 |
| This was taken with a 18-200 Nikon VR lens, the tent in the background is for an outdoor wedding reception. |
By Sheila Pack
One of the things I get asked about fairly often, is how to make the background blurry in an image. This is accomplished by using a wide open aperture (aka fstop) on the camera, sometimes by using specialty lenses, and focusing fairly close to the subject desired to be sharp in the image. The open aperture creates a shallow depth of focus, or depth of field, and allows the background to go soft. There are lenses available which have a maximum aperture of 2.8 (for zooms) or 1.8, 1.4, and even 1.2 prime (non-zoom) lenses. The lower the number, the shallower the depth of field when used wide open, creating that gorgeous, creamy bokeh, and, the higher the price tag. However, as you can see from the examples below, the look can be created (usually to a lesser degree of softness) even with an all-around lens like the 18-200 VR. The key is using the lens wide open.
One of the things I get asked about fairly often, is how to make the background blurry in an image. This is accomplished by using a wide open aperture (aka fstop) on the camera, sometimes by using specialty lenses, and focusing fairly close to the subject desired to be sharp in the image. The open aperture creates a shallow depth of focus, or depth of field, and allows the background to go soft. There are lenses available which have a maximum aperture of 2.8 (for zooms) or 1.8, 1.4, and even 1.2 prime (non-zoom) lenses. The lower the number, the shallower the depth of field when used wide open, creating that gorgeous, creamy bokeh, and, the higher the price tag. However, as you can see from the examples below, the look can be created (usually to a lesser degree of softness) even with an all-around lens like the 18-200 VR. The key is using the lens wide open.
Another way to achieve the look, without making as big an investment in a specialty lens, is with a close-up filter set. These come in sets of three filters, marked with different levels of magnification. They are threaded right onto your regular lens, and can be stacked in different combinations, to achieve the desired effect. Depending on what size you need to fit on whatever lens you have, these close-up sets might run $40-$80, substantially less than the $400-$1,400 that the 'fast glass' lenses cost. Naturally, the expensive lens is going to produce higher quality images, and be more versatile, but if you just want to experiment a bit, the close-up set can get you started. The filters are great if you're taking photos of flowers, or spider webs, or such things, but aren't really suitable for people pictures. They are for close up use (you probably got that clue from the name....) for small subjects. But, they can be fun to use, and give you a different look to your pictures.
Enjoy!
 |
| Spring blossoms with other branches and open sky behind. This image was created using a 50mm 1.8 lens, and a close-up filter set. |
 |
| While the rose is in focus, the other elements in the image are softly out of focus. 18-200 VR lens. |
 |
| And it's a great look for portraits, too! 18-200 VR lens. |
 |
| About Sheila Pack |
I've been shooting weddings since just out of high school, and enjoy it even more now than when I first started! Digital photography has changed the way we work in a very big way, and it's all good. My darkroom is now my computer, and being able to customize images for my clients is just SO GREAT! I've had one of my cameras converted to infrared-only photography, and my couples love the dreamy effect this has. Black and white is enjoying immense popularity again, and its classic timelessness is particularly beautiful for wedding images, in my opinion. I love ALL sorts of photography, and would love to travel out west again; Monument Valley is breathtakingly beautiful. I enjoy photographing wildlife and landscapes, too, but weddings definitely have a better market! I love coming up with new ideas, going to new locations, and striving to tailor each couple's photos to their distinct personalities... My daughter, Mandi, is also shooting weddings now; sometimes with me, and sometimes on her own.
www.sheilapack.com
No comments:
Post a Comment