Comments on: Setting the Scene. More on the importance of choosing the best perspective … https://www.birdsasart-blog.com/baa/2019/09/09/setting-the-scene-more-on-the-importance-of-choosing-the-best-perspective/ The blog of bird photographer Arthur Morris Wed, 11 Sep 2019 04:47:23 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8 By: Matt https://www.birdsasart-blog.com/baa/2019/09/09/setting-the-scene-more-on-the-importance-of-choosing-the-best-perspective/comment-page-1/#comment-1766012 Wed, 11 Sep 2019 04:47:23 +0000 http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/?p=63678#comment-1766012 In reply to Matt.

that which David hit on (and Elinor and Guido, too, pardon me)

]]> By: Matt https://www.birdsasart-blog.com/baa/2019/09/09/setting-the-scene-more-on-the-importance-of-choosing-the-best-perspective/comment-page-1/#comment-1766011 Wed, 11 Sep 2019 04:41:39 +0000 http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/?p=63678#comment-1766011 I agree with the speculation on crouching for background selection, which is important for separation, cleanliness, and contrast. But perhaps equally important is that which David hit on– by crouching to that level, you have placed your sensor plane parallel to the plane of the feathers across the full length of the wing, thereby ensuring all the feathers would be not only in the same depth of field but of equal sharpness (given the shooter’s ability). A higher angle would change the depth of field from the wing “arm” to the feather tips, softening focus somewhere from top to bottom depending on the focal point placement.

At 500mm and f7.1, that shift in DoF may be negligible– especially if this were a sizeable crop (meaning a greater distance to subject). I suspect it was not a crop, however, in which case you were close and had to go to F7.1 for insurance. As you have taught us time and again, the closer you are to your subject the less DoF margin you have.

Is any part of the recipe is more important than the other? It seems between background selection and sensor to body plane alignment, background might be more important because without an appealing and effective background, even a sharp subject can flop.

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