Creating And Using Leading Lines

One of the most important considerations any photographer makes is determining compositional lines in images they create. In this short article, I will be discussing how various elements can become leading lines and add to the visual flow of your images.Leading lines often enter from the bottom left or right corner of an image, or from across the bottom of it. A good leading line provides a sense of flow and balance to an image and draws the viewer in almost like a magnet.

Both natural and man-made elements can serve as leading lines. The paving stones in the image above create a very strong leading line, making the image feel deeper. You’ll notice that the adjacent paving stones are running perpendicular to it which sets up some visual ‘opposition’ in the image. This further accentuates the leading line.At other times you can position a leading line from a top corner as in the image above. The high contrast between the spines of the umbrella and the light fabric help to create a very strong leading line even though its physical width is quite narrow.Even in busy images containing a lot of detail a leading line can still be created, like this moss covered branch entering the image from the top right corner. Sometimes the main subject of a photograph and its leading line are one in the same. At other times you may find a pattern in nature where a series of lines are converging and that pattern can serve as a very different type of leading line to draw viewers in.

A leading line can undulate and form a softer entry point into an image. Our eyes are often attracted to groupings of three. Notice how the three red items in the centre of the above composition help to focus a viewer’s attention.

It is important to remember that there are a range of compositional factors that can come into play when creating an image, and not every image will have, or need, a leading line. When we can incorporate leading lines they can add interest to our images and help create eye flow.