Tricks of the Trade #1 - Focusing

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/Pegasus@2006/blog/P1060691b.jpg
raindrops
taken with panasonic lumix fx30

Often, images taken with digital cameras turn out blurred. Not because of handshake, but because of focusing issues. One simple trick is to turn off the automatic focusing areas that your digital camera has and set it to its most basic mode.

On most cameras, you will notice a box on your camera showing the focus area on the LCD. Aim the box at your main subject. When you half press and hold on to the shutter button, this box is supposed to turn green (this means that your subject is in focus). If it turns red, let go of the shutter and repeat the process till the box turns green. This is what enabled me to focus on the raindrops instead of the background in the above image.

Now, with you finger still half-pressing on the shutter, you can (1) press it fully to take the image or (2) shift the composition around so that your subject is no longer dead center. This is called recomposing.

If all turns out right, you should have a subject that is tact sharp.

Cheers!
geraldtay