Leading Lines?
Sep 4, 2011 22:21:50 #
Will someone PLEASE help me? I have to turn in a project for school...one photograph due needs to draw the viewer's eye to the subject using leading lines...I have these two photographs, but I realize they are not too great, I am allowed to do post processing, as long as I don't go crazy with it. Would you mind helping me either with some tips for either re-shooting them or perhaps something I may be able to do to enhance and improve them with Aperture3 or Pixelmator? I appreciate it more than you can know! Thank you for your time in advance.
Sep 4, 2011 23:15:39 #
Hello CarlyLaDiDa,
First, I want that Camaro! Wow, what a great looking car. I had a 1978 metallic blue LT Camaro...sue would like to have that back.
Regarding your picture, in my photographic opinion you might be interpreting the Leading Lines assignment a little too literally. I suggest changing your perspective by getting the camera higher up, and farther back, so that the lines you use can actually illustrate "leading."
Leading lines can be anything that draws the viewer's eye to the subject. You can use painted lines, or street sidewalks, or tires lined up on the road or shaped in whatever pattern, as long as the composition of the picture utilizes the lines to lead your eye.
Leading lines do not have to be straight lines, or even parallel lines. It can also be only one line that you might use as a graphic element.
I hope I am not confusing you. If you need more feedback please let me know. And if you want to IM that's fine too.
As an FYI, I have 25 years of professional photography experience, including 18 years as owner/photographer of my own business. I am now retired from professional photography, but I teach the photography merit badge for Boy Scouts...and Leading Lines is always an interesting challenge to learn and to teach.
Good luck!
Dan
First, I want that Camaro! Wow, what a great looking car. I had a 1978 metallic blue LT Camaro...sue would like to have that back.
Regarding your picture, in my photographic opinion you might be interpreting the Leading Lines assignment a little too literally. I suggest changing your perspective by getting the camera higher up, and farther back, so that the lines you use can actually illustrate "leading."
Leading lines can be anything that draws the viewer's eye to the subject. You can use painted lines, or street sidewalks, or tires lined up on the road or shaped in whatever pattern, as long as the composition of the picture utilizes the lines to lead your eye.
Leading lines do not have to be straight lines, or even parallel lines. It can also be only one line that you might use as a graphic element.
I hope I am not confusing you. If you need more feedback please let me know. And if you want to IM that's fine too.
As an FYI, I have 25 years of professional photography experience, including 18 years as owner/photographer of my own business. I am now retired from professional photography, but I teach the photography merit badge for Boy Scouts...and Leading Lines is always an interesting challenge to learn and to teach.
Good luck!
Dan
Sep 4, 2011 23:32:51 #
I have to agree with Dan. The first photograph is a good up-close of the car! How much you asking for it?!
Really, you should move back away from the subject and choose a place where there are not so many lines as it may be a distraction and not a leading point. A single line or two lines would be fine. More than that it may become the subject. The photograph is also to low and should be higher. Love the car but the lines kind of diminish the subject. I hope this helped in some way... Happy shooting and good luck!
Really, you should move back away from the subject and choose a place where there are not so many lines as it may be a distraction and not a leading point. A single line or two lines would be fine. More than that it may become the subject. The photograph is also to low and should be higher. Love the car but the lines kind of diminish the subject. I hope this helped in some way... Happy shooting and good luck!
Sep 4, 2011 23:36:06 #
Try something like this:
The stem is the line
Diagonals are great !
Sep 4, 2011 23:49:07 #
Hello Again,
I have grabbed a screenshot of one of your original pictures and cropped it to illustrate the right front tire. By this example, you would be trying to "sell" the tire, or the rim, for example, and the parking lot line leads your eye to the wheel.
The picture as you have it otherwise conveys confusion, or "conflict," in terms of what are you trying to illustrate. The picture is a snapshot, as shown.
Dan
I have grabbed a screenshot of one of your original pictures and cropped it to illustrate the right front tire. By this example, you would be trying to "sell" the tire, or the rim, for example, and the parking lot line leads your eye to the wheel.
