ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Yesterday I posted a photo that had too much distance between subject and oof element in background. The suggestion was made by Fotoartist that I could fix it by using content aware to slide the house closer to the flowers. I will try this, although I'm not 100 percent sure how to do that trick. (oh youtube? Have you got a moment? )

I decided to re-shoot the photo since I had to walk the dog anyway, might as well walk him past the same place. I got much closer to the flower (not the exact same one as yesterday) and that helped improve the composition. I'll post them both here so you can see the difference without having to go back and forth between posts.
Erich

yesterday's shot

(Download)

lower and closer to the subject today. Not the exact same flower.

(Download)

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

There are several (or actually, a variety of) ways to lower/move the house such that there's less OOF-ness and less un-useful compositional 'distance' between the in-focus elements and the out-of-focus areas. Short of having ideally eliminated that compositional distance by having lowered your stance/camera height/perspective a foot or so while shooting the first of your images (yesterday's posting), instead I'd suggest you make your 'correction' by using one or another of Ps's 'Transform' tools (skew, perhaps, or potentially warp) rather than employing any form of 'Content Aware', though that could probably work, too.

This second (i.e., today's) image is an entirely different image than your first (yesterday's). What initially had been essentially a scenic has become a semi-close-up of a flower. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but the inclusion --and more to the point, the placement-- of that OOF house has done the image no favors compositionally. Among other issues, the image lacks balance and intent, in both the in-focus and in the out-of-focus areas, and neither particularly 'relates' to the other in any meaningful way.

But then, maybe that was your intent (?).

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Nice Erich, I like the second shot much better than the original post

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Thank you. I like it better as well.
Erich

R.G. Loc: Scotland

No ambiguity in #2. In fact the main subject is strong enough that you could have the building less OOF.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

It feels to me that the house in the 2nd shot is too OOF... It is more of a blur than anything else. I think it would look better with the house from the 1st shot and the flower from the 2nd.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Hi, Erich,
That’s not OOF, that’s just really heavy humidity… which I experienced on that very bog in front of that cranberry packing shed 60-odd years ago… the humidity was heavy and the green heads were thick as well. That was when I learned the meaning of the word “slog”!
Love any images from Double Trouble!
Dave

ediesaul

The iris is so pretty, why do you think you need the house in the background? An exercise?

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Thanks. I like the way that came out.
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Maybe....but I kind of like it the way it is shot. It could be that the oof house does not bother me because of familiarity. I walk my dog past that house about 3-4 times a week. Thank you for taking a look and commenting. Much appreciated.
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

I've been waiting a few weeks now for those lovely purple flowers to show up. Their arrival is usually a good thing for me because it means that I'm almost into my summer vacation time. lol
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

As usual, your comments are on the mark and very astute. I have to apologize here for missing your post when the thread was active. It was in no mean as a "snub" of your comments. I must have had a senior moment; because I always look forward to your comments on my posts. Thank you for the comment. I agree that the placement of the house in the second photo changes the perspective to the point where the house is now a hindrance rather than an asset to the composition. Point well made.
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Edie, Like Cany143 you hit the nail on the head. The house in the second image puts the composition out of balance. I'm sorry that I neglected to respond to your comment when the thread was active. I always enjoy your comments and you always have something important to say. My apologies for the oversight.
Erich

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Both are misses...

Not wanting to be over critical but I see two main flaws, one in each.

First image, the image is poorly composed, compressing the flowers into a footnote while the house is just a mess of gray.

The second image has also a problem with composition... The house should be wholly included, not cropped. (What's up with the leaf? Pushing it aside would clean the capture.)

You have good ideas. You just need to improve your attention to detail and think about what is missing to achieve your goal.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Thank you for your comments. Your points are well taken. As posted, these images do have a problem with composition. My main objective was to see how OOF areas are rendered with some of the vintage lenses that I've been using lately. I should have paid more attention to the composition. Again, thank you for your insights, which always serve to keep me on my toes.

Erich