I agree with everyone elses comments. Would it be possible to see some of the side by sides you did with the 135 and the 200 ? Does anyone want to buy a slightly used kidney (you know, so I can make a down payment on this lens)
Hi John. Great images. Really stunning work that I'm sure your clients are thrilled with.
I noticed you also own the 85L. I was wondering how would you compare these two lenses? Also, how do you see yourself using each one in your portrait work? Thanks.
Are you exposing the background 1-2 stops under and then chimping the eTTL or manual flash via remote triggers? I guess eTTL wouldn't work so reliably with the softbox and in outdoor light. And any general preferred ratios between the flashes? Softbox is 28in or so?
One last question, did they get to pick the setting, or did you scout out first and ask them which they preferred?
Very nice collection. Razor thin DOF is hard to nail so frequently, given you were getting so many keepers hand held.
"Would it be possible to see some of the side by sides you did with the 135 and the 200 ?"
I may try do some critical side-by-sides over the weekend and post.
"I noticed you also own the 85L. I was wondering how would you compare these two lenses? Also, how do you see yourself using each one in your portrait work?"
I use the 85 mainly for groups. It does not focus closely enough for my style of work, plus I like the longer throw of the 135 and 200 for individual portraits. The 85 at any f/stop is deadly, but at f/8 you can count not only the eyelashes, but the flecks of dust on them ;-) Of course, it's all a matter of choice and preference. But even when I shot with Hasselblads my lens of choice for portraits was the 250/4 F, so I guess I'm a longer lens guy at heart.
"Are you exposing the background 1-2 stops under and then chimping the eTTL or manual flash via remote triggers? I guess eTTL wouldn't work so reliably with the softbox and in outdoor light. And any general preferred ratios between the flashes? Softbox is 28in or so?"
I set the ambient exposure compensation to -1/3 to -2/3 depending on subject and clothing. Flash compensation is set to +1/3 to +2/3, depending on desired effect. Everything is shot with ETTL, auto everything, triggered by an ST-E2. All lights have the same output, so the ratio is 1:1. I don't want to think about my gear when I'm interacting with a client. Softbox is a 16x22 LiteDome, and the ETTL works fine with it. RadioPoppers allow placement of the lights anywhere.
"One last question, did they get to pick the setting, or did you scout out first and ask them which they preferred?"
I have a variety of locations that I use. The seniors can design their sessions based on the styles of images they like (studio, outdoor, park, urban, etc.). No sense wasting time shooting what they don't want.
You should post these in the "show your 200/2 shots" thread. I like the work. I am just starting to crack into the senior portrait market, and I hope to get shots like these. The lighting helps too.
Some togs might argue "why not just use an 85L and get the same look", which has some credence.. f/2 of a head-n-shoulders portrait will have the same DOF for each lens (since the subject FOV is identical) but for me and for weddings the IS for handheld shots is the deal-winner for this lens over the 85L and 135L for me.
Funny how the seniors in particular are freaked out by the lens
These are just top notch. Absolutely love the first two of the beautiful blond gal and handsome young man. Got to have some extremely happy clients and parents here.
