Lighthouse

[JeniM]

I went on a photography outing as part of a photography course a month ago.
IMG_3803.jpg Original

IMG_3803EDIT1_edited-1.jpg With slight editing.

There doesn't seem to much of a difference between them.

[tesarver]

Re: Lighthouse

Like the way you used the black line to lead the eye to the light house. However, not sure if the softness of the lighthouse is because of how you loaded the image or you need a larger DOF.

Tom

[Stan]

Re: Lighthouse

The distance from front to back means that you need a small aperture to ensure a good depth of field which in turn would mean a low shutter speed which would mean using a tripod to get it sharp. So posting your settings would help to identify the problems

Stan

[JeniM]

Re: Lighthouse

Thanks.

F-stop 3.5
Exposure 1/320sec
ISO 100

I was focusing on the stone at the front - didn't even think of focusing on the lighthouse.

[tesarver]

Re: Lighthouse

Based on your information, your f/stop should be around f/11 and your shutter speed around 1/60 sec for a sharper lighthouse IMO

Tom

[S_J_P]

Lighthouse

It's worth looking up about Hyperfocal Distances and Depth Of Field, there are tables and 'phone Apps which will help, but it's experience and an eye for such things which need to be developed over time, and if you're asking the question then perhaps how's the time to investigate and learn.

For any given shot, there will be an f-stop which will allow you to have everything in (what is perceived as) sharp focus, from front to back of the image. This setting will depend on a wealth of factors, but as the others have inferred, a higher f-stop will give more in-focus (depth of field).

When focusing, it's worth thinking of an in-focus area extending in-front of and behind the point at which you've focused. This window expands to encompass more area at high f-stops, and contracts to cover a smaller area at lower f-stops, and the contents of an image which will be covered by this window will vary depending on where you choose to focus, near, far, or middle distance. To confuse matters further, the window also changes size according to the focal length you're using, hence the need for either tables/apps or a lot of experience.

In your image, assuming you're using an 18mm focal length, if you'd elected to use the suggested f/11 then focussing a couple of meters into the scene should have given you a sharp image all the way from the foreground to the lighthouse.

[rcarca]

Re: Lighthouse

Actually I slightly prefer the first of the two images because the lighthouse is vertical! Sorry if that sounds pernickety!! Good points made above about DoF. Until you are really confident, try taking three or four photographs from exactly the same place and see which you prefer when you get them on a computer screen. You will soon find out what you like in which circumstances.

With regard to editing, which program are you using? There will be all sorts of settings that you can play with that do different things. But what they won't do is substantially improve on your focussing. Again it is worth playing with each control or slider individually. Max each one out in turn, then take them to min, again in turn, then try some combinations. You can have hours of scintillating fun!!! But you will learn how to make your photographs pop! Then when you post them on some forums (not this one where people are mainly very constructive) and people will rip them to shreds. Ignore the language they use, but ask yourself whether in light of the comments you might do something slightly different.

You will be able to learn a lot quicker than a lot of us more aged members of the forum because of that on-line debate which simply wasn't around when I was using a wet darkroom in the dim and distant past!

Above all, have loads of fun with your camera!

Richard

[hhcanon]

Re: Lighthouse

Based on your information, your f/stop should be around f/11 and your shutter speed around 1/60 sec for a sharper lighthouse IMO

Tom

Basic stuff..learn how DOF works, then the rest will fall into place