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Archive 2012The F8 Challenge (3 Pics)
p.1 #1The F8 Challenge (3 Pics)
A few weeks back my friend Evan Baines posted an image that he shot during a wedding. He had a 21mm, set it on f/8 and zone focused. His goal was to stop thinking about technicalities and start focusing on emotion and composition. Ever since I saw that post, I have really wanted to take this challenge myself. Too often I think I (we) lean on depth of field as a crutch. So, this weekend I set my 24 on f/8 and shot for a little while on one of my camera. I only did it for about 15 minutes by I can DEFINITELY see myself doing this more. It was SO helpful.
Here's a few of my favorites from the short period of time. If you get a chance to do the f/8 Challenge yourself, post some in here!
Here's a few of my favorites from the short period of time. If you get a chance to do the f/8 Challenge yourself, post some in here!
May 20, 2012 at 01:18 PM
p.1 #2The F8 Challenge (3 Pics)
i'd like to try this. maybe keep the f8 setting permanently as c2. the only problem i see is a dirty sensor.
May 20, 2012 at 01:52 PM
p.1 #3The F8 Challenge (3 Pics)
i have to check if my lenses have f8 
i like the idea, but i dont think it would do anything to me. it would increase keepers ratio at expense of more heavy background (i would have to start thinking more about background knowing i shoot at f8) and that's all. I don't care much about focusing or settings during documentary.
I have my camera in M mode, +/- adjust something when i enter another room but most of the difficult time, just have auto iso to help, other time just guessing and focusing manually. I throw some photos with good content which was ruined by bad focus, but manual focusing produces only minor-bad focus, only auto focus can produce completely OOF image when it hunts.
i like the idea, but i dont think it would do anything to me. it would increase keepers ratio at expense of more heavy background (i would have to start thinking more about background knowing i shoot at f8) and that's all. I don't care much about focusing or settings during documentary.
I have my camera in M mode, +/- adjust something when i enter another room but most of the difficult time, just have auto iso to help, other time just guessing and focusing manually. I throw some photos with good content which was ruined by bad focus, but manual focusing produces only minor-bad focus, only auto focus can produce completely OOF image when it hunts.
May 20, 2012 at 02:01 PM
p.1 #4The F8 Challenge (3 Pics)
I like your normal stuff better. 
Sometimes I think fast lenses are a crutch... but then again, there's a reason we buy the damn things to begin with, mm?
Sometimes I think fast lenses are a crutch... but then again, there's a reason we buy the damn things to begin with, mm?
May 20, 2012 at 02:47 PM
p.1 #5The F8 Challenge (3 Pics)
I can't agree with you more Tony and was just discussing this with Alan.
May 20, 2012 at 03:05 PM
p.1 #7The F8 Challenge (3 Pics)
That is so funny...I purposefully was shooting at f8 a lot yesterday for specifically the same reason.
May 20, 2012 at 03:30 PM
p.1 #8The F8 Challenge (3 Pics)
although I was also doing it at times to work on zone focusing
May 20, 2012 at 03:30 PM
p.1 #9The F8 Challenge (3 Pics)
Nice exercise to begin breaking out of a rut. The look is fine but the ability to shoot without worry about technicalities is a great goal.
I like the variety of looks!
I like the variety of looks!
May 20, 2012 at 03:57 PM
p.1 #10The F8 Challenge (3 Pics)
mineymole wrote:
I can't agree with you more Tony and was just discussing this with Alan.
Haha! I was shooting from the hip with my 28 at f/5.6 with marginal success. Next time I'll try looking through the viewfinder.
BTW, street shooters have been doing this (using hyperfocal distances) for years. The images posted above are great samples. In good light, you can get some really good stuff.
I can't agree with you more Tony and was just discussing this with Alan.
Haha! I was shooting from the hip with my 28 at f/5.6 with marginal success. Next time I'll try looking through the viewfinder.
BTW, street shooters have been doing this (using hyperfocal distances) for years. The images posted above are great samples. In good light, you can get some really good stuff.
May 20, 2012 at 04:25 PM
p.1 #11The F8 Challenge (3 Pics)
joelconner wrote:
although I was also doing it at times to work on zone focusing
You too?
although I was also doing it at times to work on zone focusing
You too?
May 20, 2012 at 04:26 PM
p.1 #12The F8 Challenge (3 Pics)
maxwell1295 wrote:
You too?
Totally. I was mainly trying it at the reception during dancing. It was very low light, and my mark 3 was having a tough time nailing focus. So, I just rocked it to f8, focused manually, and went for it. It worked great! I plan on trying this much more often in regular situations.
You too?
Totally. I was mainly trying it at the reception during dancing. It was very low light, and my mark 3 was having a tough time nailing focus. So, I just rocked it to f8, focused manually, and went for it. It worked great! I plan on trying this much more often in regular situations.
May 20, 2012 at 05:37 PM
p.1 #15The F8 Challenge (3 Pics)
Ziffl3 wrote:
so does F5.6 count?
I'm with you. I'm more of an 5.6 kind of guy. f/8 is a crutch for weak people.
so does F5.6 count?
I'm with you. I'm more of an 5.6 kind of guy. f/8 is a crutch for weak people.
May 20, 2012 at 07:55 PM
p.1 #17The F8 Challenge (3 Pics)
sboerup wrote:
f/8 = make sure your sensor is clean!
HA. Ain't that the truth. This alone is a great reason to shoot wide open or close to it.
f/8 = make sure your sensor is clean!
HA. Ain't that the truth. This alone is a great reason to shoot wide open or close to it.
May 20, 2012 at 11:14 PM
p.1 #18The F8 Challenge (3 Pics)
I dig these Tony. That ceremony shot is especially pretty dang cool if you ask me. I shoot a LOT of my dance floor reception coverage at f/8 with a wide lens, zone focus, and look for a lot of layers of expressions and action. I feel like I should start transitioning this to other parts of the day though. I've recently started incorporating it into my preparation coverage here and there when using my rangefinder, just because I feel like that camera was built for it.
May 20, 2012 at 11:23 PM
p.1 #20The F8 Challenge (3 Pics)
I thought we had similar thread last month on "F/8 and be there". Good to see people are finally trying something different.
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1106447/0#10560698
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1106447/0#10560698
May 21, 2012 at 12:49 PM