So I was driving back from town and there were all these flags lining the road and I though this would make an interesting project.

Been a nightmare, especially in post processing. I cannot decide what looks okay.

The idea was to test the continuous autofocus (AF-C) on the DSLR by targeting the focus points on flappy flags and at the same time try and make a decent bokeh. This is very tricky and you end up taking a lot of shots. Used a tripod for the most part, lenses were the 31mm f/1.8 Limited and 77mm f/1.8 Limited, not known for their lightning AF response.

But still, it was a few hours doing something other than filling cracks in the house with silicone.

Set is here . . .

http://www.flickr.com/photos/56053365@N07/sets/72157637311336525/

This is all I got that is different...

Erawan Museum, Samut Prakan

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This is all I got that is different...

P9130111.JPG P9130114.JPG

Erawan Museum, Samut Prakan

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I thought the flags day out was going to be fun, but post processing to get the background bokeh right is really, really doing my head in.

AH ... that's a differing point for me ... apart from a bit of cropping ... you see the actual images my eye sees.

That's mine look like they are taken with a Polaroid ... and yours a Hassleblad.

Plus I run Windows XP with 2 Gig or RAM .. be asking to much of the ole' girl.

Love your images ...

AH ... that's a differing point for me ... apart from a bit of cropping ... you see the actual images my eye sees.

That's mine look like they are taken with a Polaroid ... and yours a Hassleblad.

Plus I run Windows XP with 2 Gig or RAM .. be asking to much of the ole' girl.

Love your images ...

Thanks Dave, but this flags thing has me stumped.

I shall revisit it next week. Need to prepare a presentation on the treatment of asbestos contaminated soils tomorrow which is intensely dull. That will a. cool my brain down and b. reinvigorate any arty creativity.

One of the features of my GH2 that I have not fully exploited yet is that it has a touch screen. It has both touch focus and focus tracking capabilities. I can just touch the screen on the object I want to focus and it locks to it. Then touch another spot and it moves to it. Would make it pretty easy to do your flags and something I should try out. The focus tracking allows me to touch an object such as an animal or kid that is moving around and it tracks that object only and keeps in focus.

I have a 20mm f/1.7 prime and a 45 f/1.8 (40mm & 90mm 35mm equivalent). Using them I have to be much more aware of my DOF as it can get pretty shallow on closeups and need to ratch the aperture down a bit to control the DOF. I fought that a lot when I first got the camera as this was the first interchangeable lens system I've had since my Nikon FE from ages ago.

One of the features of my GH2 that I have not fully exploited yet is that it has a touch screen. It has both touch focus and focus tracking capabilities. I can just touch the screen on the object I want to focus and it locks to it. Then touch another spot and it moves to it. Would make it pretty easy to do your flags and something I should try out. The focus tracking allows me to touch an object such as an animal or kid that is moving around and it tracks that object only and keeps in focus.

I have a 20mm f/1.7 prime and a 45 f/1.8 (40mm & 90mm 35mm equivalent). Using them I have to be much more aware of my DOF as it can get pretty shallow on closeups and need to ratch the aperture down a bit to control the DOF. I fought that a lot when I first got the camera as this was the first interchangeable lens system I've had since my Nikon FE from ages ago.

Your 20mm f/1.7 is a pretty legendary lens.

I select AF-C and can group the focus points in the area of the frame I want the camera to focus. But with only 11 AF points it's not that easy on the K-5 IIs.

With the new K-3 you can use an Android tablet or wotnot and do the touch focus area priority thing in Live View, remote connection using a FLU card. I haven't got a K-3 yet, not available here until the 20th of November. It also has 27 point AF, 25 of which are cross type points. This is good. Very good.

One of the things I did wrong on that shoot was dial down the EV to -0.7 thinking it would increase the shutter speed whilst maintaining the desired ISO and aperture, it was a very bright day. This darkened the background too much in a lot of shots which is why it's proving tricky to recover the really dark areas in post processing, making a lot of the bokeh uncharacteristically ugly for the 31mm and 77mm Limiteds.

at Lamai beach Samui, this morning... flag setting up ceremony!

flags from a temple in BKK ...

Flags in CM

The flowers are pretty too!

These men attached an entire vessel to the red flags...

I may have posted this before... under sunsets?

Some excellent flag picture opportunities right now . . .

@shaggy....best shot on this thread by a mile...good compostion...well done.

@shaggy....best shot on this thread by a mile...good compostion...well done.

Jimmy and MJP's last attributes aren't bad either..

I am guessing these harvesters are made in the UK.... well it has the Union Jack on the side....

I am guessing these harvesters are made in the UK.... well it has the Union Jack on the side....

Don't think so. Looks like the steering wheel is on the correct (the left) side.

Not sure! ^

Anyway perhaps this one made in Thailand? ... it has a Thai flag!

Not sure! ^

Anyway perhaps this one made in Thailand? ... it has a Thai flag!

If it has blue lights all around it, it's Thai ! ! !

@shaggy....best shot on this thread by a mile...good compostion...well done.

Jimmy and MJP's last attributes aren't bad either..

clearly not MJP's though...so don't count. (website linked)

^ now ... now lets not start a mines better than yours !

One of my neighbours is collecting flags, he's got a way to go.....

I am guessing these harvesters are made in the UK.... well it has the Union Jack on the side....

Don't think so. Looks like the steering wheel is on the correct (the left) side.

Maybe the 'Flag' indicates the source of funding ...

Buffaloes and all that.

Flags at our little ones school.

The Goshawk flag

The Goshawk flag

huh?? where's the freakin' Goshawk...?

oh....! wait a minute.....there he is.........blink & you'll miss him !! (he's so goddamm fly)

edit - but he always steals the show

The Goshawk flag

oh....! wait a minute.....there he is.........blink & you'll miss him !! (he's so goddamm fly)

This is one of the most original comments I have read this year.

edit-- (he's probably on his way to his beloved cage)

The Goshawk flag

huh?? where's the freakin' Goshawk...?

oh....! wait a minute.....there he is.........blink & you'll miss him !! (he's so goddamm fly)

This is one of the most original comments I have read this year.

....the moments notice pic's not bad either. Goshawk or Swift ?