First "modeling" session with 50mm f1.8

[jaicatalano]

Have fun with the 50mm. It's flat. I agree it's a photo with a girl and that is it. However, use that lens and great things will happen.

 

[cgipson1]

And I am not trying to argue I am here to learn and I understand DOF I just really didn't see these photos as out of focus, In photo 1 I notice the Bokeh I am not sure if that's the right spelling well it holds the treeline allowing us to know what it is where the other 2 photos do not. I wasn't sure if we try to hold the shape of the background or not But I would like to understand what you feel is incorrect in the DOF of any of the photos. Again I am not trying to argue I am trying to understand though.

Look at the eyes... they should be sharp, and they aren't. The pupils and iris should be sharp.. and distinct from the sclera with no blurring. Look at the eyelashes.. you should be able to see them as fine distinct hairs. #3 has these qualities to a noticeable degree compared to #1 and #2. Getting sharp focus is always a priority... having adequate DOF just helps to ensure that the parts of the subject before and behind the point of focus are sharp.

Having a beautiful Out of Focus background is nice.. but your subject needs to be sharp (the subject is usually more important than the background). It is possible to have both... but the subject should take priority.

 

[cgipson1]

I thought with the fairly bright day out that flash wasn't needed. Guess I wasn't right there. As for the DoF, I cropped those pics pretty good. Would leaving the extra "junk" help out at all? or just me moving my feet to a better spot?

Flash merely lets you add light. As would a reflector, adding some of the natural light. Getting the light to go where you want or need it is a large part of photography... and can greatly enhance your photos. Some added light (just a small amount) would have helped to define her features better.. but primarily it would have added catchlights to the eyes... this makes the eyes look alive, and sparkle.

Do you need flash on a bright day... No... but you still need to use the light to enhance the shot.

 

[BNHPhotography]

If you have a smart phone download DOF calculator. It helped me understand that just because you CAN shoot at F1.8 it isn't always right for the situation.

 

[Sean1965]

Are you saying the focus is off because you don't see the catch lights? I thought that was strictly a lighting issue?

 

[BNHPhotography]

Your focus is off because your DOF for the situation was wrong. Try shooting at a higher f-stop number like f5 or f6+ your background wont be as 'milky' but your subject will be in focus

 

[cgipson1]

Are you saying the focus is off because you don't see the catch lights? I thought that was strictly a lighting issue?

No.. the focus has nothing to do with the lighting! Focus is off because the focus was off!

 

[cgipson1]

Your focus is off because your DOF for the situation was wrong. Try shooting at a higher f-stop number like f5 or f6+ your background wont be as 'milky' but your subject will be in focus

Somewhat true.. but if the Focus was dead on and sharp... the OP could have gotten away with the aperture and DOF he used. But the focus was off. It is possible to hide poor focusing, by increasing the DOF... but it is still better to NAIL the focus, instead of just increasing the DOF!

 

[jake337]

Your focus is off because your DOF for the situation was wrong. Try shooting at a higher f-stop number like f5 or f6+ your background wont be as 'milky' but your subject will be in focus

Your background can be just as Out Of Focus. It's the subject to background distance that needs to be increased with a smaller aperture if one wants to keep it Out Of Focus. I understand this may not be possible given your surroundings
.

Here is a great read for anyone interested in portraiture. Posing is key. You have her head tilted towards the masculine shoulder in all three photos.

The Rules Of Good Portraiture

 

[cgipson1]

Your focus is off because your DOF for the situation was wrong. Try shooting at a higher f-stop number like f5 or f6+ your background wont be as 'milky' but your subject will be in focus

Your background can be just as Out Of Focus. It's the subject to background distance that needs to be increased with a smaller aperture if one wants to keep it Out Of Focus. I understand this may not be possible given your surroundings
.

Here is a great read for anyone interested in portraiture. Posing is key. You have her head tilted towards the masculine shoulder in all three photos.

The Rules Of Good Portraiture

Good ol Benji!

 

[Sean1965]

Hey I am sorry that the 2nd question came up I understood what you said when you pointed out the characteristics of the eye lashes and such, I don't know why I didn't see it before my last post maybe I was on the wrong page, but thanks for the clarifications..