Use Light to help in compositions with Deep Depth-of-Field

Nikon D3s, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 3200, ƒ/10, 1/250–off camera Nikon SB-900 fired with Pocketwizard TTL system

When photographing in this plant I needed to see the background to give context to where the employee is working. For this reason I am shooting with an aperture of ƒ/10. I also wanted your eye to go to the worker predominately and not just wonder therefore I used the off camera flash to just hit the worker. 

The flash is zoomed to 200mm to give me more of a spotlight on the worker.

Nikon D3s, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 5600, ƒ/5, 1/250

You might prefer the photo without the flash. But how would you know without a comparison. This is key to keeping and getting clients. Clients love options even if they don't need but one photo.

Nikon D3s, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 3200, ƒ/8, 1/20–off camera Nikon SB-900 fired with Pocketwizard TTL system

Had I not used the flash in this situation your eye would have gone to the background more than to the worker. 

Tips

• Use Deep Depth-of-field to bring in the context around a subject
• Keep the subject close to the camera to help with composition and communication
• Use light to help direct the viewer, because the deep depth-of-field can compete with the subject
• Give client options – Shoot situations with and without lights for example

Nikon D3s, AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED, ISO 3200, ƒ/7.1, 1/80–off camera Nikon SB-900 fired with Pocketwizard TTL system