Thursday, May 20, 2010

You Capture: Depth of Field

So, this week's You Capture was all about Depth of Field.

I have to confess that I didn't break out the manual setting on the camera to get these shots.  
My camera and lenses just kind of like DOF, so I don't have to work too hard to get it.

In this shot, Grant, the bench and most of the foreground is in focus (mostly) while the pond and the grass behind the tree is blurred.


A little less DOF and Grant's still pretty focused, but I'm getting some nice bokeh or blurring in the background.

Shallower still and look at all the pretty bokeh.

I took this photo of a rose for a post earlier this week. 
I really wanted a macro shot, but this was as close as my lens would let me get.
I cropped it for my macro shot, but I like it this way as well.

Can you guess what this is?  I kind of love this shot.

Ugly ducklings?
Or cute, fuzzy goslings.
(Will I never be able to say goslings without thinking of the Gosselin family?)
Now I'm going to cheat a bit and post some pictures that I didn't take this week,
but I thought that they were perfect for the whole DOF thing.
Splash!

Is this next shot a good picture or not?
I really just can't decide.
There's something about it that makes me love it, but the only focused spot is a small strip of mud and gravel.
I don't know.

Then there is this shot that I overlooked when I first took it, but I'm loving it now.
So much so, that I've posted it twice this week and turned it into my header. 
If I could paint, I'd paint it.

For a serious lesson in Depth of Field, check out this weeks You Capture entries.

Photobucket

37 comments:

Leslie said...

grant looks so handsome. that shot is really cool with the mud! i guess hula hoop

Laura said...

I think the splash photo is pretty cool, I like the one focused on the dirt, and I think the last one with the daffodil is my favorite.

Unknown said...

Wowzers! Your pictures are beautiful. I love that Grant was a willing model! He is a cutie! Also love the little ducks.

Alita said...

Grant is a very handsome gentleman. From the pics of yourself I would say he has your honest eyes. Great shots.

Loved the hula hoop pic! The shot of the duckies was so soft, the flowers are magnificent. Yet another pic you can frame.

but my favorite shot is the one of the gravel and the reflection. It is so dreamy. The kind of dream that you are in total peace. Love LOVE L-O-V-E IT!

Jane said...

What a wonderful photos. I really love the rose and the mud. Wonderful to meet you.

Mrs. Bird said...

Beautiful photos!!!

Anonymous said...

Love your shots, especially of the puddle with your house!

Bec said...

Hula hoop! I usually just let my camera do the DoF for me, but this week I finally took the plunge and went all manual!

http://www.theiheartblog.com

Tricia said...

Great shots, handsome boy! Luv the flower pic.

Alyssa S. said...

How funny, I posted something similar to this today. Of course, your pics are a bazillion times better than mine. It highlights what a POS my camera is...and might say something about how good (or not) I am at taking pics! I love, love, love the daffodils.

Killara girl said...

i love those photos of Grant...the lighting and setting are perfect...i think i must try some portraits down at our pond. i like the hula & the dirt photos for depth of field. many of the editing programs have a watercolour and oil painting effect, and it works really well for flowers...i love using it!

Kristi @ Mi Vida Ocupada said...

Great photos! What lens do you use the most?
PS the sparkly is a fishing lure!

Amber D said...

Great pics of the little man by the pond. But the daffodil pics are my fav (they are the cancer flower and hold a special place in my heart.)

Jientje said...

You did a great job with this theme Colleen! The little ducks made me smile and I LOVE that last one, it is stunning. I like the puddle shot as well and Grant is such a handsome model!

koreen (aka: winn) said...

Very nice photography! And hey! You did the goslings too! You'll have to come by and check mine out...

The rose has to be my favorite. I've never seen such a perfect flower! =)

Unknown said...

The farmhouse pic is definitely my favorite!

Jen said...

A hula hoop? I love that shot whatever it is.

Lisa said...

The mud shot is awesome. I like that you can see the house, but it's not in focus. Makes it seem far away, yet peaceful and obtainable to get there.

Mary said...

Beautiful! And indeed, I agree that the bokeh is fabulous! That's when you'll love the 50mm lense you chose the most. :) 8 blades vs 5 makes a difference I think. Fabulous shots!

Unknown said...

Is that a glitter pen? Just a guess.

I adore so many of these, especially the flowers and the shot with the mud in focus is surely fantastic!!

And yes, so much pretty bokeh behind the shots of the handsome young man. :)

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

Beautiful shots!! Such a handsome young man. =D

flat yeast bread said...

That second to the last one is my favorite! I love how the focus on the dirt makes you just stare at it.

Jess said...

I do like the blurry farm photo. That narrow strip of in-focus mud makes my mind almost smell that photo. Fresh, earthy, alive and real. The out of focus house lends a dreamy feel to the shot.

The splash might be my fav of your shots this week.

Bunch of Barrons said...

Good job! I love the shot of the water, and the puddle. :)

Frogmum said...

All beautiful DOF ~ but that last one ~ yum!! :D

Unknown said...

Splash photos are so cool. and I'm guessing hula hoop?

Sabrina said...

Great job! My fave is the rose...loved the macroish crop earlier this week and love it even better uncropped. As for the dirt shot...I think I like it too...the reflection is cool!

Unknown said...

i'm a sucker for fields of flowers, so the last shot really spoke to me. how great to have such a handsome model?

Unknown said...

Yep, I'm lovin all your photos!
I can tell you really had some fun with this one, love your creativity!

Grammie/Mom said...

I like the close up face shot of Grant. He's so handsome now isn't he? The water splash is neat. I have to say I like all your pictures in this post.

Brooke said...

Such great shots that you have here!!!! I love your guy - what a tropper to pose for you - and the hola hoop(?) but the mud one is AWESOME. I love it too :D

Anonymous said...

I will guess hula hoop too. That one is my favorite - love the shallow DoF!

Grammie/Mom said...

Maybe I should comment more often. I love your shots and comments.

Dad

The Mommy said...

Grear shots. Love the water splash the best:)

Suburban Girl said...

Very nice shots. You did a great job with that rose especially!

Brown Family Blog said...

wow1 These are some really great shots!

Anonymous said...

I love that last shot (the one that's your header)! It's just so stinkin' cheery!