My father shared a focusing technique that he uses that I found very useful in many situations, so I thought I would share it here. This technique uses the Live View feature on the DSLR camera. This is a newer feature and is not available on many older DSLR cameras, but my latest Canon 5d Mark II has the live view and many other newer DSLR’s have this feature too. Live View allows you to view the “live” scene displayed on the camera LCD screen instead of using the viewfinder. This LCD image comes directly from the sensor which means the mirror is flipped up and the sensor is turned on to capture, essentially the LCD becomes an electronic view finder. With the Live View I’m able to zoom in anywhere within the frame. This zooming feature within the live view frame is really what makes this such a useful manual focusing technique.
You start by switching to Live View mode (set for stills not video) on your camera (see user manual). Then using the standard zoom (+) button you enlarge an area of the frame. On the Canon I have 5 times (x5) and 10 times (x10) magnification options. (more…)
October 13, 2010 | Categories: Photography, Techniques, Tips | Tags: adjustment, Camera, canon, Focus, improvement, Live View, macro, magnification, manual, Photography, tack sharp, technique, tip, zoom | Leave a comment
I changed the way I trigger the auto focus on my camera and it has stuck.
There is a technique of using a second button (other than the shutter release button) to trigger the autofocus and it is not new to the camera world. Believe it or not the availability of this function on a camera body has been around since 1989 (Canon SLR film camera). I on the other hand first heard of the technique and of others using it with great success though one of the many photography podcasts that I listen to about 8 months ago. Their success was enough to convince me to give it a try. It did take a while before I got used to it as the shutter button focusing was so engrained in my memories (both mental and physical), but now I would not switch back. (more…)
October 7, 2010 | Categories: Photography, Techniques, Tips | Tags: AE Lock, AF, AF Lock, Auto Focus, back-button, button, Camera, canon, composition, DSLR, Focus, function, getting the shot, moving subjects, Photography, shutter release, technique | 1 Comment
I decided at the last moment before leaving for work today to take my camera with me. I had looked outside before heading out the door and there was a great fog about. My first instinct was fog makes everything look surreal so I ran up and grabbed my camera with my 24-70 f2.8 lens and stepped out. I started snapping shots immediately, but since this was an impromptu ‘photo walk’ I had not provided for any additional time to get to work and that meant taking shots ‘from the hip’. Due to low light (6:50am) and fog it was tough to keep them from being blurred. I ran up the ISO to 6400 so I could still hand hold as I did not bring along my tripod. The Canon 5D Mark II that I use as my main body is fully capable of taking amazing low noise photos at this high ISO so I didn’t worry about it. I had a blast just having fun, carrying my camera, shooting, and all while going to work. I work downtown Calgary among all the new buildings and they are such great subjects, I shot away. I stepped into my building which is also new and took more. Got to my desk and finally put my camera down. (more…)
September 23, 2010 | Categories: Photography | Tags: 24-70, 9-11, Alberta, anxiety, Buildings, Calgary, Camera, Canon 5D Mark II, Fog, high ISO, low light, morning, permission, Photo Walk, Photography, Security, Work | Leave a comment
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