Leading lines, how I love thee. What are leading lines? "Leading lines are a compositional technique where human-made or natural lines lead the viewer’s eyes through a photograph to the subject or the heart of the image,” explains photographer Lukas Kosslow on Adobe.com. He goes on to say “They can be very noticeable, or they can be quite subtle.” Like the "rule of thirds", they're another tool in a photographer's belt to help guide the viewer's eye to the desired focus of the image, create balance or tell a story.
Leading lines can be horizontal, vertical, converging, gently curving or sharply angular. I enjoy the serendipity of finding - and incorporating - them in my pet and family portrait sessions around the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex. You can also create them in the studio, examples of which can be found here from a previous post that I've written about leading lines.
Can you spot the leading the leading lines in the images below? Give it a try, and then scroll down for the answers.
Leading Lines to Dallas Dogs
I want to photograph all the dogs. Oh, and all the people with their dogs! Whether it's in my studio in Carrollton, or on location around north Texas, including your home, make 2022 the year that you photograph your pet because tomorrows are not guaranteed and "later" may be too late.
Below I'd like you to meet (from upper L to R, by row): Moose the Corgi (photographed at Grapevine Botanical Gardens), Manolo the long coat Russian Toy (photographed in West End Square in downtown Dallas), Scooby the yellow lab mix (photographed at the Rose Garden of Farmers Branch), Ginger the red heeler, (also photographed at Grapevine Botanical Gardens), Nikko Marie the husky (photographed at her home and own neighborhood in Dallas) and Annie the pittie mix (photographed at The Keller Point park in Keller). I had the honor to photograph Nikko Marie and Annie shortly before they left this world.
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The Answers
Below you'll see that I've incorporated a number of different types of leading lines in these dog portraits including horizontal , diagonal, vertical, curved and converging.
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All Around the Pet Photography Blog Circle
Now onto Elaine Tweedy of I Got the Shot Photography in the beautiful Endless Mountains of PA, discovered a strange phenomenon in her own backyard. She shares it with you in today's blog and then continue clicking on the link at the bottom of each page until you land right back here and then you will have completed the circle.
Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography is a Certified Professional Photographer with the organization Professional Photographers of America; a designation held by fewer than 2,000 photographers nationwide and a hallmark of consistency, technical skill, artistry and professionalism. From more than 5,000 submissions, Tracy's pet portraits recently won a silver medal in Internal Photographic Competition.
Penny Whistle specializes in both on-location and studio photography providing pet, equine, family, couples & engagement and high school senior portraits as well as corporate headshots and commercial photography services in her studio located in historic downtown Carrollton as well as on location in Coppell, Grapevine, Southlake, Flower Mound and surrounding communities in Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas.