Help with a blurry eye?

[jmyus]

I decided to try out my new 35mm lens in manual mode today. I was fairly happy with the results, but have a couple questions about this picture. Can anyne help with the blurry eye? Any tips to get them both in focus? also, i had to work with the color some in PP because my pics were all a little off SOOC, washed out shall i say?! Was that related to my settings? There are two other pictures on the SYS page if you need to see another example.
Thank you for looking.


Nikon D60
Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture f/2.5
Focal Length 35 mm
Focal Length 35.6 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias +2 EV
Flash No Flash

[Naois]

To get both eyes in focus, you need to either change the angle of the shot, or close your aperture down a bit until they are both in focus. A larger f/ number increases the size of your in-focus area or "depth-of-field" (DOF).

I assume you are shooting JPEG, and I think that Nikon has an in-camera setting in the "Shooting" menu or something like that called "Optimize Image" which can be changed to vivid, or one of several other settings which may help the color SOOC.

[Photo Bo]

I agreee with Naois, the issue with the right eye being blurry is an aperature issue. I personally would have gone to either 1/125 at F.4 or 1/60 at F5.6. 1/60 is pretty much as slow as you can get and still hand hold your camera (unless you have very steady hands. There are some great DoF (Depth of Field) calculators out there (free on the net) to help you with figuing out your DoF for the lens you are using. I also have an app on my phone for this and it will diagram it for you. Hope this helps.

[jmyus]

Thank you both! I will try those suggestions next time, assuming my kids let me practice again!

[-Garfield-]

I just have to agree with both guys, but take also a good look on the background. When you will choose smaller aperture like f/5.6 you will get more depth of field, more stuff in focus. But I think for this shot even f/5.6 still might not be enought and you'll have to go with f/8.

With smaller aperture more of the background will aslo be in focus and if the background is busy than it may take viewers' eyes away from the subject.

[jml79]

Personally I like this picture. The very shallow DOF gives it a dream like quality and helps with what looks like a busy background.

[-Garfield-]

Originally Posted by jml79

Personally I like this picture. The very shallow DOF gives it a dream like quality and helps with what looks like a busy background.

I have to agree with you, to be honest these large aperture lenses are made for shooting with large apertures and it looks stunning for portraits

[jmyus]

Thanks jml and garfield!
im having a tough time grasping and retaining all there is to know about camera settings. its like a foreign language to me. so, i have just been taking a shot at each setting until i get one that looks right?! some day i will catch on!
i love how the lens makes it so blurred! a huge bonus if you ask me!