How do I choose a focus point for street or shop photos when the subject is broad or unclear?
Asked 9/9/2019
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2 answers
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I use a Nikon D5600 and some of my stock submissions were rejected with the comment, "The subject is not in focus." This happened with photos like a shop display of artificial jewelry and a man crafting stone. I’m unsure what to focus on when the scene is wide and there isn’t one obvious subject, like with a storefront or many items in a display. I was probably using AF-S with a single or wide focus point. What focus approach and camera settings work best in these situations?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
2
Well, I can't say for the particular model of your Nikon, but if you have live view, you can zoom in, and check the sharpness of the details of your subject. I suggest trying manual focusing, as sometimes the autofocus of cameras cant identify focus on objects that dont have contrasting edges, such as the spinning disk of the saw above.
Also, if you plan on becoming more accustomed and experienced with your camera, try not to use the preset modes, and use Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Program and Manual. You can start with Program, its the closest to auto mode, while still allowing you to choose settings.
For your current problem, I suggest using aperture mode, and increasing the aperture to between f6-f8, which will increase your depth of field so that more of the subject is in focus, and in case your focus is off by a bit, the depth of field will make it less noticeable
Originally by user86838. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user86838
6y ago
0
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For these kinds of images, the key is deciding what the actual subject is before you shoot. If the photo is of a craftsman, focus on the important working detail, not just whatever the camera happens to grab. If it’s a shop display, pick one area or item to be the clear subject.
A good approach is to use a single focus point, place it on the subject, focus, then recompose if needed. In scenes where autofocus struggles, manual focus can help, especially if the subject lacks clear contrast. If your camera has live view, zoom in to check sharpness.
For broader scenes like jewelry displays, use a smaller aperture such as around f/6 to f/8 to increase depth of field so more of the intended subject stays sharp. If needed, raise ISO to support that aperture. Taking multiple shots also improves your odds of getting a sharp frame.
Also note that stock-site rejection comments can be generic, but in your examples the issue likely is that the most important part of the scene was not the sharpest area.
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