The Curse of Autofocus for Serious Photography

Autofocus has been a photographic miracle. I recall when it felt like magic — the camera locking in so quickly it was faster than my own mind could react. Autofocus has become the standard in modern cameras. The "problem" was a long time in coming. After many years behind the lens, I've realized that autofocusing is the silent bane of serious photographers; not because it doesn't work well, but because it works too well -- so well that we tend to trust it when we shouldn't and rely on it to give us the correct focus -- even if we wouldn't choose that focus ourselves.

The Seductive Promise of Autofocus

Modern cameras deliver outstanding results. The cameras use eye detection. The cameras use face tracking. The cameras can recognize subjects (such as birds, planes, dogs, and bushes) using subject recognition. Marketing makes the camera seem to understand what the photographer intends to capture.

At first, this is a legitimate promise. Autofocus produces clear images with minimal effort required. Point. Chirp. Shoot. All seems normal...until it doesn't.

That is the trap. Autofocus provides a sense of authority. Once autofocusing confirms focus, the photographer's brain relaxes and stops questioning. Stops looking ahead. Stops verifying if the camera chose the same place to focus as the photographer would have selected.

Autofocus Can Make Wrong Decisions

Autofocus doesn't see meaning. Autofocus sees contrast, edges, patterns, and motion. Therefore, autofocus locks onto the easy thing, rather than the right thing.

This is why autofocusing goes to the foreground branch rather than the animal behind it. This is why the eyelashes of a subject are in focus, while the eyes themselves are out of focus. This is why a face is turned slightly, and the camera captures an ear instead of the expression.

Autofocus is excellent in perfect conditions. However, in all real-world conditions (low-light, messy scenes, backlighting, reflections), it can betray the photographer in a split second.

Furthermore, autofocusing can fail silently. A photographer doesn't realize this until the moment is gone and the file reveals the truth.

Lost Awareness

The true curse isn't missed focus. It's lost awareness.

When a photographer relies heavily on autofocusing, they lose sight of where the focus should be. We lose awareness of the depth of the field. We stop predicting the location of motion and timing their shot for a prefocused plane.

Manual focusing requires purposeful focus. You feel the distance between yourself and the subject. You visualize the layers of depth of field. You anticipate the position of the subject at the time of the exposure.

Autofocus causes the photographer to react to the situation rather than prepare for it. As time passes, the loss of vision before the shutter clicks diminishes one of the most valuable skills a photographer possesses: the ability to see.

The Myth of "Let the Camera Decide"

Autofocus allows auto-area selection, which is beneficial in practice. But it relinquishes creative decision-making to an algorithm.

The camera doesn't know who or what the subject is. It doesn't see the story being told. The camera doesn't know that the person in the background is inconsequential or that the small detail is much more critical than it appears.

When a photographer accepts whatever autofocusing decides, the photographer surrenders authorship of the photograph. The image may be sharp, but it may not be the photographer's.

When Autofocus Is the Right Tool

Nothing above says that autofocusing should be discarded. Autofocusing is an indispensable tool for fast-moving subjects, unpredictable movements, and situations where speed is more important than accuracy.

However, autofocusing becomes the default option for serious photographers when it is used mindlessly rather than deliberately.

Serious photographers know when to:

·       Use single-point autofocus instead of allowing the camera to select a focus area automatically.

·       Pre-focus in a specific area and wait for the subject to move into that area.

·       Use back-button focusing to create a distinction between focusing and shooting.

·       Turn autofocus completely off and regain total control.

Autofocus is at its strongest when a photographer dictates how and where to focus.

Regaining Control

Autofocus is not a technology-based curse. It is a psychologically-based curse.

It tells the photographer that thinking is unnecessary. That skill is secondary to sharpness. That sharpness is equivalent to success.

Great photographs arise from intentional choices, not from confirmations. Great photographs arise from anticipation, not from automatic settings. Great photographs arise from knowing why the focus should be placed where it is.

Utilize autofocus. Appreciate autofocus. Take advantage of autofocus to help you when it truly helps.

Don't allow autofocus to replace your ability to "see." The photographer remains responsible for seeing through the viewfinder.