SHOOT SHARP

incorporate these essential skills into your workflow and discover how to use a variety of focusing techniques

THE PHILOSOPHY SURROUNDING SHARPNESS HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY. MODERN SENSORS AND LENSES

ARE NOW CAPABLE OF CAPTURING A PREVIOUSLY UNOBTAINABLE LEVEL OF DETAIL, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN A CULTURAL SHIFT AMONGST PHOTOGRAPHERS

AND THE USERS OF THE IMAGES WE PRODUCE. THE EXPECTATIONS OF QUALITY – A PERCEIVED BASELINE STANDARD LEVEL OF SHARPNESS – HAVE INCREASED AMONGST AN EVER MORE DEMANDING AUDIENCE. THIS MEANS THAT, WHERE A FUNDAMENTAL SKILL SUCH AS FOCUSING IS CONCERNED, IT IS DIFFICULT TO HIDE ANY FLAWS IN THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S TECHNIQUE.

CORRECT FOCUS IS IMPERATIVE, NOT ONLY BECAUSE BLURRED IMAGES FAIL TO CONVEY DETAIL AND ACT AS A DISTRACTION, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THE VIEWER

OF A PHOTOGRAPH IS LED BY WHERE THE PLANE OF FOCUS FALLS. IF MISPLACED THIS CAN INCORRECTLY INDICATE TO YOUR AUDIENCE WHERE THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING WITHIN YOUR COMPOSITION. IT IS ALSO A PROFESSIONAL SKILL TO BE ABLE TO ADAPT YOUR APPROACH TO FOCUSING FOR DIFFERENT SUBJECTS AND GENRES. SUBJECT DISTANCE, SPEED AND DIRECTION

ALL INFLUENCE WHICH FOCUSING METHOD SHOULD BE EMPLOYED FOR THE MOST RELIABLE RESULTS.

HERE WE WILL DISCUSS THE BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF MULTIPLE FOCUSING TECHNIQUES, DESCRIBING THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND EACH OPTION AND HOW TO RECOGNISE WHEN AND WHEN NOT TO PUT THEM TO WORK IN ANY SHOOTING SITUATION.

© SHUTTERSTOCK PERFECT SHARPNESS LEARNING HOW TO USE DIFFERENT FOCUSING TECHNIQUES IS IMPORTANT, BUT RECOGNISING WHEN TO PUTEACH TO WORK – DEPENDING ON THE SUBJECT MATTER – IS ESSENTIAL FOR PROFESSIONAL RESULTS