FOT - Depth of Field - What You Need to Know for Successful Images

8/13/2019 FOT - Depth of Field - What You Need to Know for Successful Images

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Depth of field: what you need to know for successful images

digitalcameraworld.com/2012/05/09/depth-of-field-what-you-need-to-know-for-successful-images/

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Contro lling depth of f ield is the key to successf ul photography. Managing what is in f ocus (and out o f

f ocus) is st rongly linked to the enjoyment of the image and this varies greatly with relation to subject

matter. Landscape photography, f or example, uses a large depth o f f ield, keeping the ent ire image in sharp

f ocus f rom corner to corner. This invites the eye to explore f ine detail and truly experience distances, f rom

distant cloud shapes t o the wet sand at your f eet.
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Macro photography, on t he other hand, places these sharp areas alongside large out-of -f ocus areas (f ind

out How to set your auto f ocus f or macro photography). A f ine stamen set against a riot o f so f t blurred

shapes renders a f lower delicate and the experience becomes more intimate.

The next t ime you look at some compelling advertising, identify what t he advert is trying to sell and the

photographic technique used to ref lect t his. Whether its jewellery (f ind out how to light jewellery photos) or

a package holiday, the depth o f f ield will keep your eye exactly where it should be on the product. So how

can you improve your use of depth of f ield?

Understanding your lenses intimately is the best answer (learn more about the abbreviations on your

lenses in Your lens markings explained).
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/04/02/do-or-di-your-lens-markings-explained/http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/03/20/still-life-photography-how-to-light-your-crafting-photos/http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/03/28/how-to-set-your-autofocus-for-macro-photography/http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tag/macro-photography/


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Depth of f ield increases either side of the f ocal plane (or f ocal point) as the aperture is increased, bringing

areas either side of this sharpness into f ocus. A wide aperture (such as f /2.8) will contain very litt le of the

image in focus whereas a large aperture (such as f /16) will render much more o f the image sharp (download

our f ree f- stop chart f or understanding aperture).

This is again subject- and lens-dependant. There is no reason to shoo t a distant landscape with a

telephoto lens at f /16 because it doesnt contain anything close to the photographer.

A wider aperture will suf f ice. Telephoto lenses exhibit a f ar reduced depth of f ield at f /16 than a wide-angle

lens, so understanding just how much your lens can render is vital to an images success.

Focus your lenses

Learning to f ocus your lenses hyperfocally is t he answer to many landscape headaches (see our guide to

What is hyperf ocal distance? Or you can drag and drop download our f ree hyperfocal distance calculator

chart on this page).

Imagine a mountain scene containing a house and some garden f lowers around a metre away. It is possible

to shoo t all this in f ocus if the f ocusing is positioned correctly to use the areas in f ront o f and behind the

f ocal point.

With the lens f ocused on the mountain (at inf inity) the f lowers in the f oreground cant seem to get f ocus,

even at f /22. This is because the area behind the f ocal plane is not being used. By moving the f ocal point

back to wards the house, the lens now uses t he area both in f ront and behind, which means the f lowers

snap into focus without losing sharpness throughout the image.

Essential camera tips for controlling depth of field
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Take manual control

When set ting depth of f ield, set t he camera to Av or M (Aperture Priority or Manual) to make sure you have

complete cont rol over your composition and the areas that appear in focus. Keep your lens switched

to manual focus (MF), too .


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Use Depth of Field Preview

Your cameras Depth of Field Preview function is vital f or assess ing depth of f ield, before you press the

shutter. Remember, until this button is depressed, the lens will only show the image at the widest aperture.


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Switch to Live View

Live View (available on most modern DSLRs) is your best f riend. Press t he Depth of Field Preview button

while in Live View mode and you will be able to see exactly whats in focus (f ind out What Live View is telling

you). This helps you pos ition the focal point to maximise the in-f ocus area.

Depth of f ield and macro photography

Choos ing the right aperture to shoot at f or f lower portraits can be tricky. Heres how to get it right (click to

enlarge the image below)

Flower port raits can respond well to varying depths o f

f ield, but identif ying the right aperture can be tricky.

Shoo ting this military orchid at a narrow depth of f ield

creates a greater sense o f dimension and also blurs

the background out to a smooth green.

The f /16 shot, on the other hand, loo ks much morelike a record shot , because the f lower is entirely

sharp. Basically, the aperture you choose depends on

the ef f ect you want to achieve. The joy of digital is

that you can experiment on location until you get the

result you want.

Final tips for controlling dept h of f ield

Use a tripodImage accuracy will make or break the shot, so ensure

you have a steady tripod to mount your camera on.

Vibration can also cause problems with sof tness , so

ensure that all the locks and knobs are tightened up

befo re shoot ing (see our 4 tips f or sharper shots

when using a tripod).

Speed things up

Wide apertures can let you break free of the tripod

and shoot handheld instead, as a narrow depth o ff ield (f/2.8, for instance) means f aster shutter speeds.

Vary the ISO to give even greater control and respect

the 1/f ocal length rule (shooting with a 50mm lens at

no s lower than 1/50 sec).

Check your focus

Disable autofocus or engage it respectively,

depending on your subject matter and picture s tyle.

Remember to check your f ocus ing regularly when

shoot ing landscapes using manual f ocus. Mistaking

the f ocus ring f or the zoom can ruin all your shots.

Bracket your focusing

Try moving the focusing either side of the assumed

f ocal plane when youre shoot ing at greater depth of
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f ield. Take a f ew initial shots , then shoot a f ew extra

exposures at diff erent f ocal points as a saf eguard

against f ocus error.

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FOT - Depth of Field - What You Need to Know for Successful Images