Nature Shallow depth of field

Darrell Raw · 10-26-2013, 08:24 PM - **1 Like**

Does having the eyes in focus really work in a shot like this? Most of the head is OOF, and I've seen mentioned a few times that as long as the eyes are in focus it should be OK?

photolady95 · 10-26-2013, 08:37 PM

In my opinion having the nose in focus is more important than having the eyes in focus. This isn't a portrait of people where the eyes in focus are standard fare. It looks odd with the nose OOF on animals. Especially snakes where the nose is a prominent feature.

I shoot a lot of lizards and if the nose it out of focus, it goes in the trash. A snake is about the same element as a lizard.

Darrell Raw · 10-26-2013, 08:41 PM

Originally posted by photolady95

In my opinion having the nose in focus is more important than having the eyes in focus. This isn't a portrait of people where the eyes in focus are standard fare. It looks odd with the nose OOF on animals. Especially snakes where the nose is a prominent feature.

Sorry but I have to disagree with you there. Reptiles don't work unless the eye is in focus, so usually I try to get the entire head in focus. Almost every reptile and amphibian I've ever photographed has had remarkable eyes, they are usually the best feature. I do however see your point about the nose making it look odd - but I'm wondering if the angle warrants it.

photolady95 · 10-26-2013, 08:49 PM - **1 Like**

You asked for critigues, I gave you mine. It is only my opinion, but all photos I've seen of snakes the nose is in focus. If you were shooting the eyes only, then it might warrant them in focus, but you've focused head on, on the nose.

**jbinpg** · 10-26-2013, 09:58 PM

I'm an eye guy. If the eye is fuzzy, it is a tosser. Love this one.

Jack

photolady95 · 10-26-2013, 10:30 PM

I go for the eyes on lizards also, but these eyes are half closed. If they eyes are open, then that's another story. IMHO!

Browse the web for any head on shot of snakes and you'll see what I mean:

Like these:
http://www.mister-toad.com/photos/snake/c_constrictor_mi_01.html

Darrell Raw · 10-27-2013, 04:56 AM

"I go for the eyes on lizards also, but these eyes are half closed. If they eyes are open, then that's another story. IMHO!"

Snakes can't close their eyes, they do not have eyelids. The eyes have a dark band running through them that merges with the dark stripe on the side of the head, so I can see where they might look half closed, but that is physically impossible. I respect your opinion, I'm merely saying that for me a nose shot is a throwaway if the eyes are OOF, I admire photographers such as David Northcott, who always have the eye as sharpest focus if it is visible in the photograph.

BrianR · 10-27-2013, 08:18 AM

The eye's have it as far as I'm concerned. In any portrait of a critter or a person, the eyes are where you look first and where the deepest connection is. If the eyes are out of focus but the nose is in focus, there had better be a compelling reason for it (just my opinion

).

I find it's usually preferable to get both the eyes and nose in focus if possible for a snake and I do find the very out of focus nose a bit of a distraction here. If you were limited to f/6.7 I may have preferred the focus a little more towards the front of the snake as I think there's some interesting tongue action starting that's more interesting than the sides of the back of the head. But the sides of the head are also pretty cool on this snake and frame the eyes nicely. I especially like how the light/dark reflections in the eye line up with the light/dark pattern of the scales and it makes me wonder if it's a deliberately confusing pattern for this species. So hmm... that's probably not much help.

Darrell Raw · 10-27-2013, 09:19 AM

Some tongue action for you BrianR! Focus is a bit soft, but it does highlight why I prefer sharp eyes - the focus is in front of the eyes in this one and you lose that piercing stare a bit.

BrianR · 10-27-2013, 09:52 AM

Thanks! Snake tongues are awesome! Those eyes are seriously excellent.

The head shot on is for sure more intimate

D4rknezz · 10-27-2013, 10:46 PM

I'd go for both nose and eyes. This shot is great - until you notice the nose, and then there is no escaping it.

Eberbachl · 10-27-2013, 11:06 PM

I agree that the eyes are critical, but at this angle the OOF nose is too much of a distraction for me. I'd like to see the nose and eyes in focus fading into a soft background.

**jbinpg** · 10-29-2013, 12:47 AM

A snake's eye is indeed covered by a transparent immovable scale. But it *can* close its retina when sleeping!

mrNewt · 11-07-2013, 01:38 PM

LOVE the photo

.
Personally I'm for the eyes focus as well. Makes the photo more personal. If you would have only the nose in focus, the whole picture will be mostly nothing but blur. Having the eyes in focus makes a better balance and distribution of the blur.

If I would have to comment on something, I would maybe comment on the WB... seems a little off... too much bluish tint!? Maybe you didn't had the right option selected - easy fix though.
Other than that, I think is a well framed and balanced photo. Well done!

...

Obviously the second photo is even better... still with slightly bluish tint but better

.

canajuneh · 11-09-2013, 06:35 PM

Different query - what kind of snake is it?

