Martin Chr. Hansen wrote: > > > Hello list - I hope you're here today (Saturday) and that you have the time > to reply before tomorrow (Sunday). Well, I'm here and have the time to reply. Whether that means good or bad luck for you I don't really know. And please forgive any typos and odd formating, I'm writing all this on my Palmtop - I don't have a PC at home. > Now, on Sunday morning (European time, GMT -1), she and a bunch of friends > are going to meet in a "real" photo studio (campus photo club) with soft > boxes, umbrellas etc. One of the friends is a guy who is going to take > pictures of the "models". [....] > along. There are absolutely no extreme expectations or any money involved, > they're just going to try it for fun. That sounds pretty good and like a lot of fun, much better than having to take photographs at a friendt wedding ... > Usually when I shoot portraits (environmental; never studio!), I use my > 85mm f/1.8 USM at e.g. f/2.5 to get rid of the background (and use > available light). However, in the studio the background would be (for a > start) the default black one, and quite far away. So, no need for shallow > dof. The guy showing the place yesterday said he uses the strobes at f/8 to > f/11 in order to get everything tack sharp. Yes, no need for shallow DOF, except when you want part of the faces/persons themselves to be out of focus. > > The sync. speed I will be using is 1/125, so I wonder whether I could hand > hold the 85mm safely (if the prints are blown up - who knows), or whether I > should use the 28-135IS at sync. speed with the IS engaged which would help > reduce any possible camera shake? Handholding will be safe, but a tripod is nevertheless a good idea. It's another style of shooting! Use a cable release or remote release. This will allow you to shoot much more relaxed, you can talk to the models in a normal way (not hidden behind your camera) and even walk around after you are done with the canera settings and framing. It's also easier for the (amateur) models to forget the camera. > The zoom used at f/6.7 to f/11 should be quite sharp, but shouldn't the > "portrait lens" 85mm be even better? Or does portraits need tack sharpness > at all - some people, I guess, would perhaps use a soft focus filter, and > if so, does it then make sense to use the best optics available? What would > your choice be (the 85mm or the zoom)? Bring both lenses. The quality of the zoom will be good enough IMHO when used stopped down. And it allows you to do some wide angle shots as well. After all it's not a formal portrait session but a fun project as I understand. The 85 will allow some real shallow DOF shots if desired. > I'm talking about handholdability because I imagine it would be easiest to > be a bit mobile, and because I never used my tripod for portrait sessions. > The "photo club guy" said he always use tripod in the studio (I don't know > if for portraits or macro work though). Do you have any comments? See my comments above. IMHO, you are more mobile with a tripod than without. Changing the camera position is a matter of a minute at worst even with a tripod. And your models won't run away in the meantime (At least I'll hope so). You are freed from holding the camera. Talk to your models, direct them or joke with them. Then, when the pose is right trigger the camera ... > I'm going to use print film for sure, and I read that Fuji Superia Reala > (ISO 100) should be good for skin tones as well as being sharp. [...] > Hmm, I better buy some more ISO 100 print film now, > while the shops are still open. Any comments? I would use the color ISO 100 stuff for the normal shots, but also try some B&W. Even the IR stuff can be fun. > I really hope some of you will take the time to give some thoughts on this, > and please feel free to just reply on one of a few of the topics above. > Little is better than nothing at all. Do you have access to an external flash meter? This would be a big help. Think about possible poses and setups beforehand. Probably your models will also have some ideas. But believe me, nothing is worse than sitting in a full featured studio, having nice models - and no ideas what to do with them. Relax and have lots of fun Thomas Bantel * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
