Group Portraits..Where to Focus?

[GathCity]

I have been having some difficulties lately photographing multiple people. 3-5 people for example. My shots aren't coming out as sharp as I'd like.

I'm setting my aperture to around f/8-11, using the center focus point, and focusing on the rear eye of the furthest person in the scene, then recomposing the shot.

I'm getting decent pictures, but not 100% of the time. Until now I have been doing mainly single portraits, before that was strictly landscape, so this type of thing is very new to me.

Any help on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

[Benji]

If you have three rows of people don't focus on the back row, focus on the faces of the front row.

At f/11 I can't imagine that the DOF could be off that much but who knows. I assume you are using a shutter speed of 100 or more to prevent camera shake?

Benji

[BellaAz]

Great question! I need help in this as well!!

[RussHeath]

Originally Posted by Benji

If you have three rows of people don't focus on the back row, focus on the faces of the front row.

At f/11 I can't imagine that the DOF could be off that much but who knows. I assume you are using a shutter speed of 100 or more to prevent camera shake?

Benji

Ditto what Benji said. At a give aperture, there is more area in focus behind the focus point than in front of the focus point. So you should focus on the people up front.

[uridiscence]

I once read, and I think it was on DPS, that best aperture setting for a group should relate to how many people are in the shot. So, if you have 3 people, at least use an f-stop of 3, five people, at least an f-stop of 5, and so on.

I tried that theory out and it worked like a charm. I had super clear shots and I focused on the front or middle row...never the back.

Your distance from the group is also going to effect your aperture, so make sure you are at the proper distance.

Here's my proof that the theory worked for me. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2633/...be09b68f_o.jpg

F-stop: 3.5
Lens: 50mm
ISO: 200
Shutter speed: 1/50 sec.

[Sterling]

I once read, and I think it was on DPS, that best aperture setting for a group should relate to how many people are in the shot. So, if you have 3 people, at least use an f-stop of 3, five people, at least an f-stop of 5, and so on.

That doesn't make much sense. Number of people in a shot has no relationship to the f stop to be used. In terms of getting everything in focus, all that can be said is that the greater the distance between the closest and farthest person, the smaller the aperture (larger number) required.

Using f/3 to shoot 3 people standing beside each other will not produce the same focus results as shooting 3 people standing one in front of the other.

[GathCity]

Thanks for all of your help.

Now that you mention it I have heard the 1/3 in front and 2/3 behind focus rule.

Does anyone happen to know if there is an online chart or something that clearly illustrates what will be in focus at what apertures?

There is one for lens sharpness here:

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens - Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM Lens Comparison - ISO 12233 Resolution Chart Results

[abchip]

Originally Posted by GathCity

Thanks for all of your help.

Now that you mention it I have heard the 1/3 in front and 2/3 behind focus rule.

Does anyone happen to know if there is an online chart or something that clearly illustrates what will be in focus at what apertures?

There is one for lens sharpness here:

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens - Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM Lens Comparison - ISO 12233 Resolution Chart Results

Try this website: Online Depth of Field Calculator

[GathCity]

Originally Posted by abchip

Try this website: Online Depth of Field Calculator

Thanks Abchip, there's some great info in there!