essential skills: digital photography in available light
DOF - the three variables:
Aperture - Changing the aperture, or F-Stop number, is the most popular technique for controlling
DOF. When a high aperture number like f32 or f22 is used, the picture will contain a large DOF- this means that objects in the foreground, middle ground and background of the image all appear
sharp. If, instead, a low aperture number is selected (f1.8 or f2), then only a small section of the
image will appear focused, producing a shallow DOF effect.
Focal length - The focal length of the lens that you use to photograph also determines the extent
of the DOF in an image. The longer the focal length (more than 50mm on a 35mm camera) the
smaller the DOF will be, the shorter the focal length (less than 50mm on a 35mm camera) the
greater DOF effect.
Distance from the subject - The distance the camera is from the subject is also an important
depth of fi eld factor. Close-up, or macro photos, have very shallow DOF, whereas landscape shots
where the main parts of the image are further away have a greater DOF. In other words the closer
you are to the subject, despite the aperture or lens you select, the shallower the DOF will be in the
photographs you take.
As most panoramic pictures require sharp details in the fore-, mid and background you should
practise setting up your camera for the largest depth of fi eld possible. This means selecting a
high aperture number, using wide angle lenses and increasing the camera-to-subject distance
wherever possible. It is also good practice to take a couple of test shots of sections of the scene
and review these on the LCD monitor on the back of the camera (using the magnifi cation option)
to ensure that you have sharpness in the areas of the picture that you desire.
Pro tip > After setting the exposure (aperture and shutter speed) and focus on your camera take
a couple of test photos of areas within the scene that will be part of the fi nal panorama. Make
sure that all important details in the photo are sharp. For the most part this means checking that
the closest foreground detail is sharp along with areas in the background that are important. If
the DOF doesn’t extend far enough into the photo to cover both these extremes then you will
need to adjust your aperture, focal length and/or distance to subject to suit.Shooting with your camera set to
the ‘auto’ white balance setting can
cause inconsistent color between
sequential source images. Switching
your camera to a mode that suits the
dominant light source for the scene
will produce more even results.