Leading lines in photography are lines that have been framed and positioned by the photographer to direct the viewers attention to a particular point of focus. They are a compositional technique where human-made or natural lines lead the viewers eyes through a photograph to the subject or the heart of the image. Leading lines can be anything, such as a road, a line of trees, people, or repetitive objects like railroad tracks. They can be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curved, or converging lines.

The importance of leading lines in photography is that they guide the viewer through a composition, bring attention to important parts of a photograph, create balance, and tell a story with the image. Leading lines can also be used to generate flow, often known as dynamism, throughout a composition, and make a picture appear three-dimensional.

To use leading lines effectively, photographers need to consider the type of lines they want to use, the direction of the lines, and how they will lead the viewers eye to the subject of the photo. As always, the time of day that you shoot photos is important, especially when you go out and find natural leading lines, rather than creating them in the studio.

In summary, leading lines are a powerful compositional tool that can be used to direct the viewers attention, create balance, and tell a story with the image. They can be anything from natural to human-made lines and can be used in various forms. Photographers need to consider the type of lines they want to use, the direction of the lines, and how they will lead the viewers eye to the subject of the photo.