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Blurring background and quality glass


TTQ B4U

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Okay, crash course in understanding one point that I see overlooked a lot. I'm in process of editing shots from a someone that is learning to use his DSLR and consumer grade lens.

 

Everyone has heard me mention buying good glass. Here's one reason....bokeh. Shooting a child in playing baseball with the camera stopped down to f/6.3 to say f/8 is a common mistake. Open that lens up all the way to say f/2 to f/2.8 or so and blur out the distracting backgrounds. Even with a poor or consumer grade lens, the blurr will look way more attractive than the shitty parking lot or bystanders.

 

Animated gifs limit colors and resolution but you get the point. Here's a couple with mild correction added in post processing. These are very quick edits to make a point.

 

http://i541.photobucket.com/albums/gg378/pdqgp/Before%20and%20After/baseball.gif

 

http://i541.photobucket.com/albums/gg378/pdqgp/Before%20and%20After/baseball-2.gif

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Tips for Shooting Sports:

 

 

  • Get a good lens. One that opens up wide to say f/2-f/2.8. Not only will it allow you to do more in low light, but you can open it up outside and blur that background. You want quality glass not just for that but also to minimize any distortions when shooting wide open. Get a nice telephoto so you can crop tight. Focus in on your kid, not him and the 5 others running with him.
  • Use a monopod. You'll increase keepers, even with image stabilization. It will allow you to better focus on framing the shot. Lastly, it will prevent you from getting tired holding that camera up the entire event.
  • Frame tight. Show what it is you want the viewer to see and focus on that. AGain, no need to shoot the subject and all the shit around them.
  • Capture the moments worth getting - those filled with emotion. You read about my comments in the MMA shots posted here earlier. Catch that emotion and use it along with your series of shots to tell a story.
  • Control your shutter speed but don't stop time. Especially important here in CR as you want motion blur to blur the background and you want to capture a sense motion in the form of wheel spin.

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Isnt thats what photoshop/ aperture are for? :dumb:

 

Some people give me no choice but to resort to software :no:

 

Here's an animation of before and after in flash swf format.

 

http://megaswf.com/serve/1134864/

 

 

http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/135714245/original.jpg[url=http://megaswf.com/serve/1134864/][/url]

Edited by TTQ B4U
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Its not like it takes that long to do it. I guess its just easier if you have a thousand dollar piece of lens. Good editing btw. Love your recent animations.
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Its not like it takes that long to do it. I guess its just easier if you have a thousand dollar piece of lens. Good editing btw. Love your recent animations.

 

 

It's not that difficult and the results can be very good, but they will still never be equal that of a good peice of glass.

 

Good Bokeh

Great Bokeh

 

 

 

Here's an edit from tonight including some added bokeh.

 

http://i541.photobucket.com/albums/gg378/pdqgp/Before%20and%20After/Father-daughter-animation.gif

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Good glass...

 

http://freezeframephto.smugmug.com/ChildrenandFamily/Paige/IMG8473/979726088_t4jjv-M-2.jpg

 

http://freezeframephto.smugmug.com/ChildrenandFamily/Paige/IMG8470/979723374_fykjk-L-2.jpg

 

If you dont have high dollar glass, try zooming the lens all the way out and then composing your shot.

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  • 5 months later...

Bringing this one back from the dead....

 

Is there an easy way to do this in post-processing with free software? I have some pics of my son in front of the Christmas tree (done with a point and shoot) and I want to blur the background/tree lights.

 

I didn't see anything like this in Picasa, but I could be blind.

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Bringing this one back from the dead....

 

Is there an easy way to do this in post-processing with free software? I have some pics of my son in front of the Christmas tree (done with a point and shoot) and I want to blur the background/tree lights.

 

I didn't see anything like this in Picasa, but I could be blind.

 

I can't help in terms of your question about other software, but if you're in need, I'd be happy to help. Just email me the originals at timothylauro@yahoo.com

 

Merry Christmas.

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