26.10.06
This article originally came from an effort to understand the compositions of a new wave of maximalist collages.
However the underlying techniques to create and strengthen the focal point can be applied to any and all images and is an essential skill for creating images, be they from a painting, digital illustration or photograph. With a bit of imagination these can be applied to sculpture or even sound.
An area that contrasts more stongly than other elements of an image will obviously tend to stand out.
A splash of colour on an otherwise monochrome image. Red and yellow stand out more than other colours
The largest object will tend to dominate – though sometimes the smallest can.
Lines that point or lead to the subject will strongly highlight it. These can be simple graphic lines or part of an image like a road where the subject is at the end.
Invisible lines are lines that are implied rather those that actually exist. For instance if a person or people are looking at the subject there will be an invisible line from there eyes to the subject. Another example is the line between a misile and its target.
Human subjects tend to automatically be the most interesting in a scene.
The face reveals/expresses the most and thus is more critical than other body parts.
In a face the eye is called the window to the soul and when we look at someone we usually make eye contact first.
Photographers have used telephoto lenses for their shallow depth of field to blur all parts of a image except the subject. This can also now be done easily on the computer.
The most different object from a group will tend to stand out. Something weird or out of place will too.
Sex sells - for good reason. Breasts, nipples, gentitals, a kiss, lips etc. will all draw the eye.
Whats in the foreground is nearer and hence more relevent to the viewer.
This doesn’t simply mean lines around the subject. A ‘circle’ could be made up of different objects surrounding a central one and subservient to it. They don’t need to form a perfect or even complete circle for this to work.
Words exert a certain pull for the eyes because you need to read them to derive any meaning. And their meaning often has more importance or is simpler to grasp than the image.
NOTES
Don’t let these dictate your composition. Use them to strengthen your ideas.
A focal point isn't necessarily a tiny point – it can be a large area.
These can be used quite subtely to good effect. For instance a slight difference in colour, contrast or size will have an effect.