Using Transformers to Play w/DoF

[dadiam]

I took a series of 3 shots to play with DoF. I shot all images in Manual Mode. I have been trying to use Manual mode more often.

I always get such great feedback here. Please be open an honest about my work with these images. That's the only way I'm going to improve. Your feedback brings my attention to things I don't even think about because I'm relatively new at photography.

I decided to use my son's new Transformers as my subjects... or maybe it was just an excuse to play with his toys. Either way, I had fun.

Desert Tracker Ratchet (Autobot) sneaking up on Deep Desert Brawl (Decepticon) shot with Canon SX120is, tripod mounted.

Image No.1
100iso, 1/25, f/5, 12.8mm
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4225507065_3d233d2a96.jpg

Image No.2
100iso, 1/4, f/8, 25.2mm
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2797/4225527675_27acf2e91a.jpg

Image No.3
100iso, 1/8, f/8, 22.4mm
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/4226294936_3d8d50beaa.jpg

[vk2gwk]

Sorry Dadiam. It may have been a good excersise to learn more about DOF but I have absolutely no clue about what is going on in the pictures.... Cannot make head or tail of this collection of plastic junk... Are you sure you did not put the pictures upside down (with that thing with wheels in the air...) ?

If the idea is to shoot some posed child toys in "battle order" I think you should start with a neutral or fitting background (now there are blurred brown bars and a table top (?) distracting from the action) and create more space between the toys so that they are recognisable as such and the action becomes apparent from the relative positions.

[pitrow]

If you're trying to learn about something the best way to do it is to only change one variable at a time. It looks to me like you're changing both the f-stop and the zoom on the lens. That makes it hard to see what each is doing.

You should try it again but leave the zoom alone and only change the f-stop and see what that does. Then do another set where you only change the zoom and leave the f-stop the same for all of them.

That way you'll get a better idea of how each affects DOF.

Other than that, not bad pictures. A little tight on the crop for my tastes, and they look a little dark on my monitor.

[Sam]

Try zooming out wide and shooting in macro mode. You will get more background blur that way. You'll need to be in close to your subject though.


Typically you want the longest focal length at the widest aperture number (lowest number) to create background blur. Although with playing around with our SD600 I found out that I get much better background blur if I shoot macro mode and zoom out wide for the better aperture value. The bummer about that is you need to be shooting toys for it to work, but you have that under control :)

[dadiam]

Sorry Dadiam. It may have been a good excersise to learn more about DOF but I have absolutely no clue about what is going on in the pictures.... Cannot make head or tail of this collection of plastic junk... Are you sure you did not put the pictures upside down (with that thing with wheels in the air...) ?

If the idea is to shoot some posed child toys in "battle order" I think you should start with a neutral or fitting background (now there are blurred brown bars and a table top (?) distracting from the action) and create more space between the toys so that they are recognisable as such and the action becomes apparent from the relative positions.

Thank you so much for your honest assessment of my shots. That's what I'm looking for. I laughed at your description of the Transformers ("collection of plastic junk"). Those are pretty popular toys for kids right now. They are robots that transform into vehicles and back again. They were pretty popular when I was little and they're making a comeback. That was around 25 years ago.

Thanks again!
Joe

[dadiam]

If you're trying to learn about something the best way to do it is to only change one variable at a time. It looks to me like you're changing both the f-stop and the zoom on the lens. That makes it hard to see what each is doing.

You should try it again but leave the zoom alone and only change the f-stop and see what that does. Then do another set where you only change the zoom and leave the f-stop the same for all of them.

That way you'll get a better idea of how each affects DOF.

Other than that, not bad pictures. A little tight on the crop for my tastes, and they look a little dark on my monitor.

I agree. I probably didn't go about it in the most systematic way. I did a series of photos yesterday where I played with exposure through a series of changes just ss, and then just aperture. That worked really well. I guess this started as an exercise and turned into something a little more fun for me. Nonetheless, I wanted to share it for feedback.

Try zooming out wide and shooting in macro mode. You will get more background blur that way. You'll need to be in close to your subject though.


Typically you want the longest focal length at the widest aperture number (lowest number) to create background blur. Although with playing around with our SD600 I found out that I get much better background blur if I shoot macro mode and zoom out wide for the better aperture value. The bummer about that is you need to be shooting toys for it to work, but you have that under control

I will absolutely give this a try. Thank you for the specific feedback and shooting suggestion. I will probably try a shot with entirely different composition. As mentioned earlier, the wall and table are a little distracting. I may pick subjects that are a little less complex looking too. :D

Thank you everyone. Another lesson learned.

