Get Sharp Focus From Front to Back! How To FOCUS In Landscape Photography (Tutorial)

Getting sharp focus from front to back in landscape photography is one of the most important things to get amazing photos. In this video I will show you how to use live view to get perfect focus and depth of field in every shot.
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Thanks for watching the video Get Sharp Focus From Front to Back! How To FOCUS In Landscape Photography (Tutorial)
#howto #focus #photography

[@WhiteFrequencyNoise]

this is what i like at this guy: 1. he's aint bla bla to much. 2. In 5 min he explains much more then some guys bla bla blaaa in 20min video's terrorizing us with their stupid stories. 3. Very understandable videos 4. He is FUNNY!!! Subscribe to you SIR!

[@nishchint7980]

Absolutely! Comparing it to digitalRev videos, that guy bores you for 20mins in a video giving you only 5mins of real info.. Bleh But love the videos from this channel.. Apt and to the point :)

[@WhiteFrequencyNoise]

yeap

[@copaldigital4489]

ikr

[@sarunask6714]

WhiteFrequencyNois

[@patrickleehamilton5192]

Best instructors award 🥇 He gets right to the point backing up what he says. Others (and there are many on KZbin) are good but horrible instructors. Thanks, guy!

[@pamelabrown5692]

I learnt more in this short video than I have over the last couple of years attending workshops and reading books on the subject. Thank you Joshua.

[@isabelladavis1363]

thank you for making this understandable for ANYONE...and leaving out all of the super complicated Hyperlocal jargon...

[@aviatorman8]

Man this is one of best two videos among many that I watched trying to figure out how to do focus for landscape photography. So many confusing videos out there. Just one word to Joshua: THANK YOU MAN!

[@payonrai8069]

same here

[@eylab1541]

Oh man.. I have been reading so much about focus in landscape photography, but it all sounds so convoluted in practice. You just showed a very practical and simple way to get it right.. thanks!!

[@plasmadlite8661]

This is hands-down one of the most informative videos on photography that's on youtube!

[@viper87051]

I gotta say thank you for this channel. I just recently bought a DSLR and Ive learned so much from this channel in the short month I've had the camera. Cheers!

[@ARSHZAGADE786]

bro,i hve seen many videos on youtube but majority of them are complicated and not explanatory but you my brother are the best ,your videos are great ,explanatory,short and crisp...really love all your videos ...thanks bro,,,,keep up the good work.

[@gprice1978]

This video is more educational than the others I've watched

[@Orion795]

This is the best channel for photo tips that I stumble on KZbin!

[@rifqihatta]

That dance was on point, great explanation by the way. Other tutorials are way complicated yet you explained it with language I can understand.

[@ickleed1980]

Still the most simple - and the best - description.

[@katkhan6049]

I love all the intros to your videos! But seriously I've picked up amateur photography and these lessons are so helpful! I literally open a word document and take notes!

[@tusharkantimurmu5960]

Was applying this method for some times... I needed a verification that I'm doing it right and your video cleared my doubts! 😊 Thanks

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

+Hiker SanDiego, cheers. The location here is the 20 Lakes Basin just east of Yosemite. Access via Saddlebag Lake.

[@arunbissoon4630]

Thanks for the tips yo! For a couple seconds, before I hit the comments, I thought you were in Canada lol.

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

Hey +Key Wizard, generally speaking you should focus about a third of the way into the frame. But using the method outlined in the video will make sure you get everything in focus every time. Have fun!

[@harolddasynth795]

Hi man thanks for the clarification,you mean 3rd of the way going to the background or the foreground?sorry for the noob question i'm just a beginner.

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

Key Wizard 1/3 from the bottom of the frame. There's a good visual at 1:10 in the video. Hope that helps!

[@aiquelindo]

HAHA I loved the way you said "it's like taking candy from a child".

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

Johnny yes, those newly born homo sapiens are no match for me!

[@jclark2317]

I love your presentation much more than many of the popular photography channels out there. You explain the why and the how in a way that makes sense and I really appreciate that. I can't wait to see what else you come out with!

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

Thanks so much, Jason! It's been really fun making the vids so far and I've got tons of great ideas for new ones. Thanks for watching.

