The position and angle are two elements that greatly influence the outcome of your photos. Since they have such a significant impact, varying them ensures that you will be able to get a different effect in your photos. In the following, we go over 3 points each in relation to the position and the angle. (Reported by Tomoko Suzuki)

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When establishing focus on a subject, it is vitally important to anticipate the subject’s movement and capture it at the right moment. This means it is essential to know the appropriate autofocus (AF) mode to use for a stationary subject, and which to use when the subject is moving. Let us take a closer look at the 3 types of AF modes. (Reported by Tomoko Suzuki)

These two images were captured from the same shooting position by zooming in from 35mm to 105mm. The magnification from the longer focal length makes the depth of field look shallower. The opposite is true, too: wide-angle lenses naturally provide a deeper depth of field even at wider apertures.

By default, your camera previews the exposure (image brightness) but not the depth of field. That’s related to full-aperture metering, where regardless of your aperture setting, the aperture blades are always fully open until right before you take the picture, allowing them to take in as much light information as possible. What you see in your rear LCD screen or electronic viewfinder is a simulation from the image processor.

Our eyes tend prioritise objects that appear sharp and in-focus. Therefore, controlling the depth of field is an important skill that can help us achieve better pictures and even help with storytelling. This applies to both photography and cinematography.

Learn the best ways to create amazing images and videos, share your works with the community and be inspired by our community.

Phase detection AF (also known as phase-difference detection AF) is the autofocus system used in viewfinder shooting on DSLR cameras. Its main feature lies in its rapid autofocusing speed. In the following, we will explain more about phase detection AF, and how Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF utilizes the latest AF technology to enable phase detection AF even in Live View. (Reported by Tomoko Suzuki)

The implementation of Dual Pixel CMOS AF in Canon's latest camera models have vastly improved shooting conditions in Live View. Live View, which features fast AF speed that measures up to viewfinder AF, is gradually becoming the choice method of shooting for many photographers. In the following, we will explain more about the characteristics of Live View. (Reported by: Tomoko Suzuki)

That’s why full-frame cameras create “more intense bokeh” and APS-C and compact cameras give more depth of field. Sensor size affects the focal length you use to achieve a given field of view. (Learn more in: Full-Frame vs APS-C Camera: Which Should I Choose?)

Changing factors 2-4 will also change the framing and perspective, affecting composition. For more details and examples, keep scrolling.

If you would like more information on how self-cleaning windows can help reduce your household maintenance TODO list, talk to one of our window installation experts.

If you prefer to use a shallow depth of field, Canon’s reliable deep learning-based AF tracking should help keep the subject in focus. Here are 5 Tips for Better Subject Detection and Tracking to increase your keeper shots!

In video and filmmaking, changes to the depth of field and focus point are recorded. You can use these transitions creatively to determine how the story unfolds. That’s also a way to add movement to your shot without camera movement!

A shallow depth of field blurs out (“simplifies”) the leaves in the background and foreground so our attention is mainly on the flower. A larger depth of field makes us notice the leaves that surround the flower too.

Step 2 From the list, select the button that you want to make your “Depth-of-field preview” shortcut and configure it accordingly.

When it rains, or when a window is sprayed with water, the water will interact directly with the glass becoming hydrophilic (glass molecular structure attracts the water molecules) and forms a thin even sheet of water that carries dirt away allowing the glass to dry faster and cleaner.

When it comes to shooting, a vital part of the camera is the viewfinder. Nowadays, there are cameras that do not come with viewfinders, only with Live View shooting. However, as you get more experienced with photography, you will realise how much shooting with a viewfinder can affect your photos. In this article, we take a closer look at the viewfinder. (Reported by: Tomoko Suzuki)

In 2001, Pilkington Glass announced the development of the first self-cleaning windows, Pilkington Activ™, a hydrophilic process. This coated glass has a visible reflectance of around 7% and a visible haze of less than 1% but absorbs 20% of incident solar UV light which is used in the self-cleaning process. The coating is robust and cannot be damaged by the application of tape or moderate cleaning. Pilkington claims that the coating will last the lifetime of the window frame. Using their own special patented processes other companies jumped on the bandwagon to produce their own versions of self-cleaning glass.

