Page 5 Ray Barlow

The Static Shot by Ray Barlow (Part 2)

We all know that setting up a camera for various shooting situations is critical to the success of your photography. One of the first and most important issues to cover is the value of shooting in the RAW format. A RAW file in what all camera create before the step of creating a standard jpeg file.

By interrupting this process in the camera, we can make a multitude of changes to that file before we open it up for final editing. Depending on the software you are using at your computer, you can adjust white balance, tint, exposure, add recovery to the hot spots, contrast, fill light, etc. There are many ways to tweak an image in its Raw state, and this is a more productive method towards creating your final image.

For wildlife shooting, and static subjects, you really need to be aware of your camera's various auto focus (AF) settings. Every shooting opportunity is different, and you really need to fine tune the AF to get the best possible shot.

The most important setting is your AF continuous vs. your AF Static setting. We need to make sure your not on continuous focus settings, as the camera and lens are looking for movement, and dramatic changes in focal distance. By setting up for static shots, your telling the camera to lock in on a specific focus distance, and it will avoid looking for movement. Set up the camera to beep when you have a lock, and this will help you get sharp images.,

The next key is setting up your focus sensors. Again, each image setting will be suited to various combinations of focus sensor settings in your camera. When your scene is mostly full of the subject, you may get into multi sensors working on your target. These sensors will average out the focal distance, and help provide you with a good focus lock.

If your subject is buried in leaves, trees, weeds, grass, twigs, etc, you need to be really careful. Many time you have a split second to get your shot, so a quick switch to single sensor is needed. The single sensor will search through all the clutter, and find a lock on your subject. If you have the multi-sensors operating, they may pick up on the surrounding clutter, and your shot has been missed.

It is wonderful to have AF, I remember back when I had my Canon Ftb, and AF was just getting started, almost 30 years ago?? my first comment was baaaahhhh... that's not photography!!

Things have changed immensely!

Next ... Part 3 will cover some composition tips.

take good care,

Ray Barlow