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caribrob Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #1 · D300 user wants to look like Olaf Blecker Hi everyone, The photographer who I admire most is: http://www.olafblecker.de/ You can read in an interview with him at: http://www.thefstopmag.com/?p=145 His technique/ equipment is explained quite nicely. As you can see from his images, and as he explains in the interview, he also does post processing. I have been shooting with a D300 - 18-200mm combo for a while now and I am now ready to invest in some better lenses. I was hoping to get some feedback/ recommendations on what lens to purchase to go along with my D300 body - keeping in mind that this is the kind of style I ultimately would like to develop. Notice how he prefers to shoot f22. (If you had not already guessed by now, yes, I am a beginner/ amateur). Thank you all, Rob May 07, 2008 at 08:26 PM

Kuan Offline Buy and Sell: On p.1 #2 · D300 user wants to look like Olaf Blecker You don't need better lenses for this kind of shooting. Its the lighting and post processing that are mainly shaping the style of photography here. Get some lights first and practice with your 18-200. Stopped down to f22 there won't be much difference here. May 07, 2008 at 08:32 PM

camerapapi Online Image Upload: Off p.1 #3 · D300 user wants to look like Olaf Blecker Unquestionably, the images by Mr. Blecker are indeed very nice but I cannot understand why would anyone shoot portraits at f22. He has to know as a professional that the majority of lenses degrade the image by diffraction once beyond f11. At small sizes it will not be noticeable but with enlargements it will show. I have shot many portraits at f11 when depth of field has been a consideration but I do not go beyond that. I am not a professional photographer so make your own judgment. By the way, look at the pictures of other photographers but develop your own style. William Rodriguez Miami, Florida. Edited on May 07, 2008 at 11:13 PM May 07, 2008 at 11:12 PM

Jammy Straub Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #4 · D300 user wants to look like Olaf Blecker As everyone else says you don't need lenses to make photos like that you need lights and practice... a ridiculous amount of practice with lights actually. Go read everything you can find on strobist.com and consider buying yourself a set of Alien Bees or a fleet of SB-800 flashes instead of lenses. Shooting at f/22 is nuts. He's probably using 6000ws strobes and diffraction doesn't set in as early with his much larger format Mamiya RZ. You can't shoot like that with a DX or 35mm body and not have greater consequences. If you like the look he has you'll at least save a bit of money by not having to buy softboxes May 07, 2008 at 11:40 PM

caribrob Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #5 · D300 user wants to look like Olaf Blecker Thank you Kuan, William and Jammy for your responses. I will take the recommendations at heart and practice, practice, practice I am addicted to strobist.com - will invest in a lighting set up for sure. Thank you again for the valuable comments, Rob May 08, 2008 at 04:46 PM

mawz Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #6 · D300 user wants to look like Olaf Blecker Jammy Straub wrote: As everyone else says you don't need lenses to make photos like that you need lights and practice... a ridiculous amount of practice with lights actually. Go read everything you can find on strobist.com and consider buying yourself a set of Alien Bees or a fleet of SB-800 flashes instead of lenses. Shooting at f/22 is nuts. He's probably using 6000ws strobes and diffraction doesn't set in as early with his much larger format Mamiya RZ. You can't shoot like that with a DX or 35mm body and not have greater consequences. If you like the look he has you'll at least save a bit of money by not having to buy softboxes Note that f22 on that RZ gives DoF similar to f8-f11 on a D300. I'd also second the recommendation for a set of Alien Bees. You'll need at least two with beauty dishes. As to lenses, your 18-200 will mostly suffice. There are better lens options, but you need lights and practice to shoot that look, not better glass. May 08, 2008 at 04:49 PM

panos.v Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #7 · D300 user wants to look like Olaf Blecker He shoots at f/22 with a Mamiya RZ. That's a 7x6 medium format camera. Which means that f/22 is probably what f/11 is for DX or even FX. So he knows what he is doing. And he knows how to use lights and post processing, you don't get that look with just lights or just post processing. You need both. By the way, his equivalent setup of a RZ with a 100mm lens is like a D300 with a 50mm lens. May 08, 2008 at 04:53 PM

DragonflyDM Offline Buy and Sell: On p.1 #8 · D300 user wants to look like Olaf Blecker Historically, most portrait photographers have defined themselves from photojournalists in the following way (remember, this is a traditional classic definition-- and no one is required to shoot this way)-- Photojournalists shoot at f/2.8 Portraitists shoot at f/8 (based on a 35mm camera) May 08, 2008 at 05:04 PM

Kuan Offline Buy and Sell: On p.1 #9 · D300 user wants to look like Olaf Blecker I would recommend picking up some cheaper Nikon SB28s some stands, umbrella etc rather than the Alien Bees to start. Also pick up a 50 1.8 which is quite cheap and you can also practice shooting some available light portraits with shallower depth of field. Point is you don't need to spend a huge amount of money to start learning the techniques. May 10, 2008 at 01:42 AM

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