Family of eleven-how to accheive sharp focus with each subject?

[candidshotluvr]

I have been asked to shoot of family of 11 and I am having a really hard time understanding focus for large groups let alone more than one person. I have read about distance and that it is more about that than aperture being set at a number the same as the amount of people. When I have used that technique before, my shots are really bad, grainy, just crap. I have seen group photos of about 10 people taken at 5.6 and every single face and detail is sharp. I need to understand how to get it right. I want every detail to be sharp. Seen it done, know it's possible. Can someone please help me understand what I need to do to get that result?

[wulf]

You want to read about depth of field. Try this website, which includes a handy calculator for how wide an area you can get in focus for a given camera, lens, aperture and distance from subject group.

You definitely won't go far setting the aperture to the same number as the number of people. Anyway, where do you get 5.6 people?!

Wulf

[naeno]

Originally Posted by wulf

You definitely won't go far setting the aperture to the same number as the number of people. Anyway, where do you get 5.6 people?!

Wulf

Thanks for the morning giggle!

[Drkranger]

Originally Posted by wulf

You want to read about depth of field. Try this website, which includes a handy calculator for how wide an area you can get in focus for a given camera, lens, aperture and distance from subject group.

You definitely won't go far setting the aperture to the same number as the number of people. Anyway, where do you get 5.6 people?!

Wulf

The same way we get 2.1 children...

[wulf]

Originally Posted by Drkranger

The same way we get 2.1 children...

Surely that would leave all your photos looking average though?

Wulf

[Drkranger]

Originally Posted by wulf

Surely that would leave all your photos looking average though?

Wulf

LOL! Another morning laugh from the Wulf. Thanks!

[spencer28n]

If your more concerned about getting everyone in focus than the composition of the photograph, get everyone to stand in a line next to each other. use a focus higher than 3.5, and you should be good. But that probably makes for a horrible photograph.

[wulf]

Do you mean "aperture" rather than "focus"? Either way, the important thing is not the number on its own but what it means in terms of the distance to the subjects and the characteristics of the lens.

Wulf

[spencer28n]

Originally Posted by wulf

Do you mean "aperture" rather than "focus"? Either way, the important thing is not the number on its own but what it means in terms of the distance to the subjects and the characteristics of the lens.

Wulf

Yup, seems like my English is falling apart. And that post wasn't even too late in the night. haha.

[CJWilkes]

Besides... if you have a large group and you are shooting outside in the shade... you really don't want to close up your Aperture too much. You can shoot f/5.6 and as mentioned - learn your field of depth.

Here is a group shot of many more than 11: Settings are:

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 60 mm
Exposure: 0.00
ISO Speed: 160
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash



I had moved back farther but as you can see the clarity is not too bad.