Is This Focus Appealing? (Page 2): What you have done with this image is obviously intentional according to your write up. Therefore the question is "Does this image appeal to you?"...

randave2001 Loc: Richmond

What you have done with this image is obviously intentional according to your write up. Therefore the question is "Does this image appeal to you?" Being primarily a landscape photographer I try to keep my foreground in focus, but there are times that focus can be used creatively. My first impression was that you missed focus entirely and then upon closer inspection (and reading your post more carefully) I see what you have done is intentional.

rmm0605 Loc: Atlanta GA

Bmac wrote:

Photographed in Clarke Botanic Garden located in Albertson NY. Everything was purposely blurred except the center. Does the selective focus work in this image?
ISO 200, 105mm, f/3.2, 1/2500 sec.
Additional critique, comments and suggestions welcomed. Thanks.

A difficult shot to take. The narrow DOF does not do it for me. I would like the image better if you used focus stacking, a tilt/shift lens, or other method for increasing DOF. Thanks for posting!

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

When I post pictures like this, someone always points out that they are out of focus. I've learned that whatever is in front needs to be in focus (usually) to make the viewing acceptable. I appreciate images that have enough DOF to get then entire flower in focus.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I like it.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

rlaugh wrote:

I think the selective focus does work...the petal colors, and pattern still show through, but our eye is drawn to the prickly center, which is unusual...Linda might be right with a little more blur, and a centering crop!!

Thanks for chiming in my friend. I kinda like the photo also, haven't yet been convinced otherwise.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

traderjohn wrote:

I have looked at your picture and the other version. Not my cup of tea.

Thanks for looking and commenting TraderJohn, appreciate it.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

randave2001 wrote:

What you have done with this image is obviously intentional according to your write up. Therefore the question is "Does this image appeal to you?" Being primarily a landscape photographer I try to keep my foreground in focus, but there are times that focus can be used creatively. My first impression was that you missed focus entirely and then upon closer inspection (and reading your post more carefully) I see what you have done is intentional.

Appreciate your detailed comment RanDave, thanks.

bertloomis Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

The blur ruins it for me.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

rmm0605 wrote:

A difficult shot to take. The narrow DOF does not do it for me. I would like the image better if you used focus stacking, a tilt/shift lens, or other method for increasing DOF. Thanks for posting!

Thanks for commenting RMM. I understand what you are saying regarding the ways to increase depth of field, however I purposely used a wide aperture for blur and bokeh. Obviously not everyone's taste.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

Great use of selective focus.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

AzPicLady wrote:

When I post pictures like this, someone always points out that they are out of focus. I've learned that whatever is in front needs to be in focus (usually) to make the viewing acceptable. I appreciate images that have enough DOF to get then entire flower in focus.

Thanks for looking and commenting AzPicLady. I believe depth of field can be used in a creative manner, especially when shooting macros and close ups. I find some wide aperture flower images to be more interesting than many typical ones. Perhaps, as you and others feel, I went a bit too far in this technique with this photo.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

kpmac wrote:

I like it.

Thanks Kpmac, glad you enjoyed it.

James Van Ells

Great image, I hope folks use the download.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

James Van Ells wrote:

Great image, I hope folks use the download.

Thanks James, appreciate you commenting.

MichaelEBM Loc: Los Angeles CA

Shallow DOF can be very creative. But I'm with Linda on this one. If you're going to use shallow DOF on this flower, do it all the way so it looks deliberate instead of "accidental." So I like the idea, and I'm more partial to Linda's "going all the way."