DSLR Photography Forum

What uses having a great depth of field, if there is not an adequate depth of feeling?
- W. Eugene Smith

In assignment #16, the subject was "focus", and using it as an expression of creative control. For this assignment, let's focus on its other incarnation -- depth of field. It can be used to isolate a subject, and create a powerful isolation or a simple composition. It can also create a visual story, keeping more elements in focus than are possible with the unaided eye, letting us examine a scene in a way we never could without a camera.

So, isolate your subject or tell a story. Shallow depth of field or panfocus; choose a technique that can express your feelings. Use this thread to post your favourite images, and the ones you learn from.

This is my first post to a topic other than the introduction page so I hope I don't mess anything up. I'm posting to this topic because shallow depth of field photos are really fun to shoot and I just happened to have a few recent ones floating around my desktop. I hope their depth of fieldyness show up in these tiny copies. The dragonfly landed in my garage one day and of course, had to be photographed. I put him on a mirror and used a macro lens and one spot light. He sat there like a really patient model and I set him free after the photo shoot. The flowers are in Crested Butte, Colorado. I found them while playing tourist this summer.

Hi Jenny, and welcome to shuttertalk. You've set a record for the fastest ever participation in assignment, so thanks.

The flowers are nice, but the dragonfly shot is just fantastic. I've been around for a little while now, and have never seen one like it. The mirror is great, and the shallow depth of field is perfect. Thanks for sharing it, and getting the assignment off to a great start.

Thanks, Matthew for your comments. I was glad to see a new assignment posted because that is the reason I found this site in the first place. I was searching for some interesting photo assignment ideas to do with some photo friends and found all your previous assignments here. I love shooting macro and small depth of field and have TONS of photos that I've done over the last couple of years. Here's one more dragonfly. I like this one because it's a bit disorienting; his face and most of his body is out of focus, but his reflection is perfectly clear. I have a lot of fun with this kind of stuff!

Jenny B. Wrote:I hope their depth of fieldyness show up in these tiny copies.

These look like they might be great photos, but I just can't tell, Jenny.
Any chance you can put up some bigger versions?
I'm really interested in seeing more of what you have, but at this small size it's not working for me.
Thanks,
Keith

(At 640 pixels maximum width this forum's software will leave your image nice and clean within a thread.
Any wider and they'll get shrunk-to-fit by forum code, so they will look funky unless opened in a new window or saved to your system and viewed using an image browser. And the upload limit is a workable 150kb per image.)

This assignment and Jenny's shots reminded me of a shot I have always wanted to get...
I have always wanted to cature the patterns in a bee or fly's eye.
This was taken today in my backyard. I was happy with the depth of field on the eyes but disappointed with the focus/light on the face. I have done some sharpening and contrast adjustments...
(By the way, check out the length of his tongue..!!!)



Comments / Suggestions welcome...
Shane

Cool shot, Shane! I like the reflection in all his eyes and the detail you can see in his legs.
Here's the last shot I posted but a little bigger:

I'm not worthy... I'm not worthy... I'm not worthy...

Excellent work.

Wow - Its much easier to see the detail in the larger shot Jenny.
Its got a face that only a mother could love but the detail in the wings is beautiful. I like the idea of focusing on the reflection.
How did you lure it onto the mirror?

great shot there jenny and Shane

welcome to ST jenny

Wow! great shots

I don't know why he stayed on the mirror so long. He flew away once and I had to catch him, but for the most part, he just sat there. He seemed interested in the lamp I used to light him. He turned his head to follow it whenever I moved it.

I was experimenting with a new lens today, giving me my first chance to play with an ultrawide. I've always liked extensive depth of field, and this lens is excellent for it. Shot at f/5, (iso400, 1/50, 22mm-e) the lettering on the post and padlock is clear, as are the drops of water on top of the near handle. (I'm looking at an 8x10 print, not the web version. Sorry.) The brick wall has just a very mellow blur to it, but there is still enough detail to keep it interesting.

lock bicycle to post

Dof Fan.

A few i like.

All your work is exceelnt (as always) Paul! I also like the wheelbarrow a lot, Matt.

Thanx Rob, some really cool shots here.

/Paul L.

ok so i was out playing and thought i would add this one to DOF . PLease tell me what you think .







I have a couple more but i think this fits best here .


........ Thanks for lookin............. Shawn

Shawn i think it fits the criteria more then well, Very nice.

/Paul L.

A varied selection of shots this assignment - good to see.
My pick of the bunch is Paul's tyre swing shot. The selective desaturation and DOF demands your eyes attention. Great shot.

Paul.R.Lindqvist Wrote:Shawn i think it fits the criteria more then well, Very nice.

/Paul L.

Thanks Paul , im glad you liked it . I have to agree with Smarti about the pick of the bunch though , very nice Paul.


........ Shawn

Thanx Shawn.

Here is a snapshot from today.



/Paul L.

Everyone's photos look great! Paul, I love the one with the boy in the swing! I like how you selectively used color.

wow great shots in this.........Paul really like the series you have added. BD yours as well.....

tough shots to follow so I will make it easy for the next

here are a couple I shot week or so ago

#1


#2 this one is a little soft but I like the bokeh

Great vibrant shots Russ, the second one has really nice Dof. Nice job.

/Paul L.

Posted this pic a couple of weeks ago, should have been in this Assignment