Focus area setting

[angtomczak]

I'm taking photographs of my active 3 YO for Christmas cards, using a D90 with 50mm/1.8 lens. I want to meter off her face, and I want to make sure my focus is on her eyes, while maintaining a decent DoF.

I cannot seem to wrap my mind around how to I achieve this. It seems like everything I read pertains to a still subject. My subject is not still.

I plan to Spot meter off her cheek. Which Focus Area should I choose? Do I even attempt Single Point focus on a moving target? Or do I need to stop down to f5 or f8 and select Auto Area focus to insure focus? I don't have a clear understanding of, or confidence in, the Dynamic Area or 3D Tracking.

Also, do you have a Shutter speed guideline for an active child?

[OsmosisStudios]

Dont use f/1.8. Stop down to f/2.8 or f/3.5. Use Spot metering and single-point continuous AF. That should get you pretty close. Anticipate the child's movements and move with it.

[i speak in math]

Are you in an area where the lighting is changing rapidly? If so, you could use a semi automatic mode like Av. Then use exposure compensation to raise or lower the light to your liking. If the lighting isn't changing, then take a light reading in spot mode like you want but stay in M mode so you don't need to change settings at all.

Then just get the focus on the subject and shoot away. You don't want to go too shallow on your dof since you have a moving target. I would say f/5.6 - 8 would give good sharpness and dof. However, you may not have the light for that. A good bounced flash or umbrella/softbox would help indoors.

[angtomczak]

Thanks for the info. I think maybe something clicked in my head today. I'm fairly happy with the results - considering the photographer. I think I should have used the flash. Would that have made her eyes brighter?

What do you think?



ISO: 900
Exposure: 1/500 sec
Aperture: 5.6
Focal Length: 50mm



ISO: 500
Exposure: 1/500 sec
Aperture: 5.6
Focal Length: 50mm