Home > Taking Photos > Basic Techniques > Focus and exposure lock
Focus and exposure lock
When the shutter-release button is pressed half-way down, focus and exposure are locked. Where you point the camera is important.
This photo is poorly exposed. The cameras exposure meter was fooled by the bright sky and underexposed the picture, making important areas appear too dark.
This photo is exposed more correctly. The photographer consciously locked focus on a mid-toned area of the house, indicated by the red dot, then recomposed before fully pressing the shutter-release button. A mid-toned area was selected to obtain an acceptable exposure balance that would capture detail and color for the home.
In difficult lighting conditions, obtaining proper exposure often involves compromise. The goal is to find the best exposure for the most important areas of a scene.
When using this technique, watch for changes in exposure on the LCD as you preview the scene. Don't press the shutter button halfway down until exposure looks just about right.
To obtain similar results, bracket or use exposure compensation.
