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Understanding Depth of Field in Photography: A Guide by Norman Dodds

Join Norman Dodds as he presents an insightful session for the Kelso Camera Club on the concept of Depth of Field (DoF) in photography. This presentation explores how DoF affects sharpness in images, influenced by lens focal length, distance to subject, and aperture settings. Learn practical tips, the significance of hyperfocal distance, and how to control your images using aperture value mode. Perfect for photographers of all levels looking to enhance their skills and image composition.

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Understanding Depth of Field in Photography: A Guide by Norman Dodds

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Presentation Transcript

  1. A presentation for Kelso Camera Club by Norman Dodds

  2. What is depth of field? • Depth of Field is the amount of a photographwhich is in acceptably sharp focus from theforeground to the background

  3. 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

  4. Everything in focus

  5. Main subject in focus – background blurred but recognisable

  6. Main subject in focus – background totally blurred

  7. 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

  8. 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!

  9. 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

  10. 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!

  11. F 5.6 1/3200 small depth of field

  12. F 11 1/1000 medium depth of field

  13. F 36 1/80 large depth of field

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. Get this online

  17. 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!

  18. 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.

  19. 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!

  20. 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

  21. 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!

  22. 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

  23. 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

  24. Finding out more • Google ‘depth of field’ • Dofmaster website

  25. Questions?

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