Comments on: Overcoming Depth of Field Problems in Portraits http://www.digital-photography-school.com/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:16:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: paul webb http://www.digital-photography-school.com/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-145083 paul webb Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:03:56 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/#comment-145083 I found the article very useful. I do some nightclub work, which is mainly portraits although I do some dancefloor crowd shots as well. I love to use F1/4 for portraits and normally get the full face in focus although sometimes other areas may be slightly blurred, like a girl,s necklace for example, this can look quite nice. The problems start when you photograph a group of people who are not all the same distance from the camera. It may look ok in the viewfinder but I when see the photo on the club,s facebook page I can see it,s slightly off. Normally I go up to 2/8 or 3/5 for group shots but sometimes simply forget to do so in the hustle and bustle of a club. I put the occasional one on flickr but mostly I just leave them to the club to put on thier facebook page. I have a sony a550, 50 mm 1/4 and a f42am flash gun. I found the article very useful. I do some nightclub work, which is mainly portraits although I do some dancefloor crowd shots as well. I love to use F1/4 for portraits and normally get the full face in focus although sometimes other areas may be slightly blurred, like a girl,s necklace for example, this can look quite nice.
The problems start when you photograph a group of people who are not all the same distance from the camera. It may look ok in the viewfinder but I when see the photo on the club,s facebook page I can see it,s slightly off. Normally I go up to 2/8 or 3/5 for group shots but sometimes simply forget to do so in the hustle and bustle of a club. I put the occasional one on flickr but mostly I just leave them to the club to put on thier facebook page. I have a sony a550, 50 mm 1/4 and a f42am flash gun.

]]> By: Mike Minick http://www.digital-photography-school.com/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-106925 Mike Minick Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:40:50 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/#comment-106925 Here's a DoFcalculator that I use. Very helpful. http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html Here’s a DoFcalculator that I use. Very helpful.
http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

]]> By: Ruth anne Baker http://www.digital-photography-school.com/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-106442 Ruth anne Baker Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:28:18 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/#comment-106442 The comments made on this site are typically very helpful and not critical or ugly to posters. I really appreciate this. This is a nice group. The comments made on this site are typically very helpful and not critical or ugly to posters. I really appreciate this. This is a nice group.

]]> By: tyler http://www.digital-photography-school.com/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-63089 tyler Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:19:55 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/#comment-63089 What lens are you using on the Sony Alpha 700? What lens are you using on the Sony Alpha 700?

]]> By: tyler http://www.digital-photography-school.com/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-63088 tyler Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:18:24 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/#comment-63088 I am all for shooting wide open. I heavily use my nikon 50mm 1.4. But in portrait shoot you add to subjects in varying distances shooting wide open and someone's gonna get the fuzz. I am all for shooting wide open. I heavily use my nikon 50mm 1.4. But in portrait shoot you add to subjects in varying distances shooting wide open and someone’s gonna get the fuzz.

]]> By: Wendy http://www.digital-photography-school.com/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-45028 Wendy Fri, 13 Mar 2009 03:04:27 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/#comment-45028 Dept of field????? are there any suggestion with an Sony Alpha 700 Dept of field????? are there any suggestion with an Sony Alpha 700

]]> By: Betty Knight http://www.digital-photography-school.com/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-17766 Betty Knight Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:09:49 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/#comment-17766 Hello, The comments were very helpful! I am a photographer and have a Cannon D60--those suggestions will help me as a shoot a wedding in December! Hello,

The comments were very helpful! I am a photographer and have a Cannon D60–those suggestions will help me as a shoot a wedding in December!

]]> By: shroticg http://www.digital-photography-school.com/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-15425 shroticg Mon, 20 Aug 2007 12:27:18 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/#comment-15425 u can experiment with any lens but for portraiture closeups the correct lens is 85mm to 135mm which gives sufficient distance and taking at the aperture of f8 focusing on the eyes is the best way to get good portrait shot, otherwise it can be taken upto bust and then crop for face. as suggested above ISO increase may also be a solution to decrease DOF. u can experiment with any lens but for portraiture closeups the correct lens is 85mm to 135mm which gives sufficient distance and taking at the aperture of f8 focusing on the eyes is the best way to get good portrait shot, otherwise it can be taken upto bust and then crop for face. as suggested above ISO increase may also be a solution to decrease DOF.

]]> By: Pearl Racette http://www.digital-photography-school.com/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-15168 Pearl Racette Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:49:09 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/#comment-15168 thanks for all the replies on this simple issue - I need a DOF problem HELP with ... to anyone who successfully shoots generational portraits or weddings with large groups.... I have an issue that I have been running into whenever I shoot larger groups - doing lots of generational portraits lately - last 2 with 19 or more people/kids - need a good DOF to insure all clients from front row to 4th row is in focus. I try to shoot at f16 to f22 but have to slow down my shutter speed to 1/30 or at times 1/15th when shooting in the open shade (to prevent squinting). This creates an issue of blur if the client moves even a little ... so what is the answer.????.. tried to add flash and was able to bring SS up to 1/60th but still felt some blur at times...and would prefer not to be on a tripod to allow more creativity and movement. what's the answer to large groups???? thanks for all the replies on this simple issue –

I need a DOF problem HELP with … to anyone who successfully shoots generational portraits or weddings with large groups….
I have an issue that I have been running into whenever I shoot larger groups – doing lots of generational portraits lately – last 2 with 19 or more people/kids – need a good DOF to insure all clients from front row to 4th row is in focus.
I try to shoot at f16 to f22 but have to slow down my shutter speed to 1/30 or at times 1/15th when shooting in the open shade (to prevent squinting). This creates an issue of blur if the client moves even a little … so what is the answer.????.. tried to add flash and was able to bring SS up to 1/60th but still felt some blur at times…and would prefer not to be on a tripod to allow more creativity and movement. what’s the answer to large groups????

]]> By: Iain Adam AIIP, AIMBI http://www.digital-photography-school.com/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-15065 Iain Adam AIIP, AIMBI Fri, 17 Aug 2007 13:21:43 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/overcoming-depth-of-field-problems-in-portraits/#comment-15065 A 50mm lens is far from ideal for portraiture, you really require a 85mm lens if using film, this has been proved as ideal over the ages. Lighting is ofcourse very important, you want a main light, a fill in light or a strong reflector to lighten the shadow, a rim light in certain conditions and a background light. The main light must be strong enough to enable you to select an aperture that will get the subject in focus and the background less sharp. You may want the background totally out of Focus. I started on a half plate Gandolfi Camera in 1962 and now use a Nikon D100, I have a selection of lenses I use about 120mm for portraits. A 50mm lens is far from ideal for portraiture, you really require a 85mm lens if using film, this has been proved as ideal over the ages. Lighting is ofcourse very important, you want a main light, a fill in light or a strong reflector to lighten the shadow, a rim light in certain conditions and a background light. The main light must be strong enough to enable you to select an aperture that will get the subject in focus and the background less sharp. You may want the background totally out of Focus. I started on a half plate Gandolfi Camera in 1962 and now use a Nikon D100, I have a selection of lenses I use about 120mm for portraits.

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