Project 52 - Week 36: Details Details

Sometimes very detailed scenes can be overwhelming.  It can get confusing on exactly what to photograph, and what story to tell.  What should you concentrate on in a specific scene?  Have you included enough detail to tell a story about where you are and what is happening?

A shallow depth of field can be one answer to help separate the key point of your photo.  It will separate the subject from the background.  Here is a photo taken at a pet event to illustrate.

This was a bright, sunny (and very hot) day.  I wanted to show that it was an event, the chocolate lab was with its owner, and enjoying what was happening around him.  By using a shallow depth of field I was able to bring focus to the dog/owner relationship, yet leave in the details necessary for the story.

Lifestyle photography often makes us decide how best to showcase subjects and what they are doing.  We want to be sure that some of the details we allow into the scene, pinpoint the real time activities.  Here is an example of two happy dogs enjoying an evening by the water with their owner.  I don't believe the owner even knew I snapped this photo.

Along the lines of a shallow depth of field, another option might be to get in close enough to capture the finer details of the story. Some people use macro photography to do just that, getting in really close to the subject, which is in striking detail, but muting out or blurring the background. 

I am not going to show you a macro photography example this week.  I will, however, show you the facial expression of one small dog, named Luke, hoping someone will play with him and his favorite ball.  I got in a little closer to Luke in this image and used that shallow depth of field to focus only on his expression and the coveted yellow Kong ball.

And that is my interpretation of the theme this week.  I can't wait to see what others in the blog circle did in terms of details.  So I'm starting here with Kim Hollis of  BARKography in Charlotte NC.  Follow me.  I promise I won't lose you!

P.S.  Have a great weekend free of rain, and say a little prayer for all those either trying to have a normal life again after a devastating hurricane, or those about to be hit by one.  My heart goes out to everyone affected.