Mistakes Photographers Make—Example X

Example of selective focus to emphasize a particular subject when you have repeating subjects or patterns (click to enlarge)

Sometimes we photographers see a set of repeating patterns, contrasting colors or even a row of individuals lined up and we believe a nice photograph can be made.  A problem can develop when deciding where to focus and how much of the repeating pattern should be in focus.  The problem arises in determining just what is the subject of the image if not done well.

I always found that if I went in either of two ways, I could make a pleasing image.  The first way was to use very shallow focus and focus only on one of the objects or persons and letting all others go completely out of focus.  The image above is an example.  I would normally focus on the nearest of the repeating patterns, if all alike, or pick out the one with the most interest which may be somewhere in the row of identical objects, if they differ in some ways.  Additionally, I normally don't put that sharply focused portion of the image in the center.  I normally offset it to one side or another, loosely following the "rule of thirds."

Another example of focus technique when you find repeating patterns or subjects.  In this case everything
is in sharp focus from front to back (click to enlarge)

The other manner of focus was to have everything in focus, not highlighting any particular object in the frame.  All of the objects equally become your subject as in this image.  The subject is the large number veteran headstones all with American flags.

Where one gets in trouble is when one doesn't visualize the end result and don't take notice of your aperture.  In those cases you may have one, two or three of the objects or persons in focus and the rest slowing fading out.  Result?  No specific subject.  No specific place to guide the viewer's eye.

You may agree or disagree.  But this is what has worked repeatedly for me over the years. It is only when the viewer can't really identify what in the image is the subject, is when one runs into problems.

Thanks for looking.  Enjoy!

Dennis Mook

Many of my images can be found at www.dennismook.com.  Please pay it a visit.  I add new images regularly.  Thank you.

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