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. 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. A good place to start is at the four hot-spots or along the lines of thirds. Another possibility is to place it at the convergence point of leading lines which naturally grab attention into the photograph. 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. 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. With the whole picture blurred out except for a detailed object, it will naturally grab the attention of the observer. 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. 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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