Interesting Idea, or FAIL?

[matthewo]

is it an idea I should keep trying or just say screw it.

 

[Benco]

I don't think it really works, even if you blended the images seamlessly the double focus point is jarring.

 

[WesternGuy]

Not sure what the idea is, but the tree branch growing out of the GBH's neck is not a good thing. Having the two "subjects" in this might work better if the one in the background was OOF - not sure, just a suggestion.

WesternGuy

 

[o hey tyler]

You have a lens that has two independent DoFs? Cool.

 

[dudley_53]

Except for the tree branch, I like.

 

[matthewo]

Might be something i try again with a less busy scene. Possibly better for two wildlife closer together with less DOF.

Focus recall mem. Was helpful will have to try it later

 

[amolitor]

It's not a bad idea at all, but this was a poor execution of it As a concept, it's fine.

You could try focus stacking everything except the subjects, to create a base image that's fully in focus front to back, and then add wildlife as you shoot 'em. It might be interesting to really stack them up in there, as a sort of study of "where the herons stand, and how they move" in a specific context.

 

[Jad]

It would have been good if the bird was turned around and the tree trunk merged with the birds neck. The bird would have had a royal head piece of tree branches.

 

[480sparky76 75]

The concept will work, but the execution of this attempt fails.

 

[matthewo]

I tired again, this time with less distance between subject and person, I know the angle would have been better, but I could not get to where the bird wouldn't be directly in front of him

 

[Overread40]

Focus stacking is neat method and certainly can work on any subject; you'll find most references to it within macro photography and also in astophotography; but that is certainly no reason that you can't use it in other areas.

Complex scenes like the water flowing are things people tend to avoid using it on because you add a lot more work (and often have to do things manually) to get the photos to blend without oddities appearing. You have also found that having 2 separate focus points with an area of blur between them tends to throw the viewer and tends to (in most cases) destroy the picture as a working concept.

Your second shot certainly is a big improvement in the application of the method at a technical level; though now you've got a rather tame composition (although perfectly fine for what I'd call a record or documentary style shot).

 

[matthewo]

yes, by no means thought out very well. it was shot from a monopod so kinda not so easy to keep things in the same location with 3 or more moving subjects in the photo. (me, bird, him, water)

 

[Ilovemycam]

Its OK.

Will only be so good I guess? I'd vote to move on to the next idea.

Nice pix at your Flickr!