Center of Interest by Melissa Martin Ellis The most successful pictures are composed around one main point of interest. Whatever it is -- a group of trees, your best friend shooting pool -- it is the main subject of the photo. Having a strong point of interest or main focal point in a picture draws the viewer's attention and focuses it on the point you want to make. Compose a picture with more than one strong focal point and you'll confuse the viewer and make the picture's message and meaning less clear. The point of interest doesn't necessarily have to be just one person or one object; however, the other objects in the picture shouldn't detract from it. Its placement within the composition should move the viewer's eye back to the main subject. Placing the Center of Interest Putting the center of interest smack in the middle of a picture is an effective way of focusing the viewer's attention on the picture's subject, but it is also just about the most boring way possible to compose a picture. Though in some instances it may be necessary, this composition should be avoided wherever possible. Try experimenting with a shot of the subject dead center as opposed to one shot with the subject slightly to one side to see for yourself what a dramatic difference a shift in positioning can do. Given that it's almost always best to put your center of interest somewhere besides the center of the frame, where do