What do you think?
Oct 21, 2014 12:10:38 #
My daughter wants some family pictures taken. She locks the rocks in her area. My question is with the pictures here as examples of the area, which lens would you use to shot a group of about 12 people? I have a manual 50mm 1:1.8, a 11-16 F2.8 wide angle, a 18-55mm kit lens, a 18-70mm, a Nikkor 105mm, and a 55-300mm. I'm using a D5100. These pictures were taken with the 55-300mm
Oct 21, 2014 12:34:03 #
I like the rocks, too, woodsliv! They would be great for posing people on and around, for a great family photo!
If I were choosing, here's how I would do it. I would decide about how far from the group of people I must be, assuming the group will occupy the greatest portion of my picture. Then I would look at the background and decide if I would like a lot of background (which will appear smaller as it is farther away) or just a little background (which will appear closer behind my group).
Your wide-angle lenses (anything under about 35mm) will render the first perspective to your photo. Anything above 35mm will give you the second sort of view. Your choice of lens is determined by the type of background effect you wish to achieve, more than anything else. All of your lenses will take a great shot of the group of people (possibly not the 105mm, as it may put you too far from the group).
If I were choosing, here's how I would do it. I would decide about how far from the group of people I must be, assuming the group will occupy the greatest portion of my picture. Then I would look at the background and decide if I would like a lot of background (which will appear smaller as it is farther away) or just a little background (which will appear closer behind my group).
Your wide-angle lenses (anything under about 35mm) will render the first perspective to your photo. Anything above 35mm will give you the second sort of view. Your choice of lens is determined by the type of background effect you wish to achieve, more than anything else. All of your lenses will take a great shot of the group of people (possibly not the 105mm, as it may put you too far from the group).
Oct 21, 2014 12:38:35 #
woodsliv wrote:
My daughter wants some family pictures taken. She locks the rocks in her area. My question is with the pictures here as examples of the area, which lens would you use to shot a group of about 12 people? I have a manual 50mm 1:1.8, a 11-16 F2.8 wide angle, a 18-55mm kit lens, a 18-70mm, a Nikkor 105mm, and a 55-300mm. I'm using a D5100. These pictures were taken with the 55-300mm
To me the most interesting background is #4 with the interesting tree. Plenty of rock and the lay of the ground would allow for lots of people in the shot.
Lens? I'm a Canon guy and I wouldn't choose my 50 but I might go for my 28-200.
Oct 21, 2014 12:40:30 #
Dappled sun, like picture 5, will not give you good results. Drives your meter crazy. Full sun or full shade is better. You'll have to check out the area to decide what time of day is best for the best light.
Oct 21, 2014 12:42:13 #
Danilo wrote:
I like the rocks, too, woodsliv! They would be gr... (show quote)
Thanks Dan, i will have to play around and see what effect I like the best
Oct 21, 2014 12:44:04 #
jimmya wrote:
To me the most interesting background is #4 with the interesting tree. Plenty of rock and the lay of the ground would allow for lots of people in the shot.
Lens? I'm a Canon guy and I wouldn't choose my 50 but I might go for my 28-200.
Lens? I'm a Canon guy and I wouldn't choose my 50 but I might go for my 28-200.
Thanks Jim, There are many other areas we checked out, so i'm sure we will be shooting at a few
Oct 21, 2014 12:45:56 #
SonyA580 wrote:
Dappled sun, like picture 5, will not give you good results. Drives your meter crazy. Full sun or full shade is better. You'll have to check out the area to decide what time of day is best for the best light.
Thanks Sony, probably late afternoon.
Oct 21, 2014 12:49:16 #
I think you will get a lot of stickers in my socks complaints...
But compositions are entirely up to you. I like all of the above.
Set-up, get your framing done, then parade the folks in.
And watch of for them trampling your foreground.
The foothills are very Picture-esk for backgrounds.
