Better Bokeh? C&C

torags · February 2, 2013

Much is made of bokeh to separate subjects, thousands are spent on fast glass to get it & premiums are paid for the quality (?) of the bokeh.

With a moving subject, you can freeze the subject and the bokeh can be nice but give no hint of movement. Does the human eye see it that way? Maybe not.

In this experiment the subject is moving vertically, so I've applied a vertical motion blur to what the eye may register; but you be the judge and is the image improved?

1

2

Sam · February 2, 2013

No

Sam

pathfinder · February 2, 2013

No, the image is not improved for my eye, at least.

torags · February 2, 2013

Hey thanks for looking in and I appreciate the comments.

So... retaining half heads improves the image ... really?

Giving this technique more thought, it's like forcing panning (albeit in a different direction )

Maybe it will work better in an urban pano

Earache · February 2, 2013

I think it was a tough background no matter what...... not the best composition ( I know you gets what you gets at these events) - although the bull and rider look great.
I like trippy stuff so I like #2 better - also, to me, it does look like the bull is (actually) flying! And, of course, to a certain extent he is.

torags · February 3, 2013

Earache wrote: »

I think it was a tough background no matter what...... not the best composition ( I know you gets what you gets at these events) - although the bull and rider look great.
I like trippy stuff so I like #2 better - also, to me, it does look like the bull is (actually) flying! And, of course, to a certain extent he is.

It's tough to get subject separation shooting bull riding. Most riders stay on maybe 4 seconds (average), so how far can a bull go away from the spectators? Not far...

A redo is in order, it was an experiment using motion blur by moving the background instead of the subject.

It has potential

thanks the comment, much appreciated

RandySmugMug · August 4, 2014

uhhh NO and the original needs work as well (cropping heads off the BG people and a crooked horizon)

is this what you referred to in my bull riding post as the way you blur the BG and create separation ?

lifeinfocus · August 4, 2014

Not sure it would apply in this case, but consider panning - set shutter speed at around 1/40s and move the camera along with the movement of the subject. You will get a nice blurred background and with a little luck and stilled subject.

Phil

Stumblebum · August 4, 2014

Hi Rags, I feel in first one the bull and rider are drawing my eyes....not noticing the half-heads.
In second one, bg is drawing my attention (maybe because you mentioned it in the subject) as it is noticeable and also feels bit strange....like instead of jumping up it was suspended in air or something. Can't describe it.
Key is to shoot a lot, and delete anything with flaws! Cheers!

r3t1awr3yd · August 4, 2014

So the greatest piece of info that I ever read about achieving more bokeh (even with cheap lenses) is to move CLOSER to your subject. I'm amazed to no end how well this work when you can get closer. Maybe a new seat at the rodeo will help?

torags · August 4, 2014

"uhhh NO and the original needs work as well (cropping heads off the BG people and a crooked horizon)

is this what you referred to in my bull riding post as the way you blur the BG and create separation ?"

This was a first time experiment. This is an example of what I don't like..

__________________
Thanks
Randy "

This is what I don't like.I changed shooting angles now. You can't shoot bullriding from low and not cut heads of speactators

DSC_0248.NEF-X3.jpg

"Not sure it would apply in this case, but consider panning - set shutter speed at around 1/40s and move the camera along with the movement of the subject. You will get a nice blurred background and with a little luck and stilled subject."

You can't pan - too much going on (legs, head, etc); it doesn't work with racing horses or dogs

"So the greatest piece of info that I ever read about achieving more bokeh (even with cheap lenses) is to move CLOSER to your subject. I'm amazed to no end how well this work when you can get closer. Maybe a new seat at the rodeo will help?"

This is a shot I got in the ring when the bull threw the rider and noticed the dumb photographer - soiling his underwear... Yes as you can see getting closer works. Then cowboys noticed and distracted him, but for a moment neither the bull nor I knew what to do (since I was still - I guess) but he started at me...

This is a good shot

This one too..

I'm partial this... cropped to just the action, drool kicked up dirt and the eye...

RandySmugMug · August 5, 2014

i like that last one

RandySmugMug · August 5, 2014

torags wrote: »

Hey thanks for looking in and I appreciate the comments.

So... retaining half heads improves the image ... really?

Giving this technique more thought, it's like forcing panning (albeit in a different direction )

Maybe it will work better in an urban pano

no retaining 1/2 heads is not good but so is the weird look the preset gives

torags · August 7, 2014

Thanks for looking in and the comments...

BTW ... what preset are you talking about?

RandySmugMug · August 7, 2014

I shoot bull riding with a 70/200 @ 2.8 (sometimes a 300 2.8). The spectators drive me crazy.

So I bought Alien Skin Bokeh, a group of presets that gives bokeh with labels like 2.8, f4.. etc

Like I said, it's not my style... no judgement intended...
__________________
Rags

torags · August 7, 2014

RandySmugMug wrote: »

I shoot bull riding with a 70/200 @ 2.8 (sometimes a 300 2.8). The spectators drive me crazy.

So I bought Alien Skin Bokeh, a group of presets that gives bokeh with labels like 2.8, f4.. etc

Like I said, it's not my style... no judgement intended...
__________________
Rags

Ahhh... The original posted image was not done by preset. I got the preset software before I had proficiency in PS.

This is an example of it's use

RandySmugMug · August 8, 2014

torags wrote: »

Ahhh... The original posted image was not done by preset. I got the preset software before I had proficiency in PS.

This is an example of it's use

that might look good sooc
i like matt k's LR Tonal presets but that's about it

Better Bokeh? C&C

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