Picking the right aperture is a balancing act. Too wide, and you risk losing sharpness in the background. Too narrow, and diffraction can soften your entire image. Knowing how to find the right setting for maximum clarity can make a huge difference in your landscape photography.
Coming to you from Chris Baitson Photo, this practical video follows an attempt to capture landscapes in less-than-ideal conditions and how to choose the right aperture. The plan was to photograph snow-covered mountains, but with no snow in sight, the focus shifted to misty scenes and atmospheric compositions. Baitson works through the challenges of shooting in an area with heavy traffic and unpredictable weather. Framing a road snaking through the canyon while timing shots to avoid cars requires patience, but the results highlight how weather-sealed gear and quick adjustments can still lead to compelling images.
One of the main takeaways is how to adapt to shifting conditions. After realizing visibility at higher elevations was poor, Baitson pivoted to a lower-altitude location: Padley Gorge. The change in scenery introduced new challenges, but also fresh creative opportunities. The dense, moss-covered woodland provided a perfect setting for foggy, moody images. To maximize sharpness, Baitson walks through the process of choosing the right aperture for front-to-back focus, explaining how to calculate depth of field using tools like the PhotoPills app. He also demonstrates a faster, more intuitive approach using manual focus peaking to ensure the entire scene remains sharp.
Another key moment is the discussion on diffraction and how it affects sharpness at smaller apertures. Shooting at f/22 ensures everything stays in focus, but it also introduces some softness due to diffraction. The question becomes whether slightly softer detail is better than missing focus altogether. It’s a practical concern for anyone balancing depth of field with image quality, and Baitson presents it as a matter of personal preference rather than a strict rule. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Baitson.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, "Photographing the World: Japan II - Discovering Hidden Gems with Elia Locardi!”
This is just the way I do it.But I actually believe the mountains in the background.Unless you are shooting, those specifically for the shot should be a little bit softer.As that is how the human eye sees it. I don't like the hdr or stacked images ... It looks horrendous! Fake look!
And that comment might upset.Some people who love taking fifteen photos and then stacking them together. I use a gfx camera and that can be tricky with the depth of field I tend to go F14 with hyperfocal method. The hills in this shot in the background.are smidgen soft... Because.
If you were standing there , this is how your eyes would see it..
Sumply choose the right Sensor Format.
MFT 5.6 and wideangle
Everything in focus from the Tip of your nose till beyond the moon