Technique for increasing depth of field

[JohnF]

Certainly an option. I have a pinhole on a Lensbaby Edge 35 mm format, and a newly delivered Pinsta 5x4 pinhole camera which is designed to take Harman Direct Positive Paper but would take sheet film

[Michael R]

Not comparable though. Nothing is in sharp focus through a pinhole, and a pinhole is not a way around diffraction.

Certainly an option. I have a pinhole on a Lensbaby Edge 35 mm format, and a newly delivered Pinsta 5x4 pinhole camera which is designed to take Harman Direct Positive Paper but would take sheet film

[Bernice Loui]

Possible to share that same image here?

There is only one plane of focus that can be where the lens is focused from subject to image plane (film or digital imager), "stopping down the aperture" results in perceived to be in focus in the plane areas in front and behind the actual plane of focus. Camera movements can aid lots in placing the actual plane of focus where it needs to be.. within limits. Spend some time with these examples of what view camera movements can and cannot do to aid in altering and controlling where the actual plane of focus is placed.
https://www.largeformatphotography.i...ong-amp-Linhof

Knowing, understanding and accepting these very hard and real limitations of how this optics and camera stuff works is part of how images can be composed, crafted and applied as the foundation of a creative-expressive image.

Out of focus areas is neither good or bad, it depends absolutely on what the image maker is striving to achieve in the image, example.


Image with lots of perceived to be in focus areas.. where is the actual plane of focus?



Then there are "sorta focus" lenses.. that can present an illusion of "depth".



The image goals are...
Bernice

Thanks for the thought provoking responses with ideas for me to try.
I was exposing at f32 with f45 available to me but avoided because of diffraction, so might be worth trying to assess any benefit. I will also try with some movements.
I shared my image with club members. Some found the soft focus areas distracting, others felt the soft areas enhanced the sharply focussed textured areas in the image! I fell in with the latter but was curious enough to seek advice. Thanks again

[JohnF]

Here is the image which I should have shown in the original post.
Looking at it once more, I am not sure camera movements could help in increasing the depth of field. Am I correct?

[Ulophot]

It appears to me that you are correct; movements would probably not serve here. A front swing to the right with a change of focal plane toward the center distance of the left-hand bark might give you a little advantage in the central area, but the depth behind the bark would probably be less sharp, since you're already beginning to lose focus at the closest tip of the bark. Perhaps others with more experience will correct me.

[xkaes]

Not comparable though. Nothing is in sharp focus through a pinhole, and a pinhole is not a way around diffraction.

Really?

[xkaes]

Here is the image which I should have shown in the original post.
Looking at it once more, I am not sure camera movements could help in increasing the depth of field. Am I correct?

Just a guess -- f8.0?

[Bernice Loui]

Where was the lens focused to in this image?

This appears as a curved recesses area inside the tree trunk. Front tilt might aid in focusing the top area, but limited. Better solution to this image is to back up, to project a smaller sizes_lower magnification ala image ratio on film, then use a smallish aperture.

Given the image content, stopping down past f45 on 4x5 might be the solution, with the trade offs of applying f45. Possible example of larger film is not better.


Bernice

Here is the image which I should have shown in the original post.
Looking at it once more, I am not sure camera movements could help in increasing the depth of field. Am I correct?

[Michael R]

Movements won’t help here. Stop way down.

Here is the image which I should have shown in the original post.
Looking at it once more, I am not sure camera movements could help in increasing the depth of field. Am I correct?

[JohnF]

Where was the lens focused to in this image?

This appears as a curved recesses area inside the tree trunk. Front tilt might aid in focusing the top area, but limited. Better solution to this image is to back up, to project a smaller sizes_lower magnification ala image ratio on film, then use a smallish aperture.

Given the image content, stopping down past f45 on 4x5 might be the solution, with the trade offs of applying f45. Possible example of larger film is not better.


Bernice

Lens focussed on bright bark half way down right edge. I was at f32 with only f45 available additionally on my 150 mm Symmar.