Those of you who followed my series of blogs on 'The ten ingredients of great landscape photos' will know that composition comes very high up the list! Those of you who have attended any of my training courses will also know that I always teach composition as the first topic. Why? Because learning the art of composition is the most important skill for any developing photographer; in fact, simply by mastering composition, you can hugely improve your photos with any camera. It's for this reason that, in this series of blogs, we're looking in depth at the art of composition.
The ingredients of great landscape photos
Other than finding a great subject to photograph, composition is the next most important factor in any great landscape photo.
What are composition rules?
I firmly believe that understanding and improving your composition is the quickest and easiest way to improve your photos, whatever camera you use. This is why it’s the topic that I always cover first in all of my training courses, both for mobile phone users and DSLR camera users
Why do snaps so rarely do justice to a beautiful view?
I'm sure we've all stood looking at a beautiful view, pointed our camera at it and snapped the shutter, only to get home and realised that whilst the view was beautiful, the photo is just plain dull! The reason for this is that we are used to seeing with our amazing binocular vision which sees the world in in three dimensions. As soon as we lose that third dimension in creating a two- dimensional photo, this view can immediately lose its essence. Put simply, a two-dimensional representation of a beautiful view can often be boring!
So, how do we make photos of beautiful views interesting?
To make a two-dimensional landscape photo more interesting, it's necessary to use one or more tricks, to build interest into the image. In a 'point and shoot’ snap of that beautiful view, there is likely to be little to grab the interest of the viewer, and they are more than likely to glance at it and then look away (which equals boring!). Instead, to develop as a photographer, you need to move away from taking a snap and move towards composing an image which grabs the viewers’ attention, pulling them into, and through the photo. This journey forces them to look longer at the photo, and in doing so, makes it more interesting to look at.
One of the easiest ways of improving that photo is to use one or more little tricks, often called ‘composition rules’ to make the image more interesting to look at and help to do better justice to that beautiful view. Although there are loads of composition rules (just Google it and you will find hundreds!), below are a handful of what I believe are the most powerful ones to have in your mental checklist when composing a photo.
Ensure you have a focal point
Construct your frame using the rule of thirds
Utilise lead-in lines to help draw the viewer into the frame
Use layers to help give depth
Find foreground interest especially when shooting wide
Embrace symmetry
Provide a sense of scale
Use the rule of odds
Keep your edges clean
Embrace diagonals
Use negative space
Ensure balance
Over this series of blogs, we'll look in detail at each of these 'rules' to help equip you with a mental checklist for how to compose better landscapes. We start this week with looking at the importance of having a focal point.
Composition Rule #3: Lead in Lines
Lead-in lines, (also known as leading lines), are a powerful compositional tool in landscape photography. They help to provide a visual path, which can guide the viewer's eye into the image, and are most powerful when they lead the viewer towards the main subject or focal point. Lead-in lines can be natural, such as ripples on a beach, or made features such as roads, paths, rivers, tree lines, or even shadows
In the image below, tyre tracks in the snow lead the viewer from the bottom of the frame and towards the bright tunnel in the distance (the focal point), pulling the viewer's eye into and through the image.
Leading lines serve several important purposes in landscape photography:
They can guide the viewer's eye, directing attention to specific elements in the image.
They help add depth: Leading lines create a sense of three-dimensionality, enhancing the perception of space in the photo.
They can emphasize the subject (or focal point): By placing the subject where leading lines converge, you can draw more attention to it.
In the image below, the path is positioned to act as a lead-in line directly towards the main subject and focal point (the tree). This both draws the viewers eye into the photo, and emphasises the main subject.
To effectively use leading lines in landscape photography:
Look for natural or man-made lines in the environment, such as shorelines, fences, paths, or even ripples in the sand.
Position the camera to make lines emerge from corners or the bottom of the frame, pointing towards the heart of the image (and preferably towards the main subject)
Use curved or meandering lines for a more dynamic and natural feel.
Combine leading lines with other compositional techniques, such as the rule of thirds, for more impactful images.
In the image below, the shadow of the soldier has been intentionally placed to draw the viewers eye in towards him, and then on to the church as the main subject.
Common Mistakes When Using Lead-In-Lines
Several common mistakes can occur when using leading lines in photography:
Leading to nowhere: Lines that don't guide the viewer to a specific subject or point of interest in the image.
Leading away from the subject: Lines that direct the eye past or away from the main subject instead of towards it.
Too many lines: Having multiple leading lines in a single image can confuse the viewer and create a chaotic composition.
Conflicting lines: Lines that pull the viewer's attention in different directions, creating an unbalanced or confusing composition.
Leading out of the frame: Lines that direct the viewer's eye straight out of the photo, rather than keeping attention within the image.
Neglecting the subject: Focusing too much on creating perfect leading lines at the expense of the main subject or story of the photo.
Ignoring the background: Failing to consider where the lines lead in relation to the background, potentially guiding the eye to distracting elements.
Want to improve your photography skills?
Don't forget that if you want some direct help with your photography, I offer a range of 1-2-1 photography courses for Devon based folks. If you're not nearby then I also offer residential workshops for beginner photographers or improving photographers.
About me
I first got into photography after walking the beautiful South West Coast Path: I was so disappointed that my photos didn't do justice to the beautiful coastal scenery that I decided to walk all 630 miles all over again, but this time to also teach myself photography along the way!
A few years later and I find myself as a professional photographer, widely published and with landscape photos which have won national awards. But I do much more than landscapes, providing photography training to businesses & individuals on how to take beautiful photographs, and providing professional photography services to businesses across the South West. My commercial specialisms are property photography, business photography, people photography & aerial (drone) photography.
I’m also an author with a number of published books and I give regular talks about my passion for photography, and for Devon, to camera clubs and other groups.
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