Fig. 6.4
Image highlighting positive and negative space
within a frame. There should be just enough space to
give the image room to breath.FOCAL POINT
Thefocalpointoftheimageisthepointofinterestthatthe
photographer wouldlike theviewer’s eyes to rest upon.
Thefirstquestionthephotographerneeds toask himself
beforetakingtheimageis:Whatistheprimaryfocalpoint
of the image, and how can I emphasize this?
It isgenerallybetterto haveone mainfocalpointofan
image becausethe viewerwillfind iteasier to readthe
scene.Inportraiturethepointismoreoftenthannoteither
theeyes orthemaskoftheface.Thephotographermust
makesurethatnothingdetractsfromthis focalpoint,by
alwaysgivingthemainfocalpointenoughprominencein
the composition so that all other elements are secondary.
Ifthefocal pointoftheimage issmall,itcanbe given
prominencebycomposingsufficientnegativespacearound
it, thus drawing the eye towards the main subject.
Balancing Elements Within the Frame
Eachcomponentpart(positivespace)ofanimageholdsa
weightvalue,withregardtohowmuchspaceintheframe
itoccupies.Foradynamiccompositiontheprimaryfocal
pointoftheimagewillholdthelargestweightwithinthe
scene;quiteoftenthiswillbeaestheticallycorrect,butif
themain subjectholds too muchweightthepicture can