Missed Focus, DOF and Dinara Safina

[canoli]

Thanks Bob - posted before I read your reply.

So why do you think you missed the focus point for her face?

just poor technique I guess, not quick enough ("undeveloped" technique I should say). I hope eventually I'll get better...!

Looks like you were using center focus point only, vs. letting the camera select the focus point of the closest object.

Yes, I rarely use all the AF points simultaneously, and never with a moving subject. I believe I give up too much control that way. Unless I'm shooting at infinity I always have one of the AF points selected. Maybe that's my problem here? Should I use Servo but "let the camera decide" what AF point to use? Could that be the secret to using Servo mode, the correct way to use it?

You could have used the the center plus the expanded focus selection.

Not sure what you mean by this.

lso, using a faster shutter speed could help.

I like the look of some motion blur on the swing - the racket, the arms, etc. 1/640 seems to be a good compromise for that. But I also shot plenty at much higher speeds as well.