Adding OOF areas

thoughton
Posted 05/12/2009 - 10:06 Link
I've been merrily going through some older photos for the last few days. Here's one I found. It was one of my first images with my 85/1.8:

Comment Image


I was never happy with the OOF patch on his forehead where the plane of focus intersects it, so this photo had always been relegated to the 'almost' pile.

Yesterday I had another look, and decided to see if I could realisticly add some blur to his head to make the patch less prominent. This is the result:

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Does it work for you?
Tim
AF - Pentax K5, Sigma 10-20/4-5.6, Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 30/1.4, Sigma 70-200/2.8, Tamron 70-300/4-5.6
MF - Vivitar CF 28/2.8, Tamron AD2 90/2.5, MTO 1000/11
Stuff - Metz 58 AF1, Cactus v4, Nikon SB24, Raynox 150, Sigma 1.4x TC, Sigma 2x TC, Kenko 2x macro TC, Redsnapper 283 tripod, iMac 27”, Macbook Pro 17”, iPad, iPhone 3G
Flickr • Fluidr • PPG • Street • Portfolio site
Feel free to edit any of my posted photos! If I post a photo for critique, I want brutal honesty. If you don't like it, please say so and tell me why!
Edited by thoughton: 05/12/2009 - 10:09
pnjmcc
Posted 07/12/2009 - 22:03 Link
Hi Mate,

The blur looks ok but doesn't really recover the picture, the head is still out of focus and that detract from the whole image (IMO of course)

Have you considered maybe cutting out parts of the head that are in focus and overlaying them on the parts that are not in focus, then distorting them to fit?

I admit it will be a bit of a PITA but would probably be the best method of rescuing the pic if you really want to?


Regards
PaulM
All cameras are equal but.....
Some are more equal than others
Dr. Mhuni
Posted 08/12/2009 - 01:42 Link
I don't mind the narrow band of focus and I think your blurring has worked in that respect. I prefer the colour to the b&w, though - more for the statue than the b/g.
Mhuni

500px
thoughton
Posted 08/12/2009 - 08:55 Link
Thanks for the feedback chaps! I'm not sure about cutting off his head and overlaying it, sounds like a lot of work The statue is only in my garden so I will probably reshoot it soon.

Mhuni you are about the 5th person who's said they prefer the colour. Message received
Tim
AF - Pentax K5, Sigma 10-20/4-5.6, Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 30/1.4, Sigma 70-200/2.8, Tamron 70-300/4-5.6
MF - Vivitar CF 28/2.8, Tamron AD2 90/2.5, MTO 1000/11
Stuff - Metz 58 AF1, Cactus v4, Nikon SB24, Raynox 150, Sigma 1.4x TC, Sigma 2x TC, Kenko 2x macro TC, Redsnapper 283 tripod, iMac 27”, Macbook Pro 17”, iPad, iPhone 3G
Flickr • Fluidr • PPG • Street • Portfolio site
Feel free to edit any of my posted photos! If I post a photo for critique, I want brutal honesty. If you don't like it, please say so and tell me why!
Anvh
Posted 08/12/2009 - 13:16 Link
I prefer colour as well, the contrast of the stone of statue is to hard with the B&W in my eyes.
I'm still thinking if I like it or not...
Would have loved to see a bit more focus.
Stefan
Comment Image

K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ
gartmore
Posted 08/12/2009 - 13:24 Link
Tim, I think what you did was a really good idea and has worked very well but I think you could go further...

the hair at the front looks more oof than the hair at the back, if you make the top left even more oof then you could really have a cracking picure (think Lensbaby). I'd also be inclined to increase the contrast in the sharp area a wee bit and take it down a stop.

I think Dr M is right about the colour version being better too - it is really monochrome in its own right, anyway.
Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
Edited by gartmore: 08/12/2009 - 13:25
thoughton
Posted 08/12/2009 - 21:23 Link
Thanks for the suggestions Ken, I can see what you mean about the different levels of OOF and the need for increased contrast around the eyes. I've tried both and I think it improves the image. I must admit the lensbaby did cross my mind when I first started messing around with this. This is the new version:

Comment Image
Tim
AF - Pentax K5, Sigma 10-20/4-5.6, Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 30/1.4, Sigma 70-200/2.8, Tamron 70-300/4-5.6
MF - Vivitar CF 28/2.8, Tamron AD2 90/2.5, MTO 1000/11
Stuff - Metz 58 AF1, Cactus v4, Nikon SB24, Raynox 150, Sigma 1.4x TC, Sigma 2x TC, Kenko 2x macro TC, Redsnapper 283 tripod, iMac 27”, Macbook Pro 17”, iPad, iPhone 3G
Flickr • Fluidr • PPG • Street • Portfolio site
Feel free to edit any of my posted photos! If I post a photo for critique, I want brutal honesty. If you don't like it, please say so and tell me why!
gartmore
Posted 09/12/2009 - 08:24 Link
Spot on now I think!
Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
Anvh
Posted 09/12/2009 - 12:17 Link
Yep the last one is the best.
Stefan
Comment Image

K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ

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