What Is Focus Breathing?

By Craig Hull   

Focus breathing affects filmmakers and can frustrate some still photographers too. It concerns focusing between the two extremes of your lens; the minimal focusing distance (MFD) and infinity.

To find out what focus breathing is, what it does and how to help it, read on.

What Is Focus Breathing?

When I first heard this photography term, I thought it had to do with control breathing. For example, focusing your breathing when you shoot using a telephoto lens to avoid camera shake.

Focus breathing (or lens breathing) is what happens, or seems to happen when you change the lens focus from one focus distance extreme to another.

This is especially true when going from the minimum focusing distance (MFD) to infinity. It also works oppositely.

Focus breathing is only possible when you change the focus distance while looking through the viewfinder. What you will notice is that the focal length looks like it is zooming in or out very slightly.

Is Focus Breathing an Important Issue?

This might be the first time you’ve ever heard of focus breathing. It is definitely something that I have never seen in a lens manual or guide from lens manufacturers. It has never cropped up as a question on a photography forum I have seen.

For photographers, focus breathing isn’t really an issue. Macro photographers might find it frustrating when trying to focus at the lens’ minimum focusing distance (MFD).

Photographers will see no difference in the way their camera slightly changes. This is due to a still photographer not having to worry about recording the focus change.

By that definition, focus breathing is an issue for videographers or those who use their DSLR cameras to film. It can be with prime lenses or zoom lenses alike.

When someone behind the camera changes their focus distance while filming with cine lenses, the movement is captured. That ‘focus breathing’ is captured in the scene they are filming.

Obviously, focus breathing is a distraction and a problem that needs to be considered, planned for and then solved. One of the reasons in specialty video cameras is they do not create this focus breathing problem.

They are very expensive in comparison. But the production value you receive in return is unparalleled.

What Can Be Done About Focus Breathing?

It might bother you, it might not. You might have never realized it even existed. Like the rest of us, you have no idea what it is. But you put it out of your mind and reframe your scene.

You can, of course, use a few tricks to stop this from being a problem. With focusing, different lenses give you varying qualities when used at the same focal length. This needs an example.

Let’s say you have the Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L prime lens and the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L. Both lenses let you reach the 85mm focal length. But, 85mm prime lenses will give you better magnification.

We won’t go into it too much. There are factors that make prime lenses stronger in some cases when compared to zoom lenses. If you are interested, read our Prime vs Zoom Lenses article.

What I will say is this. Whether you use prime lenses or zoom lenses, there isn’t any constant degree on which to measure focus breathing. Neither is more affected than the other.  

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Table of Contents

• What Is Focus Breathing?
• Is Focus Breathing an Important Issue?
• What Can Be Done About Focus Breathing?

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Best Sunrise Photography Tips (Location, Settings & Gear!)

Tags: Photography for Beginners, Newbie Photography

By Anton Gorlin 

If you are into landscape photography, you might have already questioned your decision to wake up early for taking sunrise photography.

These are the times you should remember the joy of adventure and how rewarding sunrise photography actually is.

Read on to learn how to take sunrise photos that are worth waking up for.

Why Go Shooting at Sunrise?

A lot of people ask me “why sunrise, can’t I just do a sunset instead?” Of course, you can, but there is one massive difference between the two. And it’s an unbeatable argument in favour of sunrise for me.

When you photograph in the evening, there are lots of people around. They keep walking into the frame and distract you in so many ways.

During the sunrise, you get alone time with nature. You can focus on your thoughts and feelings and express yourself better. Also, the golden hour stays longer than the blue hour.

Getting Ready For Sunrise Photography

So, you have decided to do sunrise, and it’s time to prepare. I recommend getting ready the night before. This way, you’ll get an extra 10 minutes of sleep and you will also significantly reduce the chances of forgetting something important.

Do not forget to plan ahead and go with the right equipment.

What Should You Take With You?

Here is a list of sunrise photography essentials to pack in your backpack:

1. Camera with a memory card and a charged battery (+extra battery for the long exposures);
2. Tripod (make sure to check the tripod plate);
3. Snack (it’s early morning, remember?);
4. Headlamp (you’ll wander in the darkness!);
5. Your best lenses;
6. Filters (CPL, Grading or ND);
7. Remote control (if you have one).

Everything else is either optional or depends on the scenery and weather.

How to Choose a Camera For Sunrise Photography

As the saying goes, the best camera is the one you already own. This fact is true to some extent. So, if you already have a decent DSLR camera, invest in higher quality lenses.

If you are a new buyer, here are a few things to consider:

1. Dynamic range. Most modern cameras are good enough with high dynamic range and produce excellent colors. If you need the details, check DxOMark for sensor tests and comparisons.
2. Long exposures. Your camera must be capable of capturing long exposures of at least 30 seconds. As far as I know, all DSLRs have this ability, so this rule applies mostly to smartphone cameras. It’s better to have a Bulb mode for even longer exposures too.
3. Resolution. Regardless of what people think, megapixels are not that important. It plays a role in how much you can crop from the picture without significant quality loss. But if you are not going to print very large, you don’t need that many megapixels. My older Nikon D80 had 12 mpx, and I still have some photos I took with it in my portfolio.
4. User experience. I recommend getting a mid-range DSLR camera. Lack of these commands is the most significant show-stopper for the cheaper cameras. You don’t want to miss the moment digging through numerous menus.

Best Cameras for Sunrise Photography

• DSLR APS-C: Canon EOS 80D / Nikon D7500
• DSLR Full-Frame: Canon EOS 5DS R  / Nikon D850
• Mirrorless APS-C: Fujifilm X100V
• Mirrorless Full-Frame: Sony a7R IV
• Micro Four Thirds: Olympus OM-D E-M5 MkIII

How to Choose a Tripod

Your tripod needs to be sturdy and well-balanced. It should be able to hold your camera against the wind. If you go hiking, your only option to reduce weight is to get a carbon fibre tripod — but it comes at a cost.

I prefer Manfrotto and Slick tripods, they have always been great with zero issues.

However, you have a serious issue on your hand if you shoot seascapes and like to go into the water. It will probably ruin the tripod in a couple of months. If you’re photographing in an environment which ruins your gear, you should go for cheaper equipment.

I use Weifeng tripods all the time. They are cheap and provide excellent quality.

How to Choose the Best Lens For Sunrise Photography

There are no strict rules about lenses, and you can get away with any focal length. Typically, photographers prefer wide or ultra-wide angles as their primary lens. I recommend having the whole range covered. Wide-angle + mid-range zoom + telephoto is an optimal choice.

If you are just starting out, you could get away with some general-purpose lens, like 18-105. With this type of lens, you will learn how to use different focal ranges and will know better what works for your style.

Here are a few recommendations:

APS-C:

1. Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
2. Nikon AF-S 12-24mm f4 G DX IF-ED
3. Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS
4. Tokina ATX-I 11-16mm f/2.8 CF

Full Frame:

1. Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
2. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR
3. Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 G
4. Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM Art

Best Weather Forecast Sites

Sunrise photography is all about light. And, as we all know, light depends on the weather to a great extent.

You need to learn how to plan to get the best sunrise landscape shots. Typically, I prefer a partly cloudy sky. I wouldn’t bother with less than 30% cloud cover for a general sunrise landscape.

There are, of course, different scenarios. For instance, for a waterfall or a forest, I would prefer a clear sky to increase the chance of getting sun rays beaming through the trees.

To figure out how early I have to get up, I use these two sites: The Weather Channel and SkippySky. The former has hourly cloud coverage, and the latter shows the type and thickness of the clouds.

SkippySky can look a little overwhelming, but you’ll figure it out fairly quickly. It also helps to predict if there is an opening between the clouds and the horizon. To get bright colors, you need high clouds. Low and heavy clouds rarely produce something spectacular.

All in all, you can never be 100% sure about weather conditions and have to try it out to see if it works.

