recomposing and aperture, lesson learned.

[danchez]

Ugh.... I thought I had some really cool shots too.

OK, I wanted to blur the background so I lowered the lights and I was shooting with the aperture wide open, f2.8

Mistake came when I tried to recompose while shooting at this aperture.

1)


probably not the best example, but trust me, there is nothing in focus anywhere near her face.

I was thinking, man, I can really make her legs look long, have a nice smooth blurry background, I got some nice lighting and I will create something nice. WRONG!!

here is a close up of her blurry face. :(
2)

[Gabby498]

Be sure the D700 is set to Single Focus rather than Continuous Focus. In Single Focus it will not refocus as long as you hold down the half press shutter release or hold in the AF-ON button on the back of the camera. On Continuous Focus it will refocus everytime when you move the camera to recompose.

[danchez]

I'll make sure to check that, thanks Gary.

[The Loft Studios]

Even if you would have gotten her face in "perfect focus", her legs would still have been out of focus because the depth of field would not have carried that far..... even if you consider the slight angle you were at.

[danchez]

I knew her legs weren't going to be in focus, they weren't the focus of my shot, I just wanted them to look looooong. The fact that her face is so soft is what is really upsetting me.

[toverman]

Blurring the background would be easier by moving her further away from it. Focal length (longer the better) can do as much for blurring backgrounds as can aperture. That just requires more room to move.

[David Whatley]

Also,. you might want to lower your lights when you have somone on the floor. you lost her eyes.

[danchez]

Originally Posted by David Whatley

Also,. you might want to lower your lights when you have somone on the floor. you lost her eyes.

had my reflector sitting right next to me too, but did I think to grab it, NOOOOOOO.

[divenut1]

Some lenses are soft wide open...even the good ones.

But as a previous reply noted mentioning the single focus vs. continuous focus mode there
may be another issue as well....is it set for single point or a combination of points so that it comes up with a best guess for the image at hand ?