Focal Point

The focal point of an image is the visual point of interest – the subject of the photo in other words. This could be a person, or an animal or a striking feature of a landscape. However, not every photo necessarily needs a focal point. Abstract photos for instance work because they are mainly a mix of interesting colours or textures, with no place for the eye to naturally gravitate towards. 

That said, a photo without a focal point/subject is generally less engaging than a photo that does. When composing a shot you therefore need to decide where in the frame to place the focal point. This is the really challenging part of composition! There are various rules that can be used to guide you in this decision (covered below) but there is a lot to be said for using your intuition, and shooting what feels right. One mistake to avoid is placing your focal point too close to the edge of the image. This can look decidedly odd and produces images that feel strangely claustrophobic.