How to create leading ines in a simple corridor to bring power to an image
Both models and photographers have the bad habit of squaring everything off to the camera.
The model tends to turn her body direct to camera, although on the whole she will look better with a turn to the side.
The photographer tends to shoot at right-angles to the backdrop, straight into the wall or cove.
This is not a good habit and means we lose a lot of opportunity and breadth in our shots.
Working in a corridor is a good way of preventing that because it forces you to think about shooting sideways and for the model to pose sideways.
This first image is a classic of what I am describing. Fair enough, it is strong. The central placement and symmetry adds an inherent stability and solidity to the image and we do get some sense of perspective from the corridor walls.
But it becomes much more interesting when we have to shoot down the corridor wall. The model can interact with the wall to create new poses, postures and shapes. The photographer has to work with new angles in order to get any kind of shot at all.
And the shots don't need to be full length, the technique works just as well for headshots and portraits too, whether facing into the wall such as here, or facing out from the wall.
It is such a simple technique, but used far less often than it should be, so next time you are shooting, just move to the side and shoot along the wall as well as towards it.
key points
Try to identify your habits and break them. You will become a stronger, more flexible photographer as a result.
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