gator81 Loc: Jeffersonville Indiana

I don't know if the title would be the best to describe but I will try to explain my confusing the best I can.
The photo I will show you I was trying some different settings because of some previous shots kept coming up out of focus. Previous shots I used single point focus.
I am using a canon 70D and was set to use AI focus which will switch between one shot and AI servo.
for zone I was using ZoneAF this time. I have usually used single point but with a few out of focus shots I was trying this. for zone I have the center selected. And the last is the 19pt in which I have not tried yet.
for metering mode I have used evaluative metering as it seems to handle the most in any changes

Now the photo I had taken was using AI focus/ZoneAF/Evaluative metering at f8 / 1/160s / ISO 100 / 18-55@55mm
For some reason it seemed to focus on the furthers in the photo and the subjects are slightly out of focus and almost look like they copied for a composite with the hard edges they are showing.
Now I figure If I had shot at a lower "f" setting then there would of been more focus on us due to a shallow depth of field but I wanted to incorporate the old bridge.
Since I preview the shot on the camera it looked good but when I get it on the computer I see the concern. Should I of considered doing a single point focus so I would still get a good focus on the closer subject and yet still get good quality on the bridge?
I am really not sure and wanted to ask the experts :)

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williejoha

Whenever people are included in the picture, make sure the eyes are in focus. The reason for this is that whenever we look at pictures with people we are drawn to the eyes. With different cameras, there are different ways of doing it. You can switch the focus point or you can focus with single spot and then readjust the composition. The best f stop for most lenses lays between f:8 - f11. Hope this helps
WJH

gator81 Loc: Jeffersonville Indiana

The hard part with the eyes is that you cannot always tell from a small display and the photo was taken with a timer so I could be in the picture with my wife. A lot of time I have tried to just do the focus point of just my wife and then try to step in the picture with the 10s delay. I have noticed that sometimes it tries to refocus or part of one of us is slightly out of focus when doing single point.
I have been told that I over think things to much, this is one of those that I just cannot grasp like I want to :/

rdubreuil Loc: Dummer, NH USA

Hey Gator,

The photoshop effect you mentioned could be because the background is too bright causing you both to standout too much. Single point focus in this case would be the best option. As for focus mode single shot not servo. As for the blur you're getting; how sturdy is your tripod setup? What you maybe getting is slight vibration from mirror slap. If you camera has it try the mirror up function with the shutter release delay. Upping your shutter speed and or setting the aperture to f 10 or 11 would also have helped to prevent your background from getting too blown out. If you shot this in raw you maybe able to recover some of the detail in the background by bringing your exposure and highlights down some. It's also not overly blurry and some additional PP in photoshop may be able to recover some of the sharpness and detail. There are lots of good tutorials and videos on you tube on how to accomplish that. Good luck and as always keep shooting...

crazydaddio Loc: Toronto Ontario Canada

I think the main area to look at is
Single shot AF and spot focus on your wife before you enter the scene. 1/160 is more than enough SS to create sharp photo...even hand held....55mm should be enough length @F8 to have everything in focus. You could try f10 f12 if you are not sure. I think the only thing is making sure you spot focus on your subject and keep enough distance between the camera and the main subject (you 2) ...in order to not blow out the background...otherwise, it may be your lens.
...but I would try even manually focusing on your wife to be sure its not a wonky AF issue. (Google some videos in liveview focusing and zooming to check focus in liveview if you really want to learn something new :-)
Your 70D is a very capable camera and has most of the features of a pro body...

loosecanon Loc: Central Texas

Also, try autofocusing on your wife's eyes and then turn off the af switch and then press the shutter.

gator81 Loc: Jeffersonville Indiana

I had not thought to turn auto focus off after focusing on her eyes, I may try that.

I am also considering changing the setting to turn off being able to touch the screen to take a picture, because I had catch'ed myself touching the screen when pressing the shutter to start the timer and I think it has been changing the focus point. I would think that using zone and in auto it would correct itself but now I am starting to wonder.
I have been testing in almost all the settings on the camera, auto to manual and getting close results.

still kinda curious as to why my wife and I look like a composite on this photo? is it because we are a little out of focus and the furthest point is in focus?

thanks for all the suggestions so far it is giving me more to experiment with and make me better :)

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I use Nikon so many of the words you are using describing this shot are foreign to me. I use single point AF for portraits with focus priority and that means that if I am not in focus the camera will not shoot. I use the rear button for focus and my shutter release to lock the exposure. If I am using a lens with stabilizer I do not need a tripod most of the time.

