My Depth of Field Assignment
Sep 12, 2011 14:59:44 #
So, I've been reading a lot about DOF and I took along my nephew and as it was 9-11, I decided on something patriotic. Please be aware that this photo hasn't been through post production (still deciding on the program- leaning toward Light Room). This was taken with a Nikon 3100 Lens: Nikkor AF-S 18-55mm 5-5.6 G - 100 ISO, A- F 5.6.(I think). I'm a newbie and still learning. Could I get some feed back? Any hints on what to do post production?
Sep 12, 2011 16:04:35 #
T-Ray wrote:
So, I've been reading a lot about DOF and I took along my nephew and as it was 9-11, I decided on something patriotic. Please be aware that this photo hasn't been through post production (still deciding on the program- leaning toward Light Room). This was taken with a Nikon 3100 Lens: Nikkor AF-S 18-55mm 5-5.6 G - 100 ISO, A- F 5.6.(I think). I'm a newbie and still learning. Could I get some feed back? Any hints on what to do post production?
I myself love this picture! I always like to vintage pictures, I don't know why but I do!! I would just test around until it comes to you!!
Sep 13, 2011 16:14:31 #
I'm new here and also seek knowledge on DOF. My brother and I built a staircase and I tried to capture as much as possible at once .After many attempts,one picture stood out,but sadly I don't what my settings were.
Sep 13, 2011 22:25:02 #
Rich
Loc: Titusville, Fl
This photo is crisp and clear. I love the photo but have a hard time figuring out your assignment. Look at other post and you will see what DOF is. Many close ups of flowers or insects display a shallow DOF. Hope this helps.
Sep 16, 2011 16:45:24 #
Sep 16, 2011 21:26:07 #
Rich
Loc: Titusville, Fl
dasboat wrote:
I'm new here and also seek knowledge on DOF. My brother and I built a staircase and I tried to capture as much as possible at once .After many attempts,one picture stood out,but sadly I don't what my settings were.
It is a nice photo, bring it up on whatever program that you are using and right click the file, you should then see the metadata and you can get your settings off of it.
Sep 18, 2011 02:07:49 #
dasboat wrote:
I'm new here and also seek knowledge on DOF. My brother and I built a staircase and I tried to capture as much as possible at once .After many attempts,one picture stood out,but sadly I don't what my settings were.
Some things are just to obvious,Thanks!
Sep 18, 2011 03:30:20 #
T-Ray,
So, your assignment was DOF; your subject and settings used allowed you to show DOF very well. Depth Of Field simply means how big the area of not-so-blurry (out-of-focus) picture is from the focal point; in your case both the arms and guitar, as well as few top feet of the flagpole are sufficiently out of focus to display DOF. Also, nice job with your chosen angle for the shot; you could have gone portrait, and you could have gone straight up and down in the image. Well composed.
If you wanted to vary the effect you could turn your F up to 7 or higher to have more area look "in focus" (or close), or you could take it down to F-3.2, or even 2.8 to make much more of the image "ends" blurry and a much smaller area "in focus".
As for editing suggestions:
1) You could increase the DOF effect artificially by adding a gradual blur to the bottom left and top right of your image. This could be done with less blur in the middle and more at the ends, or can be accomplished to some extent by duplicating the entire layer in your editing program, blurring the entire top layer, and then using a layer mask to graduate the opacity from 0 in the middle to maybe 50-85% at the outer corners; then adjust the transparency/opacity of that entire layer until you like how it looks.
2) You could choose to make certain parts of the image B/W and certain parts Color (no reason, just an idea to create more interest).
3) At least a slight vignette would help give the image a more "professional" flair, as well as enhance the focus on your subject (notice that you made the comment about "patriotic" yet it is hard to tell if the image is more about the flag and what it stands for or the guitarist in the picture; the focal point or DOF helps the viewer come to the right conclusion, yet a well placed vignette would assure your message was clear).
Hope you enjoy the reply. Keep playing, you will be amazed what you can learn by taking the same shot multiple times with different settings!
So, your assignment was DOF; your subject and settings used allowed you to show DOF very well. Depth Of Field simply means how big the area of not-so-blurry (out-of-focus) picture is from the focal point; in your case both the arms and guitar, as well as few top feet of the flagpole are sufficiently out of focus to display DOF. Also, nice job with your chosen angle for the shot; you could have gone portrait, and you could have gone straight up and down in the image. Well composed.
If you wanted to vary the effect you could turn your F up to 7 or higher to have more area look "in focus" (or close), or you could take it down to F-3.2, or even 2.8 to make much more of the image "ends" blurry and a much smaller area "in focus".
As for editing suggestions:
1) You could increase the DOF effect artificially by adding a gradual blur to the bottom left and top right of your image. This could be done with less blur in the middle and more at the ends, or can be accomplished to some extent by duplicating the entire layer in your editing program, blurring the entire top layer, and then using a layer mask to graduate the opacity from 0 in the middle to maybe 50-85% at the outer corners; then adjust the transparency/opacity of that entire layer until you like how it looks.
2) You could choose to make certain parts of the image B/W and certain parts Color (no reason, just an idea to create more interest).
3) At least a slight vignette would help give the image a more "professional" flair, as well as enhance the focus on your subject (notice that you made the comment about "patriotic" yet it is hard to tell if the image is more about the flag and what it stands for or the guitarist in the picture; the focal point or DOF helps the viewer come to the right conclusion, yet a well placed vignette would assure your message was clear).
Hope you enjoy the reply. Keep playing, you will be amazed what you can learn by taking the same shot multiple times with different settings!
Sep 18, 2011 03:54:04 #
Dasboat,
I find it impressive that you guys BUILT those stairs!!! Nice work!
Anyway, I didn't gather that you had a DOF "project", but just that you wanted some general info on DOF to help your understanding. I recommend you read my reply to the original post as it will offer some suggestions.
You must have had your aperture set really high to get all of that staircase in such clear focus. While you could have gained some more "effect" by attaining some blur through a lower aperture setting, it may have taken away from the actual beauty of your work; as it is, you get a sufficient effect of depth through the spiral. The only thing I may recommend adding would be a slight vignette around the edge to make the image "pop" a little more. (I know you didn't really ask for that advice, so hope you don't mind.)
I find it impressive that you guys BUILT those stairs!!! Nice work!
Anyway, I didn't gather that you had a DOF "project", but just that you wanted some general info on DOF to help your understanding. I recommend you read my reply to the original post as it will offer some suggestions.
You must have had your aperture set really high to get all of that staircase in such clear focus. While you could have gained some more "effect" by attaining some blur through a lower aperture setting, it may have taken away from the actual beauty of your work; as it is, you get a sufficient effect of depth through the spiral. The only thing I may recommend adding would be a slight vignette around the edge to make the image "pop" a little more. (I know you didn't really ask for that advice, so hope you don't mind.)
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