how to get the text in focus?

[hyimted]

i was trying to get the "objects in mirror..." text in focus. for some reason, i just couldn't get it right ... but i was able to focus on myself. in this image, the text shows up, but it's kinda blurry. i guess it kinda works, but that's besides the point.

just wondering if i missed some technique, trick, or something else?



exif: d90, 400, 30mm, f/5.6, 1/4

[NicolaB]

Hi

Did you use auto focus or manual?

[MrJones]

it doesn't seem like your camera is pointed at the text, plus it may be too close to focus.
it would have been easier with manual focus.

[Vagebond]

I'm no expert but I think it's a depth of field question.

Let's start with a window. You and your camera are a foot away from that window and you want to photograph a flower that's a foot away from the window on the other side. If you focus at one foot you'll get the window and any lettering on it in focus while the flower will probably be out of focus. Focus on the flower at two feet and the window/lettering will not be in focus. Unless you have enough depth of field to cover the distance between the window and the flower.

The same thing goes for the mirror, only this time the flower is beside you a foot away from the mirror and the lettering from the window is on the mirror. As far as the camera is concerned the flower is still two feet away. So depth of field comes into the picture again.

Again, I may be wrong but it feels logical to me.

[daddyoproductions]

Try it again but use the timer function. It could be a little camera shake going on. A little wider depth of field as someone else mentioned could help as well but that will create an even slower shutter speed than 1/4 which will be even harder to hand hold and get a crisp shot.

[Vagebond]

Camera shake isn't the problem, the image is pretty sharp. Maybe try manual focus. Focus on the letters, then on yourself, then focus back to somewhere in between. Trial and error using the depth of field in front of and behind the focal point?
At this distace (30mm. lens and something like a foot or so between front focal point and rear one, just a foot away) it might not be possible to get enough DOF though. See depth of field calculator

[hyimted]

thanks for the tips all ... so it sounds like maybe i had the depth of field too shallow ... i'll definitely play some more and try to stop it down a notch or two. i remember having some issues with camera shake, but i'll play around for sure. honestly, at this point, just trying to work on my technical skills.

i'll try a manual focus too ...

btw, it is "stop down" if i go to a higher aperture ... right? still trying to get the terminology right.

[IABoomer]

Originally Posted by hyimted

thanks for the tips all ... so it sounds like maybe i had the depth of field too shallow ... i'll definitely play some more and try to stop it down a notch or two. i remember having some issues with camera shake, but i'll play around for sure. honestly, at this point, just trying to work on my technical skills.

i'll try a manual focus too ...

btw, it is "stop down" if i go to a higher aperture ... right? still trying to get the terminology right.

Stop down = make the aperture smaller = make the f/number bigger (since it's f/value as a fraction, so f/2 is a larger aperture opening than f/8, just like 1/2 is larger than 1/8)