WORKSHOP –
SIGMA; Hybrid in focus

By Jeffrey van Houten

For many years, we relied on manual focus lenses to capture wildlife footage, and while this approach is still widely used, today’s technology offers a range of focus control options that enhance our ability to get the perfect shot.
As wildlife filmmakers, we often work in diverse and challenging environments, where we may need to quickly lock onto fast-moving subjects, like a leaping squirrel, or set a fixed focus when leaving a camera in the forest for days. In this workshop, we’ll cover the benefits of autofocus versus manual focus and explore SIGMA’s autofocus options, giving you a chance to test them firsthand.

From a young age, Jeffrey developed a passion for nature and photography, often exploring the Veluwe with his camera. This interest grew into a love for ecology, leading him to study Forest and Nature Management at Wageningen University. During his studies, he worked on the film ‘WILD’ and later received a mentorship at National Geographic, starting as a camera assistant on ‘Silence of the Tides.’ Since then, nature filmmaking has captivated him, and he has been involved in projects like ‘Our Nature’ and ‘The Wild North Sea’.