Out of focus

[nickt]

Here is a video I like to recommend:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8T94sdiNjc
Also the links Horoscope and Hark posted are good stuff too. Learn those exposure basics and you will maximize your fun.

 

[g4crx]

Hahahahahahah, just you watch - the FB page is only a few clicks away lol.

 

[WayneF]

The facial perspective is better when you stand back a little more (the second one). The 35mm lens is too short to be a head and shoulders lens, it really needs to be more like 70mm for that (70mm DX, 105mm FX), to force you to stand back a bit more for head and shoulders. You want to always stand back 6 to 8 feet, for proper perspective. First fundamentals.

 

[Elliot87]

How do you think the "Pro's" GOT to be be "Pro's"? Yeah, by creating a FB page that TELLS EVERYONE they're a Pro! I mean... DUH!

Oh, and don't forget you'll need a really BIG lens and a hat; you can't be a "Pro" with a really big lens and a hat. Don't worry about what lens, or if you know how to use it, just make sure it's BIG. The hat, really, *should* be stupid looking but that's getting more and more optional these days. The hat itself, though, is not an option; you must have one if you want to be taken seriously as a "Pro". So, yeah... Here's your To Do List: Really big lens, Stupid Hat, FB Page. And start referring to yourself as a "photog"; almost forgot that... Very important. Cram that into conversation at every opportunity. Create opportunities to cram it it in to conversations where none exist as necessary.

Post back when you've completed Stage One.

....

I was just joking about this this other day at a festival I was at. There was a whole family of "photogs" all with BIG Canon lens and hats increasing in stupidity. The son had the most ridiculous hat, a vivid lime green one. I assume the extreme stupidity of his hat was to make up for his lack of experience, I'm sure it will show in the results he gets!

 

[Philnz]

How do you think the "Pro's" GOT to be be "Pro's"? Yeah, by creating a FB page that TELLS EVERYONE they're a Pro! I mean... DUH!

Oh, and don't forget you'll need a really BIG lens and a hat; you can't be a "Pro" with a really big lens and a hat. Don't worry about what lens, or if you know how to use it, just make sure it's BIG. The hat, really, *should* be stupid looking but that's getting more and more optional these days. The hat itself, though, is not an option; you must have one if you want to be taken seriously as a "Pro". So, yeah... Here's your To Do List: Really big lens, Stupid Hat, FB Page. And start referring to yourself as a "photog"; almost forgot that... Very important. Cram that into conversation at every opportunity. Create opportunities to cram it it in to conversations where none exist as necessary.

Post back when you've completed Stage One.

....

I already have a big lens. Off to town in morning to get a silly hat. May even let my hair grow.

 

[g4crx]

Hahah, what have I started here?!

 

[aroy]

So stepping back would reduce the chance of having the second subject being out of focus even if they were not in the same DOF? That's good to know as using f1.8 makes it easier to shoot in low light.

I take your point on the soft image, but currently don't have any post processing software, I'm trying to learn the fundamentals of taking decent photos in the first place as I'm still a noob lol.

You use F1.8 to isolate subjects from the surrounding. In this case F4 would have been more appropriate, as in this image



At F1.8 every thing not in focus plane will be out of focus. Notice two ladies in plane are in focus, but those ahead or behind are not

Note that I used higher ISO, so that the flash is not required.

If you are not using any post processing software you are missing a lot. Shoot RAW and then use the free Nikon Capture NX-D (which I use). You can download it from Nikon site. The least that you gain in PP is ability to adjust exposure, recover shadows and play around with white balance.

 

[g4crx]

Cheers Aroy, I think I have it now, probably safer to use a higher f stop if I'm shooting more than one subject. Reduces the chance that I may not be able to get into a position to have them all level.

I'm getting a free copy of the latest PS with a laptop I'm buying so will have access to software, will have to take some time to learn things.

 

[aroy]

Cheers Aroy, I think I have it now, probably safer to use a higher f stop if I'm shooting more than one subject. Reduces the chance that I may not be able to get into a position to have them all level.

I'm getting a free copy of the latest PS with a laptop I'm buying so will have access to software, will have to take some time to learn things.

I would still recommend that you use Nikon Capture NX-D. Do all your adjustments in it and then export it as a 16bit TIFF file for further working on PS.