ISO speed plays an equally important role as aperture and shutter speed in its effect on exposure. Now let us learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of turning up the ISO speed. (Reported by: Tomoko Suzuki)

This may accompany “focus pulling” or “focus racking”, i.e., moving the focus from one object in the frame to another. Focus racking transitions are more obvious when the depth of field is shallow.

50mm, f/2.5 Only the tart is in focus. Everything else is blurred out, indicating that the tart is the subject of the image.

An organic grimy microscopic residue is naturally present on just about everything we see and touch, and on glass, it creates a hydrophobic repelling nature (oil and water effect) that causes water to bead into droplets that flow down the glass on windows. Loose dirt will build-up on these water beads and in microscopic channels that dry into dirty looking watermarks.

The Program AE mode, a semi-automatic mode where the camera automatically sets the aperture and shutter speed, enables you to shoot quickly to capture sudden photographic opportunities, and yet still retain creative control over other settings such as white balance.

Learn the best ways to create amazing images and videos, share your works with the community and be inspired by our community.

One classic Hollywood movie known for its use of deep focus shots in story development is Citizen Kane(Cinematographer: Gregg Tolland; Director: Orson Welles), especially in this iconic scene.

When shooting moving subjects, consider using a larger depth of field so that the subject is more likely to stay in the in-focus area even as it moves around. The easiest way to do it without changing the composition is to narrow the aperture (use a larger f-number).

The first thing to consider when taking photographs with a digital camera is the effect that the aperture can have on your pictures. How will the photograph finish change depending on the aperture is widened or narrowed? In this article, we study the effects of varying apertures on depth-of-field by comparing several examples, and learn about the concept of f-stops. (Reported by Tomoko Suzuki)

For example, slowly increase the depth of field of a shallow focus shot to unveil objects in the background, or vice versa:

In both images, we placed the focus point on the tip of the strawberry. At f/1.8, everything else is out of focus and blurred out; at f/16, everything else is clearer.  (We kept the same focus point for easier comparison. In practice, shifting the focus point to the cream would help us get more in focus with a slightly wider aperture.)

Yes, you can actually purchase windows that will do all the tough cleaning for you - no ladder, no buckets, no sponges… Self-cleaning windows will make you and your eyes happier by helping you conserve energy for all those “OTHER” house maintenance chores.

At f/1.8, only some of the green and red sticks are in focus. Everything else is blurred out. When we increase the depth of field by using a higher f-number, more of the scene is in-focus.

Another method of keeping glass and other objects shiny and clean is through what is called a hydrophobic process, where a thin layer of silica coating is applied to the glass through nanotechnology. Windows are by their nature hydrophobic - this process makes them super-hydrophobic.

Only a thin strip of fabric is in focus in this close-up shot. That’s why focusing can be so challenging during close-up and macro photography!

With the Picture Style function, you can adjust the colour tone and the contrast to enhance the charm and appeal of the subject. By selecting the perfect Picture Style setting, you can get perfect results in expressing your shooting intent in a vivid photo. (Reported by Tomoko Suzuki)

Tip: Also notice how when we step away from the subject, the framing and perspective changes although the focal length is the same.

The next time you see a photo you like or watch a movie or drama, consider how the photographer or cinematographer uses depth of field. Is it shallow or deep? What does it show or hide? How does it help to tell the story? This is often a deliberate choice, especially in cinematography.

Step 2 Select “Exposure+DOF” and then press the SET button. Your camera will now display a preview both the actual brightness and depth of field according to your exposure settings.

The metering function measures the brightness of a subject and decides how much exposure is best for the photo. Let’s take a look at each metering mode available, and get a better idea of which of them to use is best to use under which conditions/scene. (Reported by Tomoko Suzuki)

Exposure compensation is a function you can use to change the exposure set by the camera (camera-determined correct exposure) into something of your own preference. Here, we find out more about the function, and learn how to identify subjects that require positive or negative exposure compensation along the way. (Reported by: Tomoko Suzuki)

Want to create photographs with a lovely background blur (bokeh effect), or perhaps ensure that everything in the image remains in focus? The Aperture-priority AE mode is a convenient mode to use for achieving those effects. Let’s look at this mode in closer detail. (Reported by Tomoko Suzuki)

