Episode 21 - Depth of Field

Discussion Open - 9 Comments

1. wes on 9/19/07

   Great topic and great explanation about many things I have been thinking about Craig. I have just been reading about DOF and just couldn't or didn't want to get into the nitty gritty of mathematics. I could never understand it so just pushed it aside. When I saw the topic, I almost turned you off immediately, thinking about all of those numbers and scales, etc. Fortunately, I did listen and was pleasantly surprised. After your discussion, several lights went on and I am finally beginning to get it. I am just thrilled to find out that I am not stupid after all. I will spend the rest of the day doing a lot of testing to see if I can put what you have taught here, into action. Thanks so much for your great teaching and inspiration. I am sure there are going to be questions that will come up in the future but I will get back to you on that.

   Most respectfully,

   Wes
2. MarkGoddard on 9/19/07

   Craig, thanks for the latest podcast. Your wide angle DOF technique was one of the most helpful things I learned on the Death Valley workshop. It really allowed me to focus on what I was seeing rather than on the focus issues. Thanks for sharing this with everyone.
3. BobDein on 9/19/07

   valued by 1

   Craig, I’d like to clarify a few items, and ask some very amateurish questions about depth of field and hyperfocal distance. As a beginner, I’ve signed up for the "… Foundations For the Emerging Photographer" workshop, so hopefully I’ll be able to ask more intelligent questions in the future.

   :-)

   I’ve wondered how you, and other landscape photographers, get the foreground into tack sharp focus. From the podcast, do I understand correctly:

   1. You focus manually, so that the sensor positions seen in the viewfinder are irrelevant.

   2. After you compose the image in the viewfinder, you focus using the focus ring on the lens. You do not have to look through the viewfinder and use visual judgment about focus.

   3. You blend the two images in Photoshop by layering one on top of the other and masking some areas with a soft brush, “flying by the seat of your pants” – using visual judgment as to which layer is in best focus.

   Thanks so much to the three of you for making your expertise available to all of us.

   Bob
4. CMT on 9/19/07

   Hi Bob,

   Thank you for being here and thank you for the kind words!

   You understood perfectly...the steps you described are exactly what I do.

   Looking forward to meeting you in Savannah!!!!...Sincerely, Craig
5. pedscw on 9/22/07

   Sir, I really appreciate your tips. I have always found DOF confusing and most discussions too technical with little practical information. I can hardly wait to try your suggestions on my 16-35.

   Chuck
6. adrienbisson on 10/9/07

   valued by 1

   Hi Craig,

   I have been listening to your podcasts and your daily critiques for quite a while and have found them to always be helpful and a source of inspiration. But I had to comment on this podcast. I had been in a photographic funk recently, having to deal with all sorts of business-related issues, and neglecting the creative side. But I listened to this show and I was reminded about how clearly and logically you put your ideas across and how inspiring, and freeing, such an otherwise mundane topic as DOF can be. I went out the next morning (at twilight :-) and started to work on these techniques and found myself hearing your advice as I worked. I really appreciate what you do here and the service that RV provides.

   Thanks!

   Adrien
7. pcasco on 10/19/07

   Craig,

   IT WORKS--

   I used both your background foreground focusing system and your prefocus to a point into the scene and the images that I am getting with my new 16/35MM f2.8 are fantastic.

   Between you and Mark J. (love his book (Botanical Dreaming), both my Eye and my technical skills are going up.

   Thanks,

   Paul
8. Arkayem on 10/26/07

   Craig,

   I just finished listening to this podcast and I'm going to try it as soon as possible.

   One question: Is there a way to do the combining of the images in CS3?

   Russ
9. Arkayem on 10/27/07

   I figured it out.

   You just bring each of the images into CS3 on it's own layer with a mask. Then reverse the mask to black and paint with white on each mask to reveal the sharpest focus areas on that layer.

   Russ

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Episode 20 - The Power of Play

Episode 22 - Myth of Talent Revisited