Focusing
Dec 8, 2019 17:29:37 #
My UHH family,
When taking photos of the horizon where the sky and the water meet, where would you place your focal point? We have had some amazing sunsets and sunrises here in Houston lately and the wife and I took a ride down to the Galveston coastline to catch some of the beauty. Now I haven't really had any issues so far in my focusing that I can tell from looking at them on the computer but I just wanted you guys and gals opinion. I placed my focal point just above the horizon line on some and just below the horizon on others to see if it made a difference. What I normally do is focus on a point in the foreground, recompose and take the shot but when the foreground is the water's edge you have to use something else. Opinions and recommendations are welcomed.
Thanks,
A. T.
When taking photos of the horizon where the sky and the water meet, where would you place your focal point? We have had some amazing sunsets and sunrises here in Houston lately and the wife and I took a ride down to the Galveston coastline to catch some of the beauty. Now I haven't really had any issues so far in my focusing that I can tell from looking at them on the computer but I just wanted you guys and gals opinion. I placed my focal point just above the horizon line on some and just below the horizon on others to see if it made a difference. What I normally do is focus on a point in the foreground, recompose and take the shot but when the foreground is the water's edge you have to use something else. Opinions and recommendations are welcomed.
Thanks,
A. T.
Dec 8, 2019 18:01:31 #
Always focus on your subject. Are you taking a picture of the reflections on the Gulf, on the cloud lighting or on the setting (Rising) sun? That is where you want to focus. remember that focus is both a verb and a noun - you focus on the area of the scene where you want to attract the focus of your viewer.
This will control where you put the horizon as well. If you are interested in the water, move your horizon up, if it is the sky, the sky, then move your horizon down (rule of thirds).
Sunrise photography begins 45 minutes before sunrise and sunset lasts for 45 minutes after the sun sinks into the middle of Texas. Adjust your schedule accordingly.
Birds, dogs, people, picnic tables, and piers only exist to provide you with foreground subjects to establish perspective on the sunset.
This will control where you put the horizon as well. If you are interested in the water, move your horizon up, if it is the sky, the sky, then move your horizon down (rule of thirds).
Sunrise photography begins 45 minutes before sunrise and sunset lasts for 45 minutes after the sun sinks into the middle of Texas. Adjust your schedule accordingly.
Birds, dogs, people, picnic tables, and piers only exist to provide you with foreground subjects to establish perspective on the sunset.
Dec 8, 2019 18:04:58 #
It sounds like you might not have, or might not know you have, movable focusing points ("I recompose"). Are you using manual exposure? If not, when you focus then recompose, your exposure may not be as you desire - if I'm understanding your comment correctly.
Also, your decision of where to focus should relate to your desired depth of field (aperture setting).
Also, your decision of where to focus should relate to your desired depth of field (aperture setting).
Dec 8, 2019 18:28:32 #
A. T. wrote:
My UHH family, br br When taking photos of the ho... (show quote)
No matter how spectacular the sunset (or sunrise), the composition will usually be more interesting with something in the foreground or middle distance. Focus on that and if you use a small enough aperture you will get everything from there to the horizon in focus.
Dec 8, 2019 21:22:49 #
Linda,
Thanks for your response. Well, I guess I should have given a bit more information. I shoot manual, RAW and for my sunsets and sunrises I use a tripod. I do move my focal point around while on the tripod but otherwise, I just recompose because it's faster. I don't think I was clear in my question so please forgive me for that. I do understand the exposure triangle very well but I guess what I was trying to ask was, is it advisable to focus on clouds or water. In other words, will the camera accurately focus on clouds and water? My settings are; ISO 100 to 400, f/15 or so and my shutter speed is dependent on the available light, especially at sunset. I typically underexpose to protect highlights. I rarely use my LCD display opting for my view finder because it's easier to see and I prefer to use the exposure meter. I hope this sheds a bit more light to my original question.
Thanks,
A. T.
Thanks for your response. Well, I guess I should have given a bit more information. I shoot manual, RAW and for my sunsets and sunrises I use a tripod. I do move my focal point around while on the tripod but otherwise, I just recompose because it's faster. I don't think I was clear in my question so please forgive me for that. I do understand the exposure triangle very well but I guess what I was trying to ask was, is it advisable to focus on clouds or water. In other words, will the camera accurately focus on clouds and water? My settings are; ISO 100 to 400, f/15 or so and my shutter speed is dependent on the available light, especially at sunset. I typically underexpose to protect highlights. I rarely use my LCD display opting for my view finder because it's easier to see and I prefer to use the exposure meter. I hope this sheds a bit more light to my original question.
