BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Informative Topics on Photographing People

Photography Question 

Mark A. Oxtoby
 

Portrait Photography: Focusing


I am taking really tight head shots of people and am interested where I should put the focus. The main feature is the eyes - do I focus on one eye and then centralize the shot? Or focus on the whole face or in the centre of the eyes? Please help. Many thanks.


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April 14, 2005

 

Michael H. Cothran
  Always focus on the eyes. A shot with only the eyes in focus will be accepted by viewers. But if everything is in focus EXCEPT the eyes, viewers will not accept the image as being in focus. Try it yourself, and see.
You must have at least one eye in focus, and both preferably. The most important part of the eye should be the lashes.
Michael H. Cothran
www.mhcphoto.net


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April 14, 2005

 

Mark A. Oxtoby
  Thanks Michael! How would I go about focusing on the eye lashes?


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April 14, 2005

 

Kerry L. Walker
  Focus manually.


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April 14, 2005

 

Donna R. Wageman
  Thank you, thank you-----------have been taking "head shots" for church bulletin board and new grand-daughter. Sometimes in focus, sometimes not. Also have expensive equipment that I am learning to use correctly.


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April 19, 2005

 

Gregg
  WOW, you can see a difference between focusing on the eyes and other areas of the face? That's incredible! In the digital world focus on the face/nose and everything will be sharp.


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April 19, 2005

 

anonymous
  Focusing on the nose will not work, especially with a large appeture, as the nose is on a different plain and the rest of the face will be out of focus (especially if you have a honker! LOL) I suppose it would work if you had a small appeture of f16 etc. But I wouldn't risk it

THE EYES ARE THE GO!

Just focus on the eyes, push your button half way down focus on the eyes and before you click fully, reposition your shot then click down fully! It is easy!


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April 19, 2005

 
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