Leading the Eye with Visual Elements and Shapes

Compelling composition. It’s all about leading the eye. In this free video, world renowned outdoor photographer Ian Plant shows you how leading the eye in your photographs is the key to successful results. You will learn how to use shapes and visual elements that entice the viewer to explore your images, and also how to look for bold shapes that stretch from foreground to background as in a mountain lake running to the sunset horizon.

From his own photographs, Ian shows you examples of this leading the eye technique for landscape photos: moss-covered fallen trees in the rainforest, dramatic sand patterns in the desert, a dark alley leading to a sunlit man walking past, a meltwater stream passing through a glacial tunnel to show a hiker. No matter what your photograph, always keep in mind the key compositional technique of leading the eye into the scene.