The wind can also affect certain types of landscapes. For instance, don’t go to the cliff’s edge if there’s a strong wind.

Foggy weather can also play to your advantage — photographing a forest covered in fog will produce unique and dramatic-looking images.

How To Pick a Location

I usually start by looking at Google Maps. I use the query ‘*area name* sunrise’, or something similar.

Once I find some East-facing area (North-East and South-East also work), I look for photos in Google Images, 500px, and other sites, which include a location. This search gives me a general idea of what to expect from the area.

The Photographer’s Ephemeris app is also helpful for checking a location. You will see how light falls on a chosen spot almost anywhere on Earth.

How to Shoot Breathtaking Sunrise Photos

Scout The Area In Daylight to Know Your Environment

The best way to prepare for the new area is to scout it before the sunrise. In the darkness, it could be hard to find a path, measure distance or see potential shooting spots.

So, if you get a chance, walk around the day before, take notice of the best places. Use some virtual reality app like Photopills or PlanIt! For Photographers to see the Sun/Moon/Milky Way positions for your future shots.

Arrive One Hour Before Sunrise to Get Everything Ready

Typically, you need to arrive well before the actual sunrise for several reasons.

First, you’ll have the ability to shoot the long exposure. Second, you’ll have some time to get your equipment ready.

The first light appears about 30-40 minutes before sunrise, but you can start creating long exposure photos even earlier than that. I’ve seen clouds painted red 60 minutes before dawn. Keep in mind that all faint colours will turn vivid and juicy on the final shot.

Use a Headlamp to Find Your Focus

There are a few ways to focus your camera in the middle of the night, but the easiest way is to use your headlamp or a torch.

Pick an object around the hyperfocal distance, then lock the focus and shoot.

These are the steps you need to follow:

1. Point your flashlight at some solid object.
2. Focus the camera using that bright spot, pressing the shutter speed half-way down.
3. When the camera beeps, it means it has focused, so release the button.
4. Change the focusing mode to Manual so that when you press the shutter next time, the camera doesn’t change the focus.

Be sure to change back to the Autofocus mode once you zoom in or out because of the so-called focus breathing effect.

Shoot Long Exposures to Add Movement to Your Photos

The pre-dawn period works best for long exposures, and that’s the main reason to come early. The longer the exposure time, the more movement you can catch.

Typically, in the total darkness, 60+ minutes before sunrise, you could get a shutter speed anywhere from a couple of minutes for f/8 to 10 minutes or more for f/16.

Use your judgment and the sense of beauty to figure out how long you need to expose the photo for. The most common subjects for long exposure sunrise photography are clouds and water.

This is the time when using a neutral density filter is crucial. They reduce the amount of light that is hitting the camera sensor, thus making it possible for you to shoot long exposure without overexposing the picture.

For the sky, you can expose as long as you like and the clouds will just turn into trails. For water, it is not as simple. Relatively calm water (river, lake) just smooths out with time and becomes perfectly flat at 30+ seconds.

Restless water, like the sea or the ocean, can turn into a foggy substance.

You can find a lot of useful tips on how to shoot long exposures in our course Infinite Exposures.

Shoot Short Exposures to Freeze the Moment

If you only take long exposures, you are limiting yourself with just one technique. By shooting short exposures as well, you can freeze an interesting motion in time.

My best advice here is to keep experimenting, keep trying different approaches and styles.

Learn to Work With Light to Produce High Quality Images

Photographers must understand light, appreciate it and work together with it trying to take all the best out of it.

For instance, you have envisioned a photo, and the light is entirely different. Don’t be stubborn! Be flexible instead, adjust to the lighting conditions and act following the current state of nature. Learn to quickly change the whole course of the morning and adapt to the environment.

It’s best to photograph with the light source on the side or in front of you. The sun behind the photographer is the worst case as it fills in and hides all the details and textures.

