What Are Paths And Lines And Why Do It?
Basically, when you look at a photo, your eye is naturally drawn to a certain point and to make sure the viewer of your shot focuses on the right spot in your image, you can create a "path" for the eye to follow through the scene. This won't work for every shot but do consider it before hitting the shutter button.
Photo by David Clapp
What To Use As Paths?
Examples of paths:
- Lines in crop fields
- Roads
- Fences
- Streams
- Trails
- Walking Paths
For tips on using converging verticals and lines, read this tutorial: When Are Converging Verticals And Lines A Good Thing?
Guide The Eye With Blur
We also have this tutorial with a few focusing tips to get you thinking about your photography more creatively: Think About Your Focus
Give Moving Objects Space
If you are photographing moving objects, consider which way they are heading. For example, if the object is on the left side of your shot and heading out of the frame, rather than into the centre, this will ultimately lead the eye away from the main body of the image and can also frustrate the viewer with its mystery destination. Having the object, or objects, heading towards the middle of the frame will make the image more pleasing to the eye and will stop the object from guiding the viewer's eye out of frame. For more tips, take a look at this tutorial: Looking/Moving Space.
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31 Dec 2019 6:08PMJust one quibble, I have rarely found blur to be an effective lead-in, it is more likely to create a barrier, which for me is certainly the case in the example given. Try holding a finger up in front of your eyes and then focus on the scene beyond, it's not comfortable. But that is what you are asking the viewer to do.
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31 Dec 2021 3:15PMby pablophotographer
Here's my leading line example. A telephoto lens would have brought the moon closer.
Funnily enough I was reading an article about the contrast detention formula used for autonomous driven vehicles.
I also made a comment today which stresses the use of contrast for attracting attention in a given frame. Yes, just as bold lettering does. 😃
Happy 2022 everybody!
pablophotographer
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