[@skiddliddandy2666]

best focusing video by far :-)

[@loganpreshaw4430]

Very good tips and technique, in a non-too-technical way we can understand! The last tips were especially useful, and the video length/presentation was spot-on. Thank you!

[@kaibe5241]

A really nice effect, is to use a wide aperture, and create separate exposures so that you have the foreground in focus, and the background, but the middle ground is slightly out of focus. This creates a really gorgeous photo, depending on your subjects.

[@kellylynn727]

I was NOT expecting that at 1:54. Made me literally lol!

[@amitchavan73]

Hi Joshua ...like to thank you for this video ...off the many dozen videos on focusing for me your's was to the point and you make it so easy thanks once again.

[@alexiscoxon2558]

Thanks! This has been a struggle for me, especially as hyperfocusing seems nearly impossible when modern lenses are so poorly marked! Can't wait to try it out.

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

You're welcome! What I love about this technique is it's completely deterministic; no guesswork at all. If your image is sharp and focused in live view you nailed it. Good luck and have fun!

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

yahweh ben yahweh Definitely! Focusing at the 1/3 spot almost always works. I did that for years as well. But if you're shooting full frame, have a super close foreground, or are working with high resolution cameras, it's nice to have the extra little bit of certainty you can get with the live view method. Take care!

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

yahweh ben yahweh Well thanks for the kind words! The videos are fun to make, so I try to have a little fun with the presentation as well. To answer your question, yes, switching to manual focus is a good idea. That way you'll avoid any accidental changes in focus once you've got it perfectly dialed in. Cheers.

[@Phillydog1958]

I like your approach. Great job!

[@ImagesByDavid]

Good stuff buddy a tutorial that puts a smile on the viewers face. The Republic of Ireland.

[@keokio7]

didnt even think about that live view focus, thanks

[@BrianPex]

Focus stacking is by far the best way to go. It's very simple to do in PS and yields exceptional results.

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

Brian Peixinho Focus stacking certainly can yield sharper results and allow for deeper DOF overall, especially in extreme situations, but it's still very useful to understand this technique for those who don't want or don't know how to focus stack.

[@BrianPex]

Professional Photography Tips You're 100% right. And focus stacking is really limited by movement in scenes. Then we have a whole host of issues to deal with.

[@SteffanMcC]

Great tip and cool to see you are making vids now. I've had your workshop page bookmarked for about a year now in hopes to attend one day! Keep up the good work.

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

Thanks, Steffan! Cheers, and hope to see you on a workshop soon. All the best, Josh

[@nickzadeh7082]

I like Josh, take a note, and make me thinking about new Idea.

[@jimphotoman9136]

In film days they had depth of field gauges on the lenses. You could know the depth of field at the various f/stops of the lens by looking down at the lens. It would sync with the focus ring on the camera and show that everything between "x" and "y" would be in focus at this focal length. Change the focal length and you changed the depth of field. It was a much easier system to use back in the day.

[@The80sBoy]

Excellent video Joshua with lots of useful info. Also you have a brand new subscriber!

[@SethWilcock]

I learned a TON in this video. Thank you Josh! Keep up the great work and I'll keep smashing the like button!

[@jewelers07]

love all your videos! funny...and yet very informative!

[@Free-fu4iw]

Omgg this is such a good video Subscribed!

[@merasanam]

Photography tutorial: how to overexpose the entire video....

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

[Message from the Management]: Thank you for bringing this to our attention. The video editor in charge of this segment has been executed by guillotine and his head mounted on a pike on London Bridge.

[@merasanam]

[Message from the angry crowd] Yeeee!!!! PS: very good sense of humor. What's presented in the video is very good material.

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

merasanam Haha, thanks!

[@RobyRivy]

Ahahahah

[@Dmitryzakharov]

just came down to the comments to make one of this. Too late )

[@mebepeeblee]

Hi josh, just want to say I really enjoy your channel! Very good information, and well said with some good humor.

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

Thank you so much! And very happy you enjoy the videos. All the best, Josh

[@MakingTracks]

Great stuff man !!

