Late afternoon 5 o’clock ““ Ca’em’s second posting on photo shooting. Most camera owners, including me Ca’em, want to take gracious photos where the subject is in focus and everything else is blurred, like the one above. This so called “Selective Focusing” is quite a challenge for compact point-and-shoot digital cameras than for DSLR.

The WB500(HZ10W) that Ca’em own is also a digital camera but is a premium camera that matches DSLR! :-) So Ca’em takes on the challenge! I can do it! yeah~

Still, selective-focusing is not at all easy for compact point-and-shoot digital camera. : ( Although the camera provides OIS (Optimal Image Stabilization) function, the gentle breeze is a bottleneck. The subject of today’s selective-focusing is ““ Harmony in the midst of city dust!

<Samsung WB500(HZ10W)  1/30s ㅣ5.8F ㅣISO200ㅣ26.3mm>

♪ Anyway the wind blows nothing really matters to me~ I bet.♩♬

Hmmm”¦ How should Ca’em start? Based on what Ca’em has studied, you have to use Macro(MF) and zoom function in manual mode for selective focusing. Ca’em followed the basic guideline of: maintain a certain distance from the subject (5 meters) -> use the zoom function to zoom in the subject -> focus in on the subject using MF mode. Many shots are taken to get the picture Ca’em wants but none is satisfactory. Damn the winds! “A bad workman always blames his tools” as the saying goes, Ca’em desperately wants to blame the equipment and the surrounding environment. :-(  Seriously, all Ca’em did was to press the shutter button hard! :-l Nevertheless, a few “˜okay’ shots. Let’s compare them.

<1/60s  l 5.8F l ISO800 l 26.3mm>           <1/60s  l 5.9F l ISO 800 l 35.3mm>

Two subjects. Same shutter speed and ISO. Distance is 60cm from the subject. WB500(HZ10W) is different from other digital cameras in that exposure value can be easily set using an external command lever, making it easier to do selective-focusing.

*** Oh! Before you take a picture, you need to make sure to create the best environment for photo shooting. Especially if you desire to use the camera function more efficiently. For effective use of external command levers in WB500(HZ10W), you are recommended to set the Command Lever to ISO among ISO/WB/EV in Menu Setup. ***

Focusing in on a small subject using the zoom function is always an evasive goal. The first cut is with focus on the larger flower. And the next one with focus on the smaller one. How is it? Is the author able to express the subject clearly? The very light-colored subject makes the photo appear too plain because the colors are not expressed vividly. What should Ca’em do?

<1/180s l 5.9F l ISO1600 l 30.5mm>           <1/180s  l 5.9F l ISO 1600 l 35.3mm>

Solution #1) Bring in the green leaf in the picture and increase the shutter speed value to give more texture to the surface of the leaf and petal. Also increase ISO to reduce the amount of light. The white flowers appear more vivid but still the photo overall lacks warmth.

<1/45s l 5.8F l ISO 400 l 26.3mm>            <1/60s  l 5.8F l ISO 400 l 26.3mm>

Solution #2) Lower the ISO value and change shutter speed to make the subject appear softer. However, the shutter speed is inadequate to solve the wind problem. As you can see, subject is artificial flower, not real ones. You can adjust the ISO value to improve the surface texture. If you don’t like rough surface, use a lower ISO for a much softer feeling. Just like me!

Tips for you: If using macro function for selective focusing is difficult for you, you can also use vivid mode in shooting effect. Retro is also an effective function for gracious picture. How about this? Is the subject much clearer? It seems to disguise the shoddy flowers.

<vivid>                                        <Retro-vivid>

I’d like to tell you something.

Challenging as selective-focusing is, a balanced use of shutter speed and zoom function in manual mode resulted in the pictures I wanted. Using ordinary focal length, you cannot effectively express selective-focusing. It is better to use zoom function. Just as everything fades out if we focus on one subject, if you want to portray just what is in my eyes with the camera lens, use the above technique. An attractive photo will be in your hands in no time! Next time, I should try selective-focusing for subject with clear color or line.

Although most digital cameras come with macro function these days, it is always safer to check the specifications before you buy a camera. If you are looking for a good picture, read through the functions thoroughly and invest time to study them. A short cut to becoming a professional photographer!

All photos, above, may not otherwise be reproduced, distributed, cropped, re sized, or otherwise altered without the written permission of the contributor. All photos represent the sole opinion of their individual authors and contributors and don’t express the opinion of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Samsungimaging.net or the opinion of any affiliates unless specifically marked as such.

All photos, above, have been shot with the Samsung WB500(HZ10W), which has been provided by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

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