Creating, Choosing Point of Interest

(Base Knowledge I)

Necessary be understood before take a picture is base technical of photography.. why? ? like or dislike. . if we want to take a object certain will produce a image, later on -review and given evaluation / komplimen. And with threaten in principle, satisfaction level to will produce image have a certain quality then will increase. so that again, want doesn't want, like or dislike.. finally we must realize right base from photography knowledge.

There are some matter and important things to know before we start taking a picture, and describe it into good quality. At first, we must be understood : “Point of Interest (poi)”. This matter covers POI determination, situating POI in the field of image, and focussing in that POI itself.

1. Determine the Point of Interest (POI)

There are ‘no rules’ in judging and determine a POI in the objects, I think it’s just to expose one of the object which (we consider) it will get attention / interested ones. POI can be single in plural object or a group with uniformity, same activity, same charasterictic. Etc.

For example –how to choose one of the best POI : there is a group of people which have same activity, doing same sport-thing in the morning –on the beach, with horizontal line of the coast as background –along with the beautifull sky. And here the selection :

¨ A group of people, despite position of coast-horizontal line and condition of the sky. Here, we are telling only a group at coast that is doing sport-things.

¨ One of the expression from several person. Minimalize a bakground, despite plural and throw away condition of coast-horizontal line and the sky on that moment. Here, we expose an expression of one person which doing sport-things in the morning, tell its joy, tired, etc.

¨ Coast atmosphere. Maximalize a background and despite that little group. We take horizon line comparison 2/3 or 1/3 from photo area (we discussed later about this rule) with beautifull sky itself. Here we are telling about beautifull landscape, scenery of the beach and the sky, pleasant atmosphere for doing any sport-thing.

¨ And so forth, correspond to our heart willing about viewpoint that we want to lift.

2. Situating POI in the field of Photo. (ref. link)

It’s based on GOLDEN Rules of composition. Basicly it’s not the best way, but it can be our disciplinary in studying photography. All the experienced photographers know the "golden" rules of composition and use them almost innately. But until you start to use these simple rules without thinking, you need to practice, think what is better, and read about these rules.

¨ Rule of The Thirds / Golden Ratio

So, the first "golden" rule is the "Rule of Thirds" or "Golden Ratio". It affects the ratio (1:1.618) of a picture size, as well as the placement of the main subjects in the photo. This ratio is close to the 35mm ratio, so you don't need to change the size of the photo in most cases. But you need to consider the composition: main subject should lie on one of the four lines or four intersections (subject's eye for example). Truthfully speaking, these rules are not the same. Rule of Thirds is a simplified version of the Golden Mean.


¨ Golden Triangle

Another rule is the "Golden Triangles". It's more convenient for photos with diagonal lines. There are three triangles with corresponding shapes. Just roughly place three subjects with approximate equal sizes in these triangles and this rule would be kept.

¨ Golden Spiral

And one more rule is a "Golden Spiral" or "Golden Rectangle". There should be something, leading the eye to the center of the composition. It could be a line or several subjects. This "something" could just be there without leading the eyes, but it would make its job.

3. Focussing

We must comprehend : “ An object / POI get sharp (well occur) when present in focus of the lens”. And of course, other several objects in frame / photo area will be out of focus (blur). Always look at “depth of field : sharp-zone in our frame”. Finally, our POI must be placed in that ‘Depth of field (DOF)’, no excuse. We will discuss later about this DOF-thing.


At least, don’t always follow auto-focus in our camera, better if we trust our eye. Know it then use it!!