Focus lock, well I use back button Focusing with AF-C the second you stop pressing the Back button, Focus is locked, it's that simple. Enjoyed the vid as always just thought the Focus lock was over complicated.
Hi Scott, I like your videos very much and I'm following them all. They are great. In this video you are talking about focusing and the use of the "Focus hold mode" witch you say is only available for Sony users. I have a Canon Camera and I've set it to backbutton focus. That means, as long as I press the defined focus button on the back of the camera the camera will continoulsly focus (in serve mode) and when I release the button the focus will be locked at the actual position. For me that's another way (than your described 5 ways) to solve this problem. I hope to see more videos from you. Regards Ed
You're absolutely right Eduard. I can't believe I forgot back button focus. I don't use back button myself - but I should have remembered that lots of others do. This is a classic example of where back button is really helpful.
Scott great video as always. On the focusing discussion around 10 mins or so in the video, if you are a back button focus user and you are in continuous shooting mode, wouldn’t just pulling your thumb off of the back button focus button and continuing shooting leave the focus point where your final shot on the bird was?
That is a great point. It's a method that never crossed my mind. I don't use back button focus - I've never got on with it, and not for a lack of trying. But you've added another method to the list (and one that is easier than a couple of my methods). Thanks for sharing and watching.
Totally agree about BBF. Scott great video. I know you said you tried BBF, but you try again. Clearly it hasn’t held you back, but I can’t imagine not using BBF now. I actually do dual BBF: one for face/eye auto and another button for single point. I also assign another button to toggle between single and servo focusing modes quickly. I’ll looking to trying some shots like you demonstrated.
Great video thank you. I have my Canon set up with “back button Focus” which is basically the same method as you use but it will only focus when you press the back button.
If you're not planning to present the photo in super high resolution (either as a zoomable digital image, or a very large print) I wonder whether you really need to move the camera around to follow the subject. I feel like you could keep the subject in place, zoomed out or using a much shorter lens, and just take several pictures of the same scene as the subject moves through it. Then stack as layers and delete the bits the occlude the subject in lower layers. I've done that for a selfie of me walking down a path, might try doing the same for wildlife.
You're an absolute whizz! Thoroughly enjoyed seeing this process even though I will never have the patience to carry it out myself! (And I also don't have Lightroom or Photoshop!) I've always wondered how images like these are made and now I know! All the ones you showed are really lovely, by the way.
Your explanation of focus hold is terrific. Wouldn't using back button focus work in much the same way if, for example, a Nikon or Canon user tried a similar method?
Interesting video, thanks for sharing. Nikon also offers a focus lock button labled AF-L and it can be set to lock the focus while holding it down or to lock it until the sensor turns off by just pressing then releasing the button. I never use it the default way since I prefer back button auto focus which does the same thing just in a different way.
Muy agradecido por el contenido de este videos. Se agradece la dedicación que prestas a la preparación del material que muestras y lo bien que explicas todo. Me has planteado todo un desafío de lograr una composición como estas. Muchas gracias y ya estoy esperando el próximo video.
Thank you so much for this Scott. I must say how much I appreciate the level of accuracy you added to your animations showing (in particular) the issues with a bat flying towards the camera. Definitely something new to try when I am next in the field. Added bonus, I won’t have to spend untold days in the field troubleshooting my capture methods. Thanks again.
Excellent explanation Scott. I dabbled in a few of these ages ago, but PS has evolved a lot since then, and it looks easier now. Or you make it look easier. 😊. Anyway you have inspired me to do some more of this. I often have series that would suit. These days the burst modes of modern digital cameras and the constant auto focus, make it so much easier to get great action series. So much more fun than in film days when I started when it involved actual darkrooms. .
Hi. I'm glad you like it, and it really is quite easy. As long as you put a bit of thought to it and don't miss too many areas from the corners. Good luck and I hope you get some great pictures. Thanks for watching.
I’m going to try AF Lock on my Lumix, there’s also a settings lock switch, i’m wondering if that will lock the focus plain. Hi, another gem of a video, you know your photography that for sure. Some wonderful and skilful shots btw. 👏
Hi Andrew, much appreciated. I'd be interested to know if your AF lock works. I'd be surprised if the focus hold was only a Sony thing, but I guess each of the manufacturers uses different terminology. Thanks for watching.
I'm in a wildlife photography group on Facebook, that has a limit of 4 photos posted per person per day. I wonder how many one of these composites would count as! Actually it might not be allowed at all, since the mod is keen on photos being generally as natural as possible.
