Manual focus- comparison.

[anupartha]

From Streets

From Streets

I am using Canon powershot sx-20is which has manual focus option. I am trying to learn to use this feature. Please give me a feed back on this submitted image shot with a manual focus. Also please let me know which image I should present generally if I use that mode. The one with the blurred background or the one which is cropped.
Regards.
Thank you all.
Cheers.
Anu

[jdepould]

Neither one looks particularly sharp, are they both crops from a larger image? Are you sure about the focus being accurate?

Compositionally, I like the larger image a little bit better, since it gives the item in the foreground some room to breathe.

Also, the slow shutter speed (1/13s) could be contributing to softness.

[anupartha]

Thank you very much for looking in. The feed back helped me to identify precisely what I should look for while using the manual focus,and I did not chk the shutter speed.. Well honestly, I couldnt judge the accuracy of the focus but will learn soon.
Thank you once again.

[chicagojohn]

It would be helpful if you were to post your EXIF data explicitly. I do not see it in your post.

Camera
Lens / focal length
shutter speed
f/number
ISO
and anything else you want to share.

I like the second one better than the first one, but I think I would have liked it even more if the background had been perhaps a little more uniform. It's an interesting subject, but I found myself a little distracted by what appears to be a door over to the left that is also very bright.

I'm thinking that maybe if the red curtain over on the right had been the entire background, or some other background, then maybe it would have been easier to focus upon your subject.

What is this, if I may ask? To me, it seems to be quite unusual!

[anupartha]

Thanks chicagojohn. I thought clicking the image to view it large will provide all the EXIF data. Anyway here it is.
Model: Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
ISO: 400
Exposure: 1/13 sec
Aperture: 3.2
Focal Length: 5mm
Flash Used: No
Yes the background door is annoying, and well I was perhaps ignorant regarding its presence as it was some 8ft away, and I was concentrating on the manual focus. Long way to go, I know. The subject is an earring made of pearl and enamel. I hung it in a hook at eye level on the closet door.
Thank you once again for your comments.

[chicagojohn]

Originally Posted by anupartha

Thanks chicagojohn. I thought clicking the image to view it large will provide all the EXIF data. Anyway here it is.
Model: Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
ISO: 400
Exposure: 1/13 sec
Aperture: 3.2
Focal Length: 5mm
Flash Used: No
Yes the background door is annoying, and well I was perhaps ignorant regarding its presence as it was some 8ft away, and I was concentrating on the manual focus. Long way to go, I know. The subject is an earring made of pearl and enamel. I hung it in a hook at eye level on the closet door.
Thank you once again for your comments.

Hi Anupartha,

Sometimes it helps to revisit images; as we know, everything changes, and while the image may not change, there are changes in the mind of the viewer. In this case, also more information.

Somehow, knowing what it is helps me to assimilate it. Sometimes people insist that the image must be self-identifying, so to speak. I think that is a wrong concept and that words and images naturally go together. So thank you for clarifying what it is.

Today, I like the first one better; the crop. I like the linear bright light on the left and the color and form of the earring. Very unique, seemingly, but we in the US are only exposed to what the mass media present on TV.

Sharpness could be an issue here as someone else commented, and though it's not a huge one, assuming the earring still exists, maybe think of re-shooting it at a smaller aperture such as f/5.6 or f/8, in stronger light so you can increase your shutter speed, because I don't think 1/13 is possible without a tripod, and maybe go up on ISO one stop to 800 if you need to.

So if you decide to try something like this, please post it to this same thread so we can see the changes.

Thanks so much for sharing your picture of this unusual item.