Center of Interest

The center of interest is the focus of a photo. It draws in the viewer's attention and should stand out. Other objects in the photo should not distract from the center of focus. The center of interest should not be in the center of the photo, rather it should follow the rule of thirds. To follow this rule, divide your viewscreen into three sections vertically and horizontally, like so:


Line your center of interest along one of the lines or where two lines intersect.

Another important use of the rule of thirds is when taking landscape photos. First decide whether the sky or the land is more important to the shot. The more important element should take up 2/3 of the photo.