We have spoken about lead in lines and depth over and over again. So why is it addressed again? The reason is simple. Amateurs shoot flat pictures; images that you look at 2 dimensionally. When you look at such an image you see the whole image at once. You look at it with one glance. After all you are looking at an image which is physically flat (paper, monitor, etc.) Professionals do not want flat images. They want images where the viewer is transported into the image. Amateur images are mostly only lateral. Professional images takes you into the image as if there is distance. The difference is huge. When looking at the amateur picture you know that you are looking at an image. When looking at the professional image you feel as if you are there looking into the scene. You can almost touch it, or walking right into it ...

          It is difficult to create the illusion of 3 dimensionallity (distance into the image) on a flat surface. We create such depth by having strong foreground elements in the image. We use lead in lines. We use light intensity to draw the eye. We use color the draw the eye. We use composition (we place things strategically) and perspective to get the viewer to look into the image rather than looking at the image. We want the viewer to look at the image from bottom to top. Instead of thinking that his or her eyes are moving from bottom to top we want the viewer to think that he or she is moving into the image.

          Therefore I cannot over emphasize the importance of using the techniques mentioned above. Strong foregrounds and strong leading lines is just a winning recipe that transforms a cook into a chef; an amateur into a pro (remember that we are talking about landscape photography here.) Spend much time looking for such lines, patterns, elements.

          Here is an example. See for yourself how these lines just draw you into the picture. Does it almost feel as if you are there or that you can step right into the shot and start walking?

Think depth.