PD170/how to soften focus behind subject being interviewed... at DVinfo.net

Ken Beals · February 19th, 2005, 01:11 AM

The setting:

single camera positioned slightly left or slightly right of interviewer. single 2k light with softbox. at subjects home, typical room dimensions(average12' x 15').

Is there any way to manipulate the PD170 to narrow its depth of field and soften the focus behind the subject ?

Robin Davies-Rollinson · February 19th, 2005, 04:17 AM

Get the camera as far back as possible and tighten the shot with the zoom; reduce the intensity of the light or change your shutter speed to 1/100th or higher. You need to be working with the lens aperture wide open...

Robin

Craig Seeman · February 19th, 2005, 08:06 PM

go to F1.6. Add ND filters if you're overexposed. Up the shutter speed if you still need to cut light (as Robin mentions). Get back as far as you can and zoom in as much as possible. If you have to cut light I'd think about cutting some light from the 2k before doing the other things mentioned above though but it depends on the look your after.

Richard Alvarez · February 19th, 2005, 08:38 PM

Two other options, someone makes a 'soft focus' scrim that you can hang behind a subject, sort of difuses the background... not sure that's practical, and kind of expensive.

Second option, create a mask around the subject in post, put a very slight gaussian blur on the background.... VERY slight. This will fool the eye a bit.

Mike Rehmus · February 19th, 2005, 09:30 PM

Shoot through an open window if the weather is OK. Or an interior door way.

Wayne Orr · February 20th, 2005, 06:02 PM

That 2K in the softbox is way overkill, Ken. Assuming you are shooting your subject in a nice bust sized shot, you should be able to get away with a 500w light in your softbox, unless you are using a Chimera with an interior baffle, which may require a 750. Certainly, no more than a 1K. To get the best soft, wrap around look out of your softbox, you want to position the light as close to your subject as possible. With a 2K you'll be burning him up at close range.

That "soft focus" scrim can be found here: http://indietoolbox.com/

Wayne Orr, SOC

Ken Beals · February 20th, 2005, 07:02 PM

Appreciate the great response.

I stand corrected on the light. It was a 500 watt.

The last interview shoot was done in the home of a well known musician and my partner borrowed a less watt light and softbox special.

That soft focus screen would have been ideal for that mornings shoot. Thanks for the link.

Tom Hardwick · February 22nd, 2005, 02:24 PM

Trouble is that f2.5 is top whack Craig, much as we'd all like to use f1.6 at full telephoto.

February 19th, 2005, 01:11 AM	#1
Ken Beals Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tempe, Az Posts: 172	PD170/how to soften focus behind subject being interviewed... The setting: single camera positioned slightly left or slightly right of interviewer. single 2k light with softbox. at subjects home, typical room dimensions(average12' x 15'). Is there any way to manipulate the PD170 to narrow its depth of field and soften the focus behind the subject ? __________________ Mediocrity is a disease...

February 19th, 2005, 09:30 PM	#5
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Shoot through an open window if the weather is OK. Or an interior door way. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

February 20th, 2005, 07:02 PM	#7
Ken Beals Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tempe, Az Posts: 172	Appreciate the great response. I stand corrected on the light. It was a 500 watt. The last interview shoot was done in the home of a well known musician and my partner borrowed a less watt light and softbox special. That soft focus screen would have been ideal for that mornings shoot. Thanks for the link. __________________ Mediocrity is a disease...

February 19th, 2005, 04:17 AM	#2
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	Get the camera as far back as possible and tighten the shot with the zoom; reduce the intensity of the light or change your shutter speed to 1/100th or higher. You need to be working with the lens aperture wide open... Robin

February 19th, 2005, 08:06 PM	#3
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	go to F1.6. Add ND filters if you're overexposed. Up the shutter speed if you still need to cut light (as Robin mentions). Get back as far as you can and zoom in as much as possible. If you have to cut light I'd think about cutting some light from the 2k before doing the other things mentioned above though but it depends on the look your after.

February 19th, 2005, 08:38 PM	#4
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Two other options, someone makes a 'soft focus' scrim that you can hang behind a subject, sort of difuses the background... not sure that's practical, and kind of expensive. Second option, create a mask around the subject in post, put a very slight gaussian blur on the background.... VERY slight. This will fool the eye a bit.

February 20th, 2005, 06:02 PM	#6
Wayne Orr Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Northridge Ca Posts: 734	That 2K in the softbox is way overkill, Ken. Assuming you are shooting your subject in a nice bust sized shot, you should be able to get away with a 500w light in your softbox, unless you are using a Chimera with an interior baffle, which may require a 750. Certainly, no more than a 1K. To get the best soft, wrap around look out of your softbox, you want to position the light as close to your subject as possible. With a 2K you'll be burning him up at close range. That "soft focus" scrim can be found here: http://indietoolbox.com/ Wayne Orr, SOC

February 22nd, 2005, 02:24 PM	#8
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Trouble is that f2.5 is top whack Craig, much as we'd all like to use f1.6 at full telephoto.