Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/06/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>Hi Simon, >The first thing that comes to mind is, there isn't any separation between >subject and back ground. >Like everything is in focus! Why not try working with the highest possible >shutter speed and the widest possible aperture? . . . >ted Hi Ted! Thanks for taking a look, and I appreciate your comments. I agree with you and Dan that the clutter is a problem. I already cut the worst offenders, including one where a stray bush blended with a woman's hair creating a beehive effect. She looked like Divine in the movie Haiirspray! I do think, however, that this is a problem that low-res scans exaggerate versus the original prints. I know this sounds defensive, but in the shade where the light intensity was less and the subjects more static I was mostly at 2.8 or 4 and there is quite a bit of separation visible, even with the 35mm lens shots. If I had to pick one shot from the day it would be the shot of the black and white couple embracing. That was a grab shot taken at (I think) 2.8. On the print their faces are sharp, but the man's arm and tatoo are going a little soft and the backgound is even softer and I think this only enhances the shot. Out in the sun where most of the event took place, however, I do think I was running into a real dilemma. It was noon and was so bright I was already using high shutter speeds, so 2.8 would have been impossible. Also, the subjects were mostly walking or riding in moving cars and I was jostled or was walking myself. So I compromised on around f8 at 250 to get a reasonable hit rate. Doubtless with more practice I could use a higher aperture and still nail the focus on moving targets, get a decent composition, and take it at just the right instant, and maybe one day I'll be as good as Johnny or yourself at doing this. Not yet, however, but with the critical help of you and other more experienced photographers, I will keep trying. Simon Stevens P.S. Mark Rabiner commented (actualy complemented - thanks!) on the darkroom work with the bright sun. As you suggest, Mark, the prints were a bitch to do. The worst was the backlit cowboy shot with the Heliar. Talk about Dodge City! Simon