Photo Composition 101, Part 1: Leading a Viewer's Eye - Learn how to take Pictures

Leading a Viewer's Eye
If a photograph is composed well, your eye is led from one part of the image to the next automatically, until the entire subject has been viewed. To achieve this effect you need to look for things within a scene that will grab a viewer's eye and lead them exactly where you want them to go.

"S" Curves
The Ansel Adams photograph you looked at in Example 2 used an "S" Curve shape to lead your eye from the foreground clear through to the mountain peaks. In the picture at left, the angular curve of the steps leads your eye right to the front door in the picture. (To view a larger picture for this example: http://www.karinrex.com/picts/leadingeye... )

Diagonal Lines
A strong diagonal line in a picture, such as the picture on the left, leads a viewer's eye by forcing them to look at something in a different way. Notice how the picture on the right doesn't seem as captivating. (To view larger pictures for these examples: http://www.karinrex.com/picts/diagonalRE... and http://www.karinrex.com/picts/diagonalRE... )

Color and Perspective
In the photograph at left, the repeated color orange in the buoys and life preserver, reinforces the linear perspective of the picture, drawing your eye in to the main subject. (To view a larger picture for this example: http://www.karinrex.com/picts/colorpersp... )

YOU Try It
Go out and take a few pictures that use the concepts outlined above. Find a winding road or path and take a few pictures from a variety of angles to see which camera angles accentuate the "S" shape and which angles downplay it. Snap a few shots that highlight strong diagonal line in a picture. Let repeating color and perspective play off one another to form a strong image. If you are able to, post links to examples of your work on our discussion board. Happy shooting!

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic