THE SOLUTION

After composing a telephoto scene, stop the lens down to f/22 (or f/32 if your lens allows it). As you look through the viewfinder, adjust your focus until you have focused on a point about one-third of the way into the scene (autofocus must be turned off). Then you are ready to shoot.

Just so there is no confusion, I want to stress what is meant by a “deep depth of field” with a moderate telephoto lens, such as a 100mm lens. This focal length is capable of delivering a depth of field of approximately 30 feet to infinity when shot at the small aperture of f/32. Obviously, this is a far cry from the 3 feet to infinity you can achieve with a wide-angle lens. Also, telephotos don’t offer the wide and sweeping “vision” of wide-angle lenses, about 75 to 104 degrees. Your 100mm lens offers a much narrower, 22-degree angle of view.