The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus and method that enables to correctly obtain an area of a main object at the time of auto focusing.A control block selects a local focus area from information of a taken image and supplies designated focus position information indicative of the selected local focus area to an image processing block. The image processing block executes a control operation related with focusing on the basis of object area information indicative of an area corresponding to two or more objects within an image and designated focus position information indicative of a designated focus position in this image. The present disclosure is applicable to an imaging apparatus, for example.