The main subject of an image has the important task of telling a photo's story. We'll give you tips to ensure your photo has a clear focal point to draw in a viewer's eye, and show you how to use cropping to fix photos where the main subject is obscured by distracting elements.
Establish your main subject
The people in this photo’s foreground and background take the focus away from the couple dancing.
Zoom in on your subjects to eliminate the surrounding distractions and redefine your focal point.
When looking at a photo, the eye typically finds a place to "rest" or "settle." This is usually the main subject of the image.
Without a main subject, or focal point, to hold a viewer's attention, your photo may only get a fleeting glance.
How focal points become "lost"
A main subject is competing with a distracting background or foreground—or sometimes, both.
Trying to fit too much into one picture. For example, attempting to include people, scenery, and landmarks into a single vacation photo, almost guarantees your shot will lack a main subject.
Shooting your subject from too far away, especially if it's within a visually complex setting. Your subject may become lost in the expanse of the shot.
Prevent indistinct focal points
Move nearer to your subject or use your camera's zoom feature to get closer.
If you are taking a photo of your main subject from far away, make sure the surrounding space isn't too distracting. (For example, try a long stretch of beach or a background of sky.)
A stranger's arm jutting into your photo distracts from the main subject. Use cropping to quickly remove the unwanted element.
You may not realize your photo lacks a clear focal point or main subject until after the shot is taken. If that's the case, use cropping to remove unwanted elements from your image and bring your subject back into the spotlight.
Here are a few things to look for in a picture that may be worth cropping out:
A distracting or cluttered background (or foreground)
People who may have accidently walked into the shot (even if it's only a portion of that person, such as an arm or a leg)
Objects that are oddly positioned within the photo (like a branch or lamp post "sprouting" from someone's head)
Cropping your photos is easy with editing software.
You can also crop your pictures using photo editing software, such as the free, easy-to-download, Windows Live Photo Gallery.
Simply choose an image from your photo gallery and select Crop photo from the editing menu. From there you can straighten, rotate, and crop your pictures in no time.
Many HP printers, including the HP Photosmart Premium Web All-in-One, allow you to crop your photos directly from the printer's touchscreen—no PC required.
Watch this short demo and learn how to improve your photos with cropping.
After you've cropped your image, use other in-printer editing features to enhance your photo by removing red-eye, sharpening the focus, and adjusting the brightness. Or, use your printer's Instant Photo Fix feature to automatically improve your photos—no PC required.
Printable version
