As you look at a good photograph, it will have elements that will sort of lead your vision to explore and move into the subject of the photo. The elements are lines either implied or direct, visibile or invisible that guides the eyes to each element of the composition and guide you to 'explore' the photography. In photography theory these are callled leading lines.

The basic idea is that these lines keep the eyes from wandering out of the picture but tends to keep the interests leading fromt he edge of the photograph to the center of interests or the main subject.

Many elements in the photo can be used as these lines. Roads and pathways leading into the picture are one such example, also are stems of a plant leading you to the flowers, or the branches of a tree leading you to the colorful leaves. The idea is that these lines keep the viewer inside the picture.

One thing to note is that whether you decide to use them or not, leading lines are usually there in the picture. The question is then, whether these lines keep the viewer's interests into the picture or it leads the user (and his or her interests) out of the picture. You should compose your photo such that the viewer's interests are kept in - off course.

In the photograph above the walking path is a obvious leading line. The path starts at the bottom right of the photo and leads the viewer into the center of the picture, encouraging him or her to explore the trees and greens along the path and leads onwards to the buildings beyond, giving the impression that this is a patch of green park right in the middle of a city. The two person walking on the path gives a perspective of the size of the park, trees and the length of the path itself.

In the photograph above, leading lines and perspective are used effectively to give the feeling that the walkway leads the viewer into the depths of the jungle to whatever mystery that it may hold beyond. The leading line is the walkway, dissapearing with perspective into the middle of the picture, as if engulf by the forest vegetation and trees. The water and swamp in the foreground enhances this effect somewhat.

Leading lines may be obvious, as in the previous two examples, or it can be virtual as in the photo above of the binoculars overlooking the scenic view beyond. The virtual leading lines is formed by the binoculars, leading the viewer to explore the scenic view beyond.

The conscious use and awareness of leading lines in your composition can enhance and guide the viewer in appreciating the elements and subjects in your photograph that you intend to showcase. The lines are always there, the next time you take a shot with your camera, look at the LCD or viewfinder and ask yourself, does these lines go into the picture or does it leads the viewer out of it?

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