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Storytelling Techniques FRANKIE’S
GO ON A JOURNEY
WITH LEAD-IN LINES
EAD-IN LINES
are a staple of
composition. They
are important for
L creating a well-
balanced image, leading the
viewer’s eye around and into
an image. We can use this
path to help tell a story. Your
eye naturally follows lines and
expects to find a payoff at the
end of them, whether there is
something there or not.
Place something at the
convergence of the lines to
direct your viewer’s attention
to it and it will instantly
become a key element in the
image. Alternatively, have
these lines extend from a
figure off into the distance.
With no obvious subject at the
end of the lines, the viewer is
left filling in the blanks with
a context that makes sense
within the image. This can
be used to imply a distance to
be travelled, a journey to be
undertaken, or one that has
PUT THE THEORY
INTO PRACTICE
n All the lines in
this image point
off into the distance,
which combined
with the direction
they are facing,
implies they are
heading to that point.
n The diagonal lines
aren’t very steep.
They’re close to
horizontal, so it
doesn’t feel unstable
or precarious.
n The mountains
similarly don’t show
steep or vertical lines,
and so don’t feel
particularly imposing.
been taken, for example.
Lines tend to lead from the
edges of the frame inwards,
but the rules can be broken
to dramatic effect.
Pick an angle JAROMIR CHALABALA
Lead-in lines don’t need to
be physical lines, they can
instead be implied – dark
bands in clouds, streaks of
colour in a field, anything
that the eye can follow, it
generally will. They are great
for directing attention, or
drawing attention to the more
prominent lines in an image.
They can also work to give
images different perspectives.
Vertical lines can be used to
accentuate height, often used to add a sense of dynamism. Top The implied lines in the
to best effect with buildings They can be used when sky reinforce the hard lines
and people. Horizontal lines shooting action, such as a of the shore.
tend to lend your image a motorcycle race. If the path
sense of grounding and can being followed by the bikes Above The lines extend
appear quite static. They are is flat, the image will feel beyond a lonely dog to
a good tool for adding a sense slower and more static than imply abandonment.
of permanency or stability to if the path being followed is
an image. Diagonal lines tend angled off into the distance.
TIP
COMBINE
TYPES OF LINES
You can really craft the feel
of an image by using
different lines in multiple
ways within your
shots.
MUMEMORIES
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