Short Focus Effect

[mgerdes]

OK lets have some thoughts on this image.

Thanks
Mitch

[cdnmoosey]

Is that a photoshopped depth of field effect? Its not working for me.

[moscato_images]

Originally Posted by mgerdes

OK lets have some thoughts on this image.

Thanks
Mitch

the blur looks PS'ed too much.

-joshua

[BGPhoto]

I know the effect you're going for, but the transition from in-focus to out-of-focus is too abrupt. When you know what the effect looks like in-camera, it's clear that yours was PS'd.

[jtsmith]

PS'd or not the effect is not working. The composition is not that strong and what's out of focus is busy, confusing and not plausible. Your eyes just want to wander off all over the place.

Sorry but the dof effect to me does not work here.

J T

[ProShotPhoto]

I am agreeing with the others but am offering an example of a relatively short focus that is real to demonstrate the difference. Not that my images is going to be anything to brag about but it deonstrates the smooth trasition to out of focus that has been mentioned.

[Wade]

Looks like he used a Lensbaby to me, not photoshop.

[moscato_images]

Originally Posted by Wade

Looks like he used a Lensbaby to me, not photoshop.

good call. it does resemble the lensbaby.
-joshua

[jimmyd]

playing with or manipulating the DOF (whether in camera or in post) is simply another tool used to focus the viewer's attention where you want to focus it. you can use it quite dramatically or subtely. you also see it a lot in movies where a technique called "rack-focus" is used. the shot starts with an image tha has a short DOF and focused where the director and/or cinematographer wants the viewers to look. then, as a dramatic device, they simply adjust, or "rack" the focus to something or somewhere or someone else.

your image, IMO, doesn't make good use of manipulating the DOF for exactly the reasons JT spelled out.