Auto Focus Dilemma!!

Most of the digital cameras operate in Auto Focus (AF) mode in which camera`s focus on the subject in the center area of the screen.

Consider the photo below with correct focus. When the focus is correct the subject is sharp and rest of picture in background is blurred.

For example check pictures below with correct focus. Background is blurred and subject (boy) is sharp. This is correct.

Correct focus again !!

However, there are some potential disadvantages with auto focus. It will fail when the subject is not in the center of screen or when shooting low contrast images and fast moving objects.

For example the image below where the subject (flower) is not in center of the screen. Simplify moving the subject into the center could have solved the problem but there will times then subject is not position centrally.

In picture below Subject is in the center but still the focus is on the background. Subject is blurred. This is incorrect image.

There are ways to solve the Auto focusing problem .. coming soon...stay tuned.

Control your Speed!!!

Dramatic impact in photography can be achieved by controlling Shutter Speed of your camera. Shutter speed measured in seconds. Unit of stops up and stops down on each value will half or double is used. Shutter speed can be 1 sec, ½ sec, ¼ sec, 1/8 sec, 1/16 sec and so on.

High shutter speed may be required to capture fast moving objects like car in motion or running man. High shutter speed may be required while taking photograph in bright light so less amount of light on sensors.

Slow shutter speed is required in order to catch subject in motion like smoke, rain drops and fountains. Subject will start to blur the rate at which it is moving.

Generally, a fast shutter speed can freeze action while slow speed can blur your image. This can help in dramatic change in appearance of photo.

For example:

Picture 1 below with shutter speed of 0.01 sec

Picture 2 below with shutter speed of 0.3 sec (photograph by Bharath Pangal)



Shutter speed of picture 1 is more than shutter speed of picture 2 and water from fountain appears in picture 2 has looks like hand brush painting.

Avoid Clicking Blur Photos

There are two reasons for photos being blur are Shutter Speed or Shaky-Hand Movements.

Most of digital camera operates in Auto Mode. In Auto Mode Shutter Speed is high enough to avoid camera shakes. However if you have manually changed setting in camera to show Shutter Speed then photos may come blur. Check your camera settings.

To avoid blur photos due to Shaky-Hand Movements try to your camera firmly with both hands, relax your arms against the side of your body, take a deep breath and click the snap and hold it for count of two.

If still not possible make a use of Tripod.

Below are some of the blur photos due to Shaky Hand Movements during snaps


Since the light is sufficient so shutter speed was not a problem. Sarcastically too much of rush to click the snap.


Too much was rush again !!!

Slow shutter Speed can result into more resourceful photography and sometimes with shaky hand movements too. Coming soon!! Stay tuned….

Rules of Thirds !!!

The rule of thirds is a compositional rule of thumb in photography. The rule states that an image can be divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. The four points formed by the intersections of these lines can be used to align features in the photograph. Proponents of this technique claim that aligning a photograph with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the photo than simply centering the feature would.

Before you snap the picture, imagine your picture area divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically. The intersections of these imaginary lines suggest four options for placing the center of interest for good composition. The option you select depends upon the subject and how you would like that subject to be presented.