Using depth of field

Dan Mold helps you understand the role aperture plays in landscapes

- Dan Mold

THE MISSION

Add depth to your images with the right aperture

Time needed 20 minutes

Skill level Beginner

Kit needed • Tripod • Wide-angle lens

Depth of field and aperture are terms you’ve likely heard before, but do you know what they mean and how to use them effectively? This project aims to do precisely that!

Aperture and depth of field are intertwined due to physics, change your aperture, a ring inside your camera’s lens, and you’ll also change the depth of field, which basically means how much of your image is in focus.

It’s particularly useful to get to grips with these terms when shooting landscapes, as we generally want to aim for a scene that is sharp all the way through.

Luckily for landscapes, you don’t need an expensive lens with a super-wide aperture, unless you’re shooting stars at night and need to suck in lots of light. A standard wide angle with like a 16-35mm with a maximum aperture of f/4 will be perfect and you can even get great results with a kit lens too.

SET UP TO SHOOT GREAT LANDSCAPES

Discover what you need to capture fantastic scenes in the great outdoors

Part 2 of the series