HELICON FOCUS -- Complete Depth of Field

Helicon Focus is a brilliant software program that allows you to get complete depth of field at any lens aperture. It works like this: You take several images from a tripod, focusing throughout the composition. I typically make 10 to 12 shots at the same lens aperture. You are supposed to begin by focusing on the farthest point in the shot and then, in very small increments, focus closer and closer to the camera position. The software then assembles all the frames together and the entire image is sharp. This works beautifully in macro photography as well as when you use a telephoto lens.



For example, see the two images I've attached. The picture with the out of focus foreground was taken at f/8 (the sharpest lens aperture) with a 160mm focal length. The comparison shot was also taken at f/8 -- but Helicon Focus enabled me to have everything sharp from the immediate foreground to the background.



Here is a link to the website of Helicon Focus if you'd like to download their free trial:
http://www.heliconsoft.com/heliconfocus.html.

A UNIQUE PORTRAIT ANGLE

For exaggerated and dramatic perspectives in photographing people, use a wide angle lens from a low angle. The wider the angle the lens, the more dramatic will be the picture. In the portrait of the carnival participant in Venice (taken on the photo tour I led last February), I used a 14mm wide angle on a full frame sensor.

For the shot of the young lady dressed as a witch at a Medieval event at
Vianden Castle in Luxembourg, I used a 16-35mm lens set to the widest focal length, which was 16mm. This is a very different approach to shooting people, but it can produce compelling results.

For the lady in orange, I used a 14mm again, but in this case she was standing on some steps and that made her seem taller. I was shooting from ground level to achieve this dramatic view that is appealing largely because of the graphic design, the color, and the exaggerated view.