Photo Sharing & Photography Forums | July Photo Assignment

July Photo Assignment

Posted by grimo1re on July 2, 2008 at 4:06am in Beginners Group

This month we're going to be practicing & playing with depth of field (DoF). Yes, that dreaded concept we all know we should master..... :-)

Here are some excellent resources to get you up to speed:

Short explanation:
http://www.dpchallenge.com/tutorial.php?TUTORIAL_ID=1

Quickie with example images:
http://www.photoaxe.com/depth-of-field-photography-tutorial-part-3/

More in-depth DoF tutorial
http://www.photoxels.com/tutorial_dof.html

Wikipedia entry on DoF with scary formulas:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth_of_field

I know that it can be painful to get the DoF exactly the way you want to in compact (non-SLR) cameras, but let's all get out of Auto and into Manual (or at least Aperture Priority (Av) this month).

So the assigment for July: upload at least 2 images of the same subject with different DoF (more are allowed). Also, please tell us how it went, what settings your images were taken on and if it came out as you wanted it to.

Good luck & enjoy!

Edit: Here's a video about DoF - nice clear explanation, about 4 minutes long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzedefUXARE

Edit 2: I have written up some rules and recommendations for the monthly assignments. You can find them on the homepage of this group.

Tags: assigment

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by grimo1re on July 28, 2008 at 9:17pm: Hi Bronwyn. THey're nice photos. However, (as Anna pointed out above) we're supposed to shoot the same subject with different depth of field. Basically, you take the same photo several times at different settings. This will help us master this skill.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sarah on July 25, 2008 at 4:19am: Oooooooooo I am going to the park today and I will see what I can do. I can't play with the aperture on my camera but we will see if I can accomplish the task anyway :D I am excited!!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Edgar on July 25, 2008 at 5:04am: here's my entry:

Canon S2 IS

Model - Canon PowerShot S2 IS
ExposureTime - 1/125 seconds
FNumber - 4.00
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/125 seconds
ApertureValue - F 4.00
ExposureBiasValue - -1.00
MaxApertureValue - F 3.51
MeteringMode - Spot
Flash - Flash not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 44.00 mm
White Balance - Auto
ISO Value - 50
Metering mode - Center weighted averaging
Focus type - Auto
AF point selected - Manual AF point selection
Exposure mode - Av-priority
Focal length - 600 - 7200 mm (100 mm); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Anna Black on July 25, 2008 at 8:39am: great example of depth - too bad there weren't two shots but what a great photo!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by grimo1re on July 28, 2008 at 9:19pm: Aaaaawwww so cute. Lovely shot. But where's the 2nd shot with different DoF?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sarah on July 25, 2008 at 10:47am: I had a really hard time doing this with my camera but I will upload 2 different scenes with a different DOF...

The first one is from a fire that happened last Tuesday.

This set was taken at the nearby lake.

I prefer the first set but wish I had gotten more of the burnt remains in the second photo. It was too bright to see the screen and I had the camera over my head so I couldn't look through the viewfinder.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by grimo1re on July 28, 2008 at 9:20pm: Sarah, great stuff. You nailed it :) Why was it hard on your camera? Also, next time can you tell us how you took the photo, settings and stuff? (With this assignment, at least the Aperture); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sarah on July 29, 2008 at 11:23am: Oh cool!
Ooops info!
The first photo f-stop was f/8 ISO was 100 exposure time was 1/400sec
second photo was f/8 which I thought was the aperture but it never seems to change, ISO was 100 and exposure time was 1/350sec

I seem to have misplaced the reed photos so don't know what the info was for those ones :s

I need to keep a seperate folder for this stuff rather than mix it with the hundreds of photos of my little man hehe

It was hard on my camera because it is just a cheap point and shoot and the manual settings only let you tamper with the ISO, white balance and exposure compensation.

I can't wait to buy my Canon 40D if I get it anyway. I need to decide whether photography is going to be my calling or if my point and shoot will be sufficiant for my needs. I am sure it is though :D; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Anna Black on August 1, 2008 at 5:01am: you did great with your point and shoot. But you will love your 40D (that's what I have); ▶ Reply to This