Nailing The Focal Point In Photography Composition

Every image has a focal point, and that point should be crystal clear to the viewer. Viewers typically look at photographs in the same way that they read - from left to right, and from top to bottom. The viewer’s eyes should not have to roam the image endlessly around the frame. The viewer should be guided to the point of interest in some way. However, the point of interest should not always be in the center of the frame. these photos can sometimes appear a bit boring to the viewer, where an off-balance composition can be much more entertaining to the eye.

A focal point in your photo composition placed just to the left or right of center will guide the the eye to explore the rest of the image, where the secondary information such as weather and the environment. This is used to round out the mood and fullness of the shot.

The focal point in this image is the old sign post, but it also guides the viewer deeper into the image to see the sunrise and the surrounding area.

Get Closer

One of photography’s long time mantra is to “get closer.” Make sure that the subject of your shot stands out in your image. If you can’t move physically closer to your subject, then use a longer lens to bring it closer to you.

Getting close to a jack rabbit is not easy, so I used a 200mm lens to zoom in to the subject.

You always want to think about what you want to say with your images. If you’re making an image of an isolated building in a open field, it must be large enough that the viewers know that the building is your subject. Conversely, you want to make sure that the subject doesn’t take up so much of the image that the viewer can’t see the surrounding field. This is making good decisions and placement with your focal point in your photo compositions.

Of course, you want to always ensure that your focal point, or subject are something that will make an interesting image.

This sunset in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia draws the viewer in to the boat first, and then the surrounding scene.

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