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A presentation for Kelso Camera Club. by Norman Dodds. What is depth of field?. Depth of Field is the amount of a photograph which is in acceptably sharp focus from the foreground to the background. Why is it useful to understand depth of field?.
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A presentation for Kelso Camera Club by Norman Dodds
What is depth of field? • Depth of Field is the amount of a photographwhich is in acceptably sharp focus from theforeground to the background
Why is it useful to understand depth of field? • It allows a photographer to control the amountof the photograph which is in sharp focus toenhancethe effectiveness of the image
Main subject in focus – background blurred but recognisable
What influences depth of field? • The focal length of your lens: • wide angle lens = more depth of field • telephoto = less depth of field • The distance from the subject: • further away = more depth of field • closer = less depth of field • The aperture of your lens
Aperture • Aperture is the opening in your lens which lets in lightreflecting from your subject • Aperture is measured in f stops. Typically lenseswill have apertures from f2 to f36 • Just to confuse, large apertures have small numbersand small apertures have big numbers!
Aperture • Each aperture allows in half or double the amount of light as you move up or down the f stops • Your camera may also be able to move up and down the scale in smaller steps with 2 or 3 positions between the ‘official’ f stops • Aperture has a significant impact on depth of field: • A large aperture will give a small depth of field • A small aperture will give a greater depth of field
Why does aperture affect depth of field? • The explanation is a little bit technical: The non-technical explanation is simpler - it just DOES! That works for me!
F 5.6 1/3200 small depth of field
F 11 1/1000 medium depth of field
F 36 1/80 large depth of field
How do you work out what the DoFwill be? • There are 5 possibilities: • Ignore it – don’t worry…. be happy! • Use the depth of field preview if your camera has one.This provides you with a visual check • Use the depth of field scale if your camera has one
How do you work out what the DoF will be? • There are 5 possibilities: • Ignore it – don’t worry…. be happy! • Use the depth of field preview if your camera has one.This provides you with a visual check • Use the depth of field scale if your camera has one • Use a depth of field calculator
How do you work out what the DoFwill be? • There are 5 possibilities: • Ignore it – don’t worry…. be happy! • Use the depth of field preview if your camera has one.This provides you with a visual check • Use the depth of field scale if your camera has one • Use a depth of field calculator • Make an educated guess!
Hyperfocal Distance and Focussing • The hyperfocal distance is the closest distance at which a lens can be focused while keeping objects at infinity acceptably sharp. • When the lens is focused at this distance, all objects at distances from half of the hyperfocaldistance to infinity will be acceptably sharp.
Hyperfocal Distance and Focussing • There are three ways to set your focus to the hyperfocal distance: • Use the scale on your lens – if you have one!
Hyperfocal Distance and Focussing • There are three ways to set your focus to the hyperfocal distance: • Use the scale on your lens – if you have one! • Use a chart Get this online
Hyperfocal Distance and Focussing • There are three ways to set your focus to the hyperfocal distance: • Use the scale on your lens – if you have one! • Use a chart • Guess!
Using depth of field • Set your camera mode to AV - Aperture Value • Choose your subject and compose your shot • Set your chosen aperture • If you have a depth of field preview, use that to check the DoF • Check your shutter speed • If it’s fast enough – take the picture • If it’s too slow: • Use a tripod ……. OR • Increase the ISO until the shutter speed is acceptable
Shutter Speed • Shutter speed determines the amount of time the lens remains open when you press the button • Similar to aperture, shutter speeds double or halvethe amount of time the lens is open as you clickthrough the different speeds • A photograph’s exposure is set by a combination of shutter speed and aperture • Shutter speed has no impact on depth of field
Finding out more • Google ‘depth of field’ • Dofmaster website