bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

I LOVE this thread!!! I don't even bother responding to all the rule of thirds Nazi's. I think it is getting to the point where it is just a crutch, and completely ruins creativity. Yes, you should not put somone's nose in the center of the frame for each shot, but sometimes, putting someone, something, shows exactly what the subject is. Learn to see for yourself, that's what I always try to tell the people that want to apprentice with me.

Now, as far as the OP. I think part of the question was about the background being in focus, and the subject being fuzzy. Focus on your subject by either half pressing the shutter button, or if you have one, push the AF Lock button on the back of the photo, then move the subject to the part of the frame where you want it, then shoot.

So nice to see how many people agree about the "rules". Some of my favorite pictures, break a lot of rules.

PhotoGator Loc: Florida

Rules are guides to good practice not a wall to negate creativity.
Many instructors tell you, learn, practice and be efficient using the rules of photography, then experiment and explore them by breaking them.

PhotoGator Loc: Florida

Rules are guides to good practice not a wall to negate creativity.
Many instructors tell you, learn, practice and be efficient using the rules of photography, then experiment and explore them by breaking them.

WAL

Focusing and changing the position of the main subject can be difficult for some one new to photography. I’ve had difficulties showing people how to partially press the shutter to let the camera focus and then shoot. Including recomposing the picture adds another level of difficulty.
I would suggest get back further from the subject or using a wider angle lens setting. Keep the subject in the center. Then crop and reposition the subject. You will begin to see the value in staying away from the center.
In the old days of film there was the idea of the purity of the film frame. It was felt that showing the edges of the film was proof of artistic integrity.

PhotoGator Loc: Florida

Most DSLR cameras have Back Focus Lock. You Focus, you Lock then you recompose then you shoot. How difficult is that?

wlgoode Loc: Globe, AZ

Although I agree with much of your post. It's important to note that one must be aware of the rules and the values of them before they can intelligently and creatively break them to their advantage.

Crwiwy Loc: Devon UK

Use manual focusing - or auto focus on the subject and press the focus lock button. Then move the camera so that the subject is off center. A lot has already been said about the rule of thirds but quite often the picture does not look so pleasing if the subject is in the middle.

Remember that a large aperture gives a small depth of field so that the background can be made to be out of focus and so not detract from the main subject.

When a human or animal subject is off center - make sure that they are looking into the picture or towards the camera. When a subject is say to the left of center, and looking to the left, then the viewers eyes are automatically drawn in the same direction and out of the picture to the left.