I can understand your willingness to have the bridge in focus but understand that with portraits people are the subject. I know what an environmental portrait is but that I do not believe is the case here.
I tend to prefer a neutral, non obtrusive background when shooting portraits and when I cannot control the background then I open the lens to blur it as much as the lens allows. In those cases focus is of the utmost importance. I am saying what I do not what should be done by others.

alx Loc: NJ

I'm going to say this is a good case for Back Button Focus (BBF). You can select single point focus, focus on the eyes, release the BBF button and reframe as desired. The focus point will remain on the eyes. Relative focus for the bridge will be at your discretion. You can either stop down to increase DOF or open up to blur the bridge; your choice depending on desired result.

Since, in the end, this was intended to be a portrait, you would maintain critical focus on that key element in a portrait, THE EYES.

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

It appears you missed the single point focus spot. The bridge seems a tiny bit sharper than the man. I would have set single point (I use it most of the time) on the mans head and set the iris for shallow DOF.

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

I want to know where "peanut" is? Just kidding!

crazydaddio Loc: Toronto Ontario Canada

You look like a composite since you were darker than the background AND there is no rim lighting to seperate you from the background.
Similar effect as using on-camera flash (only in reverse...subject is lighter than background but no side/back lighting to give you some dimensionality.....

Looks like you were in the shade....which is OK since you avoid the "Monster eyes" from overhead bright sun but the negative is you will get the "poster" look.
(I will take the poster look over the monster eyes if I have a choice)

To fix both, requires off camera HSS flash with triggers...OR...(less expensively and without 18 hrs of youtube work) ....try to find a spot that reflects light onto your side or back that will give you a "rim light" around your hair/body...

Here is an example....on-camera flash on a tripod. My wife and I look like we were photo-shopped into this picture. Great exposure on the background and good exposure on us. NO SIDE LIGHTING (other than a little shadow effect in the lower right...which gives some depth)

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KankRat Loc: SW Chicago Suburbs

Here is how I roll. Set your camera up like this and try to absorb what he is saying.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzqQskGoURE
This system works for EVERYTHING.

Mr Bill 2011 Loc: southern Indiana

I think you'll find that when you press the shutter button, your focus is set on the 70D camera regardless of whether it is set on 10 sec delay, AI, or whatever settings you use; so it doesn't matter where you are when the picture is taken, you have a shallow depth of focus, and you will be lucky to be in focus. Your jeans definitely are out of focus, while it looks like your wife may be in. You might try spot focusing on your wife, try f8 or f11 for a little greater depth, and try to get in the same plane as her, but no guarantees. I have a 70D, and the best work around I have found is to get a cheap wireless remote from Amazon (Pixel TW-283E3) about $28. They have multiple features and work great.

gator81 Loc: Jeffersonville Indiana

thank you all so much for the information, I put it in my notebook and reference it when out taking pictures. I may of made a mistake and taken for granted that everyone knew that I was in the picture also and it would seem hard to us the assigned button for the rear button focus :/ But I can say when I am behind the camera that I have learned to use the rear button focus and to be honest there has been times I forget :/ I also practice keeping my arms tucked and work on my breathing for better pictures.
I have been having problems using the phone app to take remote pictures, sometimes it works great and others it just will not see the camera. I will be checking amazon for the one suggested as so many of them I have read have problems.
As for flash, I have been using a speed flash and utilizing a home made diffuser to avoid as much with shadows as I can, this photo was taken pretty quick as my wife just had surgery about a week ago and this was the first day she wanted to get out of the house, so I set up the tripod, had the camera as ready as I could and had a spot for her to stand, helped her out of the car and to her spot, checked the focus and positioning of the camera and pressed the shutter button to start the 10s timer, stepped there quickly and waited for it to take the picture.
I need to get some other couples together so I can take the pictures and see how they look verses using the timer :)

thanks so much for the advice and help, I will only get better :)