If you want control over both the aperture and the shutter speed, Manual exposure mode is the way to go. It might be quite a tough mode to conquer for a beginner, but also can be very convenient to achieve certain shooting intentions. In this final article in our Camera Basics series, we take a closer look at this mode and what it can be used for. (Reported by Tomoko Suzuki)

Shutter-priority AE mode is a shooting mode that is useful for when you want to ‘freeze’ subjects in action, or conversely, photograph moving subjects with motion blur. Read on to find out how you can use it! (Reported by Tomoko Suzuki)

Learn more about depth of field and related techniques in: In Focus: Aperture Settings for Various Scenes What is the difference between an f/2.8 and an f/4 telephoto zoom lens? Portrait Photography: 3 Aperture Settings Favoured by Professional Photographers 4 Lens Concepts to Revolutionise Your Photos How to Create Dreamy, Colourful Portraits with Foreground Bokeh

Just one of the metal posts is in focus. To get more of the posts in focus while shooting from this angle, we would need a larger depth of field.

If you are shooting close-ups or using a telephoto lens, you would have to use a narrower aperture than usual to get a deeper depth of field. If you are shooting stills of a static subject, you might even want to consider focus bracketing and depth compositing to achieve the desired depth of field.

The camera will close the aperture blades according to your aperture setting even when metering. It might affect focusing especially in low light situations as less light enters the camera.

The one thing that enables the photographer to convey his photographic intent to the viewer is establishing the focus. What are the secrets to establishing the best focus? Let’s find out more about the special features of autofocus (AF) and manual focus (MF). (Reported by: Tomoko Suzuki)

Exposure is one of the major factors that can make or break a picture. Let us talk about how we can go about make best use of exposure to get the best results from a shot (Reported by: Tomoko Suzuki)

White balance is a feature that ensures that the colour white is reproduced accurately regardless of the type of lighting under which a photo is taken. At a very basic level, it is common to use the Auto White Balance setting. However, this setting is no one-size-fits-all solution. For a white balance setting that best suits the lighting source, choose one of the preset white balance settings on your camera.(Reported by Tomoko Suzuki)

When taking photographs, you want to have a good grasp of shutter speed and its effects on your photographs. What kind of effects can you create with a faster or slower shutter speed? Let us examine the effects of different shutter speeds with the help of the following examples. (Reported by: Tomoko Suzuki)

Through photocatalysis (UV energy) a safe and effective chemical reaction, a thin permanent coating of titanium dioxide (titania) about 20 nanometers thick on the glass burns away and breaks down the molecular bonds in a naturally forming layer of microscopic grim (organic dirt particles).

Some cameras like the EOS R6 Mark II have a default depth of field preview button, but you can reassign the function to another button. On other cameras, you will have to decide which button to use.

Shallow focus If the glass container is thin, we say the depth of field is “shallow” or “narrow”.  Only a small part of the scene is in focus while everything else in front of and behind is blurred (turned into bokeh). This is also known as a shallow focus shot.

Deep focus If the glass container is so thick that most of the scene is in acceptable focus from the front to the back, we say that the depth of field is “large” or “deep”. This is known as a deep focus shot.

The lens was closer to the fence in the first image. This also makes the background closer (and look larger), magnifying the out of focus blur.

Remember our “glass box” of focus? Unless you are using the tilt function on a tilt-shift lens, it is always parallel to the image sensor plane (and your lens’ tip).  If you tilt your camera or shoot a subject from a different angle, you can change what is inside the “glass box” without changing the depth of field.

Know this: When more objects are in focus, it also means more potential distractions. You will have to consider the composition more carefully.

Learn more about this important concept that can aid composition and storytelling in both photography and cinematography.

You can think of it as like your lens projecting a huge glass container parallel to it. The glass container changes position depending on where you place your focus, but it is always parallel to the lens. Objects inside this glass container appear sharp and in-focus, whereas those outside it appear blurrier the further they are from the container.

The hydrophobic process provides anti-smudge coatings and is very easy to clean. The hydrophobic process is the opposite of hydrophilicity, instead of spreading the water into a thin layer (hydrophilicity), its repelling nature prevents dirt bonds to the glass, allowing for easy cleaning. However, because hydrophobic windows typically drip and dry in beads, they still need to be carefully rinsed to prevent dirt from drying in place.

Depth of field (DOF) describes the distance between the nearest and furthest points from the camera that appear to be acceptably in focus (“in-focus area”).