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01/09/2006 09:00:01 AM · #26 |
Originally posted by David.C:
Originally posted by Elmakias:
Drop your fear of candids this week and single-out a person in a crowd as your source of composition. Use minimal depth-of-field to your advantage to help isolate your subject, and as always, be creative.
what does minimal DOF mean and how do you use it to your advantage, thanks |
The DOF (Depth of field) is the distance in front of and behind the spot focused on that is still 'in focus'. A narrow DOF will have a small area in focus, while a large DOF will have a larger area in focus. I read 'minimal DOF' to mean having the subject in focus and everything around them not in focus. Here is the only example from a quick look thru the two Candid challenges.
The DOF is controlled by the aperture, the larger the aperture (smaller number) the smaller the DOF. It is also affected by the length of the lens; a longer lens (greater zoom) creates a smaller DOF. Using the two together (as Robert mentioned), long lens and large aperture, creates an even smaller DOF.
A word of caution however. While the effect of a shallow DOF can be approximated in post-processing by bluring everything but the subject, bluring to the point of obscuring 'major elements' could result in a DQ.
David |
I'm sorry, but I tend to disagree with that unless I am corrected by council. I really don't think that just blurring out the rest of the photo in PP is reason for DQ. Blurring an entire photo is within advanced editing usage to my knowledge, and I have used it before in other ways. However, given that, I don't think I would actually use the tool myself to blur out every single thing surrounding the subject right to the body line, but just to make the subject stand out.
If you take a photo of a crowd, then the entire crowd is the major element. Not just the subject, so to get a dof on it, you have to blur which would be a major element.
My camera has little zoom capability, and not the greatest choices of aperature. So unless I am sitting in a row of other people, and turn to the right or left and focus in on number 2 or 3 in that row, I won't get a shallow dof on the subject. It seems I may have to use manipulation on mine, unfortunately.
I just wish it was a candid, and no crowds were involved. LOL...
Rose
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01/09/2006 09:22:20 AM · #27 |
it doesn't require a crowd, although a crowd will help. what is required is a razor sharp focus on a single individual so that the subject will be isolated from the other people around him/her.
 
the trick is going to be getting points for creativity and interest ;-) |
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01/09/2006 09:28:50 AM · #28 |
Originally posted by David.C:
... A word of caution however. While the effect of a shallow DOF can be approximated in post-processing by bluring everything but the subject, bluring to the point of obscuring 'major elements' could result in a DQ.
David |
Good point David. Would be a shame for someone to get DQ'd by going a bit too far on the blur...
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01/09/2006 09:32:08 AM · #29 |
Candids of total strangers are scary. I can't help but think of this video everytime I think of going to do a candid: //www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/crazyscreaminglady.html
For me I really will have to get over my fear of this...that or just fake it with someone I know... |
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01/09/2006 09:58:16 AM · #30 |
Originally posted by fadedbeauty:
Candids of total strangers are scary. I can't help but think of this video everytime I think of going to do a candid: //www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/crazyscreaminglady.html
For me I really will have to get over my fear of this...that or just fake it with someone I know... |
LOL..I thought of that too! Also, to avoid an onslaught of questions or dirty looks, if you go to some outdoor game, usually you can get a good candid from someone. They don't know if you are taking a photo of them or your uncle in row three. LOL....So I think that is my plan.
Rose
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01/09/2006 10:07:12 AM · #31 |
Originally posted by fadedbeauty:
Candids of total strangers are scary. I can't help but think of this video everytime I think of going to do a candid: //www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/crazyscreaminglady.html
For me I really will have to get over my fear of this...that or just fake it with someone I know... |
That is soooo funny... I don't know what I would have done if she were yelling at me like that. I think I would laugh in her face. |
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01/09/2006 10:18:26 AM · #32 |
Deleted, my silliness
Message edited by author 2006-01-09 12:46:28. |
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01/09/2006 10:21:00 AM · #33 |
Originally posted by pawdrix:
Who the hell authors these descriptions???
What would be the harm of asking for a candid taken with ANY DOF that the photographer chooses?
"Take a candid of an actual person or people...be creative!!!
Is that so difficult?
Why do you insist on making things ridiculously difficult for people to get clear? So now if my dof is above an f8 I might suffer DNMC's? Actually, it is clear but it's stupid at the same time and that's where people get confused.
How annoying. |
I was not confused until I read this??? |
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01/09/2006 10:23:14 AM · #34 |
Originally posted by pawdrix:
Who the hell authors these descriptions???
What would be the harm of asking for a candid taken with ANY DOF that the photographer chooses?
"Take a candid of an actual person or people...be creative!!!
Is that so difficult?
Why do you insist on making things ridiculously difficult for people to get clear? So now if my dof is above an f8 I might suffer DNMC's? Actually, it is clear but it's stupid at the same time and that's where people get confused.
How annoying. |
have to disagree here, steve; this is really straight-forward. the challenge is to isolate a person from a group of people; DOF is the simplest/easiest way to do it in-camera.
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01/09/2006 10:24:48 AM · #35 |
I believe the intent of this challenge is to isolate a single person and not just shoot a crowd, hence the requirement for shallow DOF.
The other candid challenges may provide inspiration. |
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01/09/2006 10:25:40 AM · #36 |
Ahhh...your right Skip. I'm wrong.
 
Never mind!
