Re: Syntax preferences

[Al Geist <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>]

Depending on your position in relation to the subject, turning the focus 
ring right or left can either sharpen or soften the focus.  (I'm 
assuming we are talking about a camera here.)  This is a classic example 
of where an illustration should be used with supporting text.  It would 
eliminate any cultural ambiguity, clearly point out where the focus ring 
is located and arrows could be used to indicate directions.  As for 
turning left to sharpen or right to soften, that could be reduced to 
"turn the focus ring to sharpen or soften the focus," because at this 
moment we don't have a clue whether the reader is trying to take a 
sweeping landscape or a tight macro.  We should also include with the 
image and text something telling reader to grasp the camera firmly so as 
not to test its impact resistance to terra firma.

Al

Rachel Rawlings wrote: