I am intentionally loading this shot because I don't know what I am doing wrong. I am stuck on shapes this week because of the July challenge. So I shot the colored toothpicks in their holder thinking of using it as a circular shot. It really blurred towards the middle so I changed settings. And changed again. I had the macro lens and changed that. I am still getting a blur in here that I don't understand. I wiped the lens covers off and took shots of other things to see if the blur was in the camera and it isn't. I am missing something here and am stumped.
Gosh Cathy... I don't know. My camera is so much more basic than yours I don't know any of the settings, but it seems to me that it doesn't know what to focus on. If I was doing this I think I'd give it less acute depth to try to focus on, lean back quite a bit more and see if that might help, then crop it to get the shape/size I want. Is the holder very narrow? I wonder if a wider container would give the same 'sunray' effect but with a slightly flatter surface to deal with?
Really sorry - spot the amateur :}
@positivemoments Thanks Tracy. @filsie65 I think that is it Phil - I was trying to fill the frame and probably didn't give it a focal point. But that camera can get into a flower with no problem. That is why I am confused.
I think you might need more depth of field - a wider angel lens - under 50 MM and an aperture setting to a higher number - as high as you can go and still have enough light to take the picture. Possibly not having the center so deep might help with the problem also. I love the colors and the idea - it is a great picture just as it is.
@cdonohoue Hm - yes it does flowers beautifully. I wonder if all the ridges on the sticks are what's setting the focus awry... flowers can be much smoother and more uniform? Love the effect of the shot - if you can't get the shot crisper how about giving it a soft focus in picmonkey?! (guess thats Mohammed v Mountain thinking!) Don't give up, it's a great idea and looks super already :)
Try a numerically higher aperture and manual focus, make sure your focus points are set the way you want them to be. I like what you are trying to do here.
I thought is was coloured spaghetti at first! Like the effect even though yu are not 100% happy with it.....Am too much of a novice to offer constructive help, but have enjoyed reading the above comments... all good for learning!
All these comments are so appreciated for me! I have had that problem and also found to focus on something else at the same distance, hold that focus and move the camera to the right scene. Lot of work went into positioning these picks!
Get the focus point right despite not filling the frame, because you can crop or border your edges later. The shadow across the bottom was the only other thing that I thought might be a distraction. Personally I think you have done a great job on a very difficult subject - Well done :)
This looks a tricky subject. I suspect it is a DoF thing. For something like this, I'd use manual focus on Live View (zoomed in to x10) to set the focus and then take a series of shots at progressively higher f-stops. I decide which I like best when I review them on a bigger screen. It's a great idea for a photograph.
I still like it, it shows character to me. You only have that one spot that looks a little blurred. I'm sure not an expert, I would try to shoot it without at an angle, if nothing else works. I sure like what you thought of though, very smart.
I do like this ALOT, Cathy ..I'm no "pro" at advice. But I do like this look with the lovely colors and the blurred edges. I'd be pleased with it!! Try it different ways if you like. :)
Would love to see this when you've sorted out your problems (which I can't help with as I only use a point and shoot). Good luck with it; looks like a great idea.
Higher F stop, 8 or 9. Shoot form directly above and try manual focus as you can choose exactly where you want the shot to be in focus. Great subject and idea!
Crumbs, all that information.....sounds horribly complicated to me!! and I am about to embark on using a DSRL, help!! Brilliant idea and yes Pat it does remind me of your flags!!
Really sorry - spot the amateur :}
@filsie65 I think that is it Phil - I was trying to fill the frame and probably didn't give it a focal point. But that camera can get into a flower with no problem. That is why I am confused.