Portrait - Image quality: I was just checking the portraits on the web and found the following portrait.

adapalakishore Loc: Manchester, CT

I was just checking the portraits on the web and found the following portrait.

http://conworld.wikia.com/wiki/File:Edward_Wiladsen_-_Official_Portrait_2008.jpg

The details like hair and eyes are very clear when viewed at 100% and its having image size 2.8 mb only. But the image I have taken with my T3i is 3.3mb but not showing such details.

I used 50mm lens with f/1.4, 1/320sec and ISO-100.

Please help me to understand what I am missing.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Your portrait is out of focus. Did you use a tripod for this or hand held ? The out of focus is uniform for the face and the shirt. Could be your lens apeture or camera shake. Each lens has a sweet spot and maybe your photo wasn't hitting that sweet spot. Nice photo though.

Sarge69

adapalakishore Loc: Manchester, CT

Thanks Sarge.
Its Hand Held. Before taking next shot, I will learn about sweet spot.
What aperture should be used to capture the details for such portrait.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Others on this forum speak of the f11 to f14 sweet spot. Depending on lens it could vary a little. But get a tripod.

Good composition on that portrait and solid focus would nail it.

Sarge69 :thumbup: :thumbup:

WildBill Loc: South West Florida

Aperture depends on distance from subject. Try f2.0 with same distance from subject. 1 AF point and focus on closest eye (his left eye). Seems your focus is best somewhere on the forehead which is a miss. Recommend tripod for portraits and head shots.

WildBill Loc: South West Florida

sarge69 wrote:

Others on this forum speak of the f11 to f14 sweet spot. Depending on lens it could vary a little. But get a tripod.

Good composition on that portrait and solid focus would nail it.

Sarge69 :thumbup: :thumbup:

Looking at background, I think f14 would include too much background distraction. You want to keep the blur. Walk the aperture up slowly till you have the photo you want.

WildBill Loc: South West Florida

You want the low aperture for head shots and portraits. I shoot f1.8 and adjust my distance to ensure subject focus and good background blur but I do not use the 50mm. Set shutter slow for more detail (1/60 aprox) and ISO lowest end possible for lighting (100 - 400 max).

Bumping up the aperture will not hurt but the smaller the aperture, the more detail in the background. Keep that aperture open to keep your background out of focus. I would not want to get above f2.8.

WildBill Loc: South West Florida

http://www.ehow.com/video_12233037_headshot-photograph-tips.html

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

adapalakishore wrote:

I was just checking the portraits on the web and found the following portrait.

http://conworld.wikia.com/wiki/File:Edward_Wiladsen_-_Official_Portrait_2008.jpg

The details like hair and eyes are very clear when viewed at 100% and its having image size 2.8 mb only. But the image I have taken with my T3i is 3.3mb but not showing such details.

I used 50mm lens with f/1.4, 1/320sec and ISO-100.

Please help me to understand what I am missing.

This is not camera shake - it is using f1.4 for a portrait. If you want a decent portrait, use at least f5.6 and f8-f11 is better. The data on the image you linked shows f10.

You CAN use f1.4, but focus has to be spot on and his HAS to be on the eyes - usually the close eye. You missed both eyes. I cannot find anyplace on his face that is in focus, so not sure where your focus point is.

The suggestion to use a tripod is good - I ALWAYS use a tripod for portrait work, but that was not the problem here.

So the solution is to use f8! If you want a soft background, you can use f4, but if the goal is a sharp portrait, you are on shaky ground going any wider.

I do have some portrait experience, so this advice comes from my own errors.

Nothing sharp

hangman45 Loc: Hueytown Alabama

This was shot with a 50mm F1.4 at F4

WildBill Loc: South West Florida

CaptainC wrote:

quote=adapalakishore I was just checking the port... (show quote)

You are much better than me lol.

WildBill Loc: South West Florida

CaptainC wrote:

quote=adapalakishore I was just checking the port... (show quote)

I use the 85mm lens on a crop sensor. I shoot f1.8 1/60 ISO 200 and get really good results. Am I off on my critique because he has the 50mm or do you think I should try f4 as well?

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

No - you CAN use those really wide apertures, but you have no slop on the focus. If you nail the eyes, you are good to go. But if you are off even a little bit, that 1.8 will bite you. The crop sensor does give you a little more DOF than the FF will assuming same image size.

My point about using 5.6 to 11 is to give you some forgiveness on your DOF. If you absolutely have to get it right (as in someone paying you), then [only] shooting at those wide apertures might not be the wisest approach. To do a few after you have the ones you need, then sure - take a shot!

The answer to so many of these questions that are asked is: It depends.

Out of the Fog Loc: Eastern Edge of North America

When you are this close to a subject and use f1.4, your depth of field is not much more then 1 " at best. That is why shorter focal length lens are not the best choices for portraits when using bigger aperatures.

In your posted images, it looks like the sharpest plane in focus is at his chin area. That also means the camera was probably set on auto focus and fixed upon the closest point.

When focusing, remember the 1/3 - 2/3 rule. Focus about 1/3 into the subject because about 1/3 in front of the focal point and 2/3 behind the focal point will be in acceptable sharpe focus depending upon the depth of field for the particular set-up.

rocar7 Loc: Alton, England

adapalakishore wrote:

I was just checking the portraits on the web and found the following portrait.

http://conworld.wikia.com/wiki/File:Edward_Wiladsen_-_Official_Portrait_2008.jpg

The details like hair and eyes are very clear when viewed at 100% and its having image size 2.8 mb only. But the image I have taken with my T3i is 3.3mb but not showing such details.

I used 50mm lens with f/1.4, 1/320sec and ISO-100.

Please help me to understand what I am missing.

It's out of focus. I have found with that lens that f/4 is a good aperture to give you a sharp portrait with blurred background. Hand-held is fine, and focus on the eye nearest to you.