Digital Photographer - UK (2020-01)

Create stark 3D elements in a scene

Differential

focussing

Depth of field is reduced as focal length

increases, so a 200mm lens at f4 will give you

less DOF than a 100mm lens at f4.

By using a telephoto or telezoom at its

widest aperture, you can experiment with the

differential focussing technique, where you

focus the lens on an element in a scene but

let the rest fall out of focus. This makes the

sharply focussed element stand out in stark

3D. The longer the focal length and the wider

the aperture, the more obvious the effect is.

Differential focussing works well on all kinds

of subjects, from landscapes and architecture

to still life and people, and a 70-200mm

or 70-300mm zoom at the long end will

produce strong results. You need to focus

the lens carefully on your chosen point, so if

you’re using AF, either focus lock while you

recompose or move the AF point to where you

need it. You can also emphasise the effect by

including elements in the scene that are closer

to you than the point you’ve focussed on, so

these elements will be thrown completely out

of focus as well as the elements further away.

4

Left

Keep it simple

Differential focus draws

your eye to the main

subject and adds a

gentle softness

Above

Blurred vision

using a telezoom at its

widest aperture ensures

your main subject stands

out boldly

Below

In the frame

These out-of-focus

branches provide an

effective frame and

emphasise the building

10 pRo Ways To use apeRTuRe

Createstark3Delementsinascene

Differential

focussing

Depth of field is reduced as focal length

increases, so a 200mm lens at f4 will give you

less DOF than a 100mm lens at f4.

By using a telephoto or telezoom at its

widest aperture, you can experiment with the

differential focussing technique, where you

focus the lens on an element in a scene but

let the rest fall out of focus. This makes the

sharply focussed element stand out in stark

3D. The longer the focal length and the wider

the aperture, the more obvious the effect is.

Differential focussing works well on all kinds

of subjects, from landscapes and architecture

to still life and people, and a 70-200mm

or 70-300mm zoom at the long end will

produce strong results. You need to focus

thelenscarefullyonyourchosenpoint,soif

you’reusingAF,eitherfocuslockwhileyou

recomposeormovetheAFpointtowhereyou

needit.Youcanalsoemphasisetheeffectby

includingelementsinthescenethatarecloser

toyouthanthepointyou’vefocussedon,so

theseelementswillbethrowncompletelyout

offocusaswellastheelementsfurtheraway.

4

Left

Keep it simple

Differential focus draws

your eye to the main

subject and adds a

gentle softness

Above

Blurredvision

using a telezoom at its

widest aperture ensures

your main subject stands

out boldly

Below

In the frame

These out-of-focus

branches provide an

effective frame and

emphasise the building

10 pRo Ways To use apeRTuRe