What lies in front of the focus point element?
Next I look for any elements that lie in front of my focus point. For this scene it is the path, three larger snow fence sections, a gnarled scrub pine and the sandy knoll area. I will group these elements to become my foreground level or highest level.
As a general rule most focus point elements fall near the center level of the scene with elements both in front and behind the item.
Is there another important item in the pattern?
The next element that catches my eye is the sailboat. This boat is behind the lighthouse in the center area of the water. Many patterns include several focus elements. In our seascape the lighthouse is needed to signal the shoreline for the incoming boats.