Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

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Archive 2009 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

Hanh
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p.2 #1 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

It is the photographer's talent for sure! Looking at the DOF and OOF high-lights, my guess is that most of these pictures are not taken at f2.

Thank you for sharing!

Jul 09, 2009 at 11:50 PM

trenchmonkey
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p.2 #2 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

my guess is that most of these pictures are not taken at f2.

I think most all of them were! It's where ya put yer feet

Jul 09, 2009 at 11:57 PM

jhartman
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p.2 #3 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

I turned on the exif info so you can see that indeed they were all shot wide open (I had a 1.4x on the runner, so it shows as f/2.8).

jh

Jul 10, 2009 at 12:45 AM

SteveS
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p.2 #4 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

Wow Wow Wow! Awesome work.

Jul 10, 2009 at 01:03 AM

jkermani
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p.2 #5 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

I'm sure the seniors are thrilled with their photos. How do you get them to relax? I'm sure it helps to have a long lens and not be so close to them.

Jul 10, 2009 at 01:10 AM

Masahara
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p.2 #6 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

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)

Jul 10, 2009 at 01:14 AM

hobbit
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p.2 #7 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

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.

Jul 10, 2009 at 01:28 AM

erichard
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p.2 #8 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

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.

Jul 10, 2009 at 01:35 AM

ineedakamera
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p.2 #9 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

wow... that is sharp! and bokeh to die for. and talent to match. truly amazing portraits!

Jul 10, 2009 at 02:12 AM

jhartman
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p.2 #10 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

"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.

A picture of one of my setups can be found here, Page #4 Post #9.
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/765147/3#7136848

"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.

jh

Jul 10, 2009 at 02:29 AM

Tom K.
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p.2 #11 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

Spectacular. You made a believer out of me here with these breath taking photographs.

Jul 10, 2009 at 03:50 AM

erichard
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p.2 #12 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

Thanks, it's nice to see how people are getting good results.

Jul 10, 2009 at 04:03 AM

Andrew Welsh
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p.2 #13 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

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

Jul 10, 2009 at 04:08 AM

dolina
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p.2 #14 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

You really put the 200 to good work.

Jul 10, 2009 at 04:10 AM

Leslie168
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p.2 #15 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

just awesome jobs, JH.
thanks for share..

Jul 10, 2009 at 04:14 AM

brucem48
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p.2 #16 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

Superior Senior Portraiture. Stand alone images..Regards..Bruce

Jul 10, 2009 at 04:17 AM

sachman
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p.2 #17 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

wow this an amazing set. Great glass in great hands make for stunning results!

Jul 10, 2009 at 04:19 AM

davenfl
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p.2 #18 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

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.

Dave

Jul 10, 2009 at 04:47 AM

abam
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p.2 #19 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

neat portraits. i like the black and white one personally. looks like lanny barbie.

Jul 10, 2009 at 04:50 AM

ComSoup
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p.2 #20 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

These are amazing. Great job, and thanks for explaining your lighting technique.

Jul 10, 2009 at 05:08 AM

paulhodson
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p.2 #21 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

If you get bored with the lens I will pay the postage for you to mail it to me . Better still - you can bring it and show me how to use it.

Jul 10, 2009 at 05:20 AM

Emile Gregoire
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p.2 #22 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

Great set. Thanks for posting these, John. Shows why you've been in business for all those years: it just doesn't get any better than this.

Jul 10, 2009 at 07:50 AM

John Power
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p.2 #23 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

I want to know what the lighting was many of these. A 580 triggered with PWs?

And surely you must have the new 17 TSE on your "to buy" list...

Jul 10, 2009 at 11:10 AM

jhartman
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p.2 #24 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

"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"

Of course, this is false, because the 85 gives a very different look from the 200 with the subject sized the same in both images. The 200 flattens the perspective much more - an extreme closeup portrait with the 85 will show a much more bulbous nose than the 200. Additionally, the longer lens compresses the background, so it's much easier if you want to crop something out (like the sky) or just want more of that 'telephoto' look, such as those in this series that were taken in the alleys, streets and corridors.

"I want to know what the lighting was many of these. A 580 triggered with PWs?"

John, most of these were taken with two 580s on stands; one shooting through a small 16x22 LiteDome softbox used as the main light (hence the rectangular catchlights in the eyes), and the other used as a kicker or hairlight with no modifier. Occasionally I'll use a third light as a kicker from the other side (see the football player and the runner). These lights are all set on ETTL, triggered by an ST-E2 with RadioPoppers all around.

"And surely you must have the new 17 TSE on your "to buy" list..."

I've already sold my 24 TS-E in anticipation of the new one...are they being shipped yet in any numbers?

jh

Jul 10, 2009 at 12:34 PM

roanjohnnyc
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p.2 #25 · Senior Portraits with 200/2 wide open.

WOW!! Just WOW!! The lens helps, but you got some skills!!

Jul 10, 2009 at 01:14 PM


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