johna800 Loc: Atlanta

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johna800 Loc: Atlanta

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smcaleer Loc: Dearborn Heights, Michigan

I love your picture! Framed nicely and I like the little girl with the soft focus. I'm new too so I can't add any more to what all these lovely people are telling you. Just thought I'd let you know my opinion on your resulting photo. :) Keep clicking!

Zero_Equals_Infinity Loc: Canada

The following website will be of great value to you.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm

They explore all of the basic concerns you have asked about, as well as many more.

You have a great image by the way, and the softness of the little girl works to emphasize a gentleness which suits the subject.

rwdaley Loc: Hilton Head Island

When using a 7d Canon it will lock focus. Simply frame the child before she blows bubbles by pushing the shutter button half way down. And keep holding it hwlf way down until she blows the bubbles. Then push the shutter button all the way down to record the image. That way she will be in focus. I agree with others, standing back further will help if you do not use focus lock.

lorenww Loc: St. Petersburg

Have a go with this tutorial, If you back up and zoom into the subject, you will have better luck with the focus.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-64061-1.html

rts2568

To SheenaghGebhard

From rts2568

Many others are confused by DOF, today especially as the modern camera don't offer DOF on the lenses as they used to, twenty plus years ago.

www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/depth-of-field.htm

The above is a good starting point. However there is a plethora of web information available on the subject, just sart off with "depth of field" search in google.

When you've read them all, get back to us in a couple of months or two.

DOF is one of the most important things to understand in Photography because it is so seemingly contrary to our own eyesight. We see to infinity and everything inbetween because our eyes iris changes by will and to our senses we assume everything is in focus. The camera/lens combinations in cameras can't think for themselves so don't know when you want to see something from here to there in focus and so, usually gets it wrong.

Have fun with it - but don't be daunted, it really isn't that difficult to comprehend.

rts2568

Shakey Loc: Traveling again to Norway and other places.

Great capture, Sheenagh! In my opinion soft focus on the little girl works wonderfully. The bubbles are sharp and the girl cute and pretty. Great job.

Pepsiman Loc: New York City

Beautiful shot... What you should have done instead of using auto mode,you should have used LANDSCAPE so that everything would be in focus. GOOD LUCK...

kejoed Loc: Wales UK

Thats what i want to know and i can understand "Swahili" :D :-D :thumbup:

Bruno Loc: Northwest UK

Firstly it is a lovely photo with great composition. However I suspect that Tea8 is spot on with her analysis. I also think that "Auto Mode" may well have captured this shot and corrected the dof issue.

I often suspect that those of us with a DSLR camera or a camera that is equipped with manual settings often think that we have to ALWAYS use these manual settings. Its fine to experiment with the different settings but its also a good idea to take a shot in auto mode too, just as a bit of fall-back. It certainly doesn't matter if we take a auto shot and then go on to try different settings.
A situation such as the one you have regarding the girl with the bubbles lends itself to the auto and manual experiment because she is going nowhere fast. A auto shot, or perhaps a prog auto shot, maybe even bracketed, and then a few shots with different settings in manual mode would be ideal. It matters not how many shots we fire off as we are not dealing with film, Its pretty much free range shooting these days, just select the best shot after setting up the frames in a photo editing software program. You will note from watching the pro photographers that they fire off hundreds of shots in a lot of situations, some may be bracketed some not, just to make sure they get at least one good picture. This is one of the many bonuses of digital.

In any event I think it is a super photo.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

You are going to receive much useful information here. Some very technical and some not.

Regardless go to camerasim.com and work the entire simulation. It will give you hands on experience without holding a camera.

It is great!

Brad Loc: Middletown, Pennsylvania

I agree with Tramsey. I love the picture as it stands. Keep at it. I am learning as well. Remember, practice makes perfect, and by the way, there are no dumb questions. Thank you for sharing such a darling picture.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

I'll 2nd that the picture is great the way it is. The little girl being in soft focus just adds to the charm. If you would have increased the depth of field by using a smaller aperture (larger #) you would have put the bqckground in focus and it would have looked like you took it with an old box camera. You want the girl and the bubbles and you got it. _ Dave

stevenelson Loc: Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

Since you have a 7D set it up for rear button focus so that you can zoom in on your subject, focus, then zoom back to where you want to frame subject. The 7D has a large learning curve. Keep at it and you will get it. If you need more help I will answer your questions the best I can.