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July 30, 2006

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While this image is still a very small and very compressed version of the original, you can still see some of the differences in the focal point of the image. Of course, and obviously, the right eye is quite a bit out of focus. But close examination reveals that the inside depth of the left eye is also slightly out of the focal point in comparison to the area around the eye. 

Even the slightest variance in distances can affect the actual focal point. This can also be enhanced and manipulated within the aperture of the camera. Also referred to as the "F-number" or "F/stop", the aperture is an adjustment of the physical diameter of the opening of a camera lens. This is usually adjusted in conjunction with the shutter speed in order to allow a specific amount of light into the camera and exposure to the film or surface of the CCD. By adjusting the aperture one can manipulate the actual focal point of an image. Giving the ability to make everything in focus, or just specific depths, like in this image. This effect can be very useful in giving dimension to an image. Or, it is also helpful on the other end of the spectrum in allowing the ability to have a clear shot of objects in the foreground, and objects much further away in the background, and keeping them all in focus.

Most digital cameras today provide the settings of the aperture and shutter speeds automatically. However, some will also allow you to adjust them independently. I would highly recommend that you experiment with these settings yourself and see what kind of results you can come up with. I'm sure you'd be surprised. But in any case, the more you experiment, the better and more familiar you will become with your own camera, and the better results you will have in the future.

Most people don't really care about such details. I mean, why worry about all of that? "Just point the camera and shoot."
But when that time comes that you will really want to enhance that one particular, award winning shot, and you won't know how to adjust your cameras settings, you will probably think back on this message and curse me. And I will be right there, in the back of your head saying, 
"I told you so."

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