Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Photo Analysis
Losing detail
Page 1 of 2 next>
Oct 4, 2017 20:10:23   #
Golden Rule Loc: Washington State
 
I am wanting to have detail throughout the photo. I have two small continuous softboxes as my light source and that is my challenge. I shot with a D750 1/250 at f2.8, ISO640 using a 24-70mm lens zoomed in to 58mm. I am within 5 to 7 feet from my cat. Would f8 give me a better chance of grabbing more detail throughout the shot and suffer with a higher ISO and slower shutter speed? Thanks for your advice.


(Download)

Reply
Oct 4, 2017 20:26:18   #
OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR
 
At f/2.8 your depth of field is 6 inches. At f/8 Your depth of field would be 18 inches. Go for it, then deal with noise if it's a problem. (Or get more light.)

Reply
Oct 4, 2017 20:36:59   #
Golden Rule Loc: Washington State
 
OddJobber wrote:
At f/2.8 your depth of field is 6 inches. At f/8 Your depth of field would be 18 inches. Go for it, then deal with noise if it's a problem. (Or get more light.)


Thanks for the quick reply. I'm still experimenting with my softboxes and have a strobe light that I don't know how to use yet. I just found the photopills depth of field calculator. If my cat is 12" tall and I want to get her in complete detail would the f/8 DOF of 18" work since she is sitting up and is in the same DOF plane?

Reply
 
 
Oct 5, 2017 09:29:25   #
aflundi Loc: Albuquerque, NM
 
Golden Rule wrote:
I am wanting to have detail throughout the photo. ...

Can you describe more specifically what areas of the image you are unhappy with and specifically what details you want more of? [You might be better served by changing your light locations than by using a different aperture. ]

Reply
Oct 5, 2017 10:36:06   #
camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.
 
In the first place, you do not have enough light on the cat to separate its figure from the background. When I am using flash and I have more than one subject I usually go to apertures like f11 for more depth of field.
I would try again with a small lens aperture using an accessory light to bring separation between the cat and the background.

Reply
Oct 5, 2017 10:47:57   #
ole sarg Loc: south florida
 
You don't necessarily have a depth of field problem but you do have a back drop problem. Black against black creates black.

Reply
Oct 5, 2017 10:55:42   #
Golden Rule Loc: Washington State
 
aflundi wrote:
Can you describe more specifically what areas of the image you are unhappy with and specifically what details you want more of? [You might be better served by changing your light locations than by using a different aperture. ]


I would like to see more detail from the lower chest down to the paws. I placed my two softboxes on each side of her at about a 45 degree angle.

Reply
 
 
Oct 5, 2017 10:57:50   #
Golden Rule Loc: Washington State
 
camerapapi wrote:
In the first place, you do not have enough light on the cat to separate its figure from the background. When I am using flash and I have more than one subject I usually go to apertures like f11 for more depth of field.
I would try again with a small lens aperture using an accessory light to bring separation between the cat and the background.


I have no flash except the one built in and I never use it. My softboxes are continuous lighting. I don't mind the dark background but her leg fur became mushy and noisy perhaps because of some underexposure?

Reply
Oct 5, 2017 10:59:03   #
Golden Rule Loc: Washington State
 
ole sarg wrote:
You don't necessarily have a depth of field problem but you do have a back drop problem. Black against black creates black.


I don't mind the black on black but trying to figure out what to use as a rim light for pet photography. The mid chest down is noisy and not sharp perhaps due to the close proximity of camera to cat and wide aperture, underexposure due to low light?

Reply
Oct 5, 2017 11:36:38   #
MMC Loc: Brooklyn NY
 
Golden Rule wrote:
I am wanting to have detail throughout the photo. I have two small continuous softboxes as my light source and that is my challenge. I shot with a D750 1/250 at f2.8, ISO640 using a 24-70mm lens zoomed in to 58mm. I am within 5 to 7 feet from my cat. Would f8 give me a better chance of grabbing more detail throughout the shot and suffer with a higher ISO and slower shutter speed? Thanks for your advice.


IMHO DOF is good but cat is underexposed. I would recommend to increase exposer and move backdrop further from cat /to keep it black/. BTW this picture can be improved with PP. I tried it and can show my result if you do not mind.

Reply
Oct 5, 2017 11:59:39   #
aflundi Loc: Albuquerque, NM
 
Golden Rule wrote:
I would like to see more detail from the lower chest down to the paws. I placed my two softboxes on each side of her at about a 45 degree angle.

Then in that case, how about moving the camera-right softbox closer to the plane of the front of the cat (more like 75 deg from the camera) so that the light will skim across the cat's chest nearly parallel to it so as to bring out the "texture" in the hair by brightening up the light side of each hair while also darkening the shadow side. Then move the left softbox almost directly behind you and either turn down the intensity or move it back so that it fills the shadows some but is still a stop or so down from the main light on the right.

Reply
 
 
Oct 5, 2017 12:08:47   #
Golden Rule Loc: Washington State
 
MMC wrote:
IMHO DOF is good but cat is underexposed. I would recommend to increase exposer and move backdrop further from cat /to keep it black/. BTW this picture can be improved with PP. I tried it and can show my result if you do not mind.


That would be super to show your PP results.

Reply
Oct 5, 2017 12:14:32   #
Golden Rule Loc: Washington State
 
aflundi wrote:
Then in that case, how about moving the camera-right softbox closer to the plane of the front of the cat (more like 75 deg from the camera) so that the light will skim across the cat's chest nearly parallel to it so as to bring out the "texture" in the hair by brightening up the light side of each hair while also darkening the shadow side. Then move the left softbox almost directly behind you and either turn down the intensity or move it back so that it fills the shadows some but is still a stop or so down from the main light on the right.
Then in that case, how about moving the camera-rig... (show quote)


This is a cat that moves around a good amount so moving the softboxes is a no go since I would probably lose the shot. My softboxes are about 21x27 inches so pretty small.

Reply
Oct 5, 2017 12:22:34   #
MMC Loc: Brooklyn NY
 
Golden Rule wrote:
That would be super to show your PP results.

This is my result. I was using Camera Raw Filter in Photoshop. I am sorry if you do not like it.


(Download)

Reply
Oct 5, 2017 12:31:11   #
aflundi Loc: Albuquerque, NM
 
Golden Rule wrote:
This is a cat that moves around a good amount so moving the softboxes is a no go since I would probably lose the shot. My softboxes are about 21x27 inches so pretty small.

Sorry, you've completely lost me on that one. If you can set them up at 45 left/ 45 right and take the shot, why can't you set them up at 15 left/ 75 right and take a shot?

Reply
Page 1 of 2 next>
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Photo Analysis
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.