Lesson Info
41. Manual Focus
Lessons
Buttons, Dials and Switches: What This Course is All About
03:37 2Setting Up Your Camera
05:25 3JPEG or RAW
03:11 4Compression
01:38 5Menu Settings for JPEG Shooting
05:19 6Module 1 Summary
01:42 7Applying White Balance
03:41 8Using White Balance Creatively
01:19Auto White Balance
03:07 10Module 2 Summary
01:31 11Controlling Exposure
01:23 12F Numbers
03:06 13Lens, Aperture, and Shutter Speed
03:32 14Exposure Modes
01:48 15Too Little or Too Much Light
02:34 16Manual Exposure Mode
01:37 17Aperture Priority Exposure Mode
02:23 18Module 3 Summary
01:40 19ISO in Practice
01:16 20ISO and Noise
05:03 21An Acceptable ISO
01:23 22Module 4 Summary
01:29 23Metering Modes
03:06 24The Light Meter
02:11 25The Bucket Test
02:12 26How To Read Tonality
02:32 27Being Creative With Tone
01:14 28Exposure Compensation
01:35 29High Contrast Lighting
03:39 30Histogram
02:06 31Highlights Alert
01:32 32Never Underexpose
04:16 33Digital Exposure Mantra
01:25 34Module 5 Summary
02:57 35Focus Modes
01:23 36Autofocus
02:59 37Point of Focus
02:35 38Depth of Field
02:41 39Hyper-Focal Distance Focusing
02:51 40Focus Tracking
04:19 41Manual Focus
01:57 42Predictive Focus
01:03 43Summary
02:32 44Buying Lenses
05:00 45Summary
01:45 46Quality of Light
01:32 47Direction of Light
01:52 48No Such Thing as Good Light
02:00 49Final Word
02:52 50BONUS - In Conversation with Art Wolfe
07:11 51BONUS - The Source of Creativity
06:34Lesson Info
Manual Focus
Although we have come to rely more and more on auto focus, there are a few scenarios when it works against you photographing wildlife. Often, I find my subjects were obscured by objects in the foreground, which the camera seems intent on focusing on. In fact, if you've ever tried photographing wildlife, you have discovered the animals carry with them a stalk of grass that they hold up in front of their face whenever a camera is pointed at them. A good example is an animal in a savannah. Take this image. The camera was constantly focusing on the grass and never on the lion. Switching to manual focus enabled me to focus accurately on the lines I before she moved on and the opportunity was lost. Another time I might use manual focus is when photographing a landscape just like the number of points available in modern cameras. You can guarantee there is never one in the exact point in the viewfinder. You need it if I've composed a scene with my camera on a tripod, which, of course it should...
. Bay is often quicker and more convenient to switch to manual focus. Macro photography is another area where manual focus is often a better solution because cameras sometimes stroll to focus automatically at very close distances. There are also times when auto focus simply doesn't work in low light. It may be too dark on because some cameras, relying contrast to retain focus. If there's no contrast, there is no focus. Try focusing on a clear blue sky and you'll see what I mean. In all of these cases on whenever the lens goes into permanent hunt mode, that is when the camera cannot attain focusing the lens keep searching back and forth to in closest focus distance and Infinity Manual Focus provides the quickest, most accurate way to focus the camera. So in most situations, auto focus is your best option, however, is not always the Holy Grail. And there are times when doing it the old fashioned way will save you time and make sure you get the shot that you want. I don't know
Class Materials
Bonus Materials with Purchase
Ratings and Reviews
mark jacobson
What a marvelous course! What a marvelous teacher! When I went to college, my father would always ask me about my professors, more than the courses themselves. He was passionate about learning and although too busy with earning an income to go beyond an undergrad degree, continued to read 50 books a year. I still remember how he'd get almost visibly excited when I'd tell him about some special professor who taught with such enthusiasm and, more than just passion, evident delight and joy in the subject. 'Ah they're the best, son. How wonderful you have such a teacher." Well, he passed away decades ago but if he were still around I'd get a kick out of telling him about Chris Weston, the 'Prof' of this course. He's one of the very special ones: a teacher who's loved and lived his vocation--his avocation--since he was a boy--and still is as excited about it now as he was then. The result: a course that seems to be more a labor of love--of pouring far more energy and thought into the details then one typically finds in these courses--than anything else. Bravo Chris! I'm already on to your next one.
user-6402bf
Chris is an amazing instructor who dissects theory giving amazing analogies that bring concepts to life. I have rarely been able to sit through most video course for more than a half-hour but watched this one from beginning to end. A good refresher course if you've been away from the camera for awhile or there are some concepts that still illude you. I highly recommend this course and look forward to watching his others. Thank you for the clarity and great explanations.
Sky Bergman
This was an amazing class. I have looked at a number of basic photography classes. This one was by far the best I have seen. Chris is an exceptional teacher. He breaks things down into digestible information and then inspires you to be creative. Thank you!
Student Work
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Fundamentals