{"id":159433,"date":"2019-07-29T16:46:54","date_gmt":"2019-07-29T23:46:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=159433"},"modified":"2019-07-29T17:04:42","modified_gmt":"2019-07-30T00:04:42","slug":"the-gaussian-blur-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/29\/the-gaussian-blur-test\/","title":{"rendered":"The Gaussian Blur Test"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Use ‘Gaussian Blur’ to better determine your compositions<\/a> in photography:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Gaussian Blur?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Gaussian Blur<\/strong>: better helps you determine the “figure to ground<\/a>” of a photograph [contrast].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The basic notion is this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create separation\/contrast between your subject and the background.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The more your subject can “pop” from the background, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"How
How to apply gaussian blur in photoshop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Radius
Radius of blur in gaussian blur for photoshop [just play around with the settings, until it looks good to you]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The test is simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Apply Gaussian Blur to your photograph<\/li>
  2. See if the photograph “pops” from the background<\/li>
  3. Draw in the composition, to better get a sense of the proportions of your composition.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>
    \"\"<\/figure>
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div>
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    What we are looking for<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"High-key.<\/figure><\/div>
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    We are striving towards the optimal “simple” composition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Furthermore, by applying Gaussian Blur to your photos, you better understand your compositions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Inverse + Gaussian Blur<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Another tip:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Inverse your photo, then apply the Gaussian Blur.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    This further abstracts your images, and helps you even better understand your compositions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    Sketching your compositions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div>
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Another idea:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Take a composition you like, then use an app like ProCreate [iPad] to fill in the blurry portions of your frame, to better understand the geometry\/proportions of your frame. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Then turn your composition layers into an animated GIF, to better understand the composition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Animated
    Animated GIF created in procreate for ipad<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    No glasses test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Another thought:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Look at your photos without having your glasses on [to simulate the “gaussian blur”]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Or if you have good eyes, cover one eye, and squint the other one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Or look at your photos as small thumbnails<\/a> to better determine the composition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Los<\/figure><\/div>
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \"Filled
    Filled in photograph with iPad and Procreate app<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    Blur is good<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div>
    \"Berkeley,<\/figure>
    \"London,<\/figure>
    \"London,<\/figure><\/div>
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div>
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>
    \"Yellow<\/figure>
    \"Blurry<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Blur more of your photos [Gaussian Blur after the fact], or blurry out-of-camera!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Shoot out of focus photos intentionally<\/li>
    2. Photograph moving subjects [while you are standing still]<\/li>
    3. Photograph stationary subjects as you are moving<\/li>
    4. Photograph moving subjects as you are moving<\/li>
    5. Photograph stationary subjects while intentionally pulling your camera toward the frame or away [slow shutter speed].<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \"Separation<\/figure><\/div>
      \"\"<\/figure>
      \"Separation<\/figure><\/div><\/div>
      \"Cindy<\/figure><\/div>
      \"Blurry<\/figure><\/div>
      \"Blurry<\/figure><\/div><\/div>
      \"Shot<\/figure><\/div>
      \"Blurred<\/figure><\/div>
      \"Cindy<\/figure><\/div>
      \"Yellow<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Anti-perfection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Blur is better. Why? Photos become more “imperfect”; which are more beautiful<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n