Different images, how to improve?

Brian

Senior Member
I been writing in another thread about my 50mm lens, I've been thinking if there were another lens which I would maybe use more, but still with the f/1.4. I do see the benefits of doing portraits with the 50mm, but besides this, I hardly ever use it.

Took it out yesterday and tried to photograph different things with it, but I think several of the images would have been better with the 35mm.

Maybe someone have a comment or 2 about how I could have improved some of these shots, still using the 50mm? Most are pretty much out of the camera, added contrast and so. The B&W got more work.





This is okay, I think. But that goes under 'portrait' I think:

50mm_kongelundsvej_1740_web.jpg






50mm_kongelundsvej_1591_web.jpg



50mm_kongelundsvej_1599_web.jpg



50mm_kongelundsvej_1682_web.jpg






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These are the images that "fit my style" of close-up and wide-open with a fast-50.

1) The portrait of the dog, the nose extends forward from the points of focus, the eyes. I would have tried a higher angle to put the eyes and nose in a closer plane of focus. eyes in focus, but not the "coming right at you" effect.

2) golden needles: with these type of shots, I try to have a plane in focus, nothing in front of that plane out of focus- which I find distracting. So, I line the shot up with the closest object in focus with all of the out of focus areas behind the point of focus.

3) Split wood- plane of focus is sharp, high-contrast, works well for a 2-D shot. I tend to use a higher angle to with point of focus up front, let the depth of the logs carry out of focus.

4) Berries, would like to see more contrast and the Red of the berries preserved.

5) You have the focus down pat, and really shows the narrow DOF of this lens- and receding background. I tend to look for a plant, an object, something that rises up to get the extra dimension.
 

Brian

Senior Member
If you don't mind, I'm going to try to illustrate by example where I can. I'll use various 50/1.4's, this is a Minolta.
 

Brian

Senior Member
A little extreme for "perpendicular plane rising from the ground", but another shot wide-open with an F1.5 Sonnar. About the same angle as your ground level shot.

If you have any historic cemeteries nearby, they can make for some nice pictures. This one is from Gunston Hall, home of George Mason. A few miles from me, great place to walk around with a camera.
 

Brian

Senior Member
How about this for a foliage at sunset comparison?

I'm always looking for that last ray of sunshine to hit something. In this case, it was the faded blossoms of a cherry tree.
 
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