Back Button Focus

Today I would like to introduce you to a change you should make in your focus controls.  This is a change you probably don’t think you need.  Even after I tell you about it, you might not think it terribly useful.  But it is. People I have taught have consistently pointed to this change as… Continue reading Back Button Focus

Nailing the Focus in Outdoor Photography

When using a wide angle (this was shot at 17 mm) and a moderate depth of field (here it was f/11), you can keep the focus close to you and still have the background sharp. In this case, the hyperfocal distance is less than 3 feet (or 1 meter). I should note that I didn't know that at the time I was shooting - I just knew that it would be close.

A guide to focusing properly – and boiling it all down to 3 simple rules to help you while you are shooting. Many photographers have it really easy when it comes to focus. Consider the portrait photographer. Do you know what the rule is for where to set your focus in portrait photography? On the… Continue reading Nailing the Focus in Outdoor Photography

Simplify Your Camera

If you haven’t yet taken the plunge into mastering your camera, you might be surprised at how the process actually simplifies things for you. Doing so, actually makes certain controls irrelevant so you can completely disregard them. Others you will set once and forget about them. In addition, once you understand your camera a little… Continue reading Simplify Your Camera

Autofocus Modes

What kind of name is AI Servo?  When you look at the autofocus modes on your camera – if you use Canon – that will be one of the modes.  It is a ridiculous name. I’m complaining about this name for a reason. And that is that understanding and choosing an auto-focus mode could be… Continue reading Autofocus Modes

Get Proper Exposure by Understanding Camera Metering

Camera's Exposure Meter - the notch in the middle under the "0" shows that the camera believes this to be a properly exposed photo.

We photographers spend a lot of time worrying about exposure settings.  Virtually anything you read will stress shooting in a manual mode so that you can control the exposure.  But underpinning this is an assumption that we know, or that our camera knows, the proper exposure level in the first place.  In other words, we… Continue reading Get Proper Exposure by Understanding Camera Metering

Mastering Your Camera’s Exposure Controls (Video)

As you may have seen, there are a lot of articles here on the exposure process. I start with an article on the exposure process generally, and then get into the specifics of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. There is even an article with some specific scenarios to walk through using these exposure controls. In… Continue reading Mastering Your Camera’s Exposure Controls (Video)