Eyes with a 50mm f1.8 - What am I doing wrong?

[kat]

Personally, I don't like to use an ISO higher than 800 on my camera. I find the noise (the colored dots or dots) is pretty dominant if I go higher. So if I can't take a shot with at least 1/60 ISO 800, I add light (and most times I don't shoot over 400). Too each their own of course.

As far as depth of field. A little reading on it will help big time to understand the f -stop and what will be in focus.

There is a podcast from Marko on it
http://www.photography.ca/blog/2006/...yca-podcast-2/

[vyeko]

I agree with MA and Kat.You need a more light if you like to change aperture for bigger DOF. I do some test with my 50 mm F:1.7 and ISO 1600 which I never use.For even more light I set camera on +2EV and WB on tungsten.Aperture on 2.8 to 4 with manual focus.Image looks perfectly exposed and DOF is just enough wide for sharp eyes.My shutter speed is 1/15 sec.I not use tripod.I take image of one word on door from angle of 45 degrees.
It is possible do it this way but for better quality (noise) and for better DOF use some lights.

[Andrew]

This is pretty basic stuff. The elementary photography triangle covers it all. You can't adjust one without compensating with the rest.

[Iguanasan]

This is an pretty good set of videos to give you a good idea about DOF and the different factors that affect it.

Part 1: DOF - Depth Of Field Part 1 - YouTube
Part 2: DOF - Depth of field part 2 - YouTube
Part 3: DOF - Depth of Field part 3 - YouTube
Part 4: DOF - Depth of Field part 4 - YouTube