one of those weird-looking pictures, right?  I know I wasn't the only one with a crick in my neck after doing that...

One of the many ways you can add interest and depth to an image is the use of leading lines.  They draw the viewer into an image and, when done well, leave him there to wander around for a while.  Have you ever noticed that sometimes a photo causes you to pause and look for more?  Odds are it has lines that keep your attention.

The photo of road lines is a clear example of how lines can draw you into and through a photo.  Your eye automatically follows the bright yellow path and stays with the fairly vertical movement - there's no compulsion for left-to-right tracking here.

Driving back from our Thanksgiving trip out west last year, Steve and I passed through St Louis.  The day was various shades of flat gray and we didn't have long to stop, but having never been in the city, I wanted to see the Arch and give myself a memory of its size.

This photo did just that for me, but in terms of leading lines it's not good.  While the arch leaves the frame in a similar position to the yellow lines above, the lines tend to pull the eye right out of the image in a distracting way.  The lines were the subject in the road photo (no less so than the leaf) but here the trees are in a losing battle with the Arch for your attention.  Do you notice that happening?

I took this last photo as light was failing on a foggy day a few weeks ago.  It's a much better example of the way lines guide the eye, so let's talk about what we have.

The most obvious line is the road itself - a clear path (pun intended!) right into the lower middle of the image.  In addition, we have the edges where seal meets grass - black lines leading in.  What about the fence to the right?  It runs in parallel to the road, reinforcing the direction.

Sure, we have a somewhat strong black line created by the tree, disappearing at the top middle, but by the time it reaches that point it has weakened as the branches divide and thin.  But do you notice the two downward-curving branches?  They are at least as strong as the straighter branch and lead your eye back toward the road and the uncluttered lighter area where the road disappears.

So now that we're a little more aware of the effect of lines, can you see them around you more?  My bet is you will - it's like when you buy a car and suddenly notice how many people are driving that model.  Architecture, whether man-made or natural, is full of lines.  Play with them and see what works and what leaves you stranded.