First Portrait shoot - DPChallenge Forums

10/26/2006 09:33:34 AM · #1

As the title suggests, I am a neophyte.

I have to shoot my first portrait session.
It will be outside (I have selected the university for a dynamic location)
I own the following lenses:
Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro for Canon
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

I would like to be directed to some good learning sites (rather than spending hours on end culling through what google offers).

Also, I am looking for some real-world advice from people who have done portraits outside â�� things like â�� shoot in semi-shaded locations, take a white sheet and use it as a big diffuser, use the 50mm only for really close shots and donâ��t stop it down all the way â�¦. etc. etc.

Any and all advice is appreciated.
I throw good karma on those who are most helpful.

10/26/2006 09:43:24 AM · #2

Originally posted by santaspores:

use the 50mm only for really close shots and donâ��t stop it down all the way

this one's wacky

ps ... do you have a flash (external flash, that is)?

Message edited by author 2006-10-26 09:43:36.

Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

10/26/2006 09:51:45 AM · #3

hopper - yes I have the 430 EX speedlite. I don't have the equipment to remove it from the camera.

and could you clarify... this one's wacky

xantangummi

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

10/26/2006 09:54:33 AM · #4

well, you can shoot in semi-shaded locations, take a white sheet and use it as a big diffuser, use the 50mm only for really close shots and donâ��t stop it down all the way :D

seriously, just check out the storbist(even if your not using a flash) and look at the light, read about angles and poses.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

10/26/2006 09:55:18 AM · #5

MUCH of the information you'll need is in the "Portrait Lighting Thread". The first page or two discusses outdoor portraiture.

10/26/2006 09:57:16 AM · #6

use the flash (on the camera) as fill flash, which will lighten dark shadows that sometimes appear around the eyes:

By wacky, I mean not true. The 50mm will be sharp and useful at any distance and at any aperature. Every lens will suffer from difraction from say f16 on - the the 50mm 1.8 won't be as sharp at 1.8 as it will be at f4, but it's reasonably sharp at all aperatures. For portraits outside, you're gonna want shallow depth of field anyway, which means opening up the aperature, not stopping down. Somewhere between 2.8 and maybe 5.6 will render the entire person in focus, but still give you nice blur on the background (depending on how far away the background is).

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/26/2006 10:01:15 AM · #7

I normally would shoot in aperature priority at either 2.8 or 4 with the 430ex - in canon cameras, the camera will automatically go into fill flash mode (which means the camera doesn't use the flash as the primary light source) when you're in aperature priority mode.

If you notice the flash in the preview, it might be too much flash - just dial it down a bit with the flash exposure compensation.

Message edited by author 2006-10-26 10:02:21.

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

10/26/2006 10:02:24 AM · #8

Aperture priority mode, Fill flash dialled down -1.3 to -1.6 EC, High Speed sync mode on your flash (allows you to shoot at any shutter speeds), As wide open an Aperture as you can to blur the background (But watch out for the shallow DOF), Make sure to get the Eyes in focus. Shoot lots, bracket your exposure and poses. Have fun!

10/26/2006 10:03:16 AM · #9

Originally posted by doctornick:

yep, the doc said it better than me :)

10/26/2006 10:04:39 AM · #10

Thanks all so far...

xantangummi... what or who is storbist?

idnic... I have read all portions of your thread on lighting - but I will go back and check it out again. Thanks for that.

Hopper - great advice there - thanks