Out of Focus - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

01/27/2007 01:21:44 PM · #1

Out of Focus: Take a photograph in which the entire image is rendered out of focus.

Basic Editing + Extra Rule: No gaussian blur.

I think that this would really epitomise the "challenge" aspect of it and force a different way of thinking on the DPC crowd.

You can now begin berating me for suggesting this :)

Lee

pawdrix

Nikon D700

01/27/2007 01:32:53 PM · #2

are there any cool samples on the net that capture what you think optimizes the Challenge?

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/27/2007 01:45:21 PM · #3

Originally posted by Tranquil:

You can now begin berating me for suggesting this :)

What kind of a photographer would say a fool thing like that?!?!?

[ BIG GRIN ]

Message edited by author 2007-01-27 14:07:33.

Artifacts

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

01/27/2007 02:04:21 PM · #4

Originally posted by Tranquil:

Out of Focus: Take a photograph in which the entire image is rendered out of focus.

Why?

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/27/2007 02:06:33 PM · #5

Just thinking about this. One thing that I think would drive me totally batty is looking at 250 or more totally out of focus images. Talk about eyes going googly.

But then, one could vote in installments of 25 over 10 days.

Wait, it's 7 days. OK, hmmmm, where's my calculator.

-----

Added: but I do like the thought. I think.

Message edited by author 2007-01-27 14:07:06.

margiemu

Canon EOS-20D

01/27/2007 02:12:00 PM · #6

I've seen some interesting abstract photos done with the entire image being out of focus. Things like wildflowers in a field, or spots of light. But I imagine it's hard to do it well, and we'd probably be stuck with a lot of substandard photos to slog through...

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

01/27/2007 02:13:22 PM · #7

I suggested this a long time ago but mine said your subject must be out of focus not necessarily everything.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

01/27/2007 02:15:33 PM · #8

Something like this ...

skiprow

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6

01/27/2007 02:16:17 PM · #9

Originally posted by pawdrix:

are there any cool samples on the net that capture what you think optimizes the Challenge?

Yeah, I've seen some great work - I'll try to search around a bit and post up here.

Originally posted by yanko:

I suggested this a long time ago but mine said your subject must be out of focus not necessarily everything.

Yeah that's definitely a compromise.

kteach

Nikon D50

01/27/2007 02:16:51 PM · #10

I think we'd get a wide variety of interpretations (but that's nothing new, is it?)
from soft focus

to motion blur

and we'd have lots of abstracts

and bokeh lights

and there would be those people felt that they just had to have a LITTLE bit in focus

I think it would be harder than it sounds, but seems like it could lead to some neat results.

Message edited by author 2007-01-27 14:43:40.

01/27/2007 02:18:04 PM · #11

Originally posted by yanko:

I suggested this a long time ago but mine said your subject must be out of focus not necessarily everything.

But that would be "minimal" focus (hopefully not in a "minimal" style challenge). What he is suggesting is totally out of focus.

I thought

gordon had some examples, but I can't find them right now. I did a totally out of focus for "Pink Floyd"

and I got this reaction from

larus: "Sorry but to me this is just an out of focus, blurry mess and nothing I find visually/aesthetically pleasing so I voted it a 3."

I suspect a lot of people would react in a similar manner.

01/27/2007 02:19:21 PM · #12

Xion's got a few

Gonna keep looking.

Message edited by author 2007-01-27 14:19:46.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

01/27/2007 02:19:52 PM · #13

Originally posted by kteach:

I think we'd get a wide variety of interpretations (but that's nothing new, is it?)
from soft focus to motion blur
and we'd have lots of abstracts and bokeh lights
and there would be those people felt that they just had to have a LITTLE bit in focus

I think it would harder than it sounds, but seems like it could lead to some neat results.

Good examples! I love the cello picture.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

01/27/2007 02:20:42 PM · #14

nshapiro has some as well.

01/27/2007 02:24:41 PM · #15

from

tranquil's portfolio

from

bod

from

ware3927

from

arngrimur's portfolio

THIS IS FUN! This would be a great challenge.

xion has a ton of good ones.

Message edited by author 2007-01-27 14:40:25.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/27/2007 02:27:06 PM · #16

Originally posted by ursula:

Wow ... that's an archaeological dig :)

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

01/27/2007 02:32:55 PM · #17

Of my own challenge entries, these come to mind. All of them tanked, though the birds didn't do all that bad... But then, the birds are the only decent image of the bunch :-)

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/05/2007 01:15:46 PM · #18

I have this set

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/05/2007 01:19:41 PM · #19

Originally posted by stdavidson:

Originally posted by Tranquil:
Out of Focus: Take a photograph in which the entire image is rendered out of focus.

Why?

Because you wouldn't do it normally ?
Because you might learn something from it ?
Because it would challenge you ?

Enough reasons ? :) Personally I find it a really useful thing to do for a few reasons: Because on occasion I like the results. (E.g., see the work of Uta Barth) It also changes the way I look at a scene, breaking it down into the basics of shape, colour and light - much like impressionists approached a scene. It makes you carefully consider the design elements in the frame and not the 'thing' you are pointing the camera at. It makes you consider the composition more carefully and helps you put it together in a pleasing way, rather than just recording a scene.

It changes how I see my in focus pictures too, I think more about the light and the design and the shapes, rather than the things I'm pointing the camera at - people become relationships between circles and lines, mountains become considered as triangular shapes - the negative and positive space shapes between sky and ground become clearer when you look at them out of focus.

Shooting out of focus breaks the scene down into the basic parts that can be lost or forgotten about in the rush to record 'what it is' and you start thinking about making photographs, rather than just taking records. It is a good way to progress, even if you don't like the completely OOF shot along the way.

Citadel

Nikon D7500

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

02/05/2007 01:29:20 PM · #20

I could really excel at this type of challenge since all of my pics are out of focus anyways!

Seriously though, I think this could be a fun challenge and take us (as a community) off the beaten path and force to think in new ways.

emorgan49

Olympus E-5

Olympus 50mm f/1.8 MF Normal Zuiko

02/05/2007 04:11:04 PM · #21

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

02/05/2007 04:18:45 PM · #22

See my portfolio in general. But on the other hand, if I tried to take a picture for this challenge it would probably be so sharp it could cut steel. LOL.

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

02/05/2007 04:21:04 PM · #23

Originally posted by emorgan49:

I like it but I would have a hard time giving it a great score for an OOF challenge.

Originally posted by ursula:

I did a totally out of focus for "Pink Floyd"

and I got this reaction from larus: "Sorry but to me this is just an out of focus, blurry mess and nothing I find visually/aesthetically pleasing so I voted it a 3."

I suspect a lot of people would react in a similar manner.

Ha. Well I wouldn't say that but it seems to me something IS in focus. How else do you have those fairly sharp lines?

sher