Monday, October 29, 2007

Blue's Clues

Focus On Whatever Object You Choose

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON


If you're wondering what this is, there's a simple explanation. It's simply one of the arches above a metal fence line. Each arch is about twenty centimetres or roughly eight inches high and they are set about five centimetres or approximately a couple of inches apart. So the first frame (above) is shot straight into the mid-morning light, through the arch. There's no filter used and the images has not been modified, and the over-riding blue hue completely masks the fact that the arch is painted dark green.

The second frame (below) is taken in exactly the same position, but with the focus reversed. So instead of the arch in focus, I've focused instead on the line of trees about sixty metres away and achieved an interesting effect, especially with the light reflected off the arch.

20 comments:

  1. That is way cool.....I had to come over and check out your blog...Jeni told me all about it...so here I am....glad I dropped in...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Artistic perspective John.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sorry by mistake I called you John

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love to take a series of photos focusing on different things. FUN!
    Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Smalltown RN,

    Thank you so much for dropping by. And my thanks too, to Jeni for recommending my blog to you.

    Do keep in touch.

    Keep smiling

    David

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Amrita,

    Glad you liked the perspective.

    No worries about calling me John! I have three older brothers so when we were kids we just answered to each other's names!!

    John is fine with me!

    Keep smiling

    David

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Corey,

    It's terrific to experiment with a camera, isn't it?

    A million things to photograph each day!

    Keep smiling

    David

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've recently noticed that my camera does this unintentionally.

    It can make for some interesting pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Hammer,

    I have a friend who got stuck into the firewater one day - and the same thing happened to him too!!

    Keep smiling

    David

    ReplyDelete
  10. Interesting effects indeed - the moon in the second shot looks slightly oblong to me :-)

    Was it a long exposure shot with a high f-number? I was wondering whether the moon could have moved across the sky (ever so slightly) during the shot...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Ananda,

    It was taken at 1/500 and F 9.5

    Cheers

    David

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks David...Given 1/500, I think my earlier theory falls flat on its face :-(

    It is definitely not due to shake, because the trees are clearly in sharp focus.

    Just wondering - did you have a UV-filter on? I noticed once that for very bright objects (in this case the moon) there is something at play between the UV & the actual lens surface, which causes a shadow/reflection.

    Sorry for being such a bore on this one, but just can't get it out of my head :-D

    ReplyDelete
  13. And this is where all my troubles begin. I invariably want the first photo, and my camera will not cooperate. So I'll end up with 13 shots of Photo 2, frustrated and threatening to drown the camera, which is laughing at me. I know it is.

    ReplyDelete
  14. David- Hey this is very cool! Makes me think of the idea of Life in Persepective, too...Depending on the way we see things from different angles can drastically change our thinking and course!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I like to experiment with different effects, too. A good way to learn what you are looking at, but sometimes not seeing, with the "naked" eye.

    I posted some interesting moos shots yesterday, too. Nothing fancy, just an amazing moonrise.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous4:13 AM

    This is too cool, I'm just starting to learn the finer points of focusing.
    Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Everything is relative and a metter of perspective, eh? ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Such a true photographer, love the way youve done this.so simple item but so eye catching.Brill stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous9:38 PM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete