Firmly focused on birds

One of the biggest challenges in wildlife photography is capturing birds. Top pro Ben Hall shares his advice

- Ben Hall

Single AF vs continuous AF

When single autofocus mode is activated, the lens will lock on to your subject when the shutter is half pressed. As long as the shutter remains half pressed, it will keep its focus allowing you to re-compose before firing the shot. With continuous autofocus selected, the lens will constantly adjust as the shutter is half pressed, hunting and tracking your subject as it moves. When photographing a static subject, single AF is the best option as it will allow you to lock onto your subject and then move the camera to fine-tune your composition. Continuous focus will allow you to track a moving subject such as a bird in flight, or a mammal running, enabling you to keep it in focus at all times, and vastly increasing your chances of a sharp shot.

Ben Hall Ben is a contributor to numerous publications and image libraries, and often appears on TV shows such as BBC Countryfile. He’s also vice president of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust. See www.benhallphotography.co.uk and Instagram @benhallphotography

Benefits of back-button focus