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01/20/2005 11:28:44 AM · #1 |
| Normally when I'm doing indoor portraits, I use the F/8 rule. But for outdoor portraits, I've talked to people here that say they use F/2 - F/2.5 to really blur out the background. What do you use? |
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01/20/2005 01:02:48 PM · #2 |
Originally posted by photomayhem:
Normally when I'm doing indoor portraits, I use the F/8 rule. But for outdoor portraits, I've talked to people here that say they use F/2 - F/2.5 to really blur out the background. What do you use? |
f/8 rule? Never heard that term aplied to portraiture. I rarely ever shoot a portrait (of a single person or animal) over f/3.5, but often much wider to f/1.4 or even f/1.2 at times. Why would you think it would be better to shoot wider outside then indoors? Common sense would point the other way.
I would think a portrait shot indoors at f/8, under most circumstances, would look ghastly.
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01/20/2005 01:14:48 PM · #3 |
I tend to shoot more stopped down indoors due to the amount of light. I put a neutral density filter on the lens and turn the lights up so that I can create some amount of separation between the key light, the fill light(s), the hairlight and any kicker light(s). If I have the lens opened around f/4 or more I really have to turn the strobes down to where I can't create a difference of 2 or more stops in lights so everything starts to take on this overall glowing effect. That's why I use f/5.6-f/8 or even smaller indoors.
Out of doors I shoot about as wide opened as I can get without overexposing and with trying to keep a sufficient DoF to get my subject in the shot clearly.
I don't know about referring to an f/8 rule; I think that may have application elsewhere (love to see someone explain this principle in regards to studio lighting; it may be a great concept and I've just missed it).
Kev |
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01/20/2005 01:30:48 PM · #4 |
Well it might not be a rule but it's the way I was taught with studio lighting. Where you set your main strobe to F8 and the fill to F5.6 then bring them down combined to F8, then set your shutter to 1/125 and your aperature to F8. Just a formula that I was taught and then the indoor portraits come out perfect.
Kevin, I'm going to try using wider aperatures outside after seeing your shots in your portfolio. They have always looked nice and we have talked about them before.
Message edited by author 2005-01-20 13:32:23. |
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01/20/2005 01:42:00 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by photomayhem:
Well it might not be a rule but it's the way I was taught with studio lighting. Where you set your main strobe to F8 and the fill to F5.6 then bring them down combined to F8, then set your shutter to 1/125 and your aperature to F8. Just a formula that I was taught and then the indoor portraits come out perfect.
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See you forgot to mention a studio or studio lighting or strobes. Are you going to use your studio lighting and strobes outdoors? If not then it comes down to a case of apples and oranges. When shooting without flash, which is the only way I shoot portraits, I most often shoot wide for the narrow DOF.
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01/20/2005 03:18:20 PM · #6 |
| The "F8 rule" was a term used by wedding / event photographers who stopped down to F8 to cover focusing errors. |
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01/20/2005 04:01:49 PM · #7 |
Steven,
Thanks for that info.
I do use my studio lights outdoors and expect to do more of it this spring/summer as I like the effects I get for fill flash better than when I use the 550 (the large softbox just gives a more even and gentle fill). I still like the 550 with a modifier outdoors but its nice to have some options. Either way I'm looking forward to shooting more this summer with the ND on the front of the glass.
Kev |
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01/20/2005 04:26:36 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by photomayhem:
Well it might not be a rule but it's the way I was taught with studio lighting. Where you set your main strobe to F8 and the fill to F5.6 then bring them down combined to F8, then set your shutter to 1/125 and your aperature to F8. Just a formula that I was taught and then the indoor portraits come out perfect.
Kevin, I'm going to try using wider aperatures outside after seeing your shots in your portfolio. They have always looked nice and we have talked about them before. |
Got any samples? |
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01/20/2005 05:23:10 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by DJLuba:
Got any samples? |
Digital editing but with the lighting setup I described.
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01/20/2005 05:36:17 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by photomayhem:
Originally posted by DJLuba:
Got any samples? |
Digital editing but with the lighting setup I described.
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I love this one, the lighting is dramatic and superb...
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01/20/2005 05:40:45 PM · #11 |
| I use 1.8 or the lowest aperature my lens offers me, though that's because I love bokeh and I have a pretty shaky hand so I prefer having the highest shutter speed. If the image is too blury, I just try to correct that with USM. |
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01/20/2005 05:56:28 PM · #12 |
I am not the fore-most authority on this but I generally use f/11 indoors. Cuts back on alot of the ambient light. I think there is more to question than just aperture. ISO counts alot of the time. I use ISO 200 (D70) 1/60 @ f/11... most portraits, or shots of people you see of mine are done this way. I don't normally have a blur problem and I have a pretty shaky hand (go figure). Anyway, if you want some ambient light to effect the shot use wide. If you want total flash then start narrowing it down until you get the desired mixture.
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