As a photographer for over 30 years, I've noticed when people show me their photos, one of the mistakes amateur photographers make far too often is to shoot people or portrait images taken with a wide angle lens.
Today with the abundance of zoom lenses it is easier to zoom to wide rather than backing up with the camera. But the consequences of zooming wide on a people picture is distortion. The head becomes big out of proportion with the rest of the body. Or, if an arm or some part of the body is closer to the camera than the main part of the body, that arm or part of the body looks huge and out of proportion with the rest of the body. The answer to not letting that happen is to shoot with a more normal focal length lens. In other words, don't zoom to fill the frame, just back up a little and leave the lens set for the normal or telephoto part of your zoom.
You also gain by shooting on the more telephoto setting on your lens as you will include far less background in your photos. And, if you are doing a portrait why would you want to include all the background that is visible. Make the subject (portrait) the center of interest, not the room or location you are shooting in the subject with a person standing in the middle of the location.
When you pick up a fashion magazine ie. Glamour, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, W, notice the perspective of the pictures, the photographer when shooting a full length shot to show the outfit the model is wearing, bends down to shoot at waist or knee level. The photo makes the model look better and no distortion. Want to see bad photos pick up a People or Us magazine. When those photographers shoot the stars on the red carpet or almost anywhere they are shooting wide angle and are far too tall or high for a full length shot. But, that is the way they do it. Next time you are in the check out lane of your grocery store or in the drugstore, compare the images in a fashion magazine compared to the People or Us magazine.
You will begin to understand perspective and distortion.
It is the little things and the attention to detail that make a photographer a great photographer and not just a snapshot shooter.
My opinion,
Art Ketchum
What are some recommendations for lenses to use? I hear good things about an 85 mm, is that the best way to go for all portraits (from headshots to full body)?
ReplyDeleteI like my 50mm 1.4 for portraits. I do shoot wide angle for effect when I am trying to add a little something to the comp, just not on formal portrait work. Experiment and be unusual.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Krystall's comment on using and 85mm lens. The 85mm is designed for full frame cameras, it will work on an APS-C sensor camera but becomes quite long for portraiture. The better lens and a lot less costly is the 50mm and 1.4 is the best.
ReplyDeleteAlso you gain focusing accuracy with a 50mm F:1.4 as it is markedly sharper and easier for your autofocus camera to create great images.
Several photographers I know like using the 105mm for portraiture. On a full frame, of course. How do you feel about the difference between the 85mm and the 105mm? Do you think that there would be a noticeable difference between the two lengths? I've never used a 105mm lens, so I can't compare them.
ReplyDeleteI have used my 100mm for some portraits, but I have to get like REALLY far back... but i bought it for what it is desinged for which is Macro shots... I'm thinking of getting the 85 fixed for portraits in the future... anyone tried that before?
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