Shooting with Canon 50mm 1.4

[mfalk75]

Hi all, new here and this is actually my first model shoot. My question is about the following shots and ones like it. Most of the day I went around shooting wide open at 1.4, big mistake haha. A lot of shots turned out blurry and even though the following two shots are not as bad as some I still feel the model don't look sharp.

I used auto focus but switched between auto focal point selection and manual focal point selection. When in manual selection I tried to pick the focal point closest to the eye, focus on eye and then recompose a bit to get the shot I want. The First shot is a example of this even though her eye is covered with her hair
.

100 ISO Shutter speed:1/6400 Aperture: 1.4

This second shot below I used auto focal point selection.

I would like them both critiqued but also have a question. When taking photos like these where you almost have the entire model's body do you still try to focus on the eye? When using a Aperture of 1.4 the further the model got from the camera she seemed even less sharp even though I thought it would be opposite.

Don't hold back, I need to learn. Thanks!

[ceremus]

The 1.4 is pretty soft when shot wide open, pretty sure that's just the nature of the beast from your shots. A full stop down to f/2.0 should sharpen things up respectably, and it would be very sharp stopped down to f/2.8 and narrower. You may very well need to stop down further than that to get a DoF long enough to get the entire model in focus, if that's what you want.

[sk66]

Yep, stop down....There is no need for such a shallow DOF here.
Also, although the DOF gets deeper as you move further away, the lens doesn't become "sharper" and the camera has a harder time placing the focus at the exact point.

[mwatson]

I agree the DOF is probably a little too shallow for these shots. But, I think I get what you were going for here. You do have a nice feel to these shots. I do like the overall softness of the image. It goes well with the scene you are in. Tighten the aperture just a hair and I think you’re great.

You didn’t ask for this but I am going to tell you. I especially like the second. You broke a rule but you did it appropriately. She has this look on her face that really makes me want to know what is on the other side of this picture. If you would have placed her on the left side of the frame, I don’t think I would have the feeling.

[bphilleo]

I LOVE These! =)

I'm also a fan of shooting wide open and managed to get myself in trouble that way.

As mentioned by the other commenters, stopping down JUST a bit would help considerably. 2.0/2.8 will still give you that gorgeous DOF but you'll have a bit more wiggle room with keeping your subject in focus.

Great job!