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soft focus cheer portraits C & C please

rogerchesterrogerchester Registered Users Posts: 90 Big grins
edited September 23, 2011 in People
soft focus for cheer portraits

<a href="http://r-prescott.smugmug.com/Cheer-portraits/Henry-Clay-cheer-2011/18981501_DfQfT9#1484521825_B2HStxD-A-LB&quot; title=""><img src="http://r-prescott.smugmug.com/Cheer-portraits/Henry-Clay-cheer-2011/i-B2HStxD/0/L/IMG4102pp-copy-L.jpg&quot; title="" alt=""></a>

<a href="http://r-prescott.smugmug.com/Cheer-portraits/Henry-Clay-cheer-2011/18981501_DfQfT9#1484528287_P5JsTMJ-A-LB&quot; title=""><img src="http://r-prescott.smugmug.com/Cheer-portraits/Henry-Clay-cheer-2011/i-P5JsTMJ/0/L/IMG4122pp-copy-L.jpg&quot; title="" alt=""></a>
canon 40D EF70- 200mm 1:2.8 l is usm EF28-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS USM

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    chrisdgchrisdg Registered Users Posts: 366 Major grins
    edited September 22, 2011
    Hello - So, to be honest, this effect is really not working for me. Would MUCH rather see separation/bokeh achieved via shallow depth of field from your lens. Also, selective areas of the background are still in focus, while some areas of the girls are blurred, so the focal plane (depth of field) is all out of whack and throws off the senses.
    -Chris D.
    http://www.facebook.com/cdgImagery (concert photography)
    http://www.cdgimagery.com (concert photography)
     http://chrisdg.smugmug.com (everything else)
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    SurfdogSurfdog Registered Users Posts: 297 Major grins
    edited September 22, 2011
    It doesn't work for me either. It is not a natural-looking soft focus and is really distracting.The in-focus halo around the girls really makes the effect look cheap. A longer lens from further away with a wide aperature will give a much more natural separation between your subject and background.
    http://www.dvivianphoto.com

    Don't worry. I can fix you in photoshop.
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    SPK64SPK64 Registered Users Posts: 171 Major grins
    edited September 22, 2011
    ^^^^
    I agree. Would look much better with a shallow DOF versus A post process blur.
    go.skactionpix.com
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    rogerchesterrogerchester Registered Users Posts: 90 Big grins
    edited September 23, 2011
    slammed again. so this is better? I shot this with a 70x200mm 2.8. I could not get back far enough.



    http://
    canon 40D EF70- 200mm 1:2.8 l is usm EF28-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS USM
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    jschoenrjschoenr Registered Users Posts: 17 Big grins
    edited September 23, 2011
    I think those are better and more natural than the first two, but I can see why you attempted the soft focus since the background is not terribly appealing. What you need is a combination of being closer to the subject and the subject further from the background to achieve the bokah/separation you a attempted in post processing.
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    IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited September 23, 2011
    What's the point of having a sweet f/2.8 lens if you're going to shoot at f/5.6 or 6.3? ne_nau.gif Open that sucker up and love the bokeh.
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
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    QarikQarik Registered Users Posts: 4,959 Major grins
    edited September 23, 2011
    Icebear wrote: »
    What's the point of having a sweet f/2.8 lens if you're going to shoot at f/5.6 or 6.3? ne_nau.gif Open that sucker up and love the bokeh.

    this
    D700, D600
    14-24 24-70 70-200mm (vr2)
    85 and 50 1.4
    45 PC and sb910 x2
    http://www.danielkimphotography.com
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    chrisdgchrisdg Registered Users Posts: 366 Major grins
    edited September 23, 2011
    The originals are better, definitely. Perhaps the real problem here, aside from having too great a depth of field, is the background of your chosen location.

    The streaking silver lines of the benches (particularly if blurred via bokeh) could have added an interesting element/perspective to the composition, IF you had shot a such an angle that only included the benches. However, the fencing, rails, posts and background clutter turn a portrait attempt into a snapshot.
    -Chris D.
    http://www.facebook.com/cdgImagery (concert photography)
    http://www.cdgimagery.com (concert photography)
     http://chrisdg.smugmug.com (everything else)
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    cbbrcbbr Registered Users Posts: 755 Major grins
    edited September 23, 2011
    Icebear wrote: »
    What's the point of having a sweet f/2.8 lens if you're going to shoot at f/5.6 or 6.3? ne_nau.gif Open that sucker up and love the bokeh.


    Worth repeating. Open it up, spot focus on their eyes and blow out the BG.
    Chad - www.brberrys.com
    If I post it, please tell me how to make it better. My fragile ego can take it.
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