Better Available Light Digital Photography : How to Make the Most of Your Night and Low-light Shots

Fast lenses 133

Depth of fi eld increases as the lens aperture is closed down: f/4.0

has more areas that are in focus than f/2.8 does; f/5.6 has more

in focus than f/4.0 does, and so on. If you want the least depth

of fi eld possible, it makes sense to work with the fastest lenses

you can afford. After all, you can easily stop these lenses down

when you do want more in focus.

This tight close-up of woman’s
face was part of a photo-essay
Barry produced as a pro bono
assignment for a cancer-aware-
ness fund-raiser. The champagne
luncheon and fashion show bene-
fi ted the Day of Caring organiza-
tion. The volunteer models had
their hair styled and makeup pro-
fessionally applied before the
show. Had Barry opened his 17–
55 mm f/2.8 lens to its maximum
aperture of 2.8, the near eye
would have been completely out of
focus. Stopping down to f/4.5 pro-
vided a happy medium, with
enough detail in the foreground
leading to the tack-sharp far eye
and makeup brush. © 2005 Barry
Staver.

The use of fl ash equipment is just not possible in many situa-

tions, and fast lenses are the only way to get the photograph.

Barry routinely photographs for the health-care industry, in sur-

gical suites, emergency rooms, and critical-care units of hospi-

tals. Respect for patients who have consented to be photographed,

and medical practitioners as they provide care, is of utmost

importance and the fi ring of fl ash units would be distracting,

and even dangerous in some circumstances. Tripods can also be

a hazard in areas where emergency workers are moving about.

Finally, to avoid contamination of sterile areas, relatively long

lenses are required.

The photograph of the loving hand
touching the premature infant’s
ear is a case in point. Any external
light source, either fl ash or con-
tinuous, would disrupt the inten-
sive-care unit and disturb this
patient as well as others nearby.
Moving in close isn’t possible, as
a matter of courtesy and safety. A
fast lens not only captured the
image in very low light, but also
helped blur the background. ©
2006 Barry Staver.