How do you do this shot?

[JoeBannon]

How do you make it so everything is out of focus but her?

BTW, this link is NSFW...

http://www.modelmayhem.com/pic.php?pid=2591403

[ggmex4wd5sp]

Members only! I am not allowed to view....

[AndrewCCM]

Combination of focal length (Scott corrected me... length to subject is the correct term) and aperture.

For instance, you can zoom in tight and open your lens up to F2.8 and get a nice shallow DOF.

The lower your F Stop number (wider the the opening).. the more shallow the depth of field.

[JoeBannon]

So if it was a 1, then it would be really shallow?

[AndrewCCM]

Very. Of course you'd have to borrow John Stovall's F1 lens. They are very hard to find and expensive. Not necessary to get this type of shot.

You have to factor in background distance as well. You can often get the desired DOF using higher Fstops.. The further the distance between the subject and the background adds to the out of focus DOF. My F1.4 lens (depending on the angle) is too shallow for some subjects... You can literally have 1 eye in focus and the other out...

[JoeBannon]

Can it be done with a 4?

[AndrewCCM]

Depends on distance to background and focal length. Using my 70-200 IS F2.8 lens, zoomed in at 200mm and at F4 with a moderate amount of distance provides a very nice shallow DOF.

[JoeBannon]

Ok, but what about stuff in front... will it be out of focus too?

[AndrewCCM]

Yep. I would just play around with various subjects to see how it works. Setup a couple of objects at varying distances, zoom in and selective focus on subject and see how it reacts to your distance and the objects distance relative to each other. Experiment and you'll get a much better feel of how it'll work.

[AndrewCCM]

Let me post a couple of examples. These are both with 70-200.. F4 - F5.6 (I believe.. don't have the data embedded).

[iCe]

This helps to get an idea of DOF for a particular lens / camera combo LINK

Damn nice images Andrew

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by iCe

This helps to get an idea of DOF for a particular lens / camera combo LINK

Damn nice images Andrew

I was just looking through my Favorites to find that link! LOL

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by iCe

Damn nice images Andrew

Gosh.. THANK YOU! I really appreciate that!

[JoeBannon]

Great links, thanks.

[JoeBannon]

Ok, this is what I gather so far.... Greater the focal length, smaller the F, shorter the distance to the subject.... the smaller your DOF will be.