Pottery in Sarasota

wolfejm

Hi - this is my first real post, so please be gentle I shot this artisan making some new pottery at the Sarasota Farmer's Market last weekend. It's so cool to catch art in progress.

Jeff

Aaron Bernard

I agree, I like to watch art and craft happen right before your eyes.

As for the shot, next time get in closer, zoom to where the action is: the man's face and hands and try to eleminate any odd things in the background: Move around and shoot at a lower f stop number (f2.8 for example). Doing so will keep your photo focused on just the subject.

wolfejm

Thanks for the suggestions, Aaron. I'm still getting used to the idea that whole subjects (the whole man for instance) need not be in the shot for it to look good. I was playing with the crop on smugmug to see what it might have looked like zoomed in when I learned that the crop is permanent - whoops! At least I can see your point now

If I may ask a question - how low of an f-stop do you have to use to get the blur affect in general? I'm using the Canon EFS 17-85 IS and it very quickly goes to a min aperature of 5.6.

Aaron Bernard

Adjusting the f Stop will adjust your "depth of field" meaning you will focus on a point and a certain distance in front of and behind that point will be in focus. Beyond this area the image will go out of focus. Instead of my poor explication, check out these two web sites. They explain how depth of field is used and how the settings on your camera and type of lense affect it:

http://www.azuswebworks.com/photography/dof.html

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/fototech/htmls/depth.html

Aaron

wolfejm

Thanks for the links, Aaron. After doing some reading there, and at Wikipedia (amazing photo info there too), I realize how poorly worded my question was. I was trying to figure out if I could have achieved the blur you mentioned with the lens I'm currently using. I'm starting to think that I can, but that I'll have to get fairly close to the subject to do so.

I'm now going to set out on a series of DOF experiments

Thanks!

bigpix

Much better...... I like the cropped version

Angelo

wolfejm wrote:

Thanks for the suggestions, Aaron. I'm still getting used to the idea that whole subjects (the whole man for instance) need not be in the shot for it to look good. I was playing with the crop on smugmug to see what it might have looked like zoomed in when I learned that the crop is permanent - whoops! At least I can see your point now

If I may ask a question - how low of an f-stop do you have to use to get the blur affect in general? I'm using the Canon EFS 17-85 IS and it very quickly goes to a min aperature of 5.6.

I didn't see your original post prior to cropping but of the image I see today I like how you've framed the man in the shot but I don't like that you cut off part of the pot he's working on.

Judging from the aspect ratio of the image you could afford a slightly wider framing to allow the entire pot.

There are ways in post to blur your background. You may want to ask for guidance in "technique"

wolfejm

In the interest of completeness, I thought I'd repost the original photo. Angelo, I think you're right - a slightly larger crop would be better. I was fighting with the blasted surge protector in the background that I didn't pay enough attention to when I took the shot.

Original Image

ShepsMom

Hey, i'm in Sarasota, it's been a long time since i visit the market .
Do you live here?

wolfejm

ShepsMom wrote:

Hey, i'm in Sarasota, it's been a long time since i visit the market .
Do you live here?

Sure do - more or less - I'm in Manatee County. I highly recommend the market. It makes for a nice Saturday morning. There's apparently an art festival this weekend on Siesta Key I was told about too.