Old Vehicle

[Metalstrm]

Took a photograph of this old lorry and added some (obviously) fake dof. C&c?

Thanks!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/3078063207_f0f6102ea9_o.jpg

[SwingBopper]

I think it would be best to just blur the BG and leave the lorry in focus.

[Walczak Photo]

I tend to agree with Swingbopper here...I think the truck should have been in focus. At the very least, your simulated DOF is very abrupt at the transition, yet the amount of blur on the far side of the truck is similar to the background. When you are doing this type of work, remember that DOF blur is usually gradual to one degree or another (unless we're talking macro).

I would say though that give or take the DOF issue...oddly enough I do like this shot. If you've never been to the Cleveland Museum of Art, then this reference won't make much sense, but they used to have a piece in their contemporary art exhibit that was something of a traffic scene with "a man" (statue actually) walking in front of a truck. Normally I don't really care for "contemporary" art...most of the time I really don't get it, but I do like that one particular piece. I can't say exactly why but something about this shot really reminded me of that piece.

On the other hand, I'm also nuts -and- I'm whacked out on sinus meds at the moment so it's probably just best to ignore most of what I say :D.

Peace,
Jim

[Corser1]

One thing that caught my eye that I would change is the blur/DOF you placed between the front wheels. There's a blur between them but everything directly straight of them(the road in front of the truck) is sharp and in focus. I would keep it consistent and add DOF on the road as well.

[Metalstrm]

My God, I just woke up and had a look at this again. God, the blur looks horrible. How could I...? This happens to me quite a lot. Something looks good at the moment, but after a few hours of not looking at the image, I seem to get some perspective back and look at it differently. Yes, thanks for the comments, the blur on the truck does transition too abruptly. I'll see if I put an updated image later on today.

:)

[Walczak Photo]

My God, I just woke up and had a look at this again. God, the blur looks horrible. How could I...? This happens to me quite a lot. Something looks good at the moment, but after a few hours of not looking at the image, I seem to get some perspective back and look at it differently. Yes, thanks for the comments, the blur on the truck does transition too abruptly. I'll see if I put an updated image later on today.

:)


This is a lesson I actually learned when I started doing my own recording as a musician. When I'm working down in the studio (music studio), I'll tend to be down there for hours working on any given song or track and I tend to be heavy-handed with effects such as reverb and such to begin with. What I learned is that my ears will get "tired" and I end up going over-board on the effects and won't actually hear that as I'm working. I'll come back hours later or the next day with fresh ears and think "my god...what a mess".

The same is true of photography and editing pictures...your eyes can get tired after a while and you don't see things quite right. The lesson is, be it music or photo editing, take lot's a breaks! Give yourself and your senses a chance to rest so that you don't loose perspective.

Peace,
Jim

[Metalstrm]

This is a lesson I actually learned when I started doing my own recording as a musician. When I'm working down in the studio (music studio), I'll tend to be down there for hours working on any given song or track and I tend to be heavy-handed with effects such as reverb and such to begin with. What I learned is that my ears will get "tired" and I end up going over-board on the effects and won't actually hear that as I'm working. I'll come back hours later or the next day with fresh ears and think "my god...what a mess".

The same is true of photography and editing pictures...your eyes can get tired after a while and you don't see things quite right. The lesson is, be it music or photo editing, take lot's a breaks! Give yourself and your senses a chance to rest so that you don't loose perspective.

Peace,
Jim

Oh I know exactly what you mean, I play electric and acoustic guitar and used to be in charge of recording our band's tracks. In fact, my ears actually tire out faster than my eyes.

I'm a bit tired tonight so I'll try a better edit tomorrow. Thanks for the tips.