These are really nice, Todd! As good of senior portraits as I've seen here on FM. No faves, I love them equally.
I've got a question. On that third shot, you're using the Zeiss 85mm at f/1.4 and with the background separation, that DOF is just sweet. I'm a little surprised, tho, as quickly as everything gets OOF, as you can see on the ground behind him, but his whole head looks tack sharp. When I use my NIkon 85mm f/1.4G lens at 1.4 at roughly this same length I'm getting a dropoff in focus beginning at the ears. I'm just surprised by that, but I'm not at all familiar with the Zeiss. This is probably one of the reasons it's so good.
Thanks so much for your feedback. I have swim to mostly Zeiss lenses now, even though they are all manual focus, I’m starting to prefer them over my autofocus lenses. I only have the Sigma 35, 85mm art lenses and the Nikon 105mm f/1.4E. My remaining lenses are the Zeiss Milvus 1.4/50, 1.4/85, & 2/135mm ZF.2 lenses that I primarily use.
As for the depth of field of my Zeiss 85, I’m surprised there would be that much of a difference...however I do recall using my Nikon 105mm 1.4E for some nature closeup work and wide open it was bad compared to the Zeiss. It seemed that the image was softer than Zeiss. But at this portrait distance I would think the two lenses would behave the same at f/1.4. I owned the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G a couple of times, great lens, but I found it soft wide open. My Zeiss Milvus 1.4/85 is really sharp wide open, DXO states that its sharpness out renders the Nikon D810’s sensor...pretty good.
I’d like to test them side by side though to really see the difference. Both are fantastic lenses.
Todd
friscoron wrote:
These are really nice, Todd! As good of senior portraits as I've seen here on FM. No faves, I love them equally.
I've got a question. On that third shot, you're using the Zeiss 85mm at f/1.4 and with the background separation, that DOF is just sweet. I'm a little surprised, tho, as quickly as everything gets OOF, as you can see on the ground behind him, but his whole head looks tack sharp. When I use my NIkon 85mm f/1.4G lens at 1.4 at roughly this same length I'm getting a dropoff in focus beginning at the ears. I'm just surprised by that, but I'm not at all familiar with the Zeiss. This is probably one of the reasons it's so good....Show more →
Hey Todd, in fairness to the 85mm f/1.4G, I gotta say I'm very happy with its sharpness wide open. However, whenever I used the regular AF spot focus, or going manual, it was hit and miss. But when I use Live view, then zoom in and get my focus, it's as sharp as a tack every single time.
Oh I agree. Live view is pretty awesome, although it will slow you down if you are in a hurry. With the Nikon D850, the focus speaking helps a lot and I do use live view from time to time end it does come in pretty darn handy. I only owned the 80 5G with older bodies and the AF system sometimes didn’t get it sharp... I considered going back to the 85G but the Zeiss lens caught my interest a lot more.
friscoron wrote:
Hey Todd, in fairness to the 85mm f/1.4G, I gotta say I'm very happy with its sharpness wide open. However, whenever I used the regular AF spot focus, or going manual, it was hit and miss. But when I use Live view, then zoom in and get my focus, it's as sharp as a tack every single time.
These all have a distinctive look and like Ron, I like your processing. #3 is my favorite of the bunch, it has a very cinematic look I'm sure your customer is very pleased with the result.
Along with smiling photos, do you have any with a little less squint?
Thanks...i specifically use lightroom for my processing. I do not have Photoshop yet, haven’t really found a need for it yet...
Here is a less squinty one. The conditions were overcast but I guess the clouds can make him squint somewhat. But I think that’s kind of how his eyes are anyhow
dmacmillan wrote:
These all have a distinctive look and like Ron, I like your processing. #3 is my favorite of the bunch, it has a very cinematic look I'm sure your customer is very pleased with the result.
Along with smiling photos, do you have any with a little less squint?
Wow! I can't believe No. 2 was processed without PS. His eyes look so good there, but they look like they were edited in PS. You must be doing really good with the LR masks.
I fully understand your concern about the extra headroom. Normally I do crop when I post images like this, I just forgot to do so on this one. I also leave extra headroom for some clients like this because some people still get prints and when you print an 8 x 10 do you lose 2 inches either off the top or the bottom or 1 inch off of top/bottom.
Todd
gheller wrote:
Really like the first 3 posted as far as posing (guys are tough) and the post-processing (or lack thereof).
What I am seeing more and more (really a pet peeve of mine) is unnecessary head room at the expense of lower limbs (in image 3).
I mean, unless this is designed for a magazine cover where there will be a cover logo or something, I don't see the reason for this awkward crop.
It really looks like the camera was accidentally tilted down at the last minute before snapping the shot.
Todd wrote:
I fully understand your concern about the extra headroom. Normally I do crop when I post images like this, I just forgot to do so on this one. I also leave extra headroom for some clients like this because some people still get prints and when you print an 8 x 10 do you lose 2 inches either off the top or the bottom or 1 inch off of top/bottom.
gheller wrote:
Absolutely love that last one. Just enough DOF to show the environment and subtle enough so as not to distract.
Could be in a magazine for sure
greg
I agree, the last one is a stunner!
Since you're doing this in LR, are you using anything for face retouching? It all looks great, but on the close-up I'm thinking just a little very subtle work around the eyes might help. I'd tone down the redness and work on the area under the eye slightly.
Thank you.
I am using the tools within light room like the brush tool and the spot removal tool etc. I have also made a set of presets that I like to use and process everything in lightroom. I’ll take a closer look at those eyes like you’re talking about and see what can be done, I’m sure it’s just his skin texture ....might need to be adjusted a little bit with a brush tool perhaps.
T
dmacmillan wrote:
I agree, the last one is a stunner!
Since you're doing this in LR, are you using anything for face retouching? It all looks great, but on the close-up I'm thinking just a little very subtle work around the eyes might help. I'd tone down the redness and work on the area under the eye slightly.
