Daan B wrote:
Glad to see this thread is right on track again
Beautifull shots everybody... Keep 'em coming...
It was corny over-the-top praise of average photos that got this thread off topic in the first place. Can we just allow people to post photos and skip the mushy comments that always follow?
There was a time when you could not do the "show me your best" because of the slow down to the server, be happy we get to post multiple images in one thread like this and try to encouraging participation not discourage it.
cogitech wrote:
even a very expensive lens can produce lackluster results if there isn't enough forethought.
As the producer of the lackluster bokeh who suffered a lack of forethought, I am appreciative of the pointing out of the failures of the image, but would be even more so if some positive advice could be tendered as to how I could have improved the bokeh and/or entire imge so that I can avoid such problems in the future. =)
Numfar wrote:
As the producer of the lackluster bokeh who suffered a lack of forethought, I am appreciative of the pointing out of the failures of the image, but would be even more so if some positive advice could be tendered as to how I could have improved the bokeh and/or entire imge so that I can avoid such problems in the future. =)
B
With such a challenging background (back-lit trees creating tons of bright highlights?) the distance between the camera and subject and the distance between the subject and the background become crucial to rendering pleasing bokeh. Much more crucial than the lens being used. In order to maintain subject framing, options would include increasing the distance between the subject and the background or moving the camera closer to the subject and using a shorter focal length. As these distances change, the bokeh can be affected dramatically. This is why even "lesser" lenses can be used to great effect. The excellent qualities of the 85L should make this less challenging, but it is still a very important thing to consider, especially if you have time to set up the shot.
The image is terrific, BTW. I was merely commenting on the fact that the 85L on its own cannot offer any guarantee of "good bokeh" whereas "good bokeh" can be guaranteed by the actions of the photographer, even with a 'lesser" lens.
Numfar wrote:
As the producer of the lackluster bokeh who suffered a lack of forethought, I am appreciative of the pointing out of the failures of the image, but would be even more so if some positive advice could be tendered as to how I could have improved the bokeh and/or entire imge so that I can avoid such problems in the future. =)
B
Brent, your work is super and I love your use of shallow DOF to produce a backgrounds that make the subject pop. Obviously the furher away the background to the subject, the more blurred. You can use it to great effect...but you DID!!!
Here is one with a backlit subject with 400 at 2.8 with some specular highlights from the light off the leaves...done on purpose to take advantage of the shimming produced from the leaves...and it was exactly the effect I wanted. Similar to the first B&W you posted with background trees with leaves getting some light...
And the beauty of 1.2 and the 85 is that you can acheive a beautiful creamy backdrop when the subject is close to the camera and the background is close to the subject.
In this one, she is sitting on the ground and I'm right next to her...and the 1.2 really knocked out the distractions of a crummy background...
One last with a different angle...check out the background...a little distance and with the 1.2,, those trees about 30 feet behind the subject turn into butter!
Some say that the EF 85mm 1.8 is equal to the EF 85mm 1.2 at the apertures which they share. It is not. The 85/1.2 has better color.
But to the subject. These two are taken with the 85/1.2 at 2.8, and with a 20D. If I had used it with a 1D II the pictures would have been ever so slightly better, but the 20D is not bad. The lens is very competent:
