Fast Lenses
Sep 16, 2020 23:13:25 #
I agree with you on having the subject in focus. Sure, focus on the eyes but use an f-stop that provides a DOF that renders the entire subject/person in focus.
--Bob
--Bob
Architect1776 wrote:
I have with interest observed the "Bokeh"... (show quote)
Sep 17, 2020 03:09:56 #
ronpier wrote:
I never cease to be amazed when I view her work. I spend a lot of time trying to get sharp images and her work is anything but sharp, simply astounding.
She has a unique understanding of light that few have. I agree with gwilliams that everyone has an opportunity to find their own vision. A good number of us will remain making snapshots all our life. She definitely isn't one of them. She's internationally known and well deserving of her fame.
Quote:
Thank you for the link to Elena Shumilova's portfolio Haydon... her visual statement is breathtaking! Love her book!
Your welcome Thomas. I knew a person like yourself would appreciate her work. Her images also tell a great story.
Sep 17, 2020 05:10:22 #
Architect1776 wrote:
I have with interest observed the "Bokeh"... (show quote)
If I want part of the image out of focus I can do it in PP
Sep 17, 2020 05:32:31 #
Longshadow wrote:
That won't make me want to shoot the same way she does.
I shoot what I want. I don't copy. I don't get along with "art" either.
(Don't care if she has 60 bazillion viewers.)
I shoot what I want. I don't copy. I don't get along with "art" either.
(Don't care if she has 60 bazillion viewers.)
Bravo Longshadow!!
I'm with you. I seldom bother to comment because of the attacks.
Sep 17, 2020 06:24:29 #
Haydon wrote:
Maybe you should look into Elena Shumilova's work where shooting wide open becomes art. Many portrait photographers shoot wide open and know how to use it to their advantage. Her work has brought in 60,000,000 viewers. She's still regularly shoots with a 5DIII with the EF 85 1.2.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75571860@N06/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75571860@N06/
Art as is well known is the fad of the day.
Sep 17, 2020 06:41:06 #
mas24
Loc: Southern CA
That oval shaped portrait photo reminds me of a photo my grandmother had of her young son. From the late 1920's. Bokeh is disliked and liked. Fast lenses, f2.8 or faster, do have an advantage for fast action sports. As well as achieving bokeh. As a hobbyist, I would assume, that among professional photographers, that a blurry background is preferred though. For portraits. The fastest lens I have, is a Nikon f1.8 50mm, that I use for portraits on a crop sensor. And kids outdoor soccer games. I get a FOV of 75mm. Not the very best, but still adequate. A pro photographer, who owns a Nikon D750 and a D810, once told me, that a fast 135mm was his best portrait lens. His second choice was a Nikon 70-200mm f2.8.
Sep 17, 2020 06:48:18 #
After looking at Elena Shumilova's photos, I'm reminded of two inspirations from long ago that affected the way I would shoot: National Geographic and Norman Rockwell. Both of these inspirations encouraged including elements that would tell a story and or be a commentary on the human condition. Whereas Shumilova obviously sees it in her mind and hires models to be her subjects (or is hired by the subjects themselves), Nat. Geo. photographers were journalists who sought out the real-life situations and photographed them in process.
Sep 17, 2020 07:05:16 #
Architect1776 wrote:
I have with interest observed the "Bokeh"... (show quote)
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍......👍!!!!!!!!!!
Sep 17, 2020 07:10:49 #
Ourspolair wrote:
The DOF in this portrait is still quite shallow, but from her nose to her hairline everything is in focus. Guessing f4 to 5? Also have to consider that this was probably shot at around 1/30s on an ASA (ISO) 25 or 50 film, so the subject had to stay quite still. In general I try to keep as much of the head in focus as the lighting permits. We are so lucky to have high ISO equivalency available today. Something we take for granted.
Stay well and keep on shooting.
Stay well and keep on shooting.
Your guesses are incredibly far off. Lens does not very likely open as wide as f/4 or f/5 and high speed emulsions equivalent to asa 25 or 50 were just future fantasy.
The eyes are in the center of the lens despite not being in the center of the image and acoarst the lens is imperfect away from center at ALL apertures. The lens was not usually centered in the frame for portraits, generally risen enuf to center on the face or eyes.
Sep 17, 2020 07:14:38 #
Haydon wrote:
Your welcome Thomas. I knew a person like yourself would appreciate her work. Her images also tell a great story.
Couldn't agree more. Shumilova evokes Norman Rockwell's storytelling and Edward Hopper's handling of light and shadow, but her work is much more than that. Her vision and execution is flawless. She is more of an illustrator that uses a camera as her medium, than a photographer. Which is why many self-described "purists" don't like her work - jealousy, perhaps. The camera can be so much more of a creative tool, and photography an expression of one's creativity than the bunch that simply use the camera as a recording device. You can color me envious. I don't do people photography, but if i did I would like it to be at least inspired by Shumilova.
Sep 17, 2020 07:20:17 #
I use a 85mm f1.4 or 105mm f2 for portraiture, but usually at something like f8. I like fast glass, a lot! But not just because of the razor thin DoF (in fact, sometimes despite the razor thin DoF), but because my AF gets more light to play with and I can see the target in less than ideal light.
I also prefer the rendering of fast glass, it tends to please my eye moreso than slower lenses.
I also prefer the rendering of fast glass, it tends to please my eye moreso than slower lenses.
Sep 17, 2020 07:22:26 #
Haydon wrote:
Maybe you should look into Elena Shumilova's work where shooting wide open becomes art. Many portrait photographers shoot wide open and know how to use it to their advantage. Her work has brought in 60,000,000 viewers. She's still regularly shoots with a 5DIII with the EF 85 1.2.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75571860@N06/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75571860@N06/
“Art” is huuuuugely vulnerable to faddism.
Sep 17, 2020 07:24:20 #
Longshadow wrote:
That won't make me want to shoot the same way she does.
I shoot what I want. I don't copy. I don't get along with "art" either.
(Don't care if she has 60 bazillion viewers.)
I shoot what I want. I don't copy. I don't get along with "art" either.
(Don't care if she has 60 bazillion viewers.)
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍.....👍!!!
Sep 17, 2020 07:32:13 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
Architect1776 wrote:
I have with interest observed the "Bokeh"... (show quote)
I will not speak for others but on my portraits the face was in focus. However, there are times when selective focus is preferred. Bokeh is a tool, and as a tool when correctly used it is effective. Creative photographers will continue to use this technique when doing professional portrait photography.
In the portrait of your grandmother, most likely what you don't see is a neck support behind her neck to help hold her head steady during the long exposure process, also most portrait photographers of the day used a very small aperture to assure sharp images.
Sep 17, 2020 07:32:27 #
Clapperboard wrote:
👍👍👍👍 Bravo Longshadow!!
I'm with you. I seldom bother to comment because of the attacks.
I'm with you. I seldom bother to comment because of the attacks.
This thread should easily run 15 pages.
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