Steps to Better Digital Pictures - Part 1

Having recently purchased a Sony Cybershot camera, I've been looking for ways to improve the quality of my pictures. There are a ton of features, options and settings on digital cameras today. This is the first in a series intended to show you simple methods and tips to creating more memorable pictures.

In this post we will concentrate on focus.

Focus

Typical auto focus systems detect proper focus using contrast. When contrast is highest, the image is in focus. When contrast is low, the image is out of focus. This allows your camera to work quickly and automatically.

These are situations that can throw off the camera's auto focus:

1. The challenge of darkness

• Auto focusing can get into trouble in low light situations when the camera can't see contrast.
• If you are capturing that low light shot and using flash isn't appropriate, ensure that the AF Illuminator mode is turned on. This sends out a special IR light on the subject prior to the shot so the camera can see the contrast and focus properly.
• Darker pictures require increased exposure times - meaning the shutter must stay open longer. Use a tripod (or lean against something) to avoid camera movement while the shot is exposing.

2. The challenge of composition

• Many auto focus systems look towards the center of the frame as the focal point. If your subject is away from center, the camera may focus on the wrong thing.
• Employ the camera's multi-point auto focus system if available. This allows focal points outside of center.
• First put your main subject in the center, press the exposure button half way down to lock the AF point. Then move the image off center to the original composition (while keeping the exposure button half pressed). The camera will remember the focus and use it even if the main subject is off center.

3. The challenge of Subject motion

• If you're shooting kids, pets, sports, etc, your subject can move toward you or away from the camera and the AF will be challenged.
• Turn on the camera's Continuous AF feature - often shown as Sports Mode. It uses considerably more battery life (so turn it off when no longer needed) but the subject will be tracked right up to the moment of exposure.
• Use of burst mode - multiple continuous shots - tells your camera to do a continuous auto focus as well.

Make focus your initial hurdle to better pictures. As we tackle more advanced issues and features in later posts, we are going to ensure right here that a blurry picture will not show up in our set - unless we specifically want it.

In Part 2 we will take on Exposure issues. In the mean time, check out the web site Vazaar for a variety of fascinating photos from professionals and amateurs alike.

[update]

Steps to Better Digital Pictures - Part 2 about digital exposure discusses aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings.

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