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BACK TO BASICS CHALLENGE 11 - SOFT FOCUS TO SET A MOOD

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lynnh
 
Posts: 3633

BACK TO BASICS CHALLENGE 11 - SOFT FOCUS TO SET A MOOD

Post Sat Sep 27, 2014 12:20 am


Back to Basics Informal Meet-up
Repeat after me: “I will not be a lazy photographer.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A soft image is subtle and provides a sense of secrecy.
Softness and OOF (Out of Focus) to Create a Mood.

When you think of photography, you probably think about images that are in focus. A blurry photo is considered a failed attempt and is discarded as useless. It doesn't represent the subject in an ideal way. But, there are a few instances where an out-of-focus photograph is preferred. An unfocused subject in a photo can create an interesting and unique look that can give your photo a completely different feel.

When creating a composition with no sharp focus, keep in mind that you'll still have a focal point or a main subject. The subject's story is going to be told through lines, shapes, and colours, but you lose the elements of texture, fine lines, and literal details. Basically you are showing the subject's essence, so make sure it's interesting.

Since you have fewer elements to work with in a soft composition, you have to pay extra careful attention to the ones you do have. Here are the elements to consider:

Lines - Your lines are softened but will still work as leading guides, telling a viewer where to look in the composition. Finer lines may be lost, which simplifies the composition and draws more attention to the bolder lines. Make sure your lines don't take away from your composition in any way.

Shapes - Your shapes contain less detail and become very basic. However, they play a major role in your photo. If the shapes aren't interesting, you have no reason to create this kind of image. Smoother shapes work better in soft compositions than rigid shapes.

Colors - Colors work as the strongest element in soft compositions. Because color appeals to people, it's used in abstract art, interior design, and fashion to create compositions. If you can create an interesting composition of color, you don't need sharp focus to tell a story.

Here are some HOW TO Tips for getting soft photos straight from the camera:

•Try setting the aperture on your camera to a wide setting. This will give your photograph a narrow depth of field, which means much of the photo will be out of focus.

•If your camera has a manual focus option, use it. By focusing on areas away from the subject and by using a wide aperture, the subject will be out of focus.

•If you're using a camera that only contains auto-focus capabilities, you can make the camera focus on small item in the foreground, such as perhaps the leaf on a tree, which should leave the background -- including the subject -- out of focus. Or, you can focus on an item far in the background, which should leave the subject in the foreground out of focus.

•You can try shooting a "soft" photo, which looks a little like an unfocused photo. For example, use extremely bright external lighting to purposefully wash out the subject.

•One final tip: Make sure that the out-of-focus subject is only slightly out of focus. If the unfocused subject is so blurry that someone viewing the photo cannot recognize it, the artistic aspect of your photo will be negated. It takes some work to get the lack of focus just right, but you'll have a cool photograph once you do.

To see some interesting examples of Soft photos, please click here http://gizmodo.com/5861809/56-images-th ... t-of-focus

This week’s assignment

Please post one or two soft photos. Blur is okay, but we should be able to discern the subject… we don’t want it too abstract. You are going for a mood.

If you would like to discuss your experience, please do. We can learn from it.

Our goal is to get our best shot through the camera and not the computer, so please limit processing. If you shoot in raw, you may adjust your photos as necessary.

Commenting - lets try to give support to one another and point out what we like about the resulting photo(s).

If you have criticism, keep it constructive and hide the comment.

Deadline to post for this assignment is Saturday, October 11th.
Last edited by lynnh on Sun Oct 12, 2014 11:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost ~ J. R. R. Tolkien

borisalex
 
Posts: 1946

Re: BACK TO BASICS CHALLENGE 11 - SOFT FOCUS TO SET A MOOD - Ends October 11th

Post Mon Sep 29, 2014 4:18 pm




Also for subtle of the September Challenge!

A soft image is subtle and provides a sense of secrecy.
Softness and OOF (Out of Focus) to Create a Mood.

lynnh
 
Posts: 3633

Re: BACK TO BASICS CHALLENGE 11 - SOFT FOCUS TO SET A MOOD - Ends October 11th

Post Sun Oct 05, 2014 6:21 pm


I was traveling behind this Mustang, but moving faster. I depressed the shutter as fast as I could, trying to beat the autofocus lock. This was the result of my 3rd try.

All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost ~ J. R. R. Tolkien

chrishadden
 
Posts: 2017

Re: BACK TO BASICS CHALLENGE 11 - SOFT FOCUS TO SET A MOOD - Ends October 11th

Post Sun Oct 05, 2014 7:54 pm


Trying to create a mood with soft focus.


jdonnelly
 
Posts: 838

Re: BACK TO BASICS CHALLENGE 11 - SOFT FOCUS TO SET A MOOD - Ends October 11th

Post Sun Oct 05, 2014 11:27 pm


-------
For the challenge "SOFT FOCUS"

Shopping at the mall in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Image

janicecd
 
Posts: 1939

Re: BACK TO BASICS CHALLENGE 11 - SOFT FOCUS TO SET A MOOD - Ends October 11th

Post Mon Oct 06, 2014 2:59 am


Soft focus - #1



Soft Focus - #2


1designguy
 
Posts: 2515

Re: BACK TO BASICS CHALLENGE 11 - SOFT FOCUS TO SET A MOOD - Ends October 11th

Post Tue Oct 07, 2014 7:12 pm


A first attempt of an infrared macro shot through scratched glass. Motivated by this challenge but also for the October "Os":


1designguy
 
Posts: 2515

Re: BACK TO BASICS CHALLENGE 11 - SOFT FOCUS TO SET A MOOD - Ends October 11th

Post Thu Oct 09, 2014 5:33 pm


Another study using the 200 f/2.8 to isolate small pieces of the overall picture...


1designguy
 
Posts: 2515

Re: BACK TO BASICS CHALLENGE 11 - SOFT FOCUS TO SET A MOOD - Ends October 11th

Post Fri Oct 10, 2014 9:43 pm


My last using a longer exposure and motion blur (Also for SP Friday and October "Os")


timbg
 
Posts: 1383

Re: BACK TO BASICS CHALLENGE 11 - SOFT FOCUS TO SET A MOOD - Ends October 11th

Post Sat Oct 11, 2014 2:07 am


None of my shots are completely out of focus, but here are 4 attempts:




jolka
 
Posts: 5633

Re: BACK TO BASICS CHALLENGE 11 - SOFT FOCUS TO SET A MOOD - Ends October 11th

Post Sat Oct 11, 2014 8:40 pm


Just a little bit out of focus


lynnh
 
Posts: 3633

Re: BACK TO BASICS CHALLENGE 11 - SOFT FOCUS TO SET A MOOD - Ends October 11th

Post Sun Oct 12, 2014 1:30 am


Soft colors after the rain

All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost ~ J. R. R. Tolkien


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