1st attempt at capturing DOF

Picture taken at Pinnacle National Monument in CA

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I like the DOF in this, intersting shot, the yellows and oranges of the fungi really pops out for me

Del

Looks like you've mastered it. (Okay, mastered is a little generous, but you've got the hang of it.)

Thanks. Learning is what makes this fun.

Isolating the branch was a success, but the extremely bright out-of-focus material behind it tends to distract the eye severely. Try to pick a vantage point that eliminates such distractions and learn what to look for in the viewfinder. There is a tendency to ignore such things at the time you take the picture, but that's one of the ways the eyes/brain work together to fool you. You concentrate on what you want to see and the brain helps out by counteracting the distractions.

However, when the disinterested and unprejudiced viewer comes along, he sees the white blobs and that's about it.

Here's a hint for reducing that effect. Learn to squint while taking the picture to the extent that you can no longer see any detail - just shapes. You will find that it will help you to see what it's really going to look like as a photo.

Thanks for the tip

I agree the white at the back draws the eye away from the quality

successful attempt!