I don't know Barney, I guess that's up to your mod and their rules. I do think people over-obsess about this 'natural as possible' thing at times. Art doesn't have to be natural and there is no attempt to deceive anyone - so I don't see the harm in it. I've seen photos from some of the early pioneers of photography achieving a similar result (albeit, not with wildlife) using multiple exposures on film. I bet some mods would ban these old masters of photography from submitting action sequence photos too. Not to worry though, there are plenty of other places online to post your photos if you choose to give it a go. Thanks for watching.
This tendency to get hung up on so-called natural photographs displays a lack of knowledge of how great images were made in the days of film in actual darkrooms. In fact when photographs were done by exposing on glass plates in the 1800s, photographers would sandwich glass plates in the dark room, scratch away parts of images and many other physical interventions to arrive a a final art print. What a lot of young photographers don’t understand about Photoshop and similar software, is that it emulates what used to be done in darkrooms. Names such as dodging, burning and masking are what we dark room photographers called physical aids. It is just sad to limit the pleasure, fun, stimulation and satisfaction of making full use of digital photography in our modern times. It is a little like saying that the only natural transportation involves horses drawn carriages and we should not have adopted motorised methods, or we should restrict how we use motorised transport. Would we tell painters today they are not true artists if they use modern acrylic paints instead of sticking to the egg white and hand ground pigments used hundreds of years ago, to make their colours? Many camera clubs these days have come to embrace modern compositing by adding a specific category to their regular competitions, as well as SFC sections. Sorry gets me on my soap box. Anything you can say to encourage your subscribers to let go of that mindset has my support. 😁
Focus lock, well I use back button Focusing with AF-C the second you stop pressing the Back button, Focus is locked, it's that simple. Enjoyed the vid as always just thought the Focus lock was over complicated.
Hi Scott,
I like your videos very much and I'm following them all. They are great.
In this video you are talking about focusing and the use of the "Focus hold mode" witch you say is only available for Sony users.
I have a Canon Camera and I've set it to backbutton focus. That means, as long as I press the defined focus button on the back of the camera the camera will continoulsly focus (in serve mode) and when I release the button the focus will be locked at the actual position. For me that's another way (than your described 5 ways) to solve this problem.
I hope to see more videos from you.
Regards Ed
You're absolutely right Eduard. I can't believe I forgot back button focus. I don't use back button myself - but I should have remembered that lots of others do. This is a classic example of where back button is really helpful.
Scott great video as always. On the focusing discussion around 10 mins or so in the video, if you are a back button focus user and you are in continuous shooting mode, wouldn’t just pulling your thumb off of the back button focus button and continuing shooting leave the focus point where your final shot on the bird was?
That is a great point. It's a method that never crossed my mind. I don't use back button focus - I've never got on with it, and not for a lack of trying. But you've added another method to the list (and one that is easier than a couple of my methods). Thanks for sharing and watching.
You are welcome, thanks again for a great video!!
Totally agree about BBF. Scott great video. I know you said you tried BBF, but you try again. Clearly it hasn’t held you back, but I can’t imagine not using BBF now. I actually do dual BBF: one for face/eye auto and another button for single point. I also assign another button to toggle between single and servo focusing modes quickly.
I’ll looking to trying some shots like you demonstrated.
Precisely what crossed my mind as I watched those sections of the video: back-button focus takes care of it.
1:34 - that is great timing with the bicycle rider in the background 🙂
😂🤣😂 If only I'd had my camera in my hands at the time.
Great video thank you. I have my Canon set up with “back button Focus” which is basically the same method as you use but it will only focus when you press the back button.
That's how I always work.
Very thorough, very nice! Thanks for the hard work you put into this video, such a great tutorial!
I'm glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.
Thanks for this and your other videos. You are an excellent educator and choose some original topics.
Hi Malcom. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your lovely comment and for watching.
Really enjoyed this tutorial.
Hi Alonzo. I'm glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.
I cannot wait to go out and try to shoot a sequence to use with this method! Great video!
Hi Andy. Thanks, and I hope you get great images.
I have a lotta respect for you
Much appreciated. Thanks for watching.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide You are welcome, you put a lot of effort in so it is the least you deserve 👍
If you're not planning to present the photo in super high resolution (either as a zoomable digital image, or a very large print) I wonder whether you really need to move the camera around to follow the subject. I feel like you could keep the subject in place, zoomed out or using a much shorter lens, and just take several pictures of the same scene as the subject moves through it. Then stack as layers and delete the bits the occlude the subject in lower layers.
I've done that for a selfie of me walking down a path, might try doing the same for wildlife.
