In common language, the word “focus” usually means the concentration of attention on something. In the world of visual arts, the focal point is the place on the canvas on which the observers’ eyes will focus. Therefore, focal points are important elements of any photograph.

A plain photo with no focal points will probably not grab the attention of the observer for a long time even if the composition is great. The reason is that the eyes usually look for something interesting and unique to grab their attention. Whether it is a flower, a barrel, or a human, any interesting object will do.

The impact of the focal point on your photo can be further enhanced using many techniques. Next time you are taking a photograph, think where the focal point should be. According to the Rule of Thirds, it is better to be placed at one of the four intersection points. A different approach is to let other elements, like leading lines, dictate the focal point. Studying your surroundings is essential to know which is the best approach to use.

In addition to the position, contrasting your object with a background of textures or patterns will make it stand out too. This contrast will add more definition to the shape of your object yielding an excellent focal point. A strong colorful contrast can only improve the effect further. The brightness of the color or the size of the object are sometimes used as well to bring attention to the desired focal point.

If the surroundings are distracting, maybe you should make them less detailed to bring out your object. This is achieved by blurring out the foreground to bring the focus on an object in the background, or vice versa. With the whole picture blurred out except for a detailed object, it will naturally grab the attention of the observer. During this process, the depth of field is changed. The strength of this effect is determined by how shallow or deep the DOF is. A similar effect can be the result of motion blur. In long exposures, moving objects tend to lose their details while still objects maintain their shapes and forms.

Although you may contain more than one focal point in your composition, too many will just render your photograph confusing. So next time while composing your photo, let your eyes lead you.  

Get your FREE photography eBook at CanvasPrintsOnline.