Cafe Italia

This picture is not tack sharp even in the plane of focus, but in

contrast to most pictures I think this one benefits from it's

softness, for me it seems to glow.

 

Do you think the picture benefits from this softness or would it be

better razor sharp?

Was the 85/1.4 wide open? I ask because I think the picture would work better if the background was smoother. The detail still visible in it is rather distracting.

 

And I would prefer a sharper foreground. The chair looks great, but those slightly-out-of-focus flowers are giving me a headache!

Sharp works for me. The background is also distracting, despite being fuzzy. There is too much of it. We can still see what it is. An image like this needs to have its elements either totally isolated from the background, or to be given relevance by the context. I believe that your image falls between the two.

 

Brian

Roger, the 85/1.4 was used at 1.4.

 

Both you and Brian don't like the background, I found it nice that the flowers kind of 'echoed' in the background, but I take your point.

 

Concerning the flowers giving you a headache, that's what I asked, I liked the glow, you got a headache and want them sharp, OK. Knowing how people respond to others ideas is the whole point of a critique forum.

I think the backgound would work if there wasn't so much of it in relation to the flowers; also, in a picture where so much is soft, at least one part of it needs to be sharp--logically the flowers, if they are your subject. I like the soft background and don't think it has to be either a blur or relevant to the subject--I think it's just the proportions that are off.

I find it to be a fasinating photograph. At first I thought the soft flowers bothered me, but because they're flowers it really doesn't. The flowers almost have a purposeful soft focus to them. But what's really great about the pic is the tack-sharp chair in the foreground. It makes you question whether the chair or the flowers is the focal point, and that's what I find brilliant about the image.

i dont mind the background one bit--in fact, i think it has fanstastic bokeh--but i do mind that i cant seem to find one place for the eye to settle on. as was said, logically, it would be the vase of flowers (wide open lens) to get them only in focus, the foreground chair and the rest all blurred more. another idea would be to move in a little closer, further reduce DOF (maybe stop down one, to keep the flowers in focus). lovely gear you have i might add :) if i had to start over today, i'd be contax aria and set of (used) primes. re. your comment "you guys didnt rate", i dont rate photos--period. i do however, take the time to comment if it catches my eye. regards,

Actually thoughtful comments like yours are more valuable than ratings, I agree. Thanks for taking the time, I really appreciate it. By the way, all my lenses except the 50 and 28 are used, the 85 I used here, is the oldest one and yes it has some small scratches, but I love it. This photo shows why.

This is my first day in photonet, so I'm sorry if I commit a mistake.

The picture is very quiet and it induces me to rest and take a hot cup o coffe likely at the same table.Here is a clear example of when less means more.

Oscar Mayr.

 

 

Osorno-Chile-S.America

... simple is the life.

I'm sure it would be right if there's no photography in my life :-))

A little bit weak to show the cafe's atmosphere - what about a little more DOF (IMHO).

Yet, there I can easily read out elegant and sensitive touch from the warm hearted photographer.

A lovely photo. For me the DOF works great. If you take away all detail from the background you will loose continuity. If you make the background sharp you loose a sense of balance. I would like this photo even more if the flowers weren't cut off just ever so slightly. But thats a small detail. WELL DONE! This is one of those photos that is hidden away and few take the time to appreciate.

The soft, ethereal look of the photo is it's intrinsic appeal. There is a very nice touch with the curve of the chair back almost beckoning to the flowers. The only small thing that bothers me is the bit of green leafy stuff that is touching the right frame edge. It breaks the internal continuity of the image. A few moments with PhotoShop could clear that up. This is really a lovely abstract, the reality and focus of the flowers balances well against the soft, complementary coloured out of focus areas.

Brett, Ian,

 

you're right about the flowers touching the frame. I sit in this cafe everytime I have some rolls developed nearby, I'll try to redo the shot next time.

 

Thanks

 

Bernhard

I guess I must not be an artist? Sorry, but this photo does nothing for me.

Diane,

 

it's OK. I don't think I'm an artist either. You can like this pic or don't like it, this has nothing to do with you being an artist or not.

In my opinion, this picture is nothing compared to your Nevada folder for example, or other pictures you display... If I may, I would suggest you don't keep this in a professional portfolio... The background so blur is interesting, but the front is poor in color and in my opinion pretty uninteresting...

Marc,

 

you may suggest. I value your comments, especially as you are a professional. I'm not. I like this pic and I don't have to worry about if it will work for customers. I enjoy this freedom and as the pic works for me, I will keep this pic in my amateur portfolio.

 

Thank you very much for your comment, I really appreciate it.

I think the focus should be on the vase instead of the chair back, but otherwise I find this shot very appealing. The dof, comp & colour is great.

When a man asks a woman for a dance, or when 2 people speak with each other, where would you put the focus?

 

I definitely didn't realize this formal analogy when I took the shot. It was only later after looking at the picture again and again and after Ian's comment that I realized: What I really like about this picture from a compositional point of view is that the focus is neither on the chair or the flowers, but that there is lot of empty space in between that is only filled by the imagination in my head, what could be between the chair and the flowers.

 

A picture of Romeo OR Julia alone would be pretty boring, but Romeo AND Juliet ... (maybe listen to the old Dire Straits song to get the mood ...)

Hmmm good point Bernhard. Perhaps both the chair and flowers ought to be on equal planes of focus. The blur in the background is what really does the work here. The space you mention. The pastel colours are fab too, with the pinks and powdery blues. I can just about make out another vase of flowers in the bgrd - the yellow gave it away!

"Perhaps both the chair and flowers ought to be on equal planes of focus."

 

Your probably right on that, but I am not entirely sure. That's why I initiallyposted the pic for critique with the question "To be sharp or not to be?".Rendering the flowers absolutely sharp might take away that ethereal feel,maybe, I dunno. I should go that Café and take more pictures.

 

Thanks for your thoughtful comments, it's always a pleasure!

 

Chromacolor = BRAVO!! Nelsons, I'm less thrilled with...can be very condescending (not just me with that experience). I got to George's on 30th St more now. We may run into one another one day...if I ever get out and shoot some new stuff again.

Thanks for setting us all on the route to our own Photo.net Favorites pages.

The weakest point of all, unmentioned before. is the dark end of the left chair's back: it ends in a dark setting, and that bothers me. I cannot see the end clearly. Shifting the view slightly (dropping the camera down two inches) could have put the chairback end in front of the lighter backdrop, just a fraction up above now.

 

Composition always trumps focus, in my view.

Thanks Frank, that's a very good point.

I like the way it is - a spontanious photo that communicates well. It doesn't need to be studio-perfect to work.