10-26-2013, 08:24 PM - 1 Like	#1
Darrell Raw Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Surrey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 134	Shallow depth of field Lens: Pentax DFA 100mm Macro WR Camera: Pentax K5 IIS Photo Location: UK ISO: 400 Shutter Speed: 1/180s Aperture: F6.7 Does having the eyes in focus really work in a shot like this? Most of the head is OOF, and I've seen mentioned a few times that as long as the eyes are in focus it should be OK?

10-26-2013, 10:30 PM	#6
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	I go for the eyes on lizards also, but these eyes are half closed. If they eyes are open, then that's another story. IMHO! Browse the web for any head on shot of snakes and you'll see what I mean: Like these: http://www.mister-toad.com/photos/snake/c_constrictor_mi_01.html Last edited by photolady95; 10-26-2013 at 10:41 PM.

10-27-2013, 08:18 AM	#8
BrianR Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,332	The eye's have it as far as I'm concerned. In any portrait of a critter or a person, the eyes are where you look first and where the deepest connection is. If the eyes are out of focus but the nose is in focus, there had better be a compelling reason for it (just my opinion). I find it's usually preferable to get both the eyes and nose in focus if possible for a snake and I do find the very out of focus nose a bit of a distraction here. If you were limited to f/6.7 I may have preferred the focus a little more towards the front of the snake as I think there's some interesting tongue action starting that's more interesting than the sides of the back of the head. But the sides of the head are also pretty cool on this snake and frame the eyes nicely. I especially like how the light/dark reflections in the eye line up with the light/dark pattern of the scales and it makes me wonder if it's a deliberately confusing pattern for this species. So hmm... that's probably not much help.

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10-26-2013, 08:37 PM	#2
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	In my opinion having the nose in focus is more important than having the eyes in focus. This isn't a portrait of people where the eyes in focus are standard fare. It looks odd with the nose OOF on animals. Especially snakes where the nose is a prominent feature. I shoot a lot of lizards and if the nose it out of focus, it goes in the trash. A snake is about the same element as a lizard.

10-26-2013, 08:41 PM	#3
Darrell Raw Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Surrey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 134 Original Poster	Originally posted by photolady95 In my opinion having the nose in focus is more important than having the eyes in focus. This isn't a portrait of people where the eyes in focus are standard fare. It looks odd with the nose OOF on animals. Especially snakes where the nose is a prominent feature. Sorry but I have to disagree with you there. Reptiles don't work unless the eye is in focus, so usually I try to get the entire head in focus. Almost every reptile and amphibian I've ever photographed has had remarkable eyes, they are usually the best feature. I do however see your point about the nose making it look odd - but I'm wondering if the angle warrants it.

10-26-2013, 08:49 PM - 1 Like	#4
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	You asked for critigues, I gave you mine. It is only my opinion, but all photos I've seen of snakes the nose is in focus. If you were shooting the eyes only, then it might warrant them in focus, but you've focused head on, on the nose.

10-26-2013, 09:58 PM	#5
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	I'm an eye guy. If the eye is fuzzy, it is a tosser. Love this one. Jack

10-27-2013, 04:56 AM	#7
Darrell Raw Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Surrey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 134 Original Poster	"I go for the eyes on lizards also, but these eyes are half closed. If they eyes are open, then that's another story. IMHO!" Snakes can't close their eyes, they do not have eyelids. The eyes have a dark band running through them that merges with the dark stripe on the side of the head, so I can see where they might look half closed, but that is physically impossible. I respect your opinion, I'm merely saying that for me a nose shot is a throwaway if the eyes are OOF, I admire photographers such as David Northcott, who always have the eye as sharpest focus if it is visible in the photograph.

10-27-2013, 09:19 AM	#9
Darrell Raw Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Surrey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 134 Original Poster	Some tongue action for you BrianR! Focus is a bit soft, but it does highlight why I prefer sharp eyes - the focus is in front of the eyes in this one and you lose that piercing stare a bit.

10-27-2013, 09:52 AM	#10
BrianR Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,332	Thanks! Snake tongues are awesome! Those eyes are seriously excellent. The head shot on is for sure more intimate

10-27-2013, 10:46 PM	#11
D4rknezz Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,196	I'd go for both nose and eyes. This shot is great - until you notice the nose, and then there is no escaping it.

10-27-2013, 11:06 PM	#12
Eberbachl Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Doreen Posts: 111	I agree that the eyes are critical, but at this angle the OOF nose is too much of a distraction for me. I'd like to see the nose and eyes in focus fading into a soft background.

10-29-2013, 12:47 AM	#13
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	A snake's eye is indeed covered by a transparent immovable scale. But it can close its retina when sleeping!

11-07-2013, 01:38 PM	#14
mrNewt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ON, RH Posts: 2,181	LOVE the photo . Personally I'm for the eyes focus as well. Makes the photo more personal. If you would have only the nose in focus, the whole picture will be mostly nothing but blur. Having the eyes in focus makes a better balance and distribution of the blur. If I would have to comment on something, I would maybe comment on the WB... seems a little off... too much bluish tint!? Maybe you didn't had the right option selected - easy fix though. Other than that, I think is a well framed and balanced photo. Well done! ... Obviously the second photo is even better... still with slightly bluish tint but better .

11-09-2013, 06:35 PM	#15
canajuneh Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 221	Different query - what kind of snake is it?