Page 60 - (DK) Advanced Photography Guide

58 APPLYING | APERTURE PRIORITY MODE

SIMPLIFYING COMPOSITION

WITH SELECTIVE FOCUS

The Aperture Priority mode is useful for more than sharpest parts, and they tend to ignore areas that are
simply ensuring front-to-back sharpness (depth of out of focus. Using selective focus is an effective way
field) in a landscape shot. It can also be used for a to direct the viewer’s eye to the most important part
technique known as selective focus, which requires a of the image. The challenge for the photographer
minimal amount of depth of field. When people look is deciding what should be sharp and what should
at a photo, their gaze naturally gravitates to the be soft and out of focus.

ATTACH A LENS SELECT APERTURE PRIORITY SET THE APERTURE
The longer the focal length of a The selective-focus technique Select a large aperture—either
lens, the easier it is to minimize depth relies on restricting depth of field to maximum or close to it. Maximum
of field. Long-focal-length primes are a minimum. Aperture Priority mode aperture will limit depth of field the
ideal because they tend to have larger gives you full control over both the most, but lenses do not produce their
maximum apertures than zoom lenses. aperture and depth of field. best results at this setting.

PORTRAITS

Eyes, whether they are of a human
or an animal, have a greater “visual
weight”—that is, they attract more
attention—than any other facial
feature. When people see a face,
they tend to look at the eyes first,
even when they’re closed. The same
thing applies to portraits. You can
emphasize the impact of eyes by
using selective focus for portraits. It is
important, however, to make sure that
the eyes are pin-sharp. Eyes that are
even slightly out of focus lose impact
and create an unsettling effect.

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