Route 1,"The Ring Road", passes Mýrdalsjökull glacier

A leading line is a design element that helps to create depth while leading the person’s eye through the picture.  They can also be used to draw attention to the main subject of the photograph.  Leading lines can be man-made or natural.  Whether it is a fence, cracks in rocks, a road, or some other element, using leading lines in your photography is a great way to create more dramatic photos.  Let’s take a look at some examples.

Roads are perfect examples of leading lines and one of my favorite to use.  Not only do they help to lead the eye into the picture but give the viewer the sense that they could be standing right there or driving down that same road.  Leading lines are very effective when starting from a corner of the frame as the center line is in this example.

Fence line in Highland County, VA

Fences are also wonderful to use as leading lines.  In the example above, the fence leads your eyes right to where the drama and color are in the sky.  You can also see every other fence section pointing towards the center of the frame.

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Morris Island lighthouse near Folly Beach, SC

In the lighthouse example the rocks form a curved line that leads the eye from the corner to the lighthouse in the water.  These are just a couple examples of leading lines.  Next time you are out photographing the world, be sure to look for leading lines in your next composition to add depth and draw the veiwer into the frame.

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