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A kiwi leaf in my back garden, of all places...
a waterfall in the Kyoto Garden in Holland Park, London, UK
A stork in the plains of Hungary, on a lampost

Using leading lines

The concept of leading lines in photography helps make photos more interesting by giving the eye a pathway to the point of focus in the photo.

Leading lines can be anything with a defined edge which your eye can follow, distinct from the rest of the photo.

For example; a path, a stream, painted lines on a road, lines on buildings or a coastline. The concept is the same regardless of the photo's content.

Come to London and let me show you.

The Millennium Bride over the river Thames in London.  The bridge acts as leading line to St Paul's Cathedral on the North Bank.

This is the Millennium Bridge over the river Thames, and at the other end you can see St Paul's Cathedral. The bridge is architecturally interesting in itself, but the line it traces points straight to St Paul's. So while you may feel the bridge is the focus, your eye is still led naturally to other points of interest in the frame.

From the same excursion... (note: this next photo is intentionally overexposed!)

a mother posing for her son on the Millennium Bridge in London.  The bridge acts as leading lines for St Paul's in the background, and the floor features point to the woman.

Sometimes accidental photos just happen: you don't plan them, but you take the opportunity. I was sitting there taking some set-up shots, waiting for it to get darker, when this happened. I didn't really think it would work, but I like it! I've made it so over exposed to make it look "aethereal", but really the sky was just rubbish!

In terms of leading lines, the bridge rails point towards St Paul's as before, and the design on the floor of the bridge points straight towards the woman in the centre.

The lines really help to give a sense of perspective; it's just a shame that I wasn't a few inches to the right to get her in the centre of St Paul's for symmetry!

One more... yes I have pulled exactly the same exposure trick.

steps and a path pointing straight for St Paul's Cathedral.

I clearly had a thing for leading lines that day. Again we see St Paul's Cathedral, but this time from much closer and the cathedral itself is clearly the focal point of this photo.

The lines of the steps here do not attract attention in the same way as the bridge did before.

The eye can either follow the steps or the people on the path to St Paul's, and the perspective of the shot from ground level makes this more interesting than a regular tourist-like snapshot.

When it comes your photography, look around every so often at the natural shapes which are formed around you.

You may have to get into some unusual positions to make the most of them, but this will only make your photo more interesting anyway!

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About the author

I have just completed a physics degree and am now studying for a Master's degree in environmental technology.

When I was about 11, I went on holiday with a compact film camera. One day I pointed the camera and clicked over and over again, just to make the sound "a real camera makes".

I've been hooked ever since.

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