[@colletteworley228]

I love your videos and style, thank you

[@kirwan1414]

Great tutorial. Thanks.

[@PatrickClementson]

Great tutorial Josh. Thanks for taking the time - love your approach, knowledge and presentation style.

[@andreamacri4120]

It's the best tutorial i found! Nice job and thanks

[@jeffnewman8261]

Great tips! Thank you

[@justwhenithought]

Great tip that's easy to implement. Thanks.

[@loft4me]

Another excellent snippet of info for us beginners, in that f8 is often the sharpest f on many lens. If for my Lumix 1.7 20mm pancake lens anyone sees an exception, please advise. Thanks.

[@Taykorjg]

Sharpness at f8 is just an urban legend.

[@AlexGPark]

wow very useful information! thanks a lot!

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

You are very welcome, Alex Park. Thanks for watching!

[@mwawd]

haha you really know how to make things interesting at the same time informative !!! great job, exactly what i was looking. You sir deserve the subscribe :D thumbs up

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

maishan wahyd I appreciate that!

[@RobertoSteveLou]

Awesome! this applies also for a parade picture? where you are shooting at distance and want everything in focus?

[@JohnDeBord]

Yep, that's the same exact technique I use :)

[@beavertown2006]

Really helpful tutorial. Is Auto Focus not suitable in the same situation?

[@marcods6449]

congratulations from Italy Joshua !!!!

[@hikerstl]

Good tips, especially the one-third focus point and checking foreground and background adjusting the aperture for sharpness. My question is, where was the location you were filming. I suspect it is located in the CA Sierras. For some reason it reminds of Second Recess in the Mono Creek drainage, but the peak I see only viewfinder of your camera doesn't seem to fit that guess.

[@hukumongdu]

Very informative, thank you mate

[@danlightened]

Cool dance moves man!

[@mygad]

That was very excellent. Thanks.

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

Hey, Gilbert Davis, thanks, I appreciate that!

[@game-changer9803]

Great video. Thanks for all the info! : ))

[@williar1961]

Thanks joshua that really helped

[@WillGuthrieUK]

Hey man, interesting content and video and some great tips and techniques as well: looking forward to trying them out this weekend so cheers for taking the time to create and post. The scenery looks stunning by the way, very different to here in the UK for sure. I'm assuming it's in the States somewhere but I'd be interested to know which part?

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

Hey Will Guthrie, thanks a bunch. Yeah, for sure the scenery is different out here! This is a place in California called the 20 Lakes Basin, just outside of Yosemite National Park. Stunning granite and streams everywhere you look. One of the best places in the world for landscape photograph, that's for sure! Have fun putting the techniques into practice back in the UK!

[@fantasyb0t]

Haha lovely dance! Great tutorial, Josh!

[@productfeedback]

What about at night when you shoot low Aperture F1.8 etc? Is stacking the only way? Sucks for moving things.

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

At night you can really simplify your life if you choose a landscape without a lot of depth. But if you really want that deep landscape along with the night sky there are a few things you can try: 1) Stack a number of shots (though at f/1.8 that could be a lot of shots!!) 2) Use an aperture like f/8 for the landscape along with a long shutter speed. Then combine this with a single shot of the stars at f/1.8. 3) Shoot your landscape just after twilight using f/8 or whatever you need to get your DOF. Shooting just after twilight means you shutter speed won't be annoyingly long. Then simply wait an hour or so for the stars to come out and take a second shot at f/1.8, high ISO. Then combine in PS.

[@jojujoseph1358]

WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE YOU JOSHUA...NICE SCENIC BACKGROUNDS ALL THE TIME..

[@frontsideboy]

using a mirrorless 2x crop sensor. i wonder if this method applies exactly the same. your videos are great btw ive been watching all night. landscapes arent my thing but occasionally i see a shot and im like 'errr wtf do i do now?'! your videos hit a nice sweet spot between the total noob i feel like ive left behind and the experienced confident photographer i want to be. subbed.

[@frontsideboy]

+frontsideboy full frame is in my future btw im just too poor currently. ps i loved your video about experience over equipment. that never been a choice for me, the equipment will just have to wait! i have a fun and capable panasonic gx7, a couple of primes. i mostly do people and action

[@st08121982]

This looks like a fun channel .

