How to Focusing Foreground Elements that are at the top and bottom of the Scene

[Ole Tjugen]

There's a third possibility: Use Harold Merklinger's "reverse focus method".

That means you focus on your main subject, and stop down until the foreground is acceptably sharp. Beats hyperfocal 10 times out of 10!

For an example, see my picture http://www.bruraholo.no/images/Lodalen_GF.jpg

[Frank Petronio]

The practical test is to shoot a Polaroid Type 55 negative, process it in the field (it's garbage) and inspect the negative with a loupe. That is how you KNOW you've captured focus and it was standard practice for many complex studio situations where it was iffy to hold focus over too far a range

Unfortunately the ISO is pretty slow but you can underexpose at ISO 100 for a test neg for sharpness (not exposure).

[Kendrick Pereira]

Paul suggests what came to my mind at once and is worth considering. Does your camera not provide simple rise for the front? If this is sufficient the way to make life easiest for yourself would be to level the camera and raise the front without putting anything out of square.

To focus close up both above and below camera level while also keeping the more distant church facade in critical focus in the middle of the picture space is impossible and the depth of field given by a small aperture - backwards and forwards from a compromise focussing distance, as suggested by Brian - will have to do.