Utter Confusion by myautofocuslife

Utter Confusion

Most of the time, I think I know what I'm doing. I think. *REALLY WEAK SMILE* And then I get a shot turn out like this, and it makes me question my right to even hold a camera in my hands. I have absolutely no idea what has happened but it sure looks like I've managed to get the water droplets on half of the leaves all blurry-like and the other half all sharp-like.

Did seeing this make you laugh as hard as I did? 8D

ETA: As some of you have explained to me, this is the result of using a macro lens and having a too-wide aperture setting. The DOF is too narrow, and so I have blurry and sharp water drops on the same leaf! It looks ridiculous to me. Haha. I have sooo much to learn!
Looks like miniature bubble wrap and I have the urge to pop them! Still really liking this photo.
March 13th, 2012  
No matter. Still very cool.
March 13th, 2012  
You could enter it in the theme green this week. It's pretty cool, Livia, and it's just perfect for St. Patties Day:). I like the bubbles (it looks like it is in club soda or something fizzy) and the blurred green background. Funny tag:).
March 13th, 2012  
It looks like your Depth of Field is so narrow it couldn't keep the depth of the clover within boundaries. Lovely shot nonetheless :)
March 13th, 2012  
I like the effect you got..the best things happen by accident..good stuff.
March 13th, 2012  
I just adore water droplet shots =)
March 13th, 2012  
I think it`s a great one in green. ( all those beautiful green colors and textures ) Well done
March 13th, 2012  
How beautiful, Livia! You mean you didn't do it on purpose? I like it! Adds interest! Great shot!
March 13th, 2012  
It is such a delicate shot Livia, so pretty, if it didn't work how you planned it is one hell of a good accident;0)
March 13th, 2012  
Its still a pretty cool shot! Amanda is right it would work really well for the green theme :)
March 13th, 2012  
@grizzlysghost Hahaha! I think that must be it, the reason why it looks so ridiculous. 8D
March 13th, 2012  
You're being too hard on yourself! I think it's very pretty looking and fresh looking!
March 13th, 2012  
Fantastic capture, beautiful colours!
March 13th, 2012  
Great shot! I think you did a great job capturing the water droplets!
March 13th, 2012  
Oooooooooohhhh.... This one's so sparkly beautiful!!! Fav from me! =D
March 13th, 2012  
Livia, I think the layers of focus give depth, a third dimension to the leaves... had the water drops all been perfectly focused it would have had a flat, two dimensional appearance. I like it! And you should tag it for the green theme!
March 13th, 2012  
Who cares? It is awesome!!! beautiful. :)
March 13th, 2012  
it certainly makes me look twice. it looks like an expensive piece of jewelry! gorgeous!
March 13th, 2012  
I like it!
March 13th, 2012  
The droplets themselves are pretty.
March 13th, 2012  
I love the DOF on the droplets! Nice some are in focus and some aren't!
March 13th, 2012  
cool green shot
March 13th, 2012  
deb
I like it! The center, out of focus drops look like 7-up bubbles taking over... Pretty cool shot!
March 13th, 2012  
Oh Livia! I'm laughing so hard right now...Last night I had the same experience, and posted something I really really didn't want to post because it was "the best of the bunch". I had been photographing 3-leaf clovers for about an hour, complete with water droplets, and had this same exact experience...but yours look sooooo much better then mine did! lol This came out pretty cool! (I settled for an awful rendition of some flower I was also doing, instead of my clover shots).
March 13th, 2012  
I like that the edge drops are outside the DoF. :)
March 13th, 2012  
I think this is fantastic!!! even with the inconsistencies.
March 13th, 2012  
I think it is great just the way it is! Beautiful capture of something green!
March 13th, 2012  
