Dew on rose

[ypurcaro]

Can you tell me why couldn't I focus the whole rose? I mean it seems like only a partial of the rose is in focus. My metering was Center weighted. Is that something wrong with my lens?

Thank you for your comments.

[LeeR]

There are times when having the EXIF data can help answer questions like this. If we knew a bit more about the settings you used to get this shot we could give you a more complete answer. If I had to guess, I would say your lens was set to its largest aperture (smallest number). With this setting very little of the image will be in focus besides the area you have focused on. If you had switched to Aperture mode and used a higher setting like f8, you would likely find more of the rose was in focus while leaving the background sufficiently blurred.

[ypurcaro]

Originally Posted by LeeR

There are times when having the EXIF data can help answer questions like this. If we knew a bit more about the settings you used to get this shot we could give you a more complete answer. If I had to guess, I would say your lens was set to its largest aperture (smallest number). With this setting very little of the image will be in focus besides the area you have focused on. If you had switched to Aperture mode and used a higher setting like f8, you would likely find more of the rose was in focus while leaving the background sufficiently blurred.

Thanks for your feedback. Actually, if you click on the photo, you will see the EXIF data.
Shutter Speed: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 60 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

[RudyMiculescu]

The rose is out o focus because of the F you used - the bigger the F the bigger the DOF is. I tend to use an F8,F11 or F16 for this kind of shoot - but it depends on what kind of lens you have and subject configuration or focusing point.

[ypurcaro]

Originally Posted by RudyMiculescu

The rose is out o focus because of the F you used - the bigger the F the bigger the DOF is. I tend to use an F8,F11 or F16 for this kind of shoot - but it depends on what kind of lens you have and subject configuration or focusing point.

Thank you for the suggestion, I will try it again. By the way, I have a canon 60mm/f2.8 macro USM.

One more question if you don't mind; so if we want to take portrait with this len, we have to use very small F stop like F20?

[RudyMiculescu]

depends on the situations, i use something between F7.1 and F11

[bruceliv]

If you want a narrow DoF, shoot with a larger iris -- lower f/stop. If your want a larger DoF, shoot with a smaller iris -- higher f/stop.

The same holds true for portraits. If you want just one eye in focus, shoot with a lower f/stop.
If you want the entire face in focus, shoot with a higher f/stop.

All of above depends upon, the focal length of lens, distance from subject, and many other variables.

I would suggest you find a subject, person, flower whatever... place camera on tripod, shoot many images at different settings and study what you come up with.

Here is a helpful interactive Depth of Field table:
User interactive DoF

[LeeR]

Depth of field is a kind of moving target. When you are shooting something close to the lens with a wide open aperture your DOF may be less than an inch. As the subject moves away from the lens the depth of field increases until it eventually reaches the hyperfocal distance where everything from X number of feet to infinity is in focus. Here is an online tool for figuring hyperfocal distance along with an explanation of how it works.

[bruceliv]

Circles are confusing

[ypurcaro]

Originally Posted by LeeR

Depth of field is a kind of moving target. When you are shooting something close to the lens with a wide open aperture your DOF may be less than an inch. As the subject moves away from the lens the depth of field increases until it eventually reaches the hyperfocal distance where everything from X number of feet to infinity is in focus. Here is an online tool for figuring hyperfocal distance along with an explanation of how it works.

Wow...it's kind of complicate for me. But, I'll try to figure it out. Thanks.