PHOTO TIP - LEADING LINES....

One of the easiest and most effective ways to create a great photo is with "Leading Lines".

Leading lines are a way for a photographer to communicate to an audience and guide them around or to a specific point of the photograph, without being there to talk to you.

There are a number of ways to draw the viewer around a photograph below -

Walkways and Railings.

The railing in the above image contains your eyes to centre of the image, whilst the wharf draws it off to the distnace.
Sometimes other things in an image are so unimportnat you wouldn't know they were there.
For example - Without looking, could you say how many boats are in the image? I doubt it. But surely you could tell me (still without looking) which side of the wharf the railing is on or to lesser extent which side of the wharf the white paint stripe is on.

The natural world

Sometimes the natural landscape can be a much more subtle way a photographer can isolate a viewer's eye. This rocks draw you to the right third of the image, where the water is washing through. From there you can see the morning sun piercing through the clouds.

Moving lines

Sometimes while taking images leading lines come and go. So you have to be quick!
This shot was taken as the water returned back to the ocean after an incoming set. Because of the moving directionality of the whitewash lines on the sand you feel as though you are being pull out to sea towards the large rock in the top third of frame.


So next time you are out shooting for yourself look around to see if there is an easy way to direct your audience and make your image more interesting.
Oooooor if you just like looking at others images try to figure out what you think the photographer was trying to achieve. Sometimes you might surprise yourself.

Let me know what you think.......
Catchya
Josh :)