NON Square Cropped Portraits - (nSCP's) - Archive

[Colin Southern]

adding a lens is very noticeable. But upgrading of an existing lens is not that noticeable.

Same goes for 1D3 -> 1Ds3 camera upgrades - *** cough *** - or so I've heard.

[Colin Southern]

My wife said no. No more lens.

Must be time for a new wife! Sounds harsh I know, but it does come down to priorities

[Antonio Correia]

Well, she is not, but that is not the issue, even if I pay for it, I have to justify the purchase (thank God, she does not ask for the MTF charts). So adding a lens is very noticeable. But upgrading of an existing lens is not that noticeable. I will replace the old one with new one and sell the other one online. This way, later when she notices the improved quality, I get all the credit

That sounds as a very pretty good idea. Never thought of that before.
I own that lens or I would go and there and buy it for me...

Same goes for 1D3 -> 1Ds3 camera upgrades - *** cough *** - or so I've heard.

She is not that dump is she ?
Are you really changing the camera ? A flight to Boston is not very expensive is it ?
For the time being - and while Chinese want - 1 Euro = 1.3343 US$
Pretty good for me as European.

But how about the computer if you also change the camera as Colin says, and the computer is lazy with the new files ?
A new machine is sometimes, harder to hide...

Must be time for a new wife! Sounds harsh I know, but it does come down to priorities

Is also a great idea... May be the best one.
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Come on you guys it is your fault if I have not yet answered the other chaps which I intend to in a couple of hours I hope.

[Antonio Correia]

Hi, Below, You could see how the groom and bride are transformed in the subject of this shot. ...Radu Dinu

When I saw this picture "treated" and re-cropped by Radu I changed my point of view.
The image has now a quite pleasant different mood.
And it is curious how important crop is. How important the way the crop is done, what you get "inside" the frame and what you exclude.
It is much better now.

I have been aware of this for some time now knowing that the way you crop influences the perception of the image.
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In the Tatto Parlour I thought that the first and last photos were just one. But no. They are indeed two different pictures with very tiny differences. I placed one over the other and could see that.
But what matters here is that a so different crop, from landscape to portrait exploits the scene with more intensity returning a more pleasant picture.
In fact, the first picture is broader giving a feeling about the shop, but the other is enough to pass that idea but better composed and balanced. It is not by chance that Paul - the author - elected it as his favorite.
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Similar procedure has been done here on Amora's picture by Radu with much success I think.
And Amora what do you think ?

[Antonio Correia]

[Alis]

Very nice and smooth. Almost no noise! What do you use for noise reduction, Antonio if that is not a secret?

[Alis]

Canon 5D MKII, 85mm f1.2 at 85mm, 1/400, f1.2, ISO 320:

[Colin Southern]

Canon 5D MKII, 85mm f1.2 at 85mm, 1/400, f1.2, ISO 320:

I get the feeling all your images are going to be @ F1.2 for a while

[Alis]

I get the feeling all your images are going to be @ F1.2 for a while

I go up but as soon as I hit 2.8, I get a 24-70 feeling, think of the price I have paid for it, and go back to 1.2 to relieve the anxiety.

No, seriously, these are all from the same day. That day, I kept it on 1.2 but then when I looked at the pictures, I realized what I have done! I will keep that in mind next time: afterall, with this one 2.8 is more than a couple of stops above the widest aperture. I could not do that with the f2.8 lenses I have.

I was actually surprised to see your latest portrait taken at f2.8!

[Colin Southern]

I was actually surprised to see your latest portrait taken at f2.8!

