Focus and Recompose Technique – Photography Tips

by - 4:04:00 PM
       Focus and Recompose is one of tricks that help photographer to set nice composition but still can set the focus dots and get the right Depth Of Field . Focus and Recompose technique usually can be used when the interest in the end of frame, even in the right corner, left or under. 


    The sample photo above is when you choose right focus and recompose technique.

Understanding recompose ? 
     In photography term, recompose is set again the photo composition. Well, let’s figure out :

Let’s we create fantasy model named Micky. When we shoot Micky, you place the Micky face in the center of frame in order to lock the focus. But if Micky’s face in already in the center of frame it will make photo so boring,then we want to place micky’s place in the Top left corner . Do you Remember the rule of third ?


      This is called recompose. As the analogy : you set your room as standard room , then you realize that you’re not satisfied, then decide to reset your room to make it more comfortable.

Why recompose is needed? 

Why we have to recompose? Why we don’t start from beginning? Although we can set the micky’s face since beginning in the corner as we want.

Well, the answer is it could be. But in the practi, the location of focus dots isn’t easy and so fast to moving. Moreover, take a look the example of focus dots in the camera like in the viewfinder camera Digital SLR Nikon D5000  bellow:



We’re forced to follow the focus area that pretty small and it’s not reach the frame corner like we want. We are directed by camera maker to place micky face in area that pretty small in viewfinder frame.

There are break time when we move the focus point or change the focus mode when we must shoot fastly or we will lost the good moment when micky is smile awkwardly. Moreover, in any camera, the center point is the most accurate focus point and fast to lock the focus.

When we in the low light condition, in order to get the focus point that we often have to choose the center focus point that most sensitive lights.

In many situations, focus technique first then recompose is the fastest choice and most often used. When you do properly , this technique can help us to shoot moment and faster and it will keep produce the sharp focus.

How to do Focus Technique and Recompose

There are some way to do focus technique and recompose. They are :

a. With one shot AF-S or single Servo AF-S mode

The easiest and fastest way is choose the focus mode Single Servo or One Shot or depends with your camera type, the points is choose the mode where camera Will lock focus only when we half press the shutter.

Place the focus point in the center, direct the camera towards photo object, lock the focus with half press the shutter and make sure that focus point was blink nor release the sound “bip..bip” which is the sign that focus is OK, then direct to do recompose suitable with your new taste, then full press the shutter.

This way is suitable to who like to moving while shooting.

b. Using Auto focus Lock 

The second choice is using LR camera nor mirrorless. In Nikon was marked with AF-L/AE-L, in Canon was marked with asterisk :


This button is designed to lock the focus and light metering at once on photo subject. The way to use is : lock the focus with press the the shutter button. After focus was locked , without release the half shutter, press the AE-L button or asterisk mark button the d the recompose photograph. The size of exposure will not change and keeping in the first photo.

c. With back-button technique focus or AF-ON Button 

The last and fastest way is using AF-ON button, this way oftenly named with back button focusing.The point is with the AF-ON button we don’t have to do half press shutter button to find an lock the focus then to choose the exposure we just need to full pressing the shutter button.

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