Tipsy Thursday #1

Have trouble sometimes getting that shot because your camera wont focus in time?  Here are a few tips to help with that:

* Know that wider is faster. Most compact cameras focus up to twice as fast when you're at the wider end (meaning more zoomed out). Especially in low-light situations this is more important, when the brightness and extra depth of field at the widest settings can eliminate focus issues.

* When shooting portraits at short distances (under 3ft), try switching to macro mode (usually marked with a flower) to increase the focus time and reduce focus errors. This tells the camera you are shooting close up so the camera knows where to look all ready and wont try to focus on the background.

* If you have a good eyes...try with the manual focus. When shooting anything over a distance of around 15ft, you can try to switch to manual mode and rely on depth of field to ensure keep the subject in focus.

* The best way to capture the moment, especially with events when you know there is going to be a reaction like a child opening presents on Christmas morning is doing what's called "pre-focus" or "focus lock". If you half press the shutter release the camera will focus as normal, but the picture won???t be taken until the you push the button down all the way. So if you hold the button in at the half way point until the right moment, there will be no delay to focus and get those spur of the moment shots!  You can also do this on an area you know your subject is going to be...like at a surprise party and you the guest of honor is coming around the corner.  Pre focus on the corner and sit and wait!  Just know if you move or your subject moves then your focus is no longer good...re-focus and start again!