Beautiful - and nothing wrong with it :-). I agree with marlboromaam - the effect adds interest.
March 13th, 2012  
OK I thought this was a little blurry cause that was the way you wanted it.
March 13th, 2012  
Nope! If I'd taken this I would have been crowing on about how it's my best shot ever!!! Love it :)
March 13th, 2012  
Well i would smile if I had managed to get a photo like this its afav
March 13th, 2012  
Came out great and is a wonderful shot.
March 13th, 2012  
Wow that is just fab.
March 13th, 2012  
Rob
I like it too. You just want to keep looking at it
March 13th, 2012  
you got a weird effect, but I really like it
March 13th, 2012  
Some accidents are beautiful .. and this one is! This belongs in the green theme, Livia. And I also see it on PP! :)
March 13th, 2012  
looks cool
March 13th, 2012  
this is one that he leprechaun must have had a hand in for yeh. A bit oh the Luck oh the Irish.
March 13th, 2012  
I think this is absolutely gorgeous !! Perfect for the 'green' theme this week too. It looks like it has been dipped in a bottle of effervessence. Also makes me think of St Patrick's day this weekend coming.
March 13th, 2012  
Oh this is pretty darn amazing!
March 13th, 2012  
Love the detail & depth of field
March 13th, 2012  
Very good! Love the DOF
March 13th, 2012  
Cool shot. Love the green and the perfect waterdroplets on one side.
March 13th, 2012  
You have captured this beautifully :) The dof gives it a lovely look
March 13th, 2012  
Whatever you did, it worked! It would be a good candidate for the green theme.
March 13th, 2012  
Beautiful!!!!!!!
March 13th, 2012  
A beautiful shot!
March 13th, 2012  
I really dont understand what you're talking about, what''s not to like? Its very pretty (think blingy) !
March 13th, 2012  
It turned out wonderful whatever you did to it.
March 13th, 2012  
I adore it, I think it turned out wonderfully. Very pleasing sparkles and soft greens. :)
March 13th, 2012  
Like a jewel! Stunning shot!
March 13th, 2012  
Beautiful Livia great capture
March 13th, 2012  
what could be better than a happy accident?! that just HAS to be my motto! I love the way this turned out, no matter what your intention was.
March 14th, 2012  
It looks good, I really like it. Nice soft focus and colour complement it too.
March 14th, 2012  
wow, that is an awesome shot...
March 14th, 2012  
Wow, that's great. I wonder technically how that happened. Were you using a macro lens?
March 14th, 2012  
Love the glistening drops.....it looks great and I thought it was intentional....!
March 14th, 2012  
this looks like a diamond encrusted brooch, livia. love the sparkling droplets. very nice!
March 14th, 2012  
It's gorgeous and you should be happy! No EXIF? If you were using a macro and at minimal focusing distance then this is how I would expect it to look!
March 14th, 2012  
fave and WOW!
March 14th, 2012  
A very delightful shot.
March 14th, 2012  
None the less, it is a beautiful shot!
March 14th, 2012  
Very interesting effect.
March 14th, 2012  
Love when that happens...Beautiful...!!!
March 14th, 2012  
Laughing at your tag. Totally have days like that.
March 14th, 2012  
Looks like a 6 leaf clover...I thought you were just extra lucky!!!
March 14th, 2012  
I never thought you could fit that many water droplets on one clover! Do me ma favour and keep picking that camera up because I love all of your shots.
March 14th, 2012  
pretty cool!
March 14th, 2012  
Gorgeous shot! Guessing you used the Sony. The lens aperture must have been wide open and the plane of focus was very shallow.
March 14th, 2012  
I think the dof is gorgeous!! This would be a great theme shot.
March 14th, 2012  
Beautiful! Great focus
March 14th, 2012  
@sjoblues Yes, I was using a macro lens and, as Aaron had explained to me, my DOF was too narrow and so I have sharp and blurry water drops on the same leaf. Haha. I have a lot to learn. 8D

