by Reed Hoffmann | Jun 3, 2021 | Action, Advanced, Camera Gear, Composition, Focus, Intermediate, Lenses, People
Like most photographers, I love wide aperture (“fast”) lenses for their ability to turn a distracting background into a beautifully out-of-focus blob. But that shallow focus can also make it hard to keep the subject sharp. If you’re within ten feet, an inch or two...
by Reed Hoffmann | Jan 29, 2021 | Action, Advanced, Camera Gear, Education, Intermediate, Lenses, Sports
If there’s one thing that’s pretty much guaranteed to ruin a good photo, it’s being out of focus. Not surprisingly, then, I get lots of questions about autofocus settings whenever I’m teaching photography. Of course, those settings don’t just change between different...
by Reed Hoffmann | Dec 14, 2020 | Action, Advanced, Camera Gear, Education, Focus, Intermediate, Sports
In a previous post, I wrote about buying the new Nikon Z 6 II and wanting to put its upgraded autofocus system to the test. I wasn’t able to do that then, but now I have. And I like what I’m seeing. If you want to challenge an autofocus system, look for fast-moving...
by Reed Hoffmann | Feb 6, 2020 | Action, Advanced, Camera Gear, Composition, Focus, Intermediate, Technology, Wildlife
Aside from understanding what the different focus modes on your camera do, the single best thing you can do to improve your use of autofocus is what’s often referred to as “back-button focus.” Here’s why… Back in the early 90s, when decent autofocus was in its...
by Reed Hoffmann | Dec 29, 2018 | Advanced, Camera Gear, Computers, Editing, Intermediate, Photoshop, Technology
Personally, I’m a fan of shallow depth of field because it helps keep the viewer’s attention where I want it. There are times, though, where I’d like as much sharpness throughout the entire image as possible. And that’s more challenging because greater depth of field...
