What is the purpose of leading lines in a photograph's composition?

Leading lines serve primarily to guide the viewer's eye through a photograph, directing attention toward the focal point of the image. This compositional technique employs lines found within the scene—such as roads, pathways, fences, or even natural elements like rivers or tree roots—to draw the viewer into the photo, creating a visual journey that emphasizes the subject. By effectively using leading lines, photographers enhance the storytelling aspect of their images, ensuring that the focal point is easily identified and appreciated.

While creating a sense of depth can be an outcome of using leading lines, it is not their primary purpose. Similarly, color saturation and light exposure are related to other compositional and technical elements in photography, but they do not directly connect with the concept of leading lines. The strength of leading lines lies in their ability to steer the viewer’s visual path across the image, enhancing engagement with the subject matter.