Statue on a Bench

[Marzzzz69]

I wanted also to make the background out of focus. What went wrong?




Used a NikonD3100, f/4 1/100 sec, ISO 100, 55mm

[Doug Sundseth]

At a guess, I'd put your primary subject something like 40 feet from the front of the lens. At that distance with that lens on that camera, that puts the far edge of your critically shart DoF at almost 60 feet. Since the near edge is at about 30 feet, the statue a few feet in front of the lens is far out of focus.

The distant store fronts are also out of focus, but not as far out of focus, which is to be expected from the optical situation. (The closer you get to the hyperfocal distance, the higher percentage of your critically sharp depth is beyond the focal point.)

To drop the background out of focus, you need to focus nearer the camera so the subject is nearer the back edge of the sharp field.

If you intend to do this regularly, preferably you should also have a lens with a wider aperture.

[Marzzzz69]

Originally Posted by Doug Sundseth

At a guess, I'd put your primary subject something like 40 feet from the front of the lens. At that distance with that lens on that camera, that puts the far edge of your critically shart DoF at almost 60 feet. Since the near edge is at about 30 feet, the statue a few feet in front of the lens is far out of focus.

The distant store fronts are also out of focus, but not as far out of focus, which is to be expected from the optical situation. (The closer you get to the hyperfocal distance, the higher percentage of your critically sharp depth is beyond the focal point.)

To drop the background out of focus, you need to focus nearer the camera so the subject is nearer the back edge of the sharp field.

If you intend to do this regularly, preferably you should also have a lens with a wider aperture.

Thank you for your comment.