Using Your Camera's "Focus Lock" Feature When Composing Photos

Yesterday, we learned how to use the Rule of Thirds to compose artful and interesting pictures that are a cut above the typical snapshot. This involves putting the subject off-center on one of the gridlines, or on the intersection of two gridlines.

One problem associated with this procedure has to do with maintaining proper focus. Cameras that autofocus assume that your subject is in the center of the frame. So, whatever is centered in the frame is what the camera puts in focus. If the subject of your photo is off-center on one of the gridlines, it will be out of focus.

There are two simple ways to solve this problem:

1.) Switch the autofocus function off, and focus manually. This allows you creative control over your image. You decide what's in focus, not the sensor in your camera. However, this may not be possible on Point and Shoot cameras.

2.) Use the "Focus Lock" feature. Most 35mm cameras and many Point and Shoot cameras have this feature, and it works well when trying to compose images. You may have noticed that with autofocus on, you first need to press the button half way down to focus the subject. Then you press the button the rest of the way down to take the shot.

To use the Focus Lock feature, center your subject and press the button half way down to focus, then hold the button at that point and move your camera to reposition your subject on one of the Rule of Thirds gridlines and compose your shot.

As long as you hold the button halfway down and don't release it, the focus will be locked, and the camera will not refocus when you reposition your subject.



The top photo was composed with the Rule of Thirds in mind. The woman was placed off-center on the left gridline. But with the camera in autofocus mode, the center of the image is in focus, while the woman is out of focus.

To solve this problem, use the camera's Focus Lock feature. Center the subject in the middle of the picture. Then press the shutter button halfway down to focus, and hold it there. Holding the button halfway down will lock the focus at this distance. Reposition the subject while holding the button halfway down, then press the button all the way down to take the shot.

The camera will not refocus unless you release the button.

(sample picture from Google Images)