Daffodils are the first flowers of the season.  They bloom while everything else is still sleeping off the winter.  But, how many ways can you really shoot them?

I was tempted to skip shooting the daffodils this year, but I thought I would try an experiment in Selective Focus.  By shooting at f/2.8, you can blur the background to dabs of color.  It creates a very shallow focus.  Take a look at these examples:

All photos were taken with the Canon 7D and the Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 EF-S lens.

Even the difference from f/5.6 to f/2.8 produces clear results.  Next time, try shooting at various f-stops down to f/2.8 and compare the results.  With the Canon 7D, it’s easy.  Just use the AV – Aperture Priority mode and let the camera set the shutter speed accordingly.  You can also preset the ISO to be sure that the photos compare under similar circumstances.  It’s a great exercise and reminds you what is possible in the shallow end.