Stop Missing Shots by Pre-Focusing

by Ruddy
(Albany, NY)

When shooting fast moving objects, don't try to have your camera's auto-focus catch up with the object, only to have the moment pass without getting the shot because auto-focus never took place.

Instead, "Pre-focus" on a static object or coordinate that will be close to or coincide with the object you are really interested in. For example, take this ice racer.

I picked out a spot on the ice which was in the path of the racer, pre-focused, and as the ice racer moved into the shot at the point I had pre-focused, I took the shot.

After you pre-focus, you need to keep the shutter button halfway down to maintain focus and wait for the object to move into the frame.