Create a Starburst to Add Interest to Your Sunrise Photos

You’ve probably seen those starburst rays coming from the sun. It’s hard to believe how easy you can achieve just the same effect. Without going deep into the theory and the structure of aperture blades, below are a few steps to create a starburst effect.

1. Clean the lens
2. Hide the sun behind something dark and solid leaving just a fraction of it out
3. Set aperture f/16 (f/11 is the minimum)
4. Focus on something other than the Sun because bright light can confuse auto-focus
5. Photograph, verify, repeat

Make sure you clean your lens properly, otherwise you’ll get ugly flares, which are hard to deal with in editing.

Make Use Of The Golden Hour to Add Warm Hues

Golden hour is a period of the best light. It starts right after sunrise and lasts for about an hour. Usually, it’s warm, bright, and casts long shadows featuring all the textures.

It’s best to photograph with the light source on your left or right so that the shadows are the longest and the land features are most prominent.

Use Filters or Bracketing to Balance The Light

For sunrise photography, you need a solution that fixes the difference between land and sky exposure. The sky is typically much brighter, and it results in either an overexposed sky or an underexposed land.

To alleviate this issue, you have two options:

1. Use gradual filters. This filter is a partially dark piece of glass. The darker part is positioned to darken a particular area of the photo.
2. Do bracketing. Shoot several photos with different exposures, with exposure compensation values of -1,5; 0; +1,5. Combine these pictures later during post-processing.

Personally, I prefer the latter because filters have some disadvantages. First, they may have a color cast. Second, you need to carry a whole bag of filters. Third, it takes time to change the filter, and you may lose the moment.

To learn more about how to use bracketing in photography, check out our article here.

How to Find the Best Sunrise Photography Settings

Setting the Aperture

As with any other type of landscape photography, you typically shoot in either Manual mode or Aperture Priority mode. For landscape, you need a depth of field covering as much area as possible. That’s why you set the aperture to at least f/8 — but I recommend to go with f/11-f/16.

Don’t go higher than that because you will start losing sharpness instead due to lens diffraction. In fact, some lenses start to get diffraction even at f/16. You’ll need to test and compare.

Setting the Shutter Speed

The shutter speed is a variable here, and it depends on the surrounding conditions. When you just start shooting 60 minutes before sunrise, the shutter speed at f/8 could reach 5-8 minutes easily.

Pro tip: To get shutter speeds longer than 30 seconds you would need either a release cable or remote control for your camera. Set the camera to Bulb mode, then fire the button and then press it again once the time lapses. The other way is to use the Wi-Fi module that appears in some modern cameras.

As the ambient light becomes stronger, the exposure time decreases gradually. You need to learn what shutter speed you need for specific objects to make them look great and then adjust your settings accordingly.

Choosing Your ISO

Every camera handles ISO differently, so it requires an experiment to determine the max ISO you can get away with. Please note that darker photos with high ISO will produce much more noise than adequately exposed pictures with the same ISO level.

In fact, you only need to manipulate ISO for the sunrise when there are some moving objects, like waves or birds. In all other cases, you can keep it at 100. I also recommend to keep it as low as possible for the long exposures because otherwise, it would produce a lot of extra noise.

Sunrise is the most magical time of day when you can fully connect with nature. Even though there are many things you need to pay attention to, the magical atmosphere you can capture is always worth the effort.

Set your next alarm clock early and try it out! The tips above will help you to take stunning sunrise photos.

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What Is Surreal Photography: 12 Examples

Tags: Photography for Beginners, Newbie Photography, Newbie Shutterbugs 

By Taya Ivanova 

Surreal photography challenges its admirers to change their perspectives, question their values, and create something unforgettable. This unique genre has inspired many photographers to recreate their wildest dreams.
When surrealism was still young, photographers created their own worlds using darkroom tricks and optical illusions. Today, we can create our own peculiar worlds using real-life objects (e.g. Oleg Oprisco), editing programs (e.g. Rosie Hardy), or both.
Below, you’ll find 12 prime examples of surreal photography. The images, which are as diverse as their creators, are testimonies to the value of surrealism.
No matter how simple, complicated, or unusual the surreal photography is, it has the power to influence anyone who takes the time to observe it. 

Underwater Portrait

Velizar Ivanov’s work is both haunting and graceful. His portfolio is filled with surreal underwater photos, portraits, and heartwarming photos of family members.
To take this photo, Velizar asked his daughter to swim in an aquarium while he took photos through the front glass. This resulted in surreal, well-lit portraits. His daughter’s calm expression, outfit, and floating hair all create a dreamlike atmosphere, reminiscent of something you’d see on the cover of a fantasy book.

Velizar Ivanov

Underwater Landscape

This real and unedited view was perfectly photographed by Alexandra Rose. The angle, composition, and monotonous colours all work together to create an underwater photography masterpiece. The most haunting thing about this image is the formation of the fish; together, they look like a very large tail devouring a scuba diver.
Surreal photography often features people and things submerged in water. Given the mysterious and unpredictable nature of water itself, this makes sense. Photographers like Brooke Shaden often use this technique to express fragility, change, and hope.

Alexandra Rose

Food & Drink

Simple colour correction transformed a food photograph into a surreal work of art. Elijah O’Donell cleverly desaturated almost every cherry and slightly increased the contrast to create an even more dramatic feel. The result is striking surreal photography whose story completely depends on your perspective. Is the cherry a reflection of loneliness, pride, or desperation?
Surreal photography allows room for the ambiguous, the strange, and the mind-boggling. Oftentimes, this leads to a lot of fascinating conversations with no definite answers. Sometimes, a simple editing tool is all it takes to create such discussions.

Glamour

Closeups, discos, and aliens. These three words might come to mind when you look at this photo by Jill Heyer, who created a series of sparkling surreal photographs inspired by blacklight photography.
“We suggested that we could use the colors as sparkles to create a stunning galaxy feel. That is the outcome. We plan to do another series following real star signs on faces and bodies.”
With the help of glow-in-the-dark makeup, Jill created a series of unconventional beauty shots. Though the model‘s features are visible, her eyes are as dark as the background. The combination of obscure colors and almost inhuman features are what make this photo an ideal example of surreal photography.

Spontaneous Surreal Photography

Like Alexandra’s underwater photograph, this surreal photography image wasn’t manipulated. Since we can’t see everything, we’re not sure what is going on. Was the subject modeling or playing? Where was this taken? These questions exist only because of that tent, which was strategically placed in front of the camera. Only Earl can answer them, but he wisely chooses not to. After all, guessing is much more fun than getting the real answers. (Sometimes.)
Maybe, if the tent-like material weren’t in the way, this photo would reveal a joyful child playing outdoors. By placing a barrier between the model and camera, Earl was able to create something spontaneous and surreal: a haunting figure slowly vanishing into thin air.
This is something we can all use in our own surreal photography. If you have a semi-transparent material, place it in front of a light source and experiment with various models. Your results will all have a hint of surrealism in them.

Landscape

Emile Seguin’s photograph may be very simple, but it compels viewers to stare and wonder about the model, location, and style. This minimalistic approach to surreal photography isn’t as easy as it looks. Emile probably invested hours of editing work into this shot.
Bare landscapes like this are almost impossible to find in today’s world, which is why this photo stands out. Remove what the human eye is used to, and you’ll get results that will astound everyone. Removing mountains, buildings, and any other signs of life were Emile’s way of expressing isolation and an adventurous spirit.

“I usually go on this lake with my kayak and my jet ski. This was my first time walking on it. Weird but very satisfying feeling.” – Emile Seguin

Photo Manipulation

This post-apocalyptic surreal photography masterpiece by Hans Eiskonen is undeniably eerie. The details — rising smoke, snow, a cloudy sky, and other details — all speak of abandonment. However, the bus seems to be the only haunted subject in Hans’s universe. Other objects, like the street lamp, suggest remaining signs of life. Why is the bus rotting in a place full of people? We can only guess.
By expertly introducing unfamiliar concepts, surreal photography turns the world upside down. This is probably why dystopian worlds are so popular. We respond to this unfamiliarity with nothing but curiosity and admiration.
Hans isn’t the only photographer who relies on extreme photo manipulation to create such detailed photos. A large percentage of photographers — Rosie Hardy, Alex Stoddard, Kyle Thompson — do this to experiment with surrealism’s limitless possibilities.

