I have been obsessed with bokeh & now that I have a decent lens I constantly find myself going for the shot with a shallow DOF. I sometimes worry though that I am missing something with the shallow DOF. For instance with this would his face make it more interesting? I was thinking it would take away from the pic, that is often why the DOF & sometimes it's just to declutter the background. What do you all think?
I'm certainly no pro, but I like the face blurred in the background because I think it really focuses on the hand and that's what you're going for. If anything, maybe make it to where the thumb is in focus a little more too, though it really does look perfectly sweet as is. But as for the face and background and the shallow DOF, I think this kind of shot really works. It's great!
haha, I have wondered the same thing, if you look at my project I have SEVERAL with DOF like this....I love it but was wondering if I were too repetative...glad I'm not the only one :)
Only you can determine what is the most important thing in your photo. If, as in this case, it's the hand, you focus on the hand. If it's the face, you focus on the face. I don't think there are any rules and if there are, break 'em if you feel it improves your photo!
Gosh I hope not! :) Mine is not real, a layer added in photoshop. However, I like bokeh, more so of the real variety like yours. If you like it then I say it's not too much!
I think you got it just about right in this picture, the hand is the important thing. If the face was any more in focus it would take away from the weight of the gesture.
I really like it.
I think the answer to that question is it all depends. As others have said, in this particular pic i think the blurred background works... but for pics this might not be the case.... it's good to think about these things tho ;)
The shallower the dof the better! I love it myself. I sometimes feel that you should give the viewer the clarity on the target you want them to look at, and then maybe soften and blur the bits that you expect them to know.
@mikichelle There is no such thing as too much shallow dof/bokeh. :D I think the best is try and play around with different settings and find the one that just *fits* the idea you're going for. :D
Thanks guys!! You all make me feel so good! I so love shallow DOF but with that being said there are tons of times it just doesn't work for a shot. When I took this I knew his face was going to be blurred but it wasn't until I saw it on the screen that I realized how blurred it was.
In the picture here I'd say no, it turned out great. But as a whole, yes, there are absolutely times when too much is just too much. One problem many new photographers face, especially those who are breaking into the DSLR realm, is an infatuation with this new-found technique.
I'm guilty myself. When I got my first lens that went down to f/1.8 I went around shooting everything wide open just because I could and because I could create this new DOF perspective that was otherwise elusive to me. Looking back at my shots during that period I realize now I ruined a lot of otherwise great shots by trying to force everything into a situation that displayed insane bokeh even if it didn't benefit from it.
It can certainly make for a great photo, but the real trick is learning when and where to use it. If done properly and for the right reasons (like in the original photo here) then it works. You just have to be careful you don't get into the habit of doing it for the sake of doing it.
Like Abraham Maslow said: "If your only tool is a hammer, every problem resembles a nail." If the only trick in your photography bag is a shallow DOF, then every shot you take is going to beg for this technique even if it isn't the best tool for the job.
@mikichelle That isn't really bokeh. Bokeh is the way the lens renders out-of-focus light. That's background blur achieved by a shallow depth of focus you're referring to.
This is bokeh - hope it helps clarify:
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As for your example, I like that you've chosen to focus on his hand - it's sweet. (I would love to go into more detail but I must dash) :(
Your project, your pictures. ;-)
I really like it.
I'm guilty myself. When I got my first lens that went down to f/1.8 I went around shooting everything wide open just because I could and because I could create this new DOF perspective that was otherwise elusive to me. Looking back at my shots during that period I realize now I ruined a lot of otherwise great shots by trying to force everything into a situation that displayed insane bokeh even if it didn't benefit from it.
It can certainly make for a great photo, but the real trick is learning when and where to use it. If done properly and for the right reasons (like in the original photo here) then it works. You just have to be careful you don't get into the habit of doing it for the sake of doing it.
Like Abraham Maslow said: "If your only tool is a hammer, every problem resembles a nail." If the only trick in your photography bag is a shallow DOF, then every shot you take is going to beg for this technique even if it isn't the best tool for the job.
This is bokeh - hope it helps clarify: