How can I focus ALL of the picture?

Hi guys, a bit of advice please, as you may know I've just recently got a Nikon D40, and up till know I've just been chicken and been taking 99% of my pics in auto, but I want to start experimenting with the other settings, I just took my first shots in RAW the other day and was pleased with the result

To get on with the question, the other day I was over at the lake taking pics of the birds, and a few of the pics there was more than one bird in, but to me the pic was spoilt because some of them were out of focus, how do I get more or all of the picture in focus, or is it not possible, also on some close ups the head was in focus but spoil because the beak wasn't, I've put a couple of pics on to show you what I mean, the pictures themselves are nothing special, but would have been so much better if they had all been in focus. Thank you in advance for your advice

You need to decrease the aperture you are using (so increase the f-stop). At the moment I am assuming you are using a large aperture which gives you a narrow depth of field. To get more of the shot in focus you need to increase the depth of field, which means choosing a smaller aperture.

So for example - if you are using an aperture of f2.8, f3.5 etc you will need to increase the f-spot number to f5.6, f8 etc. The drawback to this is that faster shutter speeds are needed. If you increase your f-stop number and find your images are blurred, you will then also need to increase your ISO.

HTH

Do you have the EXIF data for the above photo's?

You need to stop down your aperture to F8/F11 or lower (higher number) However you will need to decrease your shutter speed to allow in more light as your apperture has been closed more to allow for Depth of Field.

Sorry to be a thicko but where would I find this info

GH, they were shot at F5.6 and F5

Right click on the photo
-> Choose Properties
-> Click on Summary
-> Choose Advanced

All the information should be in there

Ideally I am after the Aperture (f number), ISO, focal length and shutter speed

Ah, I take it you have the plug in where you can view embedded EXIF data

In that case CLMG, you need to increase the f-stop even further - f8 or f11 as KK suggested. However you will need a faster shutter speed to get a shot that isn't blured (if you are shooting animals/birds).

I personally like the creative shots a shallow DoF gives, but that is just my opinion. I think it works well in your first shot, but as you say, not as well in your second.

How did you know

Thanks guys, I really do appreciate this from the differences it looks as if these were taken when I was playing around

The first pic

F no. - f/5.6
ISO -800
Focal lenth - 200mm
Shutter Speed is that the same as exposure time if so - 1/320 sec

2nd pic.

F no. - f/5
ISO - 400
Focal length - 130mm
Shutter speed? - 1/320 sec

OK, I think I kind of understand, but what setting would I have to use, P,S,A,M or one of the symbols.