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

Sam Toby Only serious videos I'm afraid. Photography is serious business.

[@st08121982]

Awwww ... nutts ...

[@adilragani730]

You used tokina 11-16 mm f 2.8 , how is it ?? What is your opinion on this lens ???

[@harolddasynth795]

Hi,i'm a beginner in photography,my question is if i'm shooting a landscape at say F11 or up and i want the foreground and background to be in focus,where would i put the focus point,in the foreground or in the background?thanks

[@RobertHopkinsArt]

Thanks for your great videos Josh! So... The Sony mirrorless cameras do not have depth of field buttons and the displays are showing real-time visual changes of the ISO/Aperture settings; so us mirrorless users do not need to worry about DOF issues related to focusing?

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

+Robert Hopkins You still need to make sure your focus and DOF are sufficient for the scene you're photographing, but you don't need to worry about any DOF preview buttons. Also, I believe many mirrorless cameras have focus peaking, where a series of colored dots appears on the screen on objects that are in focus.

[@Aqull]

Professional Photography Tips Really good video, might wanna try enhancing the audio quality tho

[@HooryMadani]

Great video, important and difficult subject @ Best and easiest way . Good job, thank you.

[@jorgeguillermofonsecajacom5533]

¡Thank you for your information!

[@breannadoucette-garr8737]

Such a casual opening remark. LOL

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

Breanna Doucette-Garr Easy peasy, right?? :)

[@breannadoucette-garr8737]

Made me laugh haha

[@andreleander2051]

so this method is only for manual focus correct?

[@kenleppek2351]

Joshua question when you say focus a 1/3 of the into your picture are you using the focuing points to accomplish this.

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

Ken Leppek You certainly can do this. Put the camera in auto focus and use a focus point near the bottom third of the frame. That's a great starting point. Then use the live view / manual focus method described here to fine tune the results.

[@JellyB0B0]

sir, you just save my day. I can just stop calculate hyperfocal point from mobile phone now.

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

Excellent! While it's still good to understand the theory and technique of hyperfocal distance, using live view is an easy and fast way to empirical nail your focus. Enjoy!

[@bhavikshah5016]

Thanks for the tutorial.. I have a question for you. When taking long exposure shots, in live view i manually foucs on the stones in the foreground, but then how does one at the same time take a meter reading of the sky / highlights so that the sky is not blown out?

[@GearReviewDepot]

LMAO... Note to self: Don't watch videos from Joshua while drinking coffee or any other liquid sitting at the PC. Keep em coming. Be well.

[@DreTrades]

Excellent tips and great video, thanks

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

Thanks, Andre! Take it easy...

[@DreTrades]

Thank-you!

[@MarioxJolienSpiderFreak]

Do you take the photo in LV mode? or will it be still the same when u go back to viewfinder? Also, why does it take much longer to open and close shutter in LV ? than in VF?

[@waawaaweewaa2045]

Does this method still apply if your foreground element is distant? I can see how this makes sense if you have the foreground a couple meters in front of you, but if everything is distant is it better to just set your lens to infinity?

[@TheUberSchattenjager]

A little late to the party as I just discovered your great channel. Not sure if this the right place to field questions, but as burgeoning landscape photographer I was VERY frustrated after taking a long trek into the Alaskan mountains, using a tripod and 'seemingly' (via the camera display) getting the shots only to find out on the computer that every single one taken on the tripod had a wee bit of blur, ruining them. Hand helds were fine. I concluded, via peer input, that I needed to switch OFF the vibration control when on a tripod. (?) My peer group largely consists of German Shepherds, none of whom could tell me why Vibration Control on a lens can induce blur on a tripod. Help? Next time I am on a dedicated photo mission of this scale, I will take my iPad along to see the images a bit larger to help fine tune things.

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

TheUberSchattenjager You are absolutely correct about the vibration reduction. Because activating VR induces a floating element in your lens to move around, compensating for camera shake, when your camera is on a tripod that movement can ironically cause blur in your images. So well done to you and the shepherds for correctly concluding that you should turn it off while tripodding.

