The last 2 photography posts have been about depth of field, and how to get better control over the junk in the background of your photos. I have shared information on how aperture plays a roll in depth of field, and how distance to the subject can change the depth of field. Today, I am going to show you how the focal length of your lens plays into your depth of field. This first shot (photo 1) was taken using the standard kit lens (18-55mm) with a focal length of 34mm.
The second photo (photo 2) was taken using a 55-200mm lens with a focal length of 150mm. I stood in the same place to take the both photos, and both were shot at 1/500 (shutter speed). As you can see, the second photo has much more focus on the subject and the background is blurred out more. Longer lenses compress your photo which makes a flatter plane of focus. I LOVE my 55-200mm lens! A zoom lens is fabulous for taking portrait photos. I bought my lens at B&H Photo & Video for $175-$200. Totally worth the money!
Keeping focus on your subject, by taking control of your depth of field, is one of the best ways to improve your photography. Next time you are taking a photo, stop and ask yourself: "What aperture should I use? f/4 (can go lower) to blur the background or f/22 (can go higher) to keep everything in focus? If I change the distance of myself to my subject will things improve? Can I get a better photo if I zoom in a bit?"
Photography is a wonderful hobby, and taking a little time to better understanding how to improve your photos will bring you great joy! Next time, I am going to discuss the exposure triangle and how ISO (film speed) plays a roll in improving your photos. Happy Monday!
Recent Comments