Does this look a little out of focus to you? Im still trying to learn the basics and Im not sure why my focus seems to be a little off. Im using auto focus. I just wanted some opinion on this.

[anthropas]

You may be experiencing a shallow depth of field here. Remember that the closer you get to a subject you're going to photograph, the smaller the area that will be "in focus" becomes. If you were very close to this bird, and using a low numbered aperature, then often you will only have an inch or two of depth that will be in focus. So you actually will have to choose whether you want the tip of its beak sharp or its eye, because you can't have both unless you increase aperature or back up/zoom out. Hope that's understandable.

[G.G.]

You may be experiencing a shallow depth of field here. Remember that the closer you get to a subject you're going to photograph, the smaller the area that will be "in focus" becomes. If you were very close to this bird, and using a low numbered aperature, then often you will only have an inch or two of depth that will be in focus. So you actually will have to choose whether you want the tip of its beak sharp or its eye, because you can't have both unless you increase aperature or back up/zoom out. Hope that's understandable.

Thanks so much for the info! I will try that the next time I shoot something like this. Very much appreciated!

[Andrew Faires]

One last thing to keep in mind - no matter how shallow the depth of field is - is that if the eye isn't in focus, it will diminish the impact of the photograph.

That said, it looks like you hit the focus on the beak where it joins the head, but the eye is still pretty sharp in spite of the limited depth of field. I'd say it's a good shoot and if you cropped it to a verticle framing, it would be even better.

[atupdate]

Did you sharpen the image after downsizing it for the web? If not, if you have Photoshop, Unsharp Mask at .75 - 75 - 3 should just about do it.


Tim

[G.G.]

Did you sharpen the image after downsizing it for the web? If not, if you have Photoshop, Unsharp Mask at .75 - 75 - 3 should just about do it.


Tim

Thanks everyone ! Ill take your advice and try those things this evening!

[regken]

Did you sharpen the image after downsizing it for the web? If not, if you have Photoshop, Unsharp Mask at .75 - 75 - 3 should just about do it.


Tim

Tim,
I think you just solved a problem for me but I need some clarification. Your numbers have me a little confused. Do you mean Amount 75% radius .75 pixels threshold 3 levels?

Thanks for your help,

Ken

[roentarre]

I think that was what Tim meant exactly.

Smaller the radius, less likely halo effect. I might go for 0.5 pixel and 125% radius

[atupdate]

Tim,
I think you just solved a problem for me but I need some clarification. Your numbers have me a little confused. Do you mean Amount 75% radius .75 pixels threshold 3 levels?

Thanks for your help,

Ken

Ken,

In PSP X terms the settings are Radius .75, Strength 75, Clipping 3
In Photoshop terms the settings are Amount 75%, Radius 0.75 pixels, Threshold 3.

Some images require a bit more sharpening after resizing. For those images I use Amount 100%, Radius 1 pixels, Threshold 3.

Hope this helps.

Tim