Author Topic: “Leading Lines,” Weekly Photography Assignment for 11 – 17 January 2010  (Read 1992 times)

keithsnell

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Although we have briefly mentioned leading lines in past assignments, we haven’t yet had an assignment that dealt specifically with leading lines.  The phrase “leading line” is used to refer to a strong line in your image, such as a road, river, or some other geographic or man-made feature that draws the viewer’s attention along a specific path through your image.  Obviously the leading lines should draw your viewer’s attention into the scene, and not lead them out of the frame, and should lead toward your primary subject.  


Your leading line doesn’t have to be a straight line, and often a curved line, especially an S curve, can be one of the most effective methods of drawing your viewer into the scene.  The dynamics of an S curve keep the viewer’s eyes moving, drawing them further and further into the scene and enticing them to linger and observe all of the details along the way.

It is important to choose an appropriate placement of the leading line within your image.  Leading lines that cut the frame in half can have the negative effect of fragmenting your composition, instead of unifying it by leading the viewer through the scene.  Starting a leading line from the corner of your image can alleviate the sense of “cutting it in half,” and the resulting diagonal can impart a dynamic feeling to the image.  Placing the leading line correctly often requires you to reposition your camera in relation to the primary subject and the lines leading to it in order to refine your composition.

Leading lines often go hand-in-hand with linear perspective, and can add a sense of depth to an image by illustrating the concept of distance.  Since the leading line is an important compositional element, you should ensure you have enough depth of field so that element it is sharply defined and not distractingly out of focus.  This usually requires the use of a small aperture.  The small aperture, in conjunction with the desire to precisely place your leading line within the frame, calls for the use of a tripod as well.

An extension of the concept of leading lines is the concept of implied leading lines.  The strong gaze of a person or animal can act as a “leading line” to lead the viewer’s attention into, or out of, the scene.  It’s because of this that you should compose your image so that the subject is looking into, and not out of the scene.  Implied leading lines can also be formed by the way objects are arranged in an image.  For example, a row of stones or other forms arranged through the image will act as an implied leading line, and have the same effect of drawing the viewer’s attention through the scene.

The assignment for the week of 11 – 17 January 2010 is "Leading Lines."  Please upload your images to the "Leading Lines" album in the Weekly Assignments category of the Gallery no-latter-than midnight Mountain Time (GMT - 07:00) on Sunday, 17 January 2010.

I will look forward to seeing your images.

Keith
« Last Edit: January 11, 2010, 05:19:28 PM by keithsnell »