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).
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.
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
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 ...Show more →
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.
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.
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)
