Anonymous 01/19/25(Sun)19:49:36 | 12 comments
![images[1]](https://i.4cdn.org/p/1737334176285775s.jpg)
So I get sticking your camera right up in someone's face looks weird because too close so generally people want 85mm-200mm for head shots. but beyond that, if you are taking nonhead shot portraits, what do the focal lengths do? is it just a matter of you choose closer to 35-50mm if you want the background around the subject and you chose like 105-135mm to use the compression to isolate the subject from the context of the background and the only other big consideration would be how much physical room you have to shoot?
IE if you are shooting at a park and have room and want the background to fuck off, the compression of 135 mm or 200 mm will do that the best, where as in a studio with a controlled background you might pick 50mm or 85mm because lol no space to get the 2/3rds or what ever % of the body in shot you want?
Let's say I want to do cowboy (mid thigh up) framing, 40mm, 50mm, 90mm and 150mm would all work fine and it would just be a matter of how much physical space I have and how much I want to show the background vs use compression to isolate the subject from the background?
IE if you are shooting at a park and have room and want the background to fuck off, the compression of 135 mm or 200 mm will do that the best, where as in a studio with a controlled background you might pick 50mm or 85mm because lol no space to get the 2/3rds or what ever % of the body in shot you want?
Let's say I want to do cowboy (mid thigh up) framing, 40mm, 50mm, 90mm and 150mm would all work fine and it would just be a matter of how much physical space I have and how much I want to show the background vs use compression to isolate the subject from the background?
Anonymous 01/19/25(Sun)20:09:19 No.4400499
>>4400493
The compression influences the look of the person as well. Usually longer FL is more pleasing and natural.
The compression influences the look of the person as well. Usually longer FL is more pleasing and natural.
Anonymous 01/19/25(Sun)20:38:15 No.4400503
>>4400493
>>4400493
People generally find they’re happier with their faces on longer lenses bc they’re flatter, there’s less of a fisheye effect bulging out noses and angling foreheads back clumsily. But at 135 it’s already so long, how tf far away do you want to have to be from your model for an at that length almost imperceptible flatness improvement? 85 is the sweet spot for that reason. Lens co’s found it’s also relatively easier to make an optically perfect lens between 80-90mm, so you have great choices in that range regardless of mfg.
>>4400493
People generally find they’re happier with their faces on longer lenses bc they’re flatter, there’s less of a fisheye effect bulging out noses and angling foreheads back clumsily. But at 135 it’s already so long, how tf far away do you want to have to be from your model for an at that length almost imperceptible flatness improvement? 85 is the sweet spot for that reason. Lens co’s found it’s also relatively easier to make an optically perfect lens between 80-90mm, so you have great choices in that range regardless of mfg.
Anonymous 01/19/25(Sun)20:42:11 No.4400504
>>4400503
…and while 200 is nice and flat, it’s also a lot flatter than we’re used to seeing people and scenes look. So you shoot a person standing next to a fence w a 200 and the viewer sees an image that reminds them of a newspaper or magazine shot taken from a distance, not someone’s portrait that’s somewhat more intimate & personal.
…and while 200 is nice and flat, it’s also a lot flatter than we’re used to seeing people and scenes look. So you shoot a person standing next to a fence w a 200 and the viewer sees an image that reminds them of a newspaper or magazine shot taken from a distance, not someone’s portrait that’s somewhat more intimate & personal.
Anonymous 01/19/25(Sun)21:44:04 No.4400512
>>4400493
Choose the physical distance based on how you want the proportions to be, then change the FL based on how much you want to be in view. It's that easy.
Choose the physical distance based on how you want the proportions to be, then change the FL based on how much you want to be in view. It's that easy.
Anonymous 01/20/25(Mon)04:49:50 No.4400562
I've heard zoomers think 50+ mm portraits look "unnatural"
Anonymous 01/20/25(Mon)05:17:06 No.4400565
>>4400562
You trust the zoomers, boomer?
You trust the zoomers, boomer?
Anonymous 01/20/25(Mon)06:11:04 No.4400571
>>4400493
I like the look wide angle creates on my subject. Feels more dynamic.
I like the look wide angle creates on my subject. Feels more dynamic.
Anonymous 01/20/25(Mon)06:13:47 No.4400572
>>4400503
I read a book by a portrait and glamour photographer and he used a 500mm Nikon mirror lens from the 60s for a lot of his shots. It was interesting.
I read a book by a portrait and glamour photographer and he used a 500mm Nikon mirror lens from the 60s for a lot of his shots. It was interesting.
Anonymous 01/20/25(Mon)06:39:50 No.4400576
>>4400562
50mm can look weird if you are doing a head shot. zoomers are all used to wider angle looks due to iphones
50mm can look weird if you are doing a head shot. zoomers are all used to wider angle looks due to iphones
Anonymous 01/20/25(Mon)11:07:48 No.4400614
>>4400562
>zoomers think fish face is normal
>they are the gayest and most virgin filled generation even adjusted for age
>zoomers think fish face is normal
>they are the gayest and most virgin filled generation even adjusted for age
Anonymous 01/20/25(Mon)12:55:17 No.4400643
>>4400493
200mm for portraits??
200mm for portraits??
Anonymous 01/21/25(Tue)15:35:12 No.4400891
>>4400643
matt granger has a 200mm f/2 lens he likes for portraits
matt granger has a 200mm f/2 lens he likes for portraits