How can I recreate this? - DPChallenge Forums

05/15/2006 01:16:24 PM · #1

I am in love with this photographer- //www.footprintsphotography.com - and am wondering if anyone can give any tips or suggest a lens that would be good for this type of work. I love the shallow DOF with the very crisp eyes and beautiful contrast. I'm pretty sure the photog shoots film, so I don't think gaussian blur, etc. have created the look...most likely just darkroom editing. (I also like how "light 'n airy" a lot of these feel...the midtones are so bright)

I need to be able to get extremely close to the subjects for interaction purposes, but also be able to get fairly far away without pulling a lens swap. Some work will be in low light, some with flash, indoors, outdoors, must be very fast to capture a running 2 year old.

Lens and even combo suggestions with teleconverters, etc. would be much appreciated. If you have no suggestions, I'd still recommend checking this site out for anyone interested in portrait photography.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Edit: fix linky

Message edited by author 2006-05-15 13:18:08.

renefunk

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

05/15/2006 01:20:26 PM · #2

i think, the 50mm 1.4 can do the work, especially with your new %d full size censor..., and of course the pics that your taking about have a lot of post procesing

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

05/15/2006 01:37:21 PM · #3

Originally posted by renefunk:

i think, the 50mm 1.4 can do the work, especially with your new %d full size censor..., and of course the pics that your taking about have a lot of post procesing

With that lens will I run into issues of accidentally shifting the point of focus due to too shallow of DOF? The subjects will be moving and focus in the eyes is vital.

Is there any such lens where I can get real close physically, as well as by zooming? Or is that where I need to stack on coverters, etc.?

General

Kodak Z7590

05/15/2006 01:46:50 PM · #4

That is one of the best Photography site i have ever seen. Simply great

hanneke

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

05/15/2006 01:48:58 PM · #5

love the music in combination with the photos. nice atmosphere!

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

05/15/2006 02:21:33 PM · #6

*bump*

Any other suggestions?

David.C

05/15/2006 02:23:39 PM · #7

Originally posted by blazingmoonlight:

Originally posted by renefunk:
i think, the 50mm 1.4 can do the work, especially with your new %d full size censor..., and of course the pics that your taking about have a lot of post procesing

With that lens will I run into issues of accidentally shifting the point of focus due to too shallow of DOF? The subjects will be moving and focus in the eyes is vital.

Is there any such lens where I can get real close physically, as well as by zooming? Or is that where I need to stack on coverters, etc.?

Yes, if you are not use to focusing with pinpoint precision, there will be focusing issues. But that will be magnified by using other methods to get the shallow DOF. The best thing, IMO, would be to practice your sharpshooting until you can nail the eyes everytime. A pet or child would work well for this -- start by taking pictures when they are relatively docile and work you way up to being able to being able to hit the eyes when they are very excited and active.

The shallow DOF can be achieved with other lens. Taking a few steps back and zooming in will get you the shallow DOF, but with the smaller field of view zooming will also make it much harder to hit the eyes. Also, by using a longer lens the subject and background with appear to flatten out and sometimes loose their 3D appearance.

As far as lens go, if you don't want to spend the money on the 50mm f1.4, the 50mm f1.8 is nearly as fast and is one of the best values in lens.

David

FotoMunki

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

05/15/2006 02:32:49 PM · #8

I think the 50mm f/1.4 will do the trick - check out the first shot here - all natural/available light, NO post processing (other than crop).

DanSig

05/15/2006 02:34:41 PM · #9

I'll bet my 5D on that she's using a Hasselblad 6x6 or 4x5" camera

on her site she states that all prints are on highest quality b/w paper and all coloring is done by hand with oilpaint, absolutely NO photoshop work !

so there still is a real photographer left in the USA ;) one that actually knows what is quality in photography, not a digital freak like all of us here on DPC ;)

renefunk

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

05/15/2006 02:44:42 PM · #10

man.. better, kick me

Canon EOS-20D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

05/15/2006 02:49:32 PM · #11

She uses a 28-70/2.8L

th3ph17

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

05/15/2006 02:50:59 PM · #12

some of that DOF looks similar to what you get with a Defocus Control lens....but i do agree that it has a Hasselblad look to it.

renefunk

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

05/15/2006 02:51:29 PM · #13

Originally posted by mk:

She uses a 28-70/2.8L

why?

05/15/2006 03:24:02 PM · #14

Originally posted by mk:

She uses a 28-70/2.8L

did you ask? what a brilliant idea! any more info?

DanSig

05/15/2006 03:33:41 PM · #15

Originally posted by blazingmoonlight:

Originally posted by mk:
She uses a 28-70/2.8L

did you ask? what a brilliant idea! any more info?

I just sent her a message asking about equipment, will post when I get a reply :)

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

05/15/2006 03:47:15 PM · #16

Originally posted by DanSig:

Originally posted by blazingmoonlight:

Originally posted by mk:
She uses a 28-70/2.8L

did you ask? what a brilliant idea! any more info?

I just sent her a message asking about equipment, will post when I get a reply :)

wow...thanks!

redmondson01

Pentax K50

05/15/2006 04:29:57 PM · #17

Here is one I snapped at 2.8, and it really was just a quick snap, if you knew this girl you would understand - she is never still!

05/15/2006 07:04:21 PM · #18

Originally posted by redmondson01:

Here is one I snapped at 2.8, and it really was just a quick snap, if you knew this girl you would understand - she is never still!

Do you photograph moving kids a lot? If so, what percentage of "snap" shots at 2.8 do you have to toss due to the field of focus moving to another part of the body (ex: from eyes to the nose)? It almost looks like the focus shifted from the eyes to her hair here. Still beautiful.

FotoMunki

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D

05/15/2006 07:16:45 PM · #19

I take a lot of moving kid pics. f/2.8 at ISO 400 will just about stop anything in decent lighting. :-) f/1.4 doubles that of course. I personally wouldn't go above ISO 400 on the 20D (for 8x10 print quality purposes), but the 5D may be better.

dcano

Nikon D100

05/15/2006 07:28:20 PM · #20

Does anyone know what the name of the singer, who is singing the background music on this site. I have been tring to find out for the last few wks.

Canon EOS-20D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

05/15/2006 07:31:21 PM · #21

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole'

DanSig

05/16/2006 04:20:35 AM · #22

just got a reply from footprints photography..

"I shoot all canon equipment. And I shoot film."

that's if folks :)

Curious

Canon EOS-600D/T3i Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

05/16/2006 04:41:47 AM · #23

If you do visit her site you really must look at the "Heart and Soul" Section in her portfolio.....Stunning.