The picture as you have it otherwise conveys confusion, or "conflict," in terms of what are you trying to illustrate. The picture is a snapshot, as shown.
Dan
Leading Lines Example
Sep 4, 2011 23:54:17 #
Travis
Loc: Wetumpka, Alabama
I think maybe I would have tried to fill the frame with half the car and half the street, maybe looking down the car from the front where you could see a line. If that makes any sense. i know what I visualize in my mind but trying to tell someone is a bit different.
Sep 5, 2011 00:02:04 #
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! I can't begin to tell you how helpful everything you took time to share with me, helped! It's finally clicked and I feel SO much better and I will definitely use the tire suggestion, but with a little change so I just don't steal it outright! Right? But I got it right when I saw this photo. You are such a help and have saved me from falling very behind with my lessons, I appreciate it very much, I will be sharing more stuff here for sure, and hopefully I will learn everything that's difficult for me to learn at school here, somehow, just having examples and an explanation by someone else everything just light's up and boom! you comprehend what just was a lost cause a moment ago! You rock! THanks again
Sep 5, 2011 00:03:05 #
Thank you so much for your reply, I really appreciate your taking the time out to help me, I really can't thank you enough. I already feel comfortable being a part of this forum!
Take Care
Take Care
will this one work? Or did I NOT get it after all? I just see the lines from lake sand even the duck in front of the other, am i getting it now?
Sep 5, 2011 01:27:08 #
Here are a couple examples I have take using "Leading Lines" for a photography course I took. Hope this gives you a bit of perspective on how the line carries your eye through the photograph to see where it "leads"... Good Luck on you class, I am sure you will do well.
Chattanooga Choo-Choo Station
The fence takes your eyes to the cabin
I find myself trying to look further down the road to see where it leads.
Sep 5, 2011 02:21:53 #
Sep 5, 2011 08:31:07 #
Perfect DB. This is what leading lines are about. The lines literally draw you into the image from the foreground to the subject. Lines are not necessarily actual lines. It is a natural design in nature (path) or man made (fence) that takes the viewer into the photo to the main subject. I know I'm repeating myself, but I'm just trying to simply drive the point.
Examples:
http://fav.me/d48xcmc
http://fav.me/d48x5tf
http://fav.me/d48pewk
http://fav.me/d3csi6r
http://fav.me/d31ddeo
http://fav.me/d1xmkz3
http://fav.me/d3n3scg
Sorry about the slew of links, but visuals are helpful. Good luck!
Examples:
http://fav.me/d48xcmc
http://fav.me/d48x5tf
http://fav.me/d48pewk
http://fav.me/d3csi6r
http://fav.me/d31ddeo
http://fav.me/d1xmkz3
http://fav.me/d3n3scg
Sorry about the slew of links, but visuals are helpful. Good luck!
Sep 5, 2011 08:57:31 #
photo1017
Loc: East NJ
Now this is what a forum oughta be!! It is often so difficult for many to grasp what a class curriculum sets forth, but to step in here and have it explained, demonstrated and accomplished is great. I've stepped away from so many forums due to arrogance, belligerence and flaming.
I am glad I found y'all...
I am glad I found y'all...
Sep 5, 2011 09:39:58 #
I have to agree. I never learned this much in my photography class. This is a wonderful way to learn thanks to all the photographers/hobbyists out there willing to 'show' us what they have learned through trial and error and much practice. THANK YOU to all of you for sharing your knowledge!!
Sep 5, 2011 11:05:31 #
photo1017
Loc: East NJ
I've been shooting for many years (many decades - eek) and I enjoy forums like this for a fresh perspective, new angles on old techniques - from amateur and old pro alike.
Leading lines are something I've always seen as opportunistic - if they're there, I'll use them. Now, I'll look for them, compose with intent. Not every shot, but a feature now added to the forefront of my cluttered brain.
Leading lines are something I've always seen as opportunistic - if they're there, I'll use them. Now, I'll look for them, compose with intent. Not every shot, but a feature now added to the forefront of my cluttered brain.
Sep 5, 2011 11:26:29 #
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