You're an absolute whizz! Thoroughly enjoyed seeing this process even though I will never have the patience to carry it out myself! (And I also don't have Lightroom or Photoshop!) I've always wondered how images like these are made and now I know! All the ones you showed are really lovely, by the way.
Thank you. It's nice to hear you liked the images and video. I'm very grateful for your continued support. Thanks for watching.
Your explanation of focus hold is terrific. Wouldn't using back button focus work in much the same way if, for example, a Nikon or Canon user tried a similar method?
Interesting video, thanks for sharing. Nikon also offers a focus lock button labled AF-L and it can be set to lock the focus while holding it down or to lock it until the sensor turns off by just pressing then releasing the button. I never use it the default way since I prefer back button auto focus which does the same thing just in a different way.
Hi Jimmy. I completely forgot about back button, but I'm glad to hear Nikon has this too. Thanks for watching.
Muy agradecido por el contenido de este videos. Se agradece la dedicación que prestas a la preparación del material que muestras y lo bien que explicas todo. Me has planteado todo un desafío de lograr una composición como estas. Muchas gracias y ya estoy esperando el próximo video.
Muchas gracias por tu comentario tan agradable. Espero que crees algunas imágenes maravillosas con este método. Gracias por ver el video.
Thank you so much for this Scott. I must say how much I appreciate the level of accuracy you added to your animations showing (in particular) the issues with a bat flying towards the camera. Definitely something new to try when I am next in the field. Added bonus, I won’t have to spend untold days in the field troubleshooting my capture methods. Thanks again.
Thanks Gord. I hope you get great images when you try it.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide probably not the first go but you’ve moved me several thousand frames into the future
Excellent explanation Scott. I dabbled in a few of these ages ago, but PS has evolved a lot since then, and it looks easier now. Or you make it look easier. 😊. Anyway you have inspired me to do some more of this. I often have series that would suit. These days the burst modes of modern digital cameras and the constant auto focus, make it so much easier to get great action series. So much more fun than in film days when I started when it involved actual darkrooms. .
Hi. I'm glad you like it, and it really is quite easy. As long as you put a bit of thought to it and don't miss too many areas from the corners. Good luck and I hope you get some great pictures. Thanks for watching.
The Olympus 300mm lens has the AF Hold button...
Excellent, glad to hear it. I would be surprised if it was just Sony. Thanks for watching.
I’m going to try AF Lock on my Lumix, there’s also a settings lock switch, i’m wondering if that will lock the focus plain. Hi, another gem of a video, you know your photography that for sure. Some wonderful and skilful shots btw. 👏
Hi Andrew, much appreciated. I'd be interested to know if your AF lock works. I'd be surprised if the focus hold was only a Sony thing, but I guess each of the manufacturers uses different terminology. Thanks for watching.
I'm in a wildlife photography group on Facebook, that has a limit of 4 photos posted per person per day. I wonder how many one of these composites would count as! Actually it might not be allowed at all, since the mod is keen on photos being generally as natural as possible.
I don't know Barney, I guess that's up to your mod and their rules. I do think people over-obsess about this 'natural as possible' thing at times. Art doesn't have to be natural and there is no attempt to deceive anyone - so I don't see the harm in it. I've seen photos from some of the early pioneers of photography achieving a similar result (albeit, not with wildlife) using multiple exposures on film. I bet some mods would ban these old masters of photography from submitting action sequence photos too. Not to worry though, there are plenty of other places online to post your photos if you choose to give it a go. Thanks for watching.
This tendency to get hung up on so-called natural photographs displays a lack of knowledge of how great images were made in the days of film in actual darkrooms. In fact when photographs were done by exposing on glass plates in the 1800s, photographers would sandwich glass plates in the dark room, scratch away parts of images and many other physical interventions to arrive a a final art print. What a lot of young photographers don’t understand about Photoshop and similar software, is that it emulates what used to be done in darkrooms. Names such as dodging, burning and masking are what we dark room photographers called physical aids. It is just sad to limit the pleasure, fun, stimulation and satisfaction of making full use of digital photography in our modern times. It is a little like saying that the only natural transportation involves horses drawn carriages and we should not have adopted motorised methods, or we should restrict how we use motorised transport. Would we tell painters today they are not true artists if they use modern acrylic paints instead of sticking to the egg white and hand ground pigments used hundreds of years ago, to make their colours? Many camera clubs these days have come to embrace modern compositing by adding a specific category to their regular competitions, as well as SFC sections. Sorry gets me on my soap box. Anything you can say to encourage your subscribers to let go of that mindset has my support. 😁