My daughter actually wanted me to shoot her this evening, so this is what I came up with. Shot with Canon XSi and 85mm f/1.8. This is about 30 shots merged together using Microsoft ICE.
friscoron wrote:
What's the strategy with that?
The strategy is to create a panorama with an emphasis on low depth of field. These panoramas simulate using wide angle lenses with a very large aperture, resulting in a large field of view with limited depth of field. Using this technique allows unlimited field of view because you can just grow your pano to 360 degrees if desired.
This photo kind of looks like a 24mm f/1.4, but it's really an 85mm f/1.8.
Here is another example I did using the bokeh panoramic using my 85mm (this give the illusion of shooting at f/0.5): Molly by Matt Randolph, on Flickr
I understand this is a controversial technique (compared lenses and questionable perceived f-stop). And those who haven't tried it might not understand how it gives different results.
A 135L won't give this effect simple because it's narrow field of view. You won't see as much background and the perspective is going to be different.
A T/S would not give this effect either. It give a completely different (but very cool) look.
Absolutely not to sound argumentative, but just backing up a bit will give the FOV *and* DOF (especially on a FF sensor). I have been using the 135L for years and have lots of shots with similar FOV and DOF on my 5D (mk I and II)
I am intrigued by the technique. How do you shoot the 30 images? On a tripod? Does the subject have to stay still as you shoot? Do you move the camera for each shot?
Ryan (who makes it clear that he did not invent this technique) has a way of using the method to bring out the most in an image: http://500px.com/photo/1107997
If you had used a 105 mm in this situation to take only one picture the only thing you would have had in the frame would have been the people's heads/shoulders. Or if you had backed up to get this same framing your dof would have increased and the results would not have been the same. Using the method and 30 shots you are able to get a much bigger field of view with a narrow dof. Again some images lead themselves to this technique.
I have no idea if a T/S lens might be able to do the same thing....but I know a lot more people have 1.8, 1.4, & 1.2 lenses in the camera bags than t/s lenses.
This is on my bucket list of images I want to try, so thanks to the OP for sharing his attempts.
I am *still* not seeing enough of an impact with these photos to justify the work involved over a standard shot with narrow DOF or especially a T/S.
greg
Greg, There is really *not* that much work involved. Taking the group of pictures just takes a few seconds. Post production is automated. Load this set of pictures into MS ICE and in less than a minute it's done.
This technique allows me to shoot at 10mm, 20mm, 30mm, 40mm, 50mm, etc... all with one 85mm lens. Saves me money!
gheller wrote:
They are very nice, indeed, but I wonder if there is a lot of unnecessary work involved.
Both look similar to what my 135L could achieve without stitching 30 images.
I am sure a single T/S could do this as well.
I guess if you don't have the glass, though, but you stated you have the 85/1.8, which seems fast enough to get close to these with a single shot.
greg
I agree with you on the first one (the bridge), that somethign similar could be achieved with FF and the 135L. The second one (the pickup truck) looks different to me and needs this technique to attain the desired look.
gheller wrote:
Absolutely not to sound argumentative, but just backing up a bit will give the FOV *and* DOF (especially on a FF sensor).
No, you still can't get the same look with a 135L because when you back up you will get a different perspective and the compression that comes with that. Additionally, a 135/2 focused at a distance of 30 ft will give you a DOF of 2 ft. An 85/2 at a distance of 10 ft will give 0.5 ft. So it is really neither the same FOV or DOF.
I have done a few of these shots myself. Haven't nailed the technique yet. But it's really not too much work. Process one image in LR -> apply settings to all -> feed images to stitcher -> import output back into LR. A couple of mine haven't really worked out, a couple have looked really good.
Interesting technique because of the near/far perspectve. Your examples don't make that obvious (which in itself is a good thing) but I can visualize it working quite well for a portrait where there there is some iconic landmark like the Statue of Liberty, NY Skyline, or Golden Gate Bridge in the background you'd want to show both wide for context and looming large in the background with the perspective a longer lens creates at typical portrait distances.
I wonder if you could achieve a similar result with only 3 photos. 1 with the subject in focus, 1 with the subject OOF using MF in front as much as possible, and the same in back.