To be honest, F4 would have been a better choice, as the focus dropped off a touch too much - but I was already pushing ISO 400 @ 1/160th @ 115mm and I wanted the ambient light which was fading quite quickly - and F2.8 was the lesser of 2 evils compared to ISO800 (I even had to do a lot of work on the skin because of the ISO 400)

[Alis]

To be honest, F4 would have been a better choice, as the focus dropped off a touch too much - but I was already pushing ISO 400 @ 1/160th @ 115mm and I wanted the ambient light which was fading quite quickly - and F2.8 was the lesser of 2 evils compared to ISO800 (I even had to do a lot of work on the skin because of the ISO 400)

Thanks, Colin. Knowing your style and the fact that for portrait you usually carry 10000 lighting equipment, you should be very minimalistic when it comes to retouching. And I know the usual stuff that is involved in the process but if you don't mind, I would love to know what that "a lot of work on the skin" involved.

[arith]

I like this.

[Ashwin]

[Ashwin]

[carregwen]

Good shot of a very striking model (love her outfit and the shades). I do find the backdrop a little too much like her dress though. Nice one.

[Antonio Correia]

Canon 5D MKII, 85mm f1.2 at 85mm, 1/400, f1.2, ISO 320:

I think this is a monstrous image regarding the bokhe the sharpness and the softness and at the same time the contrast and sharpness of the face of our young man.
I dare say - in spite of having never shot with a Zeiss - that the quality of the image looks like one issued out of a Zeiss machine.
It is amazing and of course there must be a difference between a 50mm of the poors and the other 50mm, the expensive one.
Price must be justified and so it looks. I am astonished. I really am.
This is the kind of pictures I like to see and like to shoot. Spontaneous shots capturing the ambiance of the place with the available light.
To own certain things in life we have to make options. Alis made a good option. Oh sorry, Alis' wife made a good option.
What a wife you have Alis. She gave you a nice son and knew which lens you were expecting to receive for birthday. Fine. Just fine. You are a lucky guy
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But let's go another way now.
When I saw your comments this morning I thought I would be able to show you my TIF file but I fact - and wrongly - I have erased it with all it's layers and secrets.
Next time I must be careful and not do so. I have to remember.
Anyway, I post the original image from the RAW file
When I came into this house - I will tell you something else about this later on - I immediately became aware that I was in the presence of a place where I should be able to take pictures like Vermeer paintings, like the one I post here.

I want - am I repeating nyself ? - to go back there and shoot over and over. I only need some models, but I hope to manage on the moment. Yes in that house with that light from the windows.

I want to compose a scene with people like Vermeer paintings. Oh well, just an idea like any other...

In this image I made a wrong reading of the light: I think I should have used the spot measure or - in alternative - go near him and measure the light on his head.
That is what I intend to do. And... to shoot with tripod.
The speed was really low and - without image stability, 24-70 on the 5D - managed to hold the camera steadily.
I was using only 400 ISO not to increase the noise with higher values, camera supported by a chair, holding my breath and so forth, but I want to take 2 shots exactly from the same position: one for Cristina's uncle and another for the ambiance without him.

Then I think I will be able to work with the two layers getting the best from both.
I have no secret Alis, Or maybe I have one: I do what and how I like

Thank you Steve for your brief and significant comment

[Antonio Correia]

Thank you Ashwin for posting these two nice pictures of yours in this sucessful thread
Both images look pretty good but maybe you could improve them making some adjustments in darkening the background, introducing some blur...
Are they tourists, the couple ? With those flowers around their necks they just arrived to India

[Antonio Correia]

What a funny avatar Rob. Very mean, bed !
Brrrr. I am afraid ...

[carregwen]

What a funny avatar Rob. Very mean, bed !
Brrrr. I am afraid ...

That's from our resident avatar designer, Boko, and I'm very grateful! This is my first photo on D-SLR, please give me a comment

I hate to think what he would dream up for you mon ami. That's an invite if ever I heard one. And what about one for Colin - he could do with a change.

[Ashwin]

Thank you Ashwin for posting these two nice pictures of yours in this sucessful thread

Are they tourists, the couple ? With those flowers around their necks they just arrived to India

Couple yes...

They had gone out of India to attend some social function, and were welcomed with garland