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Controlling Depth of Field with an Automatic SLR

© Wendy Folse

The previous article covered depth of field scales and how to use them for creative effects. We learned how to get the maximum depth of field for landscapes and how to reduce the depth of field in order to blur the background in varying degrees using the distance scales engraved on the barrel of the lens.

Many people however, may have cameras that do not have these markings or they may be using one of the autofocus autoprogram cameras. While these types of cameras often do not allow the user total control over the settings, there are ways to create the same type of effects. This article will cover some of those techniques.

If your camera has several preprogrammed modes then you have a variety of creative tools at your disposable. Learning how to use them and what they do will help improve your photography.

In order to control the depth of field, it is necessary to have control over the aperture setting. If your camera has a program mode known as "aperture priority", this is the program to use. In aperture priority mode, the camera sets the shutter speed for whatever aperture you choose. Say you want to blur the background greatly and you know that you will need a large aperture such as f4 to get the desired effect. In aperture priority mode, you set the aperture to f4. The camera meters the scene and automatically sets the appropriate shutter speed based on the selected aperture. The aperture setting always has priority, hence the name.

Another common mode is called "shutter priority". With this mode, the opposite situation occurs where you select the desired shutter speed and the camera automatically sets the aperture. With this mode, you will not have a choice of apertures so you have no control over the depth of field. This mode is most commonly used where speed is the most important aspect such as for stopping action, preventing camera shake with a long telephoto, etc. Do not use this mode when trying to get creative shots with a blurred or out of focus background.

Many automatic slrs have icons that represent various modes. Each of these modes is set to provide an average scene under certain conditions. In these modes, the camera is controlling everything based on preprogrammed algorithms. They are most often designated by symbols such as a mountain for landscapes, a person's head for portraits, a flower for close-ups, etc. While you may not be aware of the settings used for each program, it helps to understand the basic concept behind each one in order to better understand what the camera is doing. This way you can begin to control the camera instead of the camera controlling you.

The copyright of the article Controlling Depth of Field with an Automatic SLR in Photography is owned by Wendy Folse. Permission to republish Controlling Depth of Field with an Automatic SLR in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.