Composition Technique - Leading lines
Blog entry
28th March
What do you know about leading lines?
When taking a photograph, the most popular composition technique used is ‘Leading lines’. This type of composition is a way to lead the viewer into your image. This can lead them to the reason why the photograph has been taken or lead the viewer to an item/vanishing point.
Vanishing point
Here is a visual example of a picture that has a vanishing point.
A vanishing point is formed when elements within the scene appear to diminish in size the further they are away. The theory behind vanishing points is closely related to linear perspective and how the eye judges distances.
More on Leading lines
When researching further into the composition technique for leading lines, you will start to understand that there are four main types of lines to consider: Horizontal, Vertical, Diagonal & Curved.
The main use of the leading line composition in images is when we take photographs of buildings, nature, manufactured environments, and urban areas. However, this composition technique is used in portraits & street photography.
To teach you how to take a photograph with leading lines is rather difficult over a written blog, so I tend to show visuals to help the understanding of this composition technique. When I taught this composition technique before I also kept to these four line types:
Horizontal
Vertical
Diagonal
Curved
The main challenge that students have when I give them these is thinking about where they see these lines, so I tend to begin with them looking at a staircase. When you look at a staircase you can see horizontal, vertical & diagonal lines. I also encourage them to change their viewpoint on the stairs. (read the blog on Viewpoint composition) This helps to see how the perspective of the viewer changes the form of the leading lines.
Have a quick video to watch with great visuals on understanding the use of Leading lines.
Key points to remember and ask yourself
Tip 1 - Look for lines around you and use them to your advantage.
Tip 2 - Always ask yourself ‘Where is my attention being directed?’.
Tip to remember - ‘A leading line should always point to the subject, not out of the frame or into nowhere.’
So far in this blog, I have explained the four main lines to look for when using the leading lines composition technique in your photograph. I also think you need to consider the vanishing point in your photograph or where you are attempting to lead the viewer. Currently, we are all isolated, so I have decided to include ways to use this composition technique when at home I hope that this next section is useful and will encourage you all to try this.
AT HOME WITH LEADING LINES
If you have any of these types of cameras, bridge, point & shoot or SLR, you can put your settings on auto and have some fun with this composition technique. If you have more knowledge of the exposure setting on your camera, then play with an aperture/shutter priority or manual.
A lovely effect to use when using leading lines is to have a wide aperture, this means the f-stop is at 5.6 or lower. When I refer to lower I mean that the number is lower and if I have referred to a wider aperture, I mean that the camera is letting in more light. When using a wide aperture, you can begin to create depth within a photograph and this visually means that the foreground of a picture becomes blurry or dreamy. (Depth of field)
Here is an example of the use of depth of field (wide aperture) and leading lines.
When shooting an image and using the leading line composition, you will take the image so that you are giving a sense of depth even without a wide aperture.
USING YOUR MOBILE PHONE
While at home you may prefer to use your mobile phone to take a photograph, so please do not feel that any of these composition techniques can not be used with them.
Look out for my information on how to effectively use your mobile phone at home. #WELLYLEARNING.
Here is a quick note on the top icons on your phone that come up in camera mode:
Icon 1 - represents turning your phone flash on or off.
Icon 2 - represents the option to take a live photograph. The purpose of this option is you have the option to capture movement rather than just a still photograph.
Icon 3 - represents taking a photograph with a timer. This option gives you the control to plan when the photograph is taken. For more info on self-timer and photo bursts, follow the link - https://www.imore.com/how-to-take-photos-camera-iphone-ipad
Icon 4 - represents a filter option, meanwhile using your iPhone you can take images with a set filter tone/colour image.
These icons are what you see on an iPhone and you will have similar icons on an Android phone.
HOW TO USE LEADING LINES WHEN AT HOME
While at home you may feel that the leading lines composition technique may not be that useful to use. Especially as the leading lines composition is used mainly for landscape, but I can assure you, that in your home you have lines everywhere, here are four images that I have taken for some property clients. I have drawn red lines on each picture to identify the leading lines and these are all places in your home.
The above images relate to taking a photograph of an entire room. However, you may wish to venture into your garden area which is full of curved lines and this will make it more interesting. The above images only show either a horizontal or a diagonal line. So go into your garden and have a look around, the curved lines could relate to your path, the shadow created by the sun or possibly your flower beds.
To help you consider more options, here are some examples from Google to help give you ideas on how to use leading lines at home.
SUMMARY
I have explained about four different types of lines to consider when using leading lines in your photographs. The option to use a wide aperture to form depth in your leading line images when using a camera that lets you change your aperture settings or if you have a depth of field app on your phone.
As we are all at home, I have shared suggested creative ways to use leading lines. With either your camera or phone, as long as you enjoy yourself.
I will continue to write photographic composition blogs, so sign up to receive an updated blog email.
I have already written a blog entry on viewpoint composition and next week I will publish a blog on using framing within your photography, as well as a list of blog subjects for April.
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Thank you for reading.