Message edited by author 2006-01-09 10:34:38. |
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01/09/2006 10:37:05 AM · #37 |
I have a great idea for this challenge and luckily I will be traveling and soon be in one of the most crowded countries in the world, so finding a crowd won̢۪t be a problem. Finding a model can get tricky and submitting a picture using a dialup can get tricky.
Hopefully people won̢۪t kill me in votes for not using a shallow DOF as I don̢۪t intend to do that.
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01/09/2006 10:38:34 AM · #38 |
I for one am not going to hone in on the word "crowd". If the photo is candid, with something interesting in the background, then its fine by me when voting time comes. I will try to find a crowd myself, but if not, I am not going to ponder on this one with too much headache. LOL...
Rose
Message edited by author 2006-01-09 10:39:59.
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01/09/2006 10:39:22 AM · #39 |
Originally posted by vikas:
I have a great idea for this challenge and luckily I will be traveling and soon be in one of the most crowded countries in the world, so finding a crowd won̢۪t be a problem. Finding a model can get tricky and submitting a picture using a dialup can get tricky.
Hopefully people won̢۪t kill me in votes for not using a shallow DOF as I don̢۪t intend to do that. |
Going to China? LOL...
Rose
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01/09/2006 10:40:54 AM · #40 |
Originally posted by pawdrix:
Ahhh...your right Skip. I'm wrong.
Never mind! |
By the way, LOVE these shots. Very interesting backgrounds and people!
Rose
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01/09/2006 10:41:00 AM · #41 |
Originally posted by Rose8699:
Going to China? LOL...
Rose |
no the second most crowded but the most densely populated, India (my home country) :)
Leaving tomorrow !!! |
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01/09/2006 11:56:12 AM · #42 |
The challenge title is "Singled Out": to me this implies "draw our attention to one of more-than-one, and pretty much mandates more than one person in the shot.
The challenge description is "Drop your fear of candids this week and single-out a person in a crowd as your source of composition. Use minimal depth-of-field to your advantage to help isolate your subject, and as always, be creative.": This is much muddier than usual, actually. For example, the use of the phrase "source of composition" instead of "subject": is there a difference? Danged if I know. "Use minimal depth-of-field to your advantage" instead of "use a shallow DOF": Is there a difference? Danged if I know. Is "minimal" less than "shallow"?
The only thing I do know for sure: the challenge demands candid shots of people, and they need to be singled out from other people in the shot. The challenge seems to be advising the use of shallow DOF, but not mandating it. I'm not gonna worry about it. I don't even know offhand where I can go around here to DO this kind of work. If the weather were warmer, P'town would work nicely, lots of interesting people there, but it's COLD and not much is happening outside.
Robt. |
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01/09/2006 11:57:50 AM · #43 |
Originally posted by vikas:
Originally posted by Rose8699:
Going to China? LOL...
Rose |
no the second most crowded but the most densely populated, India (my home country) :)
Leaving tomorrow !!! |
I think "densely populated" and "crowded" are the same thing? Perhaps you mean "The second-most populated, but the most densely populated..." As if anyone cares :-) Have a good journey!
R. |
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01/09/2006 12:01:12 PM · #44 |
Cool - a challenge I suggested and even word for word:
Singled-Out
The inspiration for it was from
and for anyone thinking they have to have a bigma,
that was shot at 75mm with the 28-75mm Tamron.
Message edited by author 2006-01-09 12:05:25. |
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01/09/2006 12:02:48 PM · #45 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by vikas:
Originally posted by Rose8699:
Going to China? LOL...
Rose |
no the second most crowded but the most densely populated, India (my home country) :)
Leaving tomorrow !!! |
I think "densely populated" and "crowded" are the same thing? Perhaps you mean "The second-most populated, but the most densely populated..." As if anyone cares :-) Have a good journey!
R. |
second most populated is what I meant, thanks for correcting :)
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01/09/2006 12:06:36 PM · #46 |
Originally posted by vikas:
Originally posted by Rose8699:
Going to China? LOL...
Rose |
no the second most crowded but the most densely populated, India (my home country) :)
Leaving tomorrow !!! |
Monaco is the most densely populated, India comes a lowly 19th with 328 people per sq. Km.
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population_density
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01/09/2006 12:08:09 PM · #47 |
Originally posted by pawdrix:
Who the hell authors these descriptions??? |
I did. |
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01/09/2006 12:24:59 PM · #48 |
Originally posted by Rose8699:
I for one am not going to hone in on the word "crowd". If the photo is candid, with something interesting in the background, then its fine by me when voting time comes. ... |
Sometimes the challenge description works, sometimes not? Define it narrow, or define it loose? On 'Burst of Color' it sounded like extremely tight interpretation of the challenge description was in order...now for this one it's so loose we can discard words?
Amazing how that works! ;^)
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01/09/2006 12:25:45 PM · #49 |
i can't believe how much hand-wringing is going on over something so simple and straight-forward. the challenge is to isolate a person from a group of people; DOF is the simplest/easiest way to do it in-camera.
and for all ya'll complaining about lack of crowds, get over it. you could shoot this anywhere this is a line of people. any checkout line. a bar with just a few people sitting at the bar. any sporting event that has more than 4 players. all it takes is 'getting over your fear' and finding a creative way to isolate an individual from a group. |
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01/09/2006 12:29:09 PM · #50 |
Originally posted by skiprow:
i can't believe how much hand-wringing is going on over something so simple and straight-forward. ... |
Agreed! ;^)
Nice front-page shot the other day BTW!
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