Railroad Tracks
Selective focus is the conscious decision by the photographer to draw our attention to certain elements within an image. In this way they are able to say this is important and that is not. This technique requires a good understanding of the operation of the camera equipment and the principles of f-stops and focus.
This photograph of the single point perspective railroad tracks utilizes selective focus to keep our attention on the vanishing tracks and away from the foliage at the top of the scene. The strong focus creates a strong graphic of the track and ties disappearing in the distance. With the curve at the end of the leading lines we are given a destination for our attention.
The dappled shadows over most of the scene work nicely to enable control of the exposure. Tilting the image (starting to become a gimmick) gives the feeling we are going uphill.
Click on Image 
February 21st, 2008 at 9:07 am
Hi Jim, Thank you for your critique. Few weeks ago after the Ventura photo-walk I came across a photo that Al Ungar shot of the railroad track near the Ventura Fairgrounds. I was inspired by this photo and motivated to try something similar. This photo was shot last Friday at midday near the Carpentaria harbor seal rookery. I created some of the dof with the shot. I blurred some area further in the post processing. I converted the photo to black and white with the channel mixer and gave it a soft tint. And I darkened the sky, because it was standing out with it brightness.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:30 am
Henrik,
That’s for the very nice complement !!!
Al Ungar
February 21st, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Stop with tihe ’tilt’ I’m getting motion sick. Just kidding.