For me, the images have a bit too much pop. The separation of your model from the background is so distinct that it crosses over to unnatural for me. That is why I prefer the last. The wall is visible and gives the image a sense of reality. She blends nicely with it so the image is harmonious. The vignetting also plays a role in keeping the image nice and quiet, allowing for a more lingering look. All of this aside, what jumped out at me first was her bold and vivid top. I would like to see her in a top with just one color and one that is less eye catching. Black, for example. This will let the focus of attention be her face and hair both of which can easily carry a pic without any extra fuss. I didn't notice her messy hair until the other member pointed it out. Kind of like it in the third. You may have been trying to emphasize her sexy side and I think you succeeded. I might have kept the strays off of her shoulders, though.
Thank you all for your feedback. I think this is my best work to date, I’m always looking to improve and that comes with practice. I don’t mind the hair, it’s life and not an over processed fake photoshopped image where necks and eyes and body parts are manipulated. I miss some of this stuff when I’m “in the moment” and don’t notice some of these things until after the shoot. I think that is why you guys see it and can easily point out what you think is wrong... which is just a matter of opinion. Thanks for the feedback though, I’ll consider these on my next shoot if I remember.
They may not have been resharpened when downsized for web, but they do look sharp enough. The problem, as I pointed out to Todd in another thread, and you have to look very carefully for this, is that they're all just a hair backfocused. The point of sharpest focus is not on the eyelashes, but just behind and that tricks your eye into thinking they're out of focus.
Since these are shot with manual focus lenses, it's very difficult to nail focus with a sliver of depth of field shooting wide open. I don't know if Todd is using the focus confirmation lights to help, but those need to be micro adjusted just like any auto focus lens.
A good buddy of mine brought his new D850 over to my studio with his brand new Milvus 35 f/2 and I helped him do just that - and what a difference it made. The other thing we found out on the 35mm lens was that there was significant focus shift from wide open to f/4 then it stopped. As you stopped down the focus plane shifted away from the camera. And as he normally shoots at f/2.8 for environmental portraits, he dialed the adjustment in for that aperture. Just one more thing to be aware of and something we really weren't expecting to see.
Hey Peter,
the shot of Jenna in the greenery was with the Sigma 135mm f/1.8 with AF-C and it still missed, even though I had the lens af fine tuned. As for the first photo in the thread, I did miss focus on that one. I just happened to post the one shot that was out of focus. I am used to manual focus and with the Zeiss Milvus and the D850's excellent AF system, it isn't too hard. I'm getting better and faster. I do use the green focus dot indicator in the view finder, it works great. I must have leaned forward or backward just before the shot was taken. I shot at f/2, pretty close to wide open. I need to use my tripod or monopod.
Todd
Peter Figen wrote:
They may not have been resharpened when downsized for web, but they do look sharp enough. The problem, as I pointed out to Todd in another thread, and you have to look very carefully for this, is that they're all just a hair backfocused. The point of sharpest focus is not on the eyelashes, but just behind and that tricks your eye into thinking they're out of focus.
Since these are shot with manual focus lenses, it's very difficult to nail focus with a sliver of depth of field shooting wide open. I don't know if Todd is using the focus confirmation lights to help, but those need to be micro adjusted just like any auto focus lens.
A good buddy of mine brought his new D850 over to my studio with his brand new Milvus 35 f/2 and I helped him do just that - and what a difference it made. The other thing we found out on the 35mm lens was that there was significant focus shift from wide open to f/4 then it stopped. As you stopped down the focus plane shifted away from the camera. And as he normally shoots at f/2.8 for environmental portraits, he dialed the adjustment in for that aperture. Just one more thing to be aware of and something we really weren't expecting to see. ...Show more →
Thanks... it is a manual focus lens, can’t be dialed in. I mentioned earlier in some threads that I posted the incorrect photo with one that isn’t perfectly sharp. I guess I’ll repost it so I’ll get better feedback.
BadShooter wrote:
Wonderful work, great comps, but the focus is not sharp...this issue robs the picture's wow factor....its like the photog did his job, brought his amazing artistic talents, the camera did its job, but the lens let everyone down. Needs to get dialed in.
" Thanks... it is a manual focus lens, can’t be dialed in. I mentioned earlier in some threads that I posted the incorrect photo with one that isn’t perfectly sharp. I guess I’ll repost it so I’ll get better feedback."
