Adjusting Focus

And then there is the focus. A feature most notable in photography and videography, but also present in illustrations, paintings, and, in one way or another, other forms of art.

Focusing is optional. You can choose to have a fully clear and crisp picture showing everything in detail. But when focus is employed, it most closely resembles how our attention and brain work, simultaneously making it more compelling and complete. Furthermore, by focusing, you are able to show which planes and elements are most or least significant or relevant to the message that you are trying to convey. If not just bring awareness to certain ones, for better or for worse, for any reason. 

Through focus, you can make emphasis, give depth, and display motion. You could ask yourself which specific artworks you would like to bring any of this to. 

• Emphasis

What is important to notice? You can focus on key elements and let what is around them pale in comparison or basically vanish.

• Depth
How close or far away things are? You can focus on where your sight rests and let the rest become indistinguishable according to how short or long the distance across them is.

• Motion
What is still and what is moving? You can focus on what is still or slow, as that is what is most easily perceived and processed, and let what is moving or fast blur according to their movements.

Switching around the focus within the same frame or piece of work also makes for interesting and exciting revelations. So that is also something to try. 

CREDIT: AI-Generated Examples done on Leonardo.AI