Utilize the Brenizer Method to capture wide-angle shots with a shallow depth of field

 

 

When shooting with a wide-angle lens, one of the sacrifices you make is that it is difficult to attain a shallow depth of field. In some cases, that's no problem. For example, when shooting a landscape shot, more depth of field is almost always a good thing. However, what if you want to shoot portraits with a wide lens. Can you still get a nice blurry background?

David Bergman says that you can, by employing the Brenizer method. In the Two Minute Tips video below, Bergman outlines the technique and shows you how to use it. It's a multi-shot technique, so a tripod is a good idea.

As you can see, it's a great technique for times when you want to shoot environmental portraits with a wide lens without keeping everything in focus and sharp. A sharp background can be distracting, so by combining multiple shots using the Brenizer method, you can get the best of both worlds, so to speak.

(Via Adorama)