Setting your camera’s autofocus mode correctly for the specific task at hand can make all the difference between a failed, blurry shot and a sharp attention-grabbing image. If you’re usure which AF mode to when, the follow beginners guide will get you up to speed in a hurry.

Instructor Benjamin Jaworskyj is an accomplished German adventure photographer who travels the globe and returns home with beautiful images and revealing how-to videos of his exploits. Today’s comprehensive explainer is the latest installment of the free Beginners Course that’s archived on his popular YouTube channel.

In this behind-the-scenes video Ben breaks down the different autofocus modes (AF-S, AF-C, AF-A) and demonstrates why and how to use each one in various situations “to get sharp results every time, whether you’re shooting landscapes, portraits, or fast-moving subjects.” Then he suggests a few ways to practice these techniques before heading out for a serious shoot.

There’s also a helpful discussion about another key consideration; namely, how to choose the most appropriate focus point(s) within the frame. He begins with a simple experiment that involves setting up a shot with important elements in the foreground, midground and background.

For multi-layered scenes like this Ben recommends setting your lens to the widest aperture possible that results in a properly balanced exposure. He then turns his attention to the Automatic Autofocus mode (AF-A) and explains how this typical default setting works and when it’s the best option.

As the lesson proceeds you’ll learn about the relative merits of the AF-S (autofocus single) and AF-C (autofocus continuous) settings that are available in just about all digital cameras. By the time the video concludes, all your autofocus guesswork will be a thing of the past.

There are many more straightforward lessons on Ben’s popular YouTube channel, so be sure to pay a visit and explore what’s available.

We also recommend watching the tutorial we featured recently with a notable British pro who poses four thought-provoking questions that he says every photographer should ask themselves now.

The Color Mixer in Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) has been a post-processing staple for years. This quick primer from the Better Pics YouTube channel take a look at “how it can help you achieve perfect color in your images.”

Instructor Damien is an Australian pro who says, “I have been fortunate to travel and work on all seven continents with camera in hand.” He’s also a popular educator appreciated for his calm, reassuring style. Today’s episode kicks off with this: “The Color Mixer tab allows you to adjust various colors with a good level of control.”

Damien opens a well-composed landscape shot with a deep blue sky and pretty golden tones  in the foreground and midrange of the frame. It looks great as is but watch what happens after he opens ACR’s Color Mixer panel and significantly enhances the image while maintaining a realistic appearance.

You’ll see that there are two options at the very top, Mixer and Point Color, and Damien describes the important differences. He begins with the former, explaining that “this choice enables you to adjust HSL which represents Hue, Saturation and Luminance.” You can deal will these three attributes one at a time or select All so every slider appears within the panel at once—the layout that he prefers.

Then he demonstrates how to select and enhance specific color ranges with precision. The idea of Point Color, on the other hand, is employing the Eyedropper tool that provide a quick way to specific the exact color you want to enhance with a quick click.

Damien says the advantage of this approach is that “you’re selecting specific colors in the specific image you’re processing, rather than working with a pre-determined color range. This allows you to have a little more control and color accuracy that’s specific to the photo at hand. “Better yet, you can repeat the process as many time as you want while using the eyedropper to sample different colors within the scene until you arrive at a perfect balance and tone.

The foregoing is just a quick summary of what you’ll learn, and Damien provides all the necessary details in barely six minutes. His instructional YouTube channel is a great resource for other tips and tricks, so make sure to take a look.

And don’t miss a tutorial we featured recently with another image-editing specialist who illustrates the difference between Lightroom’s similar Remove, Heal, and Clone tools for eliminating unwanted distractions in outdoor photographs.