DOF ?'s

[prlswabbie]

I tried snapping a few shots the other day and I kept adjusting and readjusting the aperature to try and get the subject I was shooting to be in focus with the BG slightly OOF. My question are as follows:

1. Does the distance between the subject and the BG need to be greater? I was under the impression from Ben's Newbie Guide (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=414088) that this effect can still be managed due to the camera setup.

2. Can harsh sunlight affect the DOF? When I was shooting the sun was brutal!

[arkphotos]

I think ...
DOF is controlled by aperture, lens focal length and distance to subject. The harsh light has nothing to do with DOF.

To increase 'bluring' of the background, you can
1) Use a wider aperture
2) Use a longer focal length lens
3) Move closer to your subject (or move the the subject further from the background)

(hope i got this right...)

[jacuff]

Well we really need to see pictures with EXIF to tell you what you could have done to increased background blur.

1) The distance between the subject and background makes a difference. Just go to http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html and start playing with the numbers. You'll notice that as you bring the subject closer, the DOF will decrease.

2) Harsh sunlight does not affect the DOF. It affects other areas of the photo, but the DOF isn't reliant upon lighting conditions. The bokeh will be affected, but not the DOF. (Bokeh is subjective, DOF is calculable).

In general the suggestions are to use a wider aperture, longer focal length, decrease the distance to your subject, and increase the distance from your subject to the background. You can also blur the background with some photoshop work.