Thanks,
A. T.
Dec 8, 2019 21:27:52 #
Thanks for your response. Please read my response to Linda, I think that will give you a better understanding of what I was speaking of. I just didn't know if the camera would accurately focus on clouds and water.
Dec 8, 2019 21:45:06 #
Mr palmer
Loc: Currently: Colorado, USA, Terra, Sol
You should experiment and let us know your results.
If you focus on infinity instead of the sunset what depth of field is needed to get the sunset in focus?
Is there a difference in focusing on "artisic" infinity; "spiritual" infinity; and "material" infinity?
If your lens focuses past infinity, what is in focus? Does the depth of field reverse and begin to grow?
Or, you could just do what you do with a sunrise and see if it works.
The rounds are on the house as we await your findings.
Yes, clouds and sky have enough contrast to catch focus in my cameras.
If you focus on infinity instead of the sunset what depth of field is needed to get the sunset in focus?
Is there a difference in focusing on "artisic" infinity; "spiritual" infinity; and "material" infinity?
If your lens focuses past infinity, what is in focus? Does the depth of field reverse and begin to grow?
Or, you could just do what you do with a sunrise and see if it works.
The rounds are on the house as we await your findings.
Yes, clouds and sky have enough contrast to catch focus in my cameras.
Dec 8, 2019 21:47:32 #
Dec 9, 2019 03:25:09 #
A. T. wrote:
My UHH family,
When taking photos of the horizon where the sky and the water meet, where would you place your focal point?
When taking photos of the horizon where the sky and the water meet, where would you place your focal point?
If I wanted the horizon to be my focal point I would place the focus point directly over it if there was enough difference in contrast, but the horizon has never been the point of interest that I want maximum sharpness at.
A. T. wrote:
What I normally do is focus on a point in the foreground, recompose and take the shot but when the foreground is the water's edge you have to use something else
I'm unclear here. If focusing on any point in the foreground you will have to take account of focal length and aperture used which together will determine your Depth of Focus which then determine if your horizon will be sharp enough for you or not.
A. T. wrote:
I don't think I was clear in my question so please forgive me for that. I do understand the exposure triangle very well but I guess what I was trying to ask was, is it advisable to focus on clouds or water. In other words, will the camera accurately focus on clouds and water?
There's a good chance it may not and this may depend upon cloud/water detail, camera and lens being used.
I have shot many sunrise/set images over water generally with foreground subject and can't recall a time when DoF was not adequate to get the horizon and any clouds acceptably sharp at the focal lengths and apertures I use. What I did find useful was a small chart I made that showed nearest focusing distances that would give infinity for f/9 for 28/50/100mm FLs
Dec 9, 2019 06:48:03 #
tcthome
Loc: NJ
Not to change the subject but, what software (if any)do you use for post processing? There is always focus stacking for this type of shot if so desired to. focus foreground , mid, & distant & stack in something like lightroom or photoshop.
Dec 9, 2019 07:11:21 #
A. T. wrote:
My UHH family, br br When taking photos of the ho... (show quote)
That depends entirely on the picture! If I just want to show the horizon, i would focus on that, if there are other subjects in the picture, it depends which is most important and what DOF I want to have!
Dec 9, 2019 07:51:18 #
A. T. wrote:
Thanks for the clarification. I've successfully focused on clouds, and water, but not of any great distance such as the ocean, and perhaps not when nearly dark and with little contrast. Controlled testing sounds like a plan and Grahame has given you further information, as have others. There is software that shows where you focused also. Someone here can advise on that. Or you can simply do a series "in order" from focusing on water, next of horizon line, next of clouds - and review later on the computer.Linda, br br Thanks for your response. Well, I g... (show quote)
This is assuming you haven't found a closer object to include in the composition, such as people, boats etc.
Dec 9, 2019 08:50:26 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
A. T. wrote:
My UHH family, br When taking photos of the horizo... (show quote)
For static scenes, I first select the appropriate manual focus lens with a depth of field scale, focus on the nearest object where I want detail, and set the aperture and focus distance for the desired depth of field. Then I meter, select the appropriate shutter speed, compose, and take the shot.
Dec 9, 2019 09:14:24 #
gvarner
Loc: Central Oregon Coast
It’s part of that age old question - how far away is infinity. For most lenses, at least with my lenses, if you auto focus to something that you think is "infinity" away, you will notice that the mark on the lens barrel stops a little bit short of where the infinity symbol is. It’s not centered on the infinity symbol. I don’t know why this is. But to make a long story short, if you set your focus manually to near that same point short of the infinity symbol, I suspect that you will be taking in all that the lens thinks is infinitely far away.
Dec 9, 2019 11:38:33 #
If you are shooting landscapes and want everything in focus, foreground to background, Google “Hyperfocal” distance. It’s a great technique that works!
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