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shooting portraits wide open - getting eyes in focus

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MonteMama Posted: 08-02-2008 8:46 AM

I've been playing with a couple things out of my comfort zone... one of them is shooting portraits wide open. I know some of you do it and thought I'd try it out a bit.

Normally shooting portraits, I pick my focus point to be on one of the eyes. With a large aperture, though, I feel like only the eye my focus point is on is sharp. Is there any trick that would get both eyes in focus? Did I just go overboard with my large aperture and maybe I should back off a little? You can see my efforts here - http://montemama.zenfolio.com/p941918768

I like this one quite a bit :)

Christy
Canon Rebel XTi
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The *only* way to get both eyes tack-sharp when shooting wide open (on a lens with a 1.8-1.2 aperture) is to have both eyes in the same plane of focus, UNLESS (there's always an "unless" LOL) you are far enough away from your subject that your dof is actually deep enough to cover that area. as you step backward your dof will increase, kwim?

~~Tammi~~

d300, MB-D10, sb800, sb400, 18-200VR, 18-50 f/2.8, 28-75 f/2.8, 90 f/2.8 macro, 50 f/1.4, Pocket wizards, sekonic L-358, and an aresnal of reflectors and other light modifiers....and maybe more. ;)

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I love this shot Christy Big Smile

-Stephenie

Shooting with a Nikon D300 + D50, 28mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.4 and hopefully 70-200 2.8 on the way =)

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Tammi:

The *only* way to get both eyes tack-sharp when shooting wide open (on a lens with a 1.8-1.2 aperture) is to have both eyes in the same plane of focus, UNLESS (there's always an "unless" LOL) you are far enough away from your subject that your dof is actually deep enough to cover that area. as you step backward your dof will increase, kwim?

That makes perfect sense. It is amazing to me how much of what I've learned about photography seems so obvious and common sense once I get it... and yet, I was so oblivious to it in the past. I have learned so much in the past year or so, a lot of it thanks to many of you. :)

 

Christy
Canon Rebel XTi
Website

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MonteMama:
It is amazing to me how much of what I've learned about photography seems so obvious and common sense once I get it... and yet, I was so oblivious to it in the past. I have learned so much in the past year or so, a lot of it thanks to many of you. :)

 

 

This is me too! I totally have that happen to me all the time!

 

~~Tammi~~

d300, MB-D10, sb800, sb400, 18-200VR, 18-50 f/2.8, 28-75 f/2.8, 90 f/2.8 macro, 50 f/1.4, Pocket wizards, sekonic L-358, and an aresnal of reflectors and other light modifiers....and maybe more. ;)

My Zenfolio Gallery

My Blog

 

 

 

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