Cute models you've got there. ;)
But compositions are entirely up to you. I like all of the above.
Set-up, get your framing done, then parade the folks in.
And watch of for them trampling your foreground.
The foothills are very Picture-esk for backgrounds.
Cute models you've got there. ;)
Oct 21, 2014 13:14:31 #
What do you mean "which lens would you use"?
You can use any lens you want to depending on the field of view you want and the effect you want to achieve.
Do you understand why you'd use (for example) a 24mm lens or a 85mm lens in any given situation?
Why you'd choose one or the other?
The answer to that question will go a long way to figuring out what you want.
Here is a good video explaining why I'm asking:
The reasons that I can think to use a particular lens are:
1.) Field of view...including more (or less) objects of the surrounding environment in the shot. Do you want to give some context to your subject or not?
2.) Subject isolation; blurring the background...and how much blurring?
3.) Compression of foreground and background elements. This is a big one...you can DRASTICALLY change the feel of a scene by changing focal lengths.
These are what form your artistic vision for the subject; do you want to make that lone runner look TINY while he runs up the hill? Do you want to isolate him from his surroundings? Do you want the hill to look like it's right on top of him or very very far away?
Choosing your focal length is just as important a decision as composition rules or other rules that we talk about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3A3SnPFPk0
You can use any lens you want to depending on the field of view you want and the effect you want to achieve.
Do you understand why you'd use (for example) a 24mm lens or a 85mm lens in any given situation?
Why you'd choose one or the other?
The answer to that question will go a long way to figuring out what you want.
Here is a good video explaining why I'm asking:
The reasons that I can think to use a particular lens are:
1.) Field of view...including more (or less) objects of the surrounding environment in the shot. Do you want to give some context to your subject or not?
2.) Subject isolation; blurring the background...and how much blurring?
3.) Compression of foreground and background elements. This is a big one...you can DRASTICALLY change the feel of a scene by changing focal lengths.
These are what form your artistic vision for the subject; do you want to make that lone runner look TINY while he runs up the hill? Do you want to isolate him from his surroundings? Do you want the hill to look like it's right on top of him or very very far away?
Choosing your focal length is just as important a decision as composition rules or other rules that we talk about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3A3SnPFPk0
Oct 21, 2014 13:26:16 #
rpavich wrote:
What do you mean "which lens would you use"?
Choosing your focal length is just as important a decision as composition rules or other rules that we talk about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3A3SnPFPk0
Choosing your focal length is just as important a decision as composition rules or other rules that we talk about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3A3SnPFPk0
Thanks for the help RP, that's why I posted this, I knew that you guys would help me get this right
Oct 21, 2014 13:28:24 #
woodsliv wrote:
Thanks for the help RP, that's why I posted this, I knew that you guys would help me get this right
No problem... :)
Oct 21, 2014 13:38:03 #
rpavich wrote:
No problem... :)
I just watched the video, thanks, that was easy to understand and helps a lot
Oct 21, 2014 13:39:49 #
woodsliv wrote:
I just watched the video, thanks, that was easy to understand and helps a lot
Pretty enlightening isn't it?
It should be "required watching" around here. :)
Oct 21, 2014 13:43:49 #
rpavich wrote:
Pretty enlightening isn't it?
It should be "required watching" around here. :)
It should be "required watching" around here. :)
I think that would be a good idea, it takes the confusion out of some of the photographic lingo
Oct 21, 2014 14:59:09 #
jdubu
Loc: San Jose, CA
If you can create your own open shade for the photos, you should be golden. A large patio umbrella out of camera view with either a flash for fill or reflectors and you will have a pro looking result.
Look at professional shots of models on the beach, for example, smooth lighting on the face and body... bright sunlit background. Usually set up posing under a large diffuser. No contrasty light!
Look at professional shots of models on the beach, for example, smooth lighting on the face and body... bright sunlit background. Usually set up posing under a large diffuser. No contrasty light!
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