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Thread: DOF, Lighting, Composition or all three?

  1. #11

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    klamath falls, oregon
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    Re: DOF, Lighting, Composition or all three?

    A quote from a book I currently have checked out from our library: "Granted, light is what reveals, but even when that light is jaw-dropping and marvelous, there is still the matter of "On what is the light falling?" Certainly, every photographer I know whose work I admire is aware that light can be the major element of a photograph. They are also aware of the obvious fact that beautiful light can fall on something that is not particularly interesting to shoot."

    Is that a dune in your photograph?

  2. #12
    Vaughn's Avatar
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    Jan 2007
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    Humboldt County, CA
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    Re: DOF, Lighting, Composition or all three?

    Yes, near the top of Eureka Valley Sand Dune (one of the taller in CA). The darker (fuzzy) line down the middle is sand being carried by the wind. 4x5 negative enlarged to 16x20.
    "Landscapes exist in the material world yet soar in the realms of the spirit..." Tsung Ping, 5th Century China

  3. #13
    Drew Wiley
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    Sep 2008
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    SF Bay area, CA
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    18,338

    Re: DOF, Lighting, Composition or all three?

    Everything is important. It makes little difference if the front right tire is flat, the front left, the rear right, or the rear left. You don't go anywhere regardless. And that just the outside. Hopefully one would have deeper concerns too, like if the engine has enough oil or not. But if one is still in checklist mentality about all this, they still aren't on the road. 90% of composition is either intuitive or else it will inevitably look contrived. All the how-to books about photo composition look miserably contrived.

  4. #14

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    Sep 1998
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    Oregon now (formerly Austria)
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    Re: DOF, Lighting, Composition or all three?

    Quote Originally Posted by Drew Wiley View Post
    ... 90% of composition is either intuitive or else it's still wannabee.
    +1

  5. #15
    jp's Avatar
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    May 2009
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    Maine
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    Re: DOF, Lighting, Composition or all three?

    Here's one where DOF works together with all the other items.... It provides texture where needed and mystery where it's not. Lack of detail in the dark areas actually makes the composition rise above the detail.
    https://www.artsy.net/artwork/margar...tic-symphony-1

    I'm sure we can all find some photos where depth of field is not important or where it is important. I like it as a creative option as explained in posts 2,3,5.
    It's far from all or nothing... I have spent years and hundreds of rolls with my rolleiflex or hundreds or sheets with one LF lens to intuitively know what to expect for depth of field choices. Not the DOF math, but how it affects different subjects, backgrounds, tones, etc...

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