Hyperfocal Distance and Depth of Field - Everything You Need to Know

In this episode of Photo Myths, I sit down with pro photographer Richard Bernabe, and together we tackle an oft-repeated photo rule, which states that to get sharp focus throughout the image frame, you should "focus one-third of the way into the scene."
I hear this one all the time, and in the video below, Richard and I explain why this is a total photo myth. In the video, Richard and I discuss hyperfocal distance, depth of field, and a bunch of other stuff related to this idea of "sharpness" in photography, but we don't take too deep of a dive into the topic. Frankly, it's confusing even to advanced photographers. If you really want to learn more, then visit photomasters.com/post/hyperfo...

[@why009]

I vividly recall 2012 Patgonia with Ian and Richard...both are fabulous to be with!

[@jeffschreifels8651]

I have always taken the 1/3 rule to apply specifically to forest scenes where the entire scene is maybe 100 yards. Not for vistas that are miles long. It is also stressed that you may have to focus stack if your foreground is too close to the lens.

[@moalam999]

You said you had an open mind, yet both of you were so sarcastic about this "rule" right from the start that I stopped watching about half way into your video. If you ARE debunking a myth, then don't say you have an open mind, because your mind has already been made up. I am not a pro photographer, and this "focus 1/3 of the way up the viewfinder" has always worked for me. I learnt it from multiple pro photographers (Thomas Heaton, Simon d'Entremont, Gavin Hardcastle, to name a few). I place the closest foreground object that I want in acceptable sharpness at the BOTTOM of my viewfinder, and then focus at the first horizontal line in my viewfinder (1/3 of the way up the viewfinder), and I ALWAYS have infinity AND my closest object in acceptable sharpness. I use F8 - F12, never more or less. I'm happy that you think it doesn't work and you have a right to that opinion, but please don't say you have an open mind!

[@joelbarto1103]

Are you sure that’s not Dave Matthews 😊 Thanks guys. I appreciate your knowledge.

[@garrygeorge2811]

The 1/3 and 2/3 split on depth of focus is only true at one focus distance ;-) The DoF split, front to back, varies throughout the focus range.

[@reidnorthrup2688]

Wouldn't focus stacking solve this issue?

[@TarrelScot]

Yes, he talked about that in the video, unless you’ve got a subject that would confuse the blending process (e.g. flowers moving in the wind).