[dadiam]

Try zooming out wide and shooting in macro mode. You will get more background blur that way. You'll need to be in close to your subject though.

Like this?

Macro Mode: 1/2, f/3.2, 100iso, 6.7mm
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2804/4226186133_5b967d53e6.jpg

[vk2gwk]

The point with your camera is that the shortest focal length is very short. You shot the pots at6.7 mm. To get a reasonably shallow depth of field your focal length needs to be a lot longer, given the widest aperture of your camera (F2.8 or is it 4.3 at longer focal length?). I suggest you read up a bit about focal length, depth of field, aperture and the interaction between the three. Once you have a good grasp of this concept you'll be able to work out for yourself why you do not get enough blur in the background at F2.8 @ 7mm. And once you have a grasp on this you'll also see the possibilities.

[dadiam]

The point with your camera is that the shortest focal length is very short. You shot the pots at6.7 mm. To get a reasonably shallow depth of field your focal length needs to be a lot longer, given the widest aperture of your camera (F2.8 or is it 4.3 at longer focal length?). I suggest you read up a bit about focal length, depth of field, aperture and the interaction between the three. Once you have a good grasp of this concept you'll be able to work out for yourself why you do not get enough blur in the background at F2.8 @ 7mm. And once you have a grasp on this you'll also see the possibilities.

I've been studying for a little more than a week. I'm trying... :D

Thanks again. And... I'm still smiling about your reaction to the Transformers. It was one of the topics of discussion at the dinner table tonight.

Joe

[jetcode]

Combine 2 passions at once and few will make sense of it ... trust me.

[dadiam]

Combine 2 passions at once and few will make sense of it ... trust me.

Well, I wouldn't say that I'm passionate about Transformers. They were just within arms reach. :p

[vk2gwk]

... And... I'm still smiling about your reaction to the Transformers. It was one of the topics of discussion at the dinner table tonight.... Joe

Great! No I did not recognise them. My granddaughters play with different dolls :)

[jetcode]

Well, I wouldn't say that I'm passionate about Transformers. They were just within arms reach. :p

I don't have transformers at my house, office, etc .... and the way you described their revival it sounds like you are passionate about them. I played with matchbox cars as a kid and wish I had a few of those they were vintage 60's and early 70's. I gave them to a kid a long time ago.

[dadiam]

I don't have transformers at my house, office, etc .... and the way you described their revival it sounds like you are passionate about them. I played with matchbox cars as a kid and wish I had a few of those they were vintage 60's and early 70's. I gave them to a kid a long time ago.

I hear ya'. Yeah... they really do belong to my son. He is very enthusiastic about his Transformers. I bet I can find at least one Transformer (or Transformer related item) in each room of my house. :D

[jetcode]

I didn't even see the 'son' ... I've missed communications in 3 threads this afternoon ... time for Geritol

[dadiam]

I decided to use my son's new Transformers as my subjects...

this outta' help. :D

[Sam]

Like this?

Macro Mode: 1/2, f/3.2, 100iso, 6.7mm
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2804/4226186133_5b967d53e6.jpg

Now try something smaller than the crock pot as your subject and get in really close... back up whatever it is you want in the background until you get the blur.

The point with your camera is that the shortest focal length is very short. You shot the pots at6.7 mm. To get a reasonably shallow depth of field your focal length needs to be a lot longer, given the widest aperture of your camera (F2.8 or is it 4.3 at longer focal length?). I suggest you read up a bit about focal length, depth of field, aperture and the interaction between the three. Once you have a good grasp of this concept you'll be able to work out for yourself why you do not get enough blur in the background at F2.8 @ 7mm. And once you have a grasp on this you'll also see the possibilities.

You are correct, but he is using a point and shoot similar to the one I have. With that sensor it's tough to get a small depth of field especially zoomed in because of the aperture. It's like 5.6 or so and the sensor generates a much larger DoF than SLRs do.

I had the best luck with trying to create narrow depth of field with small objects in macro mode. Different tools, different tricks.

[EDIT] zoom on that camera is equivalent to 36mm - 360mm on a 35mm scale. Crop is severe with those little sensors.

[Cetre]

I'm in my late 30's and Transformers rock! (Do people still say rock?) Sorry for being off-topic...

[dadiam]

I'm in my late 30's and Transformers rock! (Do people still say rock?) Sorry for being off-topic...

lol, nice! yeah, you can say rock. :cool: