(A Photography Discussion)
Finding Softness
Most of the time when I am shooting photos I strive for plenty of sharpness - sometimes from edge to edge in the frame. In fact, I will even stack images to assure extensive sharpness. High shutter speeds and tripods help with image sharpness.
On the opposite end of the sharpness range is very limited depth-of-field (sharpness). Sometimes, when I am shooting macro images, my goal is enough sharpness for the viewers to recognize the subject in the image, but all other items in the composition are out of focus. Often macro image compositions are inherently limited on sharpness. But, sometimes I want even less sharpness. That becomes a challenge - sharp enough but not very sharp. The idea seems counterintuitive. One affects the other… the process becomes challenging.
Today I moved closer to figuring out an easy method for reducing depth of field in my macro images - combine extension tubes and close-up filters while positioning a long lens very close to the subject.
My photo subject was an ordinary hairy aster plant covered in blossoms. My lens was only inches from the subject rendering all blossoms except for my target blossom as blurred. Even the target blossom was soft except for what I wanted in focus.
I will keep working on this technique since it sometimes makes very interesting images.
Hairy Aster - Image 1161075
Hairy Aster - Image 1161095
Hairy Aster - Image 1161100
