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Brooke Meyer · 08-24-2018, 01:44 PM - **1 Like**

Its simple to use manual flash. And you'll have full control and consistency. That's what the students in my Portraiture class discovered yesterday while out doors. Set your ambient exposure, maybe a little underexposed and decide on direction to add flash and adjust power to taste. We emulated the sun with a 1/2 CTO gel.

As far as a lens, I bought a 50-135 new in 2009 and its still the money maker. You can easily answer your own question about shallow DoF by simply plugging in all the variables with a free online DoF calculator.

Wasp · 08-25-2018, 04:36 AM

Incidentally, my daughter who is in high school and a budding photographer wanted to the fashion shoot thing with a friend. She is getting quite handy with a DSLR but usually sticks to auto everything mode. She asked my advice on how to get a "blurry background."

She wanted to concentrate on full length portraits, so I told her to take the K-x and M 50mm f/1.7. I showed her the diopter adjustment on the eyepiece and how to meter with the green button. I also told her to keep the aperture on f/1.7, focus carefully (with live view when ambient light allows it) and pose the aspiring model with the background as far away as possible. As I backup plan she took the Sigma 70-300mm along, in case the all manual mode didn't work out.

The nifty fifty did the trick. She posed the model very well, nailed the focus and exposure and got some splendid shots. Spectacular in fact, for a beginner. Especially when you consider that I paid about $50 for the camera and lens combined!

This thread probably helped me to give good advice. Thanks to all involved.

grispie · 08-28-2018, 12:45 PM

Originally posted by Wasp

This thread probably helped me to give good advice.

glad i could help.. ;-)

danielchtong · 08-28-2018, 08:07 PM

Some street shots I took with da200 a while ago
Portait shots Sept 9 - Steve's Digicams Forums

**Kerrowdown** · 08-29-2018, 01:22 AM

Originally posted by grispie

what would you do to get nice very shallow bokeh portraits?

Is run your subjects over with a steamroller the correct answer?

grispie · 08-31-2018, 12:42 AM

Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave

I'd recommend choosing your shooting distance and focal length based on what it does to the face as your first priority, then just do what you can with the background.

Originally posted by beholder3

Obviously different FLs provide different perspectives and AoV, so some people will like certain FLs better.

I keep wondering if the focal length i used last summer (fa31) is a tad too wide for environmental portraits, creating a bit of distortion..
grimaud - christophe gryspeert
grimaud - christophe gryspeert
as opposed to what the da70 does e.g.?
willemijn - christophe gryspeert

the latter looks far more flattering to me..

---------- Post added 08-31-18 at 09:47 AM ----------

Originally posted by beholder3

So outdoor use the 135/2,5 (54mm opening) or 82/2 (42,5mm). Indoors probably 70/2,4 or 85/2 are good options.

& i do recall for indoor shooting & to get sthing like this with the da70, i really needed quite some space.. which in some places really is not available.

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08-24-2018, 01:44 PM - 1 Like	#61
Brooke Meyer Guest	Its simple to use manual flash. And you'll have full control and consistency. That's what the students in my Portraiture class discovered yesterday while out doors. Set your ambient exposure, maybe a little underexposed and decide on direction to add flash and adjust power to taste. We emulated the sun with a 1/2 CTO gel. As far as a lens, I bought a 50-135 new in 2009 and its still the money maker. You can easily answer your own question about shallow DoF by simply plugging in all the variables with a free online DoF calculator.

08-25-2018, 04:36 AM	#62
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,663	Incidentally, my daughter who is in high school and a budding photographer wanted to the fashion shoot thing with a friend. She is getting quite handy with a DSLR but usually sticks to auto everything mode. She asked my advice on how to get a "blurry background." She wanted to concentrate on full length portraits, so I told her to take the K-x and M 50mm f/1.7. I showed her the diopter adjustment on the eyepiece and how to meter with the green button. I also told her to keep the aperture on f/1.7, focus carefully (with live view when ambient light allows it) and pose the aspiring model with the background as far away as possible. As I backup plan she took the Sigma 70-300mm along, in case the all manual mode didn't work out. The nifty fifty did the trick. She posed the model very well, nailed the focus and exposure and got some splendid shots. Spectacular in fact, for a beginner. Especially when you consider that I paid about $50 for the camera and lens combined! This thread probably helped me to give good advice. Thanks to all involved.

08-28-2018, 12:45 PM	#63
grispie Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 1,199 Original Poster	Originally posted by Wasp This thread probably helped me to give good advice. glad i could help.. ;-)

08-28-2018, 08:07 PM	#64
danielchtong Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 885	Some street shots I took with da200 a while ago Portait shots Sept 9 - Steve's Digicams Forums

08-29-2018, 01:22 AM	#65
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	Originally posted by grispie what would you do to get nice very shallow bokeh portraits? Is run your subjects over with a steamroller the correct answer?

08-31-2018, 12:42 AM	#66
grispie Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 1,199 Original Poster	Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave I'd recommend choosing your shooting distance and focal length based on what it does to the face as your first priority, then just do what you can with the background. Originally posted by beholder3 Obviously different FLs provide different perspectives and AoV, so some people will like certain FLs better. I keep wondering if the focal length i used last summer (fa31) is a tad too wide for environmental portraits, creating a bit of distortion.. grimaud - christophe gryspeert grimaud - christophe gryspeert as opposed to what the da70 does e.g.? willemijn - christophe gryspeert the latter looks far more flattering to me.. ---------- Post added 08-31-18 at 09:47 AM ---------- Originally posted by beholder3 So outdoor use the 135/2,5 (54mm opening) or 82/2 (42,5mm). Indoors probably 70/2,4 or 85/2 are good options. & i do recall for indoor shooting & to get sthing like this with the da70, i really needed quite some space.. which in some places really is not available.