In photofocus you are still using the cones and the highest density of receptors in you eye. Unlike averted vision with uses the lower density regions of the eye, which are populated almost exclusively with the very sensitive rods.
They are alike in that you change you region of awareness. In photofocus I would say that you do not create an region of attention, only awareness. Attention implies you want to conscious make sense of what you see.
Iam2 
