MASTER LANDSCAPE FOCUSING STRATEGIES
Become an expert on focusing for static subjects and select the best method for your approach
Landscapes are some of the most frequently photographed subjects and many of the popular focusing methods are closely associated with this genre.
The static nature of a scenic does lend photographers the benefit of forward planning and time to reshoot, however the changeable and often sparsely available light, especially during the golden hours, can make precise focus judgement difficult. Furthermore, in a panoramic vista we are attempting to incorporate a large area in the frame, with objects falling at multiple distances from the camera position, so successfully rendering sharp detail in all areas takes significant skill.
The wide nature of a landscape shot also makes assessing accurate focus a challenge. unless all sections of the composition are carefully checked, it can be easy to overlook a slight misplacement of the focal plane. When working with foreground and background elements that are as widely separated spatially, it helps to employ a focusing technique that offers the photographer confidence without the need to rely on the LcD screen.
The most commonly used technique is hyperfocal focusing. using this method, the photographer refers to a set of precalculated focus distances, often written in the form of a chart or table, which have been tailored for a specific combination of aperture settings, focal lengths and sensor sizes. These values can now be obtained using a smartphone app, for maximum speed and convenience. The technique allows focusing without the need for close scrutiny of the LcD, making the method a firm favourite for landscape photographers. There are occasions when the process does fail however. The issue relates to the definition of acceptable sharpness and detail which, as previously discussed, is bound by higher standards today. some photographers now feel that the reference values are somewhat outdated. For sharper images, the double-distance method has become a popular alternative, as it offers a compromise between quality and speed.
One of the reasons new photographers can be initially disappointed with manual focus methods is that they rely heavily on focusing aids while they learn. unfortunately the distance scales on many lenses are not exceptionally accurate, meaning that fine details within images cannot be as successfully rendered as is ultimately possible. With experience, at least as far as images with deep depth of field are concerned, it is possible to do more work ‘by eye’. Get to know your lenses, identifying where the best focus positions are, then add custom markers to the barrel, for instant and accurate placement of the focused plane.