Sure, the LENS can't be dialed in but your AF confirmation lights in the VF can, and you use the same process as you would with an AF lens. The best way is to use the LensAlign II device where you can really tell the degree of front or back focus. Do a LV manual focus then compare that to a focus light confirmation, the dial in the micro adjust to make it right, but also test to see if your lenses have focus shift as you stop down. That's what we ran into dialing in my friend's Milvus 35 f/2. Even one stop down and the focus shifted away from the camera - just slightly, but enough to matter.
And I'm not trying to be a dick but just critical - that last corrected image you posted in the other thread was still backfocused a very small amount as well. The only camera I consistently nailed manual focus on the eyes was the venerable Mamiya RZ 67.
I did use the focus.indicator but I was not using a tripod so during The time I was focusing and tripping the shutter, I probably leaned forward or backwards slightly and threw it off because it’s hard to sit still sometimes. I also thought about using live view and the focus peaking. I’m not used to that so I forgot that was there sometimes so next time I will probably use that. I will try to test out your way of dialing in a manual focus lens, I didn’t think that was possible but I will definitely give it a try. I don’t have the lens align but I have one that similar and works probably just as well. I will also check the focus shift that you mentioned. I wonder if that’s just with some of these manual focus lenses or if it does it with every lens out there. Don’t worry I didn’t take your comments as sarcastic or mean or anything like that, I just figured it was time for me to repost another image that was a little bit sharper so that anybody else looks at it they can not keep offering the same advice. I have a really good mono pod and a really good really right stuff ball head I can put on top of it and I just purchased the L bracket from really right stuff for my camera so I think if I was a little more stable and took a little more time to take these portraits, I think that would stabilize my camera enough for me to nail focus consistently. Even with an auto focus lens like the Nikon 105E, it’s still missed focus sometimes...
Todd
Peter Figen wrote:
" Thanks... it is a manual focus lens, can’t be dialed in. I mentioned earlier in some threads that I posted the incorrect photo with one that isn’t perfectly sharp. I guess I’ll repost it so I’ll get better feedback."
Sure, the LENS can't be dialed in but your AF confirmation lights in the VF can, and you use the same process as you would with an AF lens. The best way is to use the LensAlign II device where you can really tell the degree of front or back focus. Do a LV manual focus then compare that to a focus light confirmation, the dial in the micro adjust to make it right, but also test to see if your lenses have focus shift as you stop down. That's what we ran into dialing in my friend's Milvus 35 f/2. Even one stop down and the focus shifted away from the camera - just slightly, but enough to matter.
And I'm not trying to be a dick but just critical - that last corrected image you posted in the other thread was still backfocused a very small amount as well. The only camera I consistently nailed manual focus on the eyes was the venerable Mamiya RZ 67....Show more →
Todd - Frankly, I was surprised to see the focus shift on the 35mm f/2 Zeiss. There are other lenses famous for it like the Canon 50mm 1.2. It has to do with the design of the lens not whether it's auto or manual focus. I'm firmly in the AF camp these days but even the best AF systems wander a bit too. Next time I come to Austin we'll meet up at Guerro's or Mozart's.
I’m sorry bu I recently moved away from Austin. I’m now in the Beaumont area. About 250 miles to the east. Thanks for the offer, that would’ve been cool !
Peter Figen wrote:
Todd - Frankly, I was surprised to see the focus shift on the 35mm f/2 Zeiss. There are other lenses famous for it like the Canon 50mm 1.2. It has to do with the design of the lens not whether it's auto or manual focus. I'm firmly in the AF camp these days but even the best AF systems wander a bit too. Next time I come to Austin we'll meet up at Guerro's or Mozart's.
I guess I am not a sharpness maven as I still find the bright and highly saturated background to be the most noticeable nit for me. She looks fantastic. Her colors cohere nicely. Excellent shade of lipstick. Great pose and gaze in the first of the new ones. The hand is placed perfectly. But her mostly beige tones are overwhelmed by the way she is framed. I would just celebrate her beauty and let the frame not steal a drop of our attention from her.
Todd - I looked on a map and Beaumont is quite a haul from Austin. I was in Austin in November shooting a guitarist friend of mine for his CD. Mostly we shot out in Johnson City and at Congress House Studios. I fell in love with that city and can't wait to get back.
