In common language, the word “focus” usually means the concentration of attention on something. Similarly, in photography, a focal point can be considered as the place on which all the observers’ eyes will be set when he looks at a photo. In short, it is the point of interest which makes your photograph unique.
Any photograph lacking a focal point will not attract except a few quick glances. 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.
There are many ways to enhance a focal point and all are related to the conventional rules of photography. 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. Another possibility is to place it at the convergence point of leading lines which naturally grab attention into the photograph. In this case the Rule of Thirds can be neglected for a more symmetric composition.
Making an object more significant can be done by having a strong contrast between it and patterns around it. This contrast will add more definition to the shape of your object yielding an excellent focal point. Colors can also come to play here by using strong contrast between the object’s and the background’s. The brightness of the color or the size of the object are sometimes used as well to bring attention to the desired focal point.
Another form of contrast that can be used is that of details. It is a sort of distinction between the out of focus environment and the in focus object. The abrupt change in details will give the object a definitive and clear shape, making it the center of attention. Thus, selective focusing becomes very handy tool to underscore your focal point. 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. A still object will stand out in a photograph with many moving objects when utilizing a slow shutter speed.
Although you may contain more than one focal point in your composition, too many will just render your photograph confusing. Therefore, when capturing your next photo, try to think about it from an observer’s point of view.
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