Selective Focus

[Mike4AU]

The challenge on this month's macro/closeup section of The Nikonians is Selective Focus. The idea is to focus on the main subject or part of it and everything else is out of focus. I view this technique as artsy. Not everyone likes this stuff, but I do. Typically, one shoots these shots wide open.

Hope you like.

#1 - Goldenrod




#2 - Bougainvillea




#3 - Pink Dogwood

[arthurs]

Beautiful Mike, just beautiful camera work. :clapper:

Wish I could do that, all my pictures turn out pretty crappy, I guess some day I'll need to actually learn how to use my camera....

[spl_nut]

Aperture, right? The lessons of my 7th grade photography class are well forgotten, and I'd like to know how to get more in focus when shooting close up / macro.

[spl_nut]

I should have complemented... Very nice!

:)

[Jason]

Cool stuff once again.

Didn't you do something else with the pink dogwood a while back? Like a digital painting effect?

[JamesK]

Aperture, right? The lessons of my 7th grade photography class are well forgotten, and I'd like to know how to get more in focus when shooting close up / macro.

You need massive aperatures as you get closer and closer to your subject. When I shot product, it was not unusual to use aperatures around F32 and F45 to ensure sharpness from front to back on little items and the backgrounds would still be blurry. Just remember that the closer you are, the blurrier the background is gonna be.

I'm curious what lens you're using. The blur is not what I'm used to seeing from a lens. Are you doing it in photoshop?

[droht]

In contrast to a skilled photographer capturing nature's beauty here is what I am able to come up with......

[Mep]

Here is kind of a cool one I took.

[Mep]

ok, one more

[spl_nut]

In contrast to a skilled photographer capturing nature's beauty here is what I am able to come up with......

That's pretty damn good :yes:

My old camera might be capable, but I certainly lack the skills.

[spl_nut]

You need massive aperatures as you get closer and closer to your subject. When I shot product, it was not unusual to use aperatures around F32 and F45 to ensure sharpness from front to back on little items and the backgrounds would still be blurry.

My digi's max f-stop is 11... Guess it's time to buy a real camera :)

[Mike4AU]

Thanks for the kind words....and the good pics that you guys have posted!!

Jason....good memory...yes, I did post some digital paintings of that pink dogwood.

I used apertures ranging from f/2.5 to f/3.2 on these shots. The goldenrod was taken with a Nikkor nifty fifty (1.8) with 12mm extension tubes (at f/2.5). The bougainvillea was shot with a Nikkor 105 VR lens at f/3.2. The pink dogwood was taken with a Nikkor 70-200 VR lens at f/2.8.

I typically shoot macro/closeup shots at apertures ranging from f/18 to f/25. I never go above f/25 (at least that I can recall) because of diffraction. One can also shoot macro shots by using a technique called focus stacking. I shoot these at f/11 with a tripod and focus rails and do the focus stacking with a free app (CombineZP).

The blur that you see in these shots is all in-camera...not Photoshopped. I think it is fair to say that the 105 VR lens and the 70-200 VR lens are considered to be pro lenses and will do some wonderful things (like beautiful bokeh). The nifty fifty is an inexpensive lens, but it is tack sharp and one of Nikkor's legendary lenses (although limited).

BTW, keep the shots coming!

Mike

[arthurs]

This is as good a picture as I've taken lately...and it leaves alot to be desired based on what I see from you guys....sorry, no flower pics, I'll work on some next weekend!