Photo travel fixing and focusing tips?

[trueGTchamp]

G'day all. I am interested in taking a saving cool photo travel piccies of some of my favorite machines. If you guys look in the weekly news thread (main page of GTP) you will notice the new seasonal event for and including the new Jaguar XKR-S. Now, i really love this photo but i am unsure on how to create such an image in photo travel , where all the focus is on the car and the background town buildings are faded out. Any info on how to take such a photo like this would be much appreciated... cheers ! .

 

[Zenmervolt]

Telephoto lens, focus point on the car, low F-stop number.

 

[subsist]

Try using mode 1, 2 and 3 also and see the differences they make.

 

[nursemorph]

I think there is a preset setting for this in the photo menu screen (photo screen, then press triangle..one of the drop down options on the right)...can't remember which option it is but I'm sure I remember using it once

 

[Zenmervolt]

I think there is a preset setting for this in the photo menu screen (photo screen, then press triangle..one of the drop down options on the right)...can't remember which option it is but I'm sure I remember using it once

I believe you're thinking of the "Miniature" option in the "Filters" drop-down. This artificially blurs the top and bottom portions of the image and does not properly create the depth of field effect that the OP is looking for.

The "Miniature" option is useful for very wide angle shots from a distance to make things look rather like a model train set or diorama. Good examples of the use of this filter (and some bad ones) can be seen here: https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/good-examples-of-miniature-filter-photos.145031/

Notice how the photos where the filter is used with a wide angle to get several cars in the shot from a distance look good (and how they look like they're photos of something like a model train set) while the photos where the filter is used on a single car up close to simulate depth of field just look "wrong" or "unnatural" in a way that's difficult to describe.

 

[nursemorph]

I believe you're thinking of the "Miniature" option in the "Filters" drop-down. This artificially blurs the top and bottom portions of the image and does not properly create the depth of field effect that the OP is looking for.

The "Miniature" option is useful for very wide angle shots from a distance to make things look rather like a model train set or diorama. Good examples of the use of this filter (and some bad ones) can be seen here: https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/good-examples-of-miniature-filter-photos.145031/

Notice how the photos where the filter is used with a wide angle to get several cars in the shot from a distance look good (and how they look like they're photos of something like a model train set) while the photos where the filter is used on a single car up close to simulate depth of field just look "wrong" or "unnatural" in a way that's difficult to describe.

Ah okay, could have sworn there was an option there but it appears I was wrong...thank you for correcting me. I agree that the miniature filter makes it look poor with one car, haven't tried it with 2.

 

[86Debris86]

As @Zenmervolt mentioned, use F number. Focus on the point of the car that is closest to you using the square button. Set the f number to it's lowest setting and gradually adjust it upwards until you have everything in focus that you want to be in focus. Too high and you'll bring the background into focus too.

Assuming you're taking a fairly close-up shot of your cars front three quarters; focus on the headlight or side pannel closest to you, set the f number to somewhere around 2.8 to 4.0 i think (you can set this more accurately using the camera options (triangle)) and you should have the focus on the front of your car with the background slightly blurry.

Depending on how much you have played around with the zoom (if you set the camera very close to the target and then pull the zoom right out can create a fish-eye effect, fitting more into the shot) you may have the back end of the car out of focus too, in which case increase the f number again gradually until you have everything you want in focus.

I'm sure there's more to it than just this but it's a good start to create the look you're after. Best thing to do is practice and experiment with different combinations of settings to see what effect they have.