Focusing Question
Outdoor Ontario

Focusing Question

MEGHAN · 5 · 4702

MEGHAN

  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 1643
    • Instagram
Good Morning All,

I was wondering if someone could give me some tips and/or pointers.
In the photo below are 2 ducks.
However only the Male is in focus.
How would I go about changing my camera settings so that both of these Mergansers are in focus?
Thanks
Meghan

« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by MEGHAN »
"Birds are a visual treat that reaffirms the joy and goodness of living. Birds are also the most elegant expression of life”.
Roger Tory Peterson


http://www.flickr.com/photos/luv2brd/


TomTelford

  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 130
Easiest way is to increase your f-stop.  Switch your camera mode to Aperature Priority or full Manual and then manually set the f-stop, usually 8 or higher to make any difference.  Different lenses react more or less but they all increase the focus depth-of-field as you raise the f-stop.  Then you want to set your focus point half-way between the objects you want to be in focus.  If your camera has a preview button, push it to make sure both objects are in focus.  If they are not then raise the f-stop further.  Raising the f-stop will also make any shot crisper and make a cheaper lens act like a more expensive one.  The trade-off is shutter and "film" speed, you need one hell of a sunny day to run ASA 100, F-22 at 1/1000th.

Long lenses shooting at farther distances naturally have larger depth-of-field but at greater cost/weight/vibration and lower base speed.

Hope this helps,

Tom.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by TomTelford »


TomTelford

  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 130
BTW That's still a very nice shot.

 :)

Tom.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by TomTelford »


Kin Lau

  • Registered
  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 848
It would look like the male isn't all that in focus either. The sharpest point of focus seems to be a bit in front (closer to you) of the male.

There's a few things you can try. If you have the time, you can focus just a bit behind the male, and let depth of field take care of the female.

You can also increase the f-stop as Tom has mentioned. Try shooting with stationary objects or tame mallards to see the effect of increasing the fstop.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Kin Lau »


MEGHAN

  • Old Timer
  • *****
    • Posts: 1643
    • Instagram
Tom,Kin
Thanks to both of you for the tips.
I will certainly try this out.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by MEGHAN »
"Birds are a visual treat that reaffirms the joy and goodness of living. Birds are also the most elegant expression of life”.
Roger Tory Peterson


http://www.flickr.com/photos/luv2brd/