Focal Points In Photography

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.

Any photograph lacking a focal point will not attract except a few quick glances. This is because naturally the eyes will search for the unique and different things in the composition. It may be any object within your photograph, an object that is interesting enough to stand out from the rest of the composition.

The impact of the focal point on your photo can be further enhanced using many techniques. The first thing to take care of is where to place your focal point. 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.

Making an object more significant can be done by having a strong contrast between it and patterns around it. The sudden break of a plain background with an interesting object is very attracting to the eyes. 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. 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. During this process, the depth of field is changed. The shallower the DOF is, the blurrier the out of focus objects will be. If you are photographing in a dynamic surroundings, you can make use of the movements around you to achieve a similar effect without messing with DOF. 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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