Focal Points and Focus Points

Focal Points and Focus Points

A focal point is the area in the scene that you want to be in focus. 

A focus point is a small dot that you see in your camera's viewfinder.  

Focus Points can be used one at a time or set to auto focus which may use more than one.

Have you ever taken a picture of someone or something and when you viewed the image your subject was out of focus but something else in the scene was in focus?   This is called missed focus and it is very frustrating!     Look at my photo below and then grab your camera and let’s learn how a camera focuses to discover why this happens.

I was just about to take a shot of the Prom couple in the car, when out of the corner of my eye I saw the mother walking around to Photo Bomb my picture.   I quickly grabbed my camera and snapped this photo.
What unfortunately happened was my camera locked focus on the trees and truck in the background instead of on the kids leaving for prom...or the photo bombing mom.   Sigh, it happens to the best of us!

When you buy your camera the factory default is set to Auto Focus.  The camera searches for an object to focus on.  It is assuming what or who your subject is.

When we look at the scene through our viewfinder and half press the shutter button to lock in or focus the camera, the camera will first try and focus on the object that is the closest to the camera assuming that is your subject.  Sometimes it’s not.

Or, if the lighting somewhere else in the scene is very contrasty, meaning there is a lot of hard light and shadows, the camera can “see” contrast better so it ends up focusing there instead, like in the photo above.

To avoid misfocusing, take your camera out of Auto Focus Mode.  Get your camera’s manual out and find the section on AF modes.  On my Canon DSLR, I simply press a small button on the back of my camera that looks like dots inside of a square and turn the mode wheel.   A single focus dot inside my viewfinder will turn red.   I set the focus point either to center or one of the other focus areas.  I place the red focus point over my subject.  Now the camera will not assume what I want to focus on .  It focuses on the object that is under my highlighted (red)  focus point.

You will see that some of the focus points (boxes) are vertical rectangles and some are horizontal rectangles.  The vertical ones are made to assist you in focusing on vertical subjects such as trees, people standing, etc.

The horizontal focus points are great for objects running horizontal such as horizon lines, fences and roof tops.

The center focus point is a +, or a crosshatch.  It is the most sensitive focus point because it can “see” or focus equally on vertical and horizontal subjects.  Below is probably similar to what you see when you look through your Nikon (left) or Canon (right) viewfinder.

GRAB YOUR CAMERA AND GIVE IT A TRY!

Camera Settings:  Set your camera mode to P.  Make sure you have a lens on your camera that can zoom.

Place a water bottle on your table. 

Zoom your lens in (you may need to step backwards a bit) so that the near water bottle appears closer to you.  (this is a very important step for this exercise.  Alway keep the lens zoomed in)

Adjust your focus points and put a focus point right on the water bottle closest to you.  Be sure you can see some background in your viewfinder and take a picture.

RESULTS:  The bottle should be IN focus and the background should be OUT OF focus.

My focus point was on the bottle nearest me

Now place your focus point on something far from you, be sure to keep the near water bottle in the viewfinder.

RESULTS: The near bottle should now be OUT OF focus and the background is now IN focus.

My focus point was on the package at the other end of the table

Keep practicing until you get it right.  Then walk around and try your new skill on people, pets, flowers, etc.

Thank you for showing interest in learning Photography.  I hope you enjoyed this quick lesson.  For more hands on lessons like this, please contact me via email at discoverdigital123@gmail.com.  I teach one on one and group lessons.  Day and evening hours available.