Conceptual Surreal Photography

When you look at this photo, what do you see? A frustrated student trying to prepare for an exam, a girl getting lost in her own fictional world, or something completely different?
Surreal photography has various sub-genres, like conceptual surrealism, which focuses on multiple themes using multiple objects. Photos made for this genre are filled with striking details. Unlike Emile Seguin’s work, they’re far from simple. (This doesn’t mean that Emile’s work is inferior to this genre, or that conceptual surrealism is too complicated. In surreal photography, there’s enough room for both types.)
Laci Slezak’s portrait is filled with multiple themes and lots of detailed subjects. Since the model’s face is barely visible, it’s hard to tell what she’s trying to express. While this is something that would be seen as confusing in classic portraits, it’s lovingly embraced in surreal photography.

Laci Slezak

Closeup Surreal Photography Portraits

If it weren’t for the angle and concept, this photo would just be a striking portrait. However, Mickael Cresset chose to zoom in, conceal his model’s face with water, and shoot from an angle that emphasised the reflection’s movements. For these reasons, he’s a fantastic example of a surreal photographer.
Moving objects play an important role in surreal photography. Take, for example, the mesmerising beauty of long-exposure photography. Though we know what the subjects are, we can’t get enough of seeing them in silent motion. You can easily merge long-exposures with surrealism to create unique photographs.

Mickael Cresset

Conceptual Self-Portrait

As you may have noticed, surreal photography is often filled with subjects that you wouldn’t see in your everyday life. In this photograph by Natalya Letunova, a girl is silently observing three hot air balloons. Had they not been there, this photo would look much simpler.
The addition of unusual elements plays an important part in surreal photography. You don’t always need expert editing skills to add interesting objects to your simple portraits. All you need is a big imagination and the willingness to learn.

Natalya Letunova

Architecture

More often than not, surreal photography features unusually large objects. Oliwier Gesla did this using vibrant sculptures of insects, skyscrapers, and a cloudy sky. Though it looks like a manipulated photo, it’s actually real:
“I took this photo on my way to the Eureka Sky deck which I didn’t even end up going to because the price was a bit hefty. During this day in Melbourne, I only took about 10-15 photos but I can easily say that this one is one of the all-time favorite photos that I’ve ever taken.”
What stands out the most in this photograph are the insects, which glow in comparison to their surroundings. While the story is ambiguous, the aesthetic appeal is very clear. Oliwier chose to slightly de-saturate everything but the sculptures, creating a striking composition that could only appear in our dreams.

Oliwier Gesla

Still Life

You don’t always need sculptures, abandoned buses, or levitating books to create impressive surreal photography. Saffu’s photo of a floating umbrella proves that simple objects can be fascinating, too.
Most of Saffu’s gallery is full of stunning travel photos of the Maldives. The photo below, an experiment with surrealism, is one of his most popular images. This proves just how well people respond to surreal photography and how little you need to make something unforgettable.

Saffu

Since the 1920s, surrealism has been astounding people all over the world. Back then, only a select few could experiment with it. Now, anyone with a camera can recreate their wildest dreams. This opportunity has allowed millions of artists to express their deepest fears, emotions, and secrets without saying them aloud. For this reason, surreal photography isn’t going anywhere.
The most beautiful thing about surreal photography is its openness to all kinds of artists. The photos above prove that no amount of minimalism, complexity, or strangeness can stop you from contributing to surrealism. If you have a dream, you have every right to turn it into a masterpiece. Why not start now?

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Autumn is arguably the best time of year for landscape photography.

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