One of the beautiful things cameras can do is help us to see things differently. Our eyes quickly adjust to our surroundings, popping in and out of focus depending on where we look, so in some ways everything around us seems to be in focus all of the time. It’s not very easy to focus on one thing and intentionally look at the other, blurry parts of what’s in front of us, but with an SLR and a large aperture we can create images and really look at them which we never could have done with our own, naked eyes.
I think that’s why using a shallow depth of field is so appealing, and also magical. It helps to tell a different story than if the entire image were in focus, even with an inanimate subject like this hiking trail. We’ll all view these two images differently … some will prefer the image on the left with the entire scene in focus, and some will prefer the one on the right with the flowers in focus and the trail soft and blurred.
Each photo tells its own story and speaks to each of us differently as well.
Camera Info: Canon 5DMkIII, Canon 100mm Macro f/2.8L IS lens
LEFT image = 1/10 sec at f/22, ISO 400
RIGHT image = 1/750 sec at f/2.8, ISO 400
One of the beautiful things cameras can do is help us to see things differently. Our eyes quickly adjust to our surroundings, popping in and out of focus depending on where we look, so in some ways everything around us seems to be in focus all of the time. It’s not very easy to focus on one thing and intentionally look at the other, blurry parts of what’s in front of us, but with an SLR and a large aperture we can create images and really look at them which we never could have done with our own, naked eyes.
I think that’s why using a shallow depth of field is so appealing, and also magical. It helps to tell a different story than if the entire image were in focus, even with an inanimate subject like this hiking trail. We’ll all view these two images differently … some will prefer the image on the left with the entire scene in focus, and some will prefer the one on the right with the flowers in focus and the trail soft and blurred.
Each photo tells its own story and speaks to each of us differently as well.
Camera Info: Canon 5DMkIII, Canon 100mm Macro f/2.8L IS lens
LEFT image = 1/10 sec at f/22, ISO 400
RIGHT image = 1/750 sec at f/2.8, ISO 400
Nicole is a photographer, published author, and educator specializing in Lightroom, Photoshop, and photography. She is best known for her books on food photography but is widely versed in various photographic genres, including landscape, nature, stock, travel, and experimental imagery.
both looks beautiful …
both looks beautiful …
Great example, +Nicole S. Young! I hope to add this technique to my landscapes. :)
Great example, +Nicole S. Young! I hope to add this technique to my landscapes. :)
+1 for Left
+1 for Left
ever green
ever green
+1 for Right
+1 for Right
so sweet away…………………………..thanks god.
so sweet away…………………………..thanks god.
So true! To me, shallow depth of feild is more "realistic" because that is how we see things, on the other hand small apertures are hyper real and create a different dynamic. Both are great, it just depends on what you want to tell. I prefer shallow depth but thats just me :P
So true! To me, shallow depth of feild is more "realistic" because that is how we see things, on the other hand small apertures are hyper real and create a different dynamic. Both are great, it just depends on what you want to tell. I prefer shallow depth but thats just me :P
Both are great! I like the one with shallow DOF better myself :)
Both are great! I like the one with shallow DOF better myself :)
One of the beautiful things cameras can do is help us to see things differently.
One of the beautiful things cameras can do is help us to see things differently.
Great description Nicole.
Great description Nicole.
butremainsbeautifulinourlives
butremainsbeautifulinourlives
+Nicole S. Young Thanks for sharing the two pictures. They are amazing. For me it's hard to decide which one I like more.
Have a nice evening.
+Nicole S. Young Thanks for sharing the two pictures. They are amazing. For me it's hard to decide which one I like more.
Have a nice evening.
wow you are a great ……………………………………
wow you are a great ……………………………………
thank
thank
beautiful
beautiful
great pic!!!!
great pic!!!!
@_@
@_@
It's almost as if you should write a book about focus… ;)
It's almost as if you should write a book about focus… ;)
So pretty! My favorite time of year :)
So pretty! My favorite time of year :)
09335670420
09335670420
when I look at the left image the path is the subject of the shot, and it's a very beautiful path and a very beautiful image. When I look at the right, the flowers are the subjects. It's also a very beautiful image. It really is amazing how changing nothing but the DOF changes the story!
when I look at the left image the path is the subject of the shot, and it's a very beautiful path and a very beautiful image. When I look at the right, the flowers are the subjects. It's also a very beautiful image. It really is amazing how changing nothing but the DOF changes the story!
+Bart Busschots You nailed it, that's exactly what I was hoping people would see :)
+Bart Busschots You nailed it, that's exactly what I was hoping people would see :)
Great Pictures & description of what you see through your lens! Do you shoot much with the Canon 60D?
When i first saw the photo on the right, I noticed the grass in the lower left corner and the dandelions in the right corner.
When i first saw the photo on the right, I noticed the grass in the lower left corner and the dandelions in the right corner.
we have a
we have a
Good description of the use of DOF. I have to remind my self this when I go shot. I like the photo on the right.
SO MUCH BEAUTIFUL LIKE (NICOLE S.YOUNG
SO MUCH BEAUTIFUL LIKE (NICOLE S.YOUNG