Depth of Field

I was always impressed by the effects of 'Depth of Field'. After I bought my camera, I tried to get the effect by stupidly increasing aperture, decreasing it randomly but none could create the effect. I wanted to achieve the shallow depth of field.

Even after reading many articles and watching videos on youtube I couldn't get it. After many experiments this is the first shallow depth of field, I could create.

How to achieve it:
1) Keep your subject at a distance (say 5ft)
2) Check the aperture, it should be as minimum as possible.
3) Zoom(say 10x) to the subject
4) Focus the subject (with center or spot)
5) take the picture

Here are some of the pictures with shallow depth of field(& focus) effect

Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago

Main Building

MTCC with CTA railway track

IIT Tower

Paul Galvin Library

Siegel Hall- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department

Lake Michigan (Dec)

Lake Michigan is only a few blocks away from our apartment. The first time I visited Lake Michigan in Sept'10, I knew that I would come back once I get my camera. As I expected, Lake Michigan is my first target after I got the camera. Though it was a sunny day, I am not used to this freezing cold ( 9^o F/ -13^o C) and it was really difficult to bear this biting cold and take the pics.

View of Chicago Downtown from the Lake Michigan

This place was fully covered with ice (and not snow). Ice skids and it was dangerous to walk on that path because the ice was sharp. If you skid, then something would stick inside you. But it was a thrilling to walk till the edge and it was worth it. I got a nice view from the edge.

One of my favorite things to photograph. Sunlight shining on water. Though this is not a great pic,this is just a beginning.

A lonely bird.

Taking off.

Up in the air.

Lovely lonely bird

One more sunlight on water.

Finally.

Panny FZ35

I wanted to a buy a non-SLR camera which is not a basic one. I have done research and finally chose few cameras with Canon SX-20IS being the top of the them. But by the time I wanted to buy the camera, it was beyond my range (>$350). Then, I went for my second choice, which is Panasonic FZ35. After reading a lot of reviews, I found that Panasonic FZ35 is comparable to (and in someways better than) Canon SX20IS. I am not even a beginner in photography to judge, but I am very much satisfied with my Panny pics. On Nov 25 2010, I have ordered it on Amazon and got it by Nov 29 2010 for $260 (which was exactly my budget).

I intend to use this blog to write about my experiences with Panny FZ35.