Wondering how to improve the images in your shots? Do you need to direct your audience’s direction to help them focus on an aspect of your story? Then applying the depth of field concept while adjusting the aperture, focal length, and distance to the camera will guide you on adjusting the focus on the objects or subjects in your shot; so your audience understands any elements of storytelling you want to portray. In this clip from our video content course, we demonstrate the depth of field measurement and how to adjust your camera settings to make your image or shot clear and crisp for a flawless video.
Focus & Depth of Field
Have you heard of the term depth of field before? Depth of field is an important concept in photography and videography as the distance between the objects in your camera frame determine which objects are sharp and clear. Control the depth of field by adjusting the aperture, distance from the lens, and the focal length. In this clip from our video content course, we explain what depth of field is and how to adjust your camera settings and lens to make your image or shot in focus for your next project.
Trifecta Setup
What settings do you use to get the best shot in your films and photography? Whether you’re new to photography or need a refresher, it’s good to be familiar with these settings to use them to your creative advantage. Balancing the ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture, or the Trifecta Setup, can result in the right amount of light and quality exposed at the right time for a stunning photograph or shot. In this clip from our video content course, we explain and recommend the three important camera and lens settings you need to know to get the shot you desire.
Filming Outside
Are you planning on shooting outdoors? Be prepared with what and how you want to shoot before you film anything outdoors as the location, time of day you plan to shoot, and legal documents all play a role in choosing the site. As shooting in exterior surroundings can be unpredictable, carry tools such as a windsock, ND filters, LED lights, and other essential camera sound and lighting equipment with you. In this clip from our video content course, we go over tips and advice to make filming outdoors a breeze.
Focus & Depth of Field
Can’t see the shot you just took clearly? Don’t know which camera functions adjust the focus? Understanding focus and depth of field will provide that control you need to affect the sharpness of an image and that creative push in the details of your photos and movies. We’ve got a detailed video that should help you improve the image clarity on your shots in film production.
One of the worst feelings as a filmmaker is to spend hours getting a shot just right, only to discover that it was out of focus. Having sharp focus is absolutely quintessential, and draws the line between seasoned and beginner filmmakers. There are several factors that affect focus, and we’re here to help you understand them, so you can get the sharpest image possible.
Before we even talk about the factors, what exactly is depth of field? Essentially, depth of field is a measurement of the range of acceptable focus in a frame. So if your depth of field is 9m, anything outside of that 9m will be out of focus. The placement of this range is based on the 1⁄3 - 2⁄3 rule. This rule states that if you focus on a subject, 1⁄3 of the depth of field will be in front of the subject, with the other 2⁄3 behind. So going back to the 9m, if you were to focus on a subject, 3m in front of them would be in focus, and another 6m behind them would also be in focus. Now that you know what depth of field is, we can talk about the 3 factors that affect them.
#1 - Aperture. The aperture of a camera is how open the lens of the camera is, and so how much light can be registered. When a camera’s aperture is more open, the depth of focus will be less, or more shallow. If the aperture is more closed, the depth of focus will be higher, or deeper.
#2 - Lens / Focal Length. Different types of lenses have huge effects on the image a camera produces. The wider a lens is, or the lower the focal length, the deeper the depth of focus will be. The longer the lens, such as telephoto lenses, the deeper the depth of field.
#3 - Distance of Subject to Camera. If you focus on a subject, the distance of them to the camera affects the depth of field. The closer your subject is, the shallower the depth of field. The farther they are, the deeper the depth of field.