Mixing up the Focus

As promised I'm addressing Jen's question about where the focus should be when playing with depth of field. Like I always say, there are no rules. You are right in noticing that most of the time the focal point is in the forefront of the image and the blur is in the back when shooting with a shallow depth of field but that's certainly not the only way to do it. I think people get into the habit of doing it but I'm always into breaking the habits and breaking new ground!

Since I myself almost always seem prefer my focus to be in the forefront (oh boy, maybe it's time for me to start mixing it up?) I poked around Flickr and found lots of examples of very cool alternative depth of field approaches where the focus is somewhere else and is very effective.

Bird Eye is a master of the super-artistic and he has a way of seeing and photographing light like nobody's business. I had fun discovering his Flickr Stream and want to share shots like Flat Branch, Round Clouds and Flag of no Country with you.

A few from other Flickr members that I find delightful are Tea time for the soul, Spring Loaded and this shot of Luke.

I hope that answers your question Jen, if not in words, by images.

Anything you'd like to share?? Your work? Someone else's? Anything that might challenge the way you might normally shoot? Let's see it.

Comments

[Jen]

Great examples to illustrate, Tracey!!! I now feel like I have 'permission' to 'mix it up'. Thanks!! ;-)

[lindey]

hi tracey...i linked here from the sweet comment you left on my blog...thanks!

just wanted to let you know your blog is wonderful :o) very simple, easy-to-follow explainations...i am so emailing my mom with a link! she wants to take better photos, but i just do not do a good job 'teaching' her.

[Stacy]

Good job explaining in images, Tracey!

Here's one where the focus is in the background with the forefront blurred:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kraft/459409047/

There are no hard and fast rules for photography. It is art and whatever sings to your soul, that is what you should strive to achieve.

[melody]

Wonderful explanation. Ok, here's one, blurred foreground, blurred background, focus in the center. Someone please tell me how the heck I did this...because I have no clue. :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/melsphotophun/467472176/

[Alissa]

I just blogged about about DOF the other week! In this post one of the example photos is like what you are talking about. Not as "artistic" as other's I've seen here but I was only trying to learn F stops.

http://iwish.typepad.com/i_wish/2007/05/depth_of_field_.html

[allie]

I love, love, love blur in the foreground pics and have been wondering how to do this (the one from melody above made me gasp -- how beautiful!). Have you all seen the one that comes up on the sign-in page on Flickr with the Chiwawa sniffing? His nose is blurred and body is in focus. So fun.

[allie]

Sorry, I meant to say the photo by Stacy of the baby made me gasp with emotion. (I love Easter eggs, too, though!! great shot:)