@zferrie Exactly right, it's a DOF thing, I should have used a not-so-wide aperture. None of my photos has EXIF information because I use a 12-year-old version of Paint Shop Pro for editing and it eats EXIF for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 8(

@lilbudhha Yes, guilty as charged! I have much to learn. 8D
March 14th, 2012  
Oh my goodness, this is gorgeous! Beautiful focus and colours!
March 14th, 2012  
wow ...beautiful shot
March 14th, 2012  
I didn't notice the blurry - I just thought it was pretty :) Looks like jewellery :)
March 14th, 2012  
beautiful shot Livia!
March 14th, 2012  
At least you know how to correct, shared and is a lot of fun
March 14th, 2012  
So cool & pretty! I love nature :)
March 14th, 2012  
lol, no matter.. It's a great shot but thanks to your explanation I've learned something..
March 14th, 2012  
The fun is in the learning, but this is a beautiful shot! It took me ages to figure that out too, and I've only recently started playing around with the aperture to finally get more in focus! Thats definitely a great thing about this project, having to take a photo everyday, means you learn so much!
March 14th, 2012  
Looks very pretty to me. I don't care much about settings as long as I like the picture.
March 14th, 2012  
I understand that it is not perfect to the perfectionists but since I am not a perfectionist I like it a lot :) cool shot!
March 14th, 2012  
A stunning shot Livia. Love the droplets.
March 14th, 2012  
It came out really good and I like it a LOT! Well done, Livia!
March 14th, 2012  
You're very hard on yourself Livia - I think it's gorgeous. your little commentary made me smile however.
March 14th, 2012  
I think it is a great shot and like the different focus points. Nice shot.
March 14th, 2012  
Yep I like it too.
March 14th, 2012  
LOL! Love your story, but I have to say that I also love the shot! It looks like someone embedded diamonds all over it!
You should tag it for the green theme!
March 14th, 2012  
Wow it is great - you are too critical on yourself. I think it would be great for the green theme too
March 14th, 2012  
Whatever you did...I love it and want to do it too. :-)
March 14th, 2012  
great beautiful lucky shot..
March 14th, 2012  
it is still really pretty!! and look! 6 ppl have already fav'd it!! so dont be too hard on yourself :) I love all those roplets and all the green coloring!!! dont worry, i do this ALL THE TIME when im shooting macros, and i too, have SO MUCH to learn!!!
March 14th, 2012  
I love this shot. Yes, it would be great to have all the droplets in focus, but it looks great like this and adds to it, plus the leaf is in perfect focus. Nicely done, Livia.
March 14th, 2012  
Love this! Amazing shot! Fav for me
March 14th, 2012  
I don't think it looks ridiculous at all. The sparkle is gorgeous, such a pretty shot even if it wasn't as you were expecting it to turn out xx
March 14th, 2012  
I think it is FABULOUS!!! a FAV for me.
March 14th, 2012  
woww i love the droplets!
March 14th, 2012  
Don't be so down on yourself I, and as you can see many others, really like this shot. This is certainly beyond my capabilities at present. It looks like it's covered in lemonade or something, it's a surprising yet pleasing effect :)
March 14th, 2012  
I'm a little behind in commenting but, from the number of views and favs, you had nothing to worry about with this shot! :-)
March 15th, 2012  
Stunning as it is! Amazed at the droplets at the edge of the petals on the left.
March 15th, 2012  
A great, big, wet and confused "THANK YOU!" to all!

You are all amazing. I'm very thankful for your encouragement. This shot made me laugh and then cringe and then I shake my head every time I see it again and I know I have a lot to learn. Your constant support is a great source of motivation to me, I don't think I can ever say "Thank You!" enough, please know that I am very grateful.

Thank you, thank you!
March 15th, 2012  
I think this looks great! It is a really stunning shot. Well done.
March 15th, 2012  
very pretty!
March 15th, 2012  
cristal water
March 15th, 2012  
who cares. look how many water drops are actually on the leaves! Looks awesome!
March 16th, 2012  
Your shots are crazy good Livia!
March 16th, 2012  
whats not to like? Lovely shot.
March 16th, 2012  
That happens to me with my macro lens all the time. I like the effect. Love the water droplets.
March 16th, 2012  
I'm a big believer of luck, and the harder you work, the more of it you get :). Love this shot!!!
March 16th, 2012  
I actually really like it. I'm having interesting times learning to use manual, getting correct aperture settings are a mountain I'm climbing at the moment. I just took some truly weird shots of my garden so maybe that's what made them so weird, wrong setting- too big- it was wide open.
March 17th, 2012  
I love this! The bubbles look amazing. Awesome shot.
March 17th, 2012  
Livia, there is nothing wrong with this shot at all. I go out of my way to take shots like this!!!
March 18th, 2012  
I'm with Sean -- I think this is a great image :)
March 18th, 2012  
Im glad you posted this Livia because this has been happening to me also with my macro lens i just thought that was normal untill reading this ...let me ask when you say two wide of an aperture are you meaning two large? and do you know what the aperature was set on when you took this photo? I am really trying to learn also..I really like this shot also..sometimes everything doesnt have to be totally in focus...kinda gives it character ! Unique! :)
March 19th, 2012  
@ellimae Yes, too wide an aperture would be too large. The larger the aperture, the more shallow the depth of field. I usually use an aperture of 5.6 but whether I get an overall sharp photograph depends on the subject. A lot of the time, my aperture is too wide and only a part of the subject is in sharp focus. This is not evident when I look at the screen on the camera and I'd get a rude shock when I download my photos for editing. Like you, I'm learning! And I have a lot to learn. 8)
March 21st, 2012  
@myautofocuslife Thanks that helps!
March 21st, 2012  
Beautiful shot! I'd fav it twice if i could!!!
March 22nd, 2012  
Wow that's a lot of comments! But your caption is hilarious. It happens to me all the time, thats the fun of 365. You get to learn! I personally love it and thinks it adds a lot of character to the picture!
March 28th, 2012  
I like it a lot
April 2nd, 2012  
Despite the out-of-focus droplets - what I consider normal, because it's macro - it's absolutely gorgeous. I love it! Fav!
April 3rd, 2012  
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.