Where would you focus.....

-Paul-

-Paul-

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I've been asked to take some group shots, Now this might sound like a stupid question and there is probably an obvious answer but who do I focus on:thinking: Also what F stop would you use? I know there are lots of variables but some general guidelines would be a great help:) Thank you!
 
F/0.7 and focus on the toes.


I guess just focus in the middle of the group, if you're clever enough to work out relative hyper focal distance id do that, or just set the focus at the middle and adjust f stop accordingly
 
In the studio? Depends on a few factors.

How much room have you got, and what lens will you be using? Distance between yourself and the group influences your DoF as well as by the focal length of your lens ( a shorter focal length gives a greater DoF for a set shooting distance and aperture)...

For instance, on my Fuji, if I shoot with the 60mm at f11 from 15ft, the DoF is around 9ft. If I shoot from the same distance with the 35mm at f11 from 15ft the DoF is ridiculous..84ft! (I could shoot at f8 from 10ft with the 35 and get a 9ft DoF, obviously helping the recycle time of the flash)

So to answer your question, as long as you have sufficient DoF, it doesn't really matter who you focus on :) (the online DoF calc will help you out a lot!!!)
 
Adding to what Paul has said. I would think that if you wanted to blur the background understanding the dof would be key. If that were the case the focus point would be very important. You would need to know how much room in front and behind if they were situated in a row or angle. Otherwise if they were situated in a straight line shoulder to shoulder dof would not matter at all and either would the focus point. I hope that makes sense.
 
-Paul- said:
I've been asked to take some group shots, Now this might sound like a stupid question and there is probably an obvious answer but who do I focus on:thinking: Also what F stop would you use? I know there are lots of variables but some general guidelines would be a great help:) Thank you!
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Where are they being taken and how much control over the lighting do you have? How are you going to arrange the sitters?

Too many variables here to give you a definitive answer. If you're concerned about everyone being sharp, then you need a small aperture to increase depth of field.. but that would require more light of course... which may require flash therefore, or a bright day... As I said... hard to be precise with an answer for you without knowing where and how you are shooting them.
 
Forbiddenbiker said:
;) Not forgetting the long lost traditional way to keep people sharp when there's not enough light... Ask them to freeze. Do professionals never use this technique any more I'm wondering, its not reliable enough I guess?
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Well I certainly have never tried it !!! :D

And as has been said already, without more details of numbers and venue (inc. space) its too hard to comment usefully

Dave
 
Am amazed people can even try answering the question... Don't we need to know some basics? how many people.. how many rows of people.. Is it indoors or outdoors... what lighting...just daylight or? Surely more info is needed before anyone can answer either question helpfully.. esp where to focus?
 
The where to focus is one question, the other is what is the minimum stop to use.
Both will depend somewhat on the number of rows and the relative focal length to fit them all in and the stop you might choose.

However in practice most photographers would focus on the close point in the middle and use a stop that they know from experience will get all rows sharp.
But it is not difficult with a digital camera to make a quick test. Focus on the middle of the front row and take a shot at say f5.6 Have a quick chimp at maximum magnification and see if all rows are sharp enough.... if not try f8.... etc.. It is not the sort of thing to try with any lens wide open.

you can never get away with anything if the main front row is not sharp.

The problem becomes quite different and difficult if it is not a tight group, but a casual grouping of sitters standers and loungers covering a significant area.
 
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