Crystal Clear – doesn’t need apply to everything in your photo

 

One of the most convenient features of today’s digital cameras is their ability to automatically focus on your subject. The result is that we have fewer out of focus pictures. In fact, sometimes we end of with picture that have too much in focus.

Except for the least expensive models, most digital cameras have the one or more “selective” focusing options.

For example, when shooting portraits, one technique that’s often used is to focus carefully on the face while at the same time throwing the background out of focus. This technique allows the photographer to “zero in” on the main subject. The key to “defocusing” the background is to set the lens to use a large aperture (smaller f/stop number).

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In this photo I’ve focused carefully on the young girl’s face. In automatic mode, the camera set the lens for a relatively small (f/11 aperture) keeping much of the background in focus and a bit distracting.	For this shot, I also focused on her face. However, by setting the lens to a larger aperture (f/3.5), the background appears largely out of focus. The face becomes the center of attention.
Of course this technique is not limited to portraits or faces. Notice the house in the background in this snapshot.	In this snapshot using a large aperture, the house is barely distinguishable making the lily more prominent.

 

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Quick tip for selective focus:

• Set your mode dial to “A” -(aperture preferred automatic exposure)
• Rotate the control dial until the smallest f/stop (largest aperture)
• Focus on your main subject
• Shoot

 

 

Written by Arnie Lee

 

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Sometimes it pays to move in close

 

For portraits, conventional composition has you surrounding your main subject with a “border” – space around the face

For a more intimate look at your subject, throw away the rulebook!

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In this photo, the young girl’s face has an interesting look but the background is slightly distracting.	Here we’ve moved closer to subject, eliminated the background and keyed in on her eyes and her giant smile.
By including the yard in this photo, we’ve caught this young lady in action but lost the emphasis of her face.	Again, by moving in close (or zooming in) we’ve changed the feel from an action shot to a portrait.

 

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By simply minimizing or eliminating the border, you’ll key in on the all important eyes and face of your subject. The next time you’re shooting faces, try filling the frame.

 

 

Written by Arnie Lee

 

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Staying close to mother earth

 

One thing that I’ve tried to do to increase the intimacy of my photos is to GET LOW – stay close to the path leading from the camera lens to the subject.

By path, I mean the space between me and the subject. The subject may be very close, slightly close or far away. And the space between me and the subject may be the ground, water, grass, whatever. By including this space up close, I think I’m better able to convey the scale of the subject.

In my younger days, I had little problem photographing these paths by crouching down or even laying on the ground to capture this space. Unfortunately, my legs and back no longer afford me the same body flexibility.

For some years now to save my back, I’ve used an angle viewfinder. The angle viewfinder that I use snaps onto my camera’s eyepiece and has a built-in diopter adjustment (handy since I use eyeglasses for distant viewing) and two levels of magnification for more precise focusing.

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This angle viewfinder is for a Canon DSLR. Nikon, Olympus, Pentax and Sony have similar viewfinders for their cameras.	Using the angle viewfinder, I’m able to compose and focus very low to the ground without breaking my back.
The angle viewfinder let me capture a closeup of the pine cone. Instead of a top-down photo, I was able to include the pine needles with this side view of the subject.
Many of the new DLSRs have a feature that minimizes the need for the angle viewfinder accessory – an LCD which swivels. Below, the LCD on this Sony A55 is articulated. You can swivel the LCD to provide a large view when the camera is sitting on the ground and from almost any other angle too. Among the other camera models which have a swiveling LCD are the Canon T3i and 60D, Nikon D5100, Sony A33 and Olympus E-620.
The LCD on this Sony A55 conveniently folds out to provide a 3″ live viewfinder.	In the field, I can place the camera on the ground and compose the photo from my sitting position.
The swiveling LCD made it easy for me to include the surroundings at Monument Valley. Although I was very distant from the monument in the background, this was a convenient way to show the texture of the ground. BTW, my pants remained clean afterwards.
I have many photos of little people taken from above – great if you don’t mind seeing the tops of their heads and hair. But with an angle viewfinder or swiveling LCD you can easily lower your viewpoint for kids’ portraits.
Here I was able to get down to the level of two of our grandkids. From down here, it’s much easier to see their eyes.

 

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The next time you’re out taking pictures (hopefully very soon), make it a point GET LOW. Take a few shots from the very lowest point of view that you can. It can make for some interesting photos.

 

 

Written by Arnie Lee

 

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