Canon EOS 6D: From Snapshots to Great Shots

Chapter 5 Assignments

Depth of field in portraits

Let’s start with something simple. Grab your favorite person and start experimenting with using different aperture settings. Shoot wide open (the widest your lens goes, such as f/2.8 or f/4), and then really stopped down (like f/22). Look at the difference in the depth of field, and notice the important role it plays in placing the attention on your subject. (Make sure your subject isn’t standing directly against the background. Give some distance so that there is a good blurring effect of the background at the wide f-stop setting.)

Discovering the qualities of natural light

Pick a nice sunny day and try shooting some portraits in the midday sun. If your subject is willing, have them turn so ...