In optics, a focal point is the point of intersection of parallel light rays that passes through a convex lens or that are reflected from a concave mirror. 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. 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. In this case the Rule of Thirds can be neglected for a more symmetric composition.
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. Always remember that the brighter and bigger your object is, the more attention it will grab.
Another form of contrast that can be used is that of details. This is achieved by blurring out the foreground to bring the focus on an object in the background, or vice versa. The abrupt change in details will give the object a definitive and clear shape, making it the center of attention. During this process, the depth of field is changed. The shallower the DOF is, the blurrier the out of focus objects will be. 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. So next time while composing your photo, let your eyes lead you.
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