Part 1 Section 2 - Leading Lines

 Welcome to the next part of our mini blog series! We're going to continue to teach you more about important aspects of photography composition which you'll want to understand before you begin your journey of becoming a well-seasoned photographer. 

   Next up, we'll be explaining how to utilize leading lines in order to draw your viewers attention to the appropriate details you're trying to capture. Sit back and relax while we discuss the importance of leading lines with ease. 

Section 2: Leading Lines

 Leading lines are a powerful composition tool which guide the viewers gaze throughout your photos. Sometimes these lines can be literal, simply a road or fence working its way through the frame, but they can also be implied. Implied leading lines can be created by using something less obvious such as an edge of a shadow or a row of tress. The overall purpose of leading lines is to draw attention to a specific focal point, or they can be used to take your audience on a visual journey throughout the image. Notice in the image below how the street lights gradually have your eyes traveling down the path into the beautiful sunset. The framing of this photo accurately uses both leading lines and the Rule of Thirds.

 Your main goal as a photographer is to identify these lines before you snap your photo. While aiming through your lens do what you can to observe natural or even man-made lines in the environment. Some of the most effective lines you can see will come from roads, pathways, rivers, and even architectural elements like buildings. You want to focus these lines along the Rules of Thirds grid we've touched on in the last section. The best thing to do is have fun with it. You don't have to just focus on vertical or horizontal lines with your compositions. Take some time to experiment with diagonal lines as well to create different moods and dynamics in your work. Photography is a creative journey and we'll always welcome you to explore all types of possibilities! 

 Another important aspect of leading lines in your photography is they help create perspective and depth. Both of these are essential for building the scene you're trying to capture. Whether it be a long narrow subway, a trip along narrow mountain tops, or simply a row of endless tress in the heart of a forest. Utilizing these leading lines and allowing them to converge on your main subject will give your photos dimension and have you capturing draw dropping moments your viewers will love. You'll notice in the photo below how your eyes travel down all the way through the photo along with the river. On on each side you'll see how they ride from each peak to the next. 

 Straight lines aren't the only style of leadings lines to be on the look out for. S-curves and zigzags are often fun to capture because they present a more complex and entertaining visual journey for the viewer. Often, these lines are able to create a sense of movement or rhythm which leads to a more active engagement. Saturation of colors or contrasting tones can benefit you as well. If you're able to spark interest right away in the foreground, you're more likely to have your audience stop to examine the rest of your photo. It's imperative to learn these techniques and master them because the quicker you can capture the attention of your audience the more likely they are to stick around and observe more of the wonderful moments you've frozen in time. 

 Leading lines are crucial to creating compositions with superb story telling capabilities. Understanding how they work will help you separate your photography from the pack and allow you to begin sharing compelling images with your audience. Next time you're out with your camera see how many different lines you can identify and how you can use those lines to your advantage to frame the perfect moment. Harnessing this skill will undoubtedly bring your photography to the next level. In our next section we'll be expanding more on framing techniques. 

 If you enjoyed this blog please leave a comment below and share it with someone you think would enjoy it too. To continue with the blog series head on over to Part 1 Section 3 here.