Controlling viewer's focus with Depth of Field: I was reading about using narrow DOF in landscapes and came up with this at the beach this afternoon. Thoughts, comments?

claytonsummers Loc: Orange County, CA

I was reading about using narrow DOF in landscapes and came up with this at the beach this afternoon.

Thoughts, comments?

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IDguy Loc: Idaho

The out of focus flowers in the foreground aren’t the idea. You would use narrow dof to reduce distractions rather than create them.

claytonsummers Loc: Orange County, CA

My idea was for the sharply focused tree to draw your attention away from the out of focus areas, including the flowers in the foreground.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

claytonsummers wrote:

My idea was for the sharply focused tree to draw your attention away from the out of focus areas, including the flowers in the foreground.

That might work if they were drab and not so prominant. That is the idea you read about.

claytonsummers Loc: Orange County, CA

OK, I can see your point. Thanks.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

The idea can work well with the right image - but this is not the one. IMHO the one you are depicting needs everything in focus including horizon. It would then make a nice pic.

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

Not the style of landscape I prefer either. The out of focus water is also unappealing to me. For most scenes I prefer sharpness throughout the way the eye sees it, just my personal preference.

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

Accidental duplicate post.

Brokenland

Q1: Please describe what lens was used.

You're working with three elements in this image and all three are not working or flowing together as they should. Sky/ocean, the flowers & the tree. The composition doesn't work well within the image, you're tying to include as many elements in one image yet create a depth of field which doesn't allow everything to merge together.

You have several options, either focus on the tree or focus on the flowers. Change what lens you're using & remove the foreground bokeh. Instead of horizontal (landscape) try a vertical approach.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I agree that the colors and position of the flowers make them too prominent for this experiment. Do a Google image search for "shallow dof landscapes" and browse the results to determine which you feel most successful and why. I think your idea to explore this avenue is terrific!

whwiden

It is very difficult in my experience to have a successful landscape with out of focus foreground elements. Worth experimenting with but often does not work. Here the problem is the bright colors and a main subject other than the flowers. If it we're a field of flowers only, some OOF flowers in both foreground and background might work.

whwiden

It is very difficult in my experience to have a successful landscape with out of focus foreground elements. Worth experimenting with but often does not work. Here the problem is the bright colors and a main subject other than the flowers. If it we're a field of flowers only, some OOF flowers in both foreground and background might work.

claytonsummers Loc: Orange County, CA

Thanks for the reply. This was taken with a 50mm f/1.4 at 1.4, 1/4000 second

Bokehen wrote:

Q1: Please describe what lens was used. br br You... (show quote)

claytonsummers Loc: Orange County, CA

Linda,

Thanks for the suggestion. Most of what I see on line seems to have the foreground in focus and the background blurry or just the opposite. A lot of them look nice, but seem pretty simplistic.

I agree the colors of my foreground distracts from the muted tree colors, but what I was attempting was to draw the eye from the foreground and encourage the viewer to look at the middle distance. I'll keep looking for a better subject to try accomplish what I'm picturing. :)

Linda From Maine wrote:

I agree that the colors and position of the flowers make them too prominent for this experiment. Do a Google image search for "shallow dof landscapes" and browse the results to determine which you feel most successful and why. I think your idea to explore this avenue is terrific!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

claytonsummers wrote:

Linda,

Thanks for the suggestion. Most of what I see on line seems to have the foreground in focus and the background blurry or just the opposite. A lot of them look nice, but seem pretty simplistic.

I agree the colors of my foreground distracts from the muted tree colors, but what I was attempting was to draw the eye from the foreground and encourage the viewer to look at the middle distance. I'll keep looking for a better subject to try accomplish what I'm picturing. :)

I think someone mentioned a field of flowers. I've seen some like that also. The more "intimate" landscapes lend themselves well to selective focus/narrow dof:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/grahamrobb/41437446361/in/photostream/

There are some flowers here:
https://www.pinterest.com/summitpacific/shallow-depth-of-field/

But you're right; it's hard to find good examples online. I had no idea!