Clarens South AFrica

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Permalink Reply by Gary Vernon on February 14, 2012 at 4:09am

Both shots appear out of focus where it matters, did you use a tripod?

The selective color cheapens it somehow imho, try just reducing the back ground saturation to separate the subject..

Permalink Reply by Trevor Salzwedel on February 14, 2012 at 8:07am

I agree with the picture of the fly that I never focused on the face as he was moving so fast I was battling to focus. I don't understand about the flower though, what should I have focused on? Would it be better if I left the picture in full colour? This is the unedited photograph.

Permalink Reply by Gary Vernon on February 14, 2012 at 9:32am

Hi Trevor,

the unedited version above shows quite a busy background which i guess is why you cropped it.

I've posted below two links of similar flowers by Mandy Disher showing shallow DOF, but getting the stamens in sharp focus..

Getting the lens closer to the flower even with a longer aperture will blur the background nicely - if you find there is not enough ambient light then use diffused flash to get the exposure..

If you notice in Mandy's two images she has not shot the whole flower but used elements within the flowers for composition

http://1x.com/?action=profile&u=1180&show=1#!/photo/47789/a...

http://1x.com/?action=profile&u=1180&show=1#!/photo/47830/a...

Permalink Reply by Trevor Salzwedel on February 14, 2012 at 8:40pm

I think I understand now, thank you.