Focus and perspective issues

[FourTailsLampwork]

I'm having a bit of a problem with photos lately, and wondered if anyone had some advice. Basically, if I have my beads on a reflective surface, such as glass, I need to shoot at an angle to avoid light reflection problems (but I love the way the beads reflect in the glass!!!) However, no matter where I point my camera, *some* part of the bead strand is out of focus, as you can see from one of the photos of my current auction:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/Mincot/Auction%20Images/S-0707-02-3.jpg

As you can see,t he back beads are sharp but the front beads are blurred. How do I fix this issue? Shoot at MORE of an angle? Put the beads closer together? Change where I am pointing my camera's central focus (in the middle, currently)? Change a setting? (I am borrowing a friend's FujiFinePix 840).

Thanks for any suggestions!

[Tanner Studios]

Hey Mincot, First If you can't get all the depth of field you need. Make sure your focus is on the foreground. If the back beads are soft thats far less important than having the foreground sharp. Thats just how our brains are wired. Our eyes focus on the subject and allows the back ground to go out of focus. So it is important to have the front beads sharp, no matter what the back ground beads are doing.

Now to get all the beads sharp. Back the camera off. You don't need to fill the frame with the beads. Your going to crop and reduce the image any way.

There are three main components that effect depth of field. They are focal length of the lens, how close the lens is to the subject and f/stop.

With point and shoot cameras you may not have total control over focal length. But here is the rule of thumb. The wider the lens, the more depth of field you will have. But you will get more distortion. So the secret is to shoot with as long of a focal length as you can and still achieve the depth-of field you need to get the sharpness you need.

Second. How close is the lens to the subject. This is your new best friend.
Now I will admit the closer the lens is to the subject the more personality your subject will have. But if you don't have the tools, Don't try. Just back off until everything is in focus.

F/stop. The smaller the opening of the lens the more depth of field you will have. This is a function of how much light you have and shutter speed. Again if you have the tools. Ie tripod or camera stand. You will need stability to allow you to shoot with a long shutter speed that will allow you to use a small F/stop.

But, backing the camera away from your subject will be the easiest way to get depth of field for most of you. Without profession tools.

Just remember if you have to sacrifice depth of field. Make sure the foreground is not sacrificed. The eye and mind will not let you get away with that.
Scott

[FourTailsLampwork]

THANK you!!!! Someone over on TAM suggested the F-stop solution, but my camera won't let me play with that. I'll try backing off--and failing that, making sure the front and not the back is sharp. Thanks!!!!

[exlabman]

Most digital cameras have a MACRO setting. It will be on one of the knobs on the camera and will use a symbol that looks like a little flower. The macro mode will allow you to have the camera closer to the subject and still be in focus Most normal zoom lens must be at least 18" to 24" ( approx. ) away from the subject but, MACRO will allow your camera get as close as 9" to 18' (approx. ) and stll focus. Tripod is also a must.

HTH

Larry
Atlanta