I've noticed that depth of field variation is virtually non existent with my Canon S20 (a sharp foreground and a blurred background for instance). I just get a high quality image where everything is in focus, and it appears 'flat', with no visible depth. Is this typical for digital photography or is it my technique?

Can anyone give me some tips for shooting snow scenes please?

thanks,

Stu

-- Stu Witcomb (switcomb@comsup.nl), June 21, 2000

Answers

See this previous thread for the depth of field question. Snow scenes need extra exposure over what the camera meter tells you. Usually about 2 stops more. This goes for both film and digital cameras.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), June 21, 2000.

Are you sure? Two stops more(overexposure)?
If anything I would think two stops less (underexposure) to compensate for the extreme highlights.

Des

-- Dan Desjardins (dan.desjardins@avstarnews.com), June 21, 2000.

I'm certain. Two stops more. The meter averages everything to a mid grey, and if you go with the metered exposure the snow will come out grey. You need to raise that grey tone to white by giving more exposure.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), June 21, 2000.

That's funny - my snow always comes out yellow - no matter how I expose it....

-- Dan Desjardins (dan.desjardins@avstarnews.com), June 21, 2000.

Geez, Dan. Some guys will do anything to avoid captioning... ;-)

-- Gerald M. Payne (gmp@francomm.com), June 21, 2000.

Most digital cameras have great depth of field due to their small image size compared to 35mm. Bright light will give even more because the lens must be stopped down. Try the following 1. Set the camera's ASA to the lowest possible 2. Put an ND filter over the lens to force it to work at a wider aperture for the required exposure 3. Try to compose the shot with the lens zoomed in as much as possible 4. For snow scenes, try bracketing, ie several different exposures compared to what the camera thinks it should be. You will need to work in manual or use backlight and spotlight modes ( depending on whom you believe in the previous posts).

-- Gareth Watkins (Gareth.Watkins@bbc.co.uk), June 30, 2003.