Yesterday, I took my lunch hour to take some shots down on Pearl Street, a local walking mall here in Boulder, CO. I'm brand new to photography, and figured this would be a perfect way to get some good practice in. And, although most of my shots turned out okay, the ones that didn't raise a couple questions regarding focusing and metering modes.

I was shooting manual with a canon eos, a 70-200 f/2.8 IS, used the center point as my focus point, and the same for the metering. Also, I use back-button focusing, and shooting wide open--2.8.

Because the lighting was changing so often--shade, to full sun, to partial sun, etc., I found it difficult to nail my exposures. And, when people were moving, I found it difficult to focus on them, meter the lighting, and then recompose. So, here are my questions:

1. What focusing mode works best for people that are moving, and you don't have time to focus and then recompose. I know AI Servo can do this, but then, I can't recompose. And, If I focus in on the subject and then recompose, the subject was then out of focus. Argh!

2. What metering mode works best in quickly changing lighting situations--where it changes from full light, backlighting, shaded areas, etc? Or, are there beter modes for different types of shots, depending on the composition?

If I've left any info out that might help you answer my questions, please let me know.

And, thanks in advance!

Chad

For Question #1: You can in fact recompose with AI Servo. If you are doing back button focusing, all you need to do is take your finger off of the back button and it will lock focus. So focus with AI SERVO, take your finger off, recompose. This is how my camera is set up and I love it... I also love that the metering is separate from the focusing...Back button used to focus, shutter button pressed half way down meters...

Question #2: I either use spot meter or partial meter on Av mode for quickly changing lighting situations and for situations with strong backlight, etc. The meter in the 5D I find tends to underexpose a little so I have recently been setting my exposure comp. up a little bit and have been getting nice results...

If you are focusing and recomposing frames with moving subject, you might want to select a different focus point vs center point and use that with one shot focus.

As for the question on which metering mode to use, they all do the same exact thing - meter for the light reflecting from the subject. Find a metering mode that you feel comfortable with in most cases and master it. I personally use evaluative mode and compensate for the scene when I have to. Eg: Backlit subject - go +1 to +2, predominantely dark tones - go -1 to -2.

Hope my .02c help

You have just discovered the joys of PJ photography.

The key is to anticipate the moment and wait for it.

shoot in raw and fix it all on the computer

Katie, I have 30D and when I use AI SERVO and using the back button to focus, can I just keep the back button press to continuously focus while i shoot an moving subject? Or is that a no-no?

+1 and I've found the ways of back button focusing and won't turn back. LOVE that my metering is separate.

With back button focussing, what do you press for FEC?

T

This is probably going to sound lilke a dumb question, but what is back button focusing? Is it just a Canon thing?

You need a camera with more than a single decent focusing spot. And don't chase the action - anticipate it.


AV and spot meter on whatever is critical (usually a face). But, again, you need a camera with multiple spot meters linked to the active focusing spot. And that's where Canon's cameras (other than the 1D series) are the weakest - which is why I will be leaving them as soon as possible - hopefully for a D300 at least.

There are already many tips here about the focusing issue you have, my 2p's worth is to use Aperture priority with centre weighted metering or even spot. I'm a Nikon user so the terms may be different, but I'm sure you get what I'm on about.

In madly changing light situations it's best to allow the camera to take a little of the weight. Using aperture priority with intelligent use of the fine control of what is 18% grey when using the more controlled metering modes such as spot metering will enable you to focus on taking the picture without worrying about if it's going to come out exposed.

In my PJ work I mostly use aperture priority if I'm at a fast moving event, it allows me to concentrate on the shot rather than the settings.