[@wakeboardmier2534]

great video

[@peterhamlin346]

good tutorial

[@0woldham8]

Nice Akubra!

[@patientlyhomemade6953]

Thanks for your tips!!! Love your videos! This has helped me alot! Question.... I am considered more beginner I suppose.... but I'm familiar with functions, etc. of the camera. I'm still trying to get lenses down.... I have Nikon D3200 and the lenses I have are a 50mm 1.8g, a 18-55mm f3.5-5.6, and a 55-200mm f4-5.6 . I know these are considered more basic of lenses. I am going to a beautiful beach town for a photography session at the end of this month. I know it depends on what I'll be shooting, but for general landscape photography, which lense will be most beneficial to me? I know with the 50mm I can get greater depth of field and it's wide angle... but it's not zoomable. What do you think? Thank you!

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

Eric Genealogy Many photographers often use a wide angle lens for landscape photography because it creates a dramatic perspective and a sense of being there. So your 18-55 lens at 18mm is probably a good place to start. Have fun!

[@danielkers6850]

Thank you for the tutorial

[@Candaceo88]

Hi Josh!! I am new to photography but super eager to learn. Your videos are great!!! What camera do you suggest for a beginner? Do you have a preference Nikon vs Canon?

[@richardsimmons6470]

+Candace Oliver I have been using Canon for 20 years no problems but A Nikon is also great Don't allow yourself to be put of by others Have heard that Canon is better for aviation and Sport and Nikon for Landscape and Portrait But seen fantastic photos from Both BUT THE BEST LENSES YOU CAN. The Lower the F stop the better your potential photographs will be You will want to upgrade your camera more often than your lenses

[@Candaceo88]

+Richard Simmons Thanks so much!!!! Going to my first photog class this weekend! Just looking to soak up as much info as possible 😊

[@richardsimmons6470]

+Candace Oliver Have been photographing for many years. Suddenly my photos are ot as good as I wanted. Looking at as many tutorials as I can Have started using LIghtroom - wow what a difference Getting great results

[@realjaxon]

Hi Josh. I was just wondering. I'm assuming that you are a Californian. What part of California? I'm a displaced Tulare, Californian now living in Washington state. Great tutes !

[@stephennesheanerandallalba8930]

I like your landscape photos, I'm in to landscape by the way :)

[@MrCarlobus]

Great intro!

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

+Carl Lindquist Cheers, Carl.

[@TroopertheBeagle]

Hi...great video...can you recommend an ultra wide angle zoom for FX format..(D750)...tokina only have 16- lens and I can get this pretty much from my 20mm prime...but the nikon is a little expensive and some of the third party lenses sometimes better optics....thx

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

Trooper the Beagle. I use the Nikon 18-35mm and I love it! Great optics, very lightweight, and inexpensive for an FX lens.

[@kirwan1414]

when he says "focus 1/3 up the frame" does he mean by using the Autofocus Points & then locking it into Manual Focus or Focus using Manual by Pointing the camera at the part of the image that is 1/3 up from the bottom of your desired frame & then moving the camera back up to recompose ? Sorry for the newbie question

[@humansrants1694]

Just move the auto focus point.

[@oneandonlyjaybee]

When you say "focus a third oc the way up" how do you actually do that? With auto focus as nd using the focus meter?

[@rodfaircloth35]

I cant find the focus stacking video :/ but hey thanks for the tips!

[@lost_soul6201]

Can u plz xplain heyperfocal distance.. It's really confusing.

[@perpland6120]

How would I adjust this if I don't have a focus ring on my lens?

[@aaz148a]

Good lord, forgot that Depth of Field Preview Button existed, thanks!!

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

aaz148a You are welcome!

[@aaz148a]

Professional Photography Tips maybe you can deliberate on that in your future video now that I know where that button is. Your videos rock!

[@JoshuaCrippsPhotography]

aaz148a Well thanks!

[@nthernstar8558]

F/11, works for me 99% of the time.

[@Sam-xl6gz]

can you try out the Nikon coolpix L840?

[@dongoldney]

excellent work

[@jasper5016]

You remind me of Own Wilson. :D