005 Prefocusing for your shot

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With a standard point and shoot camera you have the ability to get good action photos, but it takes a little pre-planning. Most point and shoots allow you to press the button half-way down to focus the photograph. Once the camera is locked in a focus wait for the second that the ball is released or whatever the precise moment may be and you will be amazed at the great shots you will get. Digital cameras often have a slight delay from the time you press the button to the time the photo is actually taken. This technique helps eliminate this problem, by preparing you camera prior to the moment you want to capture.

This photo above I wanted the ball to be in focus so I aimed the center of my viewfinder right at home plate and pressed the button half-way down and held it. Then I waited 'til the ball crossed the plate and pressed it the rest of the way down. This takes a little practice but one day a game and you'll be a pro at it.

Here I aimed the camera at the area that I wanted the dog to pass through, prefocused then when the dog passed the spot I took the photo.

I included the photo above because that the fish-net mesh would not allow me to focus on the player. Every time I tried to take the photo the mesh would be in focus. I couldn't get inside the rink so I had to try another technique. I focused my camera on a wall that was the same distance away from me as the player pressed the button half-way down then pointed the camera at the player and waited for the puck to be shot. (you can see the puck coming off his right arm) This is not a good photo but I was able to capture a special moment even under very bad conditions, with the pre-focus technique.

Tips on Pre-focusing:
• Use new batteries for any action photo
• Keep the camera still by bracing it on a post fence or anything you can find (even a tripod!)
• Don't focus the camera too soon you only need a couple seconds.
• If the subject is not at the place you want to take the photo focus on something at that distance even the ground until the subject gets there
• Choose similar light conditions to the actual shot for your prefocus
• Take a lot of photos (Take as many as you can, you won't regret it)

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