What is the recommended technique to maximize depth of field when taking photographs of a large crime scene when infinity is NOT in the background?

Maximizing depth of field is crucial in photography when capturing expansive scenes, such as a large crime scene, especially when the background is not at infinity. Zone focusing is an effective technique that involves pre-setting the focus on a specific distance and using a smaller aperture. This approach allows you to maximize the area that remains in focus, which is essential for ensuring that all important elements in the scene are captured sharply.

By using zone focusing, photographers can determine the hyperfocal distance, which is the closest point at which you can focus while keeping objects at a specific distance and beyond in acceptable focus. This is particularly valuable in large scenes because it creates a greater depth of field, making sure that all relevant details from the foreground to the background are adequately detailed.

Other techniques like portrait mode, trickling depth, or selective focus do not effectively achieve the same level of depth of field required for comprehensive scene capture. Portrait mode, for instance, is designed to create a shallow depth of field for isolating subjects, which is not suitable for scenes requiring overall focus. Selective focus emphasizes a particular subject by blurring the background, while trickling depth is not a recognized technique in traditional photography contexts. Hence, utilizing zone focus is the most effective method for