Welcome to my first blog post! Although in time it may meander into other subjects, I think in getting this started that there’s a pretty good wealth of subject matter in how landscape design and landscape photography intersect. As I progress in photography and have a better understanding of what makes an image successful, I’ve discovered a number of shared concepts between the two practices, with lessons learned from landscape photography starting to inform my design work, and vice versa.

A flagstone patio draws the eye towards the corner of the yard.

A narrow hiking path draws the eye into the distance.

In landscape design, a pathway first and foremost is functional- it allows for movement from one spot in the landscape to another. In landscape photography, a pathway serves a similar purpose: it moves your eye through the photo, from one spot in the photo to another. They call this a leading line, and it’s something I’ve found to be a successful competent of landscape design. As the eye is drawn to the end of the sightline, it’s important to pay attention to how that line ends.

In the featured image up top, the design grew out of a need to store gardening supplies. I wanted to store them behind a screen, and the placement of that screen at the end of the linear bocce ball court necessitated that the screen was worthy of its spot. So a way to hide pots and wheelbarrows became a prominent feature of the landscape due to its visual importance. In fact, both the leading line of the flagstone path leading to a patio and the leading lines of the bocce ball court leading to the lighted screen are from the same project, each in a different corner of the yard. These long, diagonal sightlines, both originating from the main patio, create the feel of more space.

LEADING LINES - Thoughts on Landscape design and photography

Leading Lines - Getting Started