ALTERNATE FOCUS POINT TECHNIQUE - FOCUS LOCK

In discussing the previous two focus point technique posts with photographer Polina Resnikov, she offered an alternate technique that could be faster, especially when using an underwater housing. The technique is called using Focus Lock & Recomposition. This technique is not suitable for subjects moving very quickly toward or away from the camera. A continuous Focus Mode is more suitable in this situation.

1. Be sure your camera auto focus mode is set properly. For example, Canon D-SLRs need to be set in the One-Shot AF

2. Select the Center focus point.

3. Point the focus point on the subject you want the sharpest, then press and HOLD the shutter half way down. The setting will be remembered as long as you hold the button half way down.

4. RECOMPOSE correctly and take the picture.

You can repeat the procedure as needed and refocus just by letting go of the shutter release and repeating steps 3 & 4.

Check your manual to verify the procedure for your camera.

U/W NOTE: If shooting underwater with an SLR, you need to be sensitive to when & where the shutter control is halfway down. Practice on land, this is a tactile skill. Some housing's springs on the shutter control desensitize detecting where the halfway point is.