Group Shots - The Photo Forum

pgal · 03-27-2008, 05:23 PM

I am going to be taking a family's portrait on Saturday and just wanted to get some input on how some of you get everyone in the shot to be clear and sharp. I usually use a higher f stop and use all 7 af points. However ,when i do that it seems like i usually get a kid's waving arm in focus and faces are blurred. any suggestions??

Village Idiot · 03-27-2008, 06:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by pgal

I am going to be taking a family's portrait on Saturday and just wanted to get some input on how some of you get everyone in the shot to be clear and sharp. I usually use a higher f stop and use all 7 af points. However ,when i do that it seems like i usually get a kid's waving arm in focus and faces are blurred. any suggestions??

f/11? step back and have them close together

christopher walrath · 03-27-2008, 07:44 PM

Also, if there are a lot of family members and thus a long line of people, curve the line a bit so that the people on the ends are the same distance from the camera as they are in the middle of the group. And keep the depth of faces as shallow as possible. Keep the people in the back as close to the people in the front as possible.

Helen B · 03-27-2008, 08:37 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by christopher walrath

Also, if there are a lot of family members and thus a long line of people, curve the line a bit so that the people on the ends are the same distance from the camera as they are in the middle of the group.

Isn't that more likely to create depth of field problems rather than solve them?

Best,
Helen

JerryPH · 03-28-2008, 08:12 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Helen B

Isn't that more likely to create depth of field problems rather than solve them?

Best,
Helen

It sure will, unless he uses a smaller aperture. I'd rather have a couple of rows deep, rather than one wide line... unless he wants a panorama effect?

christopher walrath · 03-28-2008, 03:34 PM

Just my thinking. If the people on the ends are, say, 20 feet away from the camera and the people in the center are, say, 20 feet from the camera (which would form a slightly curved line) would you have everybody in focus if you focused to, say, 20 feet?

Helen B · 03-28-2008, 04:25 PM

Chris,

Most of the lenses we use are designed as flat field lenses, not curved field lenses. This means that if you point your camera at a flat wall, with the film/sensor plane parallel to the wall, then focus on the wall in the centre of the frame the corners of the frame should be in the plane of focus. If the closest part of the wall is 20 ft away, and the lens is focused to 20 ft, the wall in the corners of the frame will be more than 20 ft away, but still in the plane of focus.

Best,
Helen

pgal · 03-28-2008, 10:47 PM

Thanks everyone for your help. It is really appreciated!

03-27-2008, 05:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
pgal TPF Noob! Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Group Shots I am going to be taking a family's portrait on Saturday and just wanted to get some input on how some of you get everyone in the shot to be clear and sharp. I usually use a higher f stop and use all 7 af points. However ,when i do that it seems like i usually get a kid's waving arm in focus and faces are blurred. any suggestions??

03-27-2008, 07:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
christopher walrath I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lower Slower Delaware Posts: 853 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Also, if there are a lot of family members and thus a long line of people, curve the line a bit so that the people on the ends are the same distance from the camera as they are in the middle of the group. And keep the depth of faces as shallow as possible. Keep the people in the back as close to the people in the front as possible. __________________ Thank you. Christopher A. Walrath CREATIVE IMAGE MAKER MAGAZINE JANUARY 2009 ISSUE ONLINE NOW! creativeimagemaker@comcast.net Christopher A. Walrath Photography Massive Dev Chart PLEASE SUPPORT THE TPF MENTORING PROGRAM.

03-27-2008, 08:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
Helen B TPF Junkie! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hell's Kitchen, New York Posts: 1,723 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Quote: Originally Posted by christopher walrath Also, if there are a lot of family members and thus a long line of people, curve the line a bit so that the people on the ends are the same distance from the camera as they are in the middle of the group. Isn't that more likely to create depth of field problems rather than solve them? Best, Helen __________________ No longer posting. Here's why: link. I'll still be reading PMs from time to time. Some of my snaps are here and here.

03-28-2008, 08:12 AM	#5 (permalink)
JerryPH TPF Junkie! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Posts: 3,921 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Quote: Originally Posted by Helen B Isn't that more likely to create depth of field problems rather than solve them? Best, Helen It sure will, unless he uses a smaller aperture. I'd rather have a couple of rows deep, rather than one wide line... unless he wants a panorama effect? __________________ * Just a very enthusiastic "kinda-sorta" amateur with a Nikon * Photography 101: - a picture you place in an album - a photograph you frame and place on your wall Last edited by JerryPH; 03-28-2008 at 08:23 AM.

03-28-2008, 03:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
christopher walrath I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lower Slower Delaware Posts: 853 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Just my thinking. If the people on the ends are, say, 20 feet away from the camera and the people in the center are, say, 20 feet from the camera (which would form a slightly curved line) would you have everybody in focus if you focused to, say, 20 feet? __________________ Thank you. Christopher A. Walrath CREATIVE IMAGE MAKER MAGAZINE JANUARY 2009 ISSUE ONLINE NOW! creativeimagemaker@comcast.net Christopher A. Walrath Photography Massive Dev Chart PLEASE SUPPORT THE TPF MENTORING PROGRAM.

Remember Me?

Not registered? Register today! Forgot your Password?

Remove advertisements
The Photo Forum - Photography Discussion Forum Advertisement	Sponsored links

03-27-2008, 06:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
Village Idiot TPF Junkie! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Shepherdsturd, WV / Almost, MD Posts: 1,989 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Quote: Originally Posted by pgal I am going to be taking a family's portrait on Saturday and just wanted to get some input on how some of you get everyone in the shot to be clear and sharp. I usually use a higher f stop and use all 7 af points. However ,when i do that it seems like i usually get a kid's waving arm in focus and faces are blurred. any suggestions?? f/11? step back and have them close together

03-28-2008, 04:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
Helen B TPF Junkie! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hell's Kitchen, New York Posts: 1,723 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Chris, Most of the lenses we use are designed as flat field lenses, not curved field lenses. This means that if you point your camera at a flat wall, with the film/sensor plane parallel to the wall, then focus on the wall in the centre of the frame the corners of the frame should be in the plane of focus. If the closest part of the wall is 20 ft away, and the lens is focused to 20 ft, the wall in the corners of the frame will be more than 20 ft away, but still in the plane of focus. Best, Helen __________________ No longer posting. Here's why: link. I'll still be reading PMs from time to time. Some of my snaps are here and here.

03-28-2008, 10:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
pgal TPF Noob! Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Thanks everyone for your help. It is really appreciated!

Remove advertisements Sponsored links
The Photo Forum - Photography Discussion Forum Advertisement

	Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode