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Portraits in B&W / L1

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Bill:

I really like all of your photos. One reason I hardly ever shoot anything with a flash is my own lack of skill in doing so. For example, one of my goals would be to never have the picture show the flash. So, in these shots, the shadow on the wall and the reflection in the glasses would be a reject for me.

But I don't know how to avoid it. Bounce flash?

I am still checking out my new L1. The good news is that just about everything I shoot is usable:



I think most of this is attributable to the lens and the IS.

The bad news is that I don't like the wider aperture at max mm, combined with the 4/3 sensor. Can't get the "separation" that I am able to achieve with my 24-70 2.8L on the Canon. As such I ordered the 70-200 4L IS instead of the Olympus 50-200. Think my new clients are going to get me a 5D, and I will keep the L1 for travel, etc. and just use the kit lens.

-ddog
 
Hi dd,

Is the inability to achieve the separation you want due to the smaller sensor size in the L1 vs your canon slr when comparing roughly equivalent focal length lenses? And, secondly, I thought the separation that Bill showed with the 50-200 on the L1 looked pretty good.
Best,
Angus
--
Use your head...
Go with your heart.
Angus
http://www.pbase.com/gusmur
 
Nice shots...

Wondering where you get this huge number of people to take pictures of? Or do you just grab people you see! lol
--

 
Angus:

Yes indeed, the bokeh with the Olympus 50-200mm is very good. The lens has 9 aperture blades.

I was seriously considering it, but got swayed by the response form the new Canon 70-200 f4L IS. I had the former non-IS version, which took excellent photos - when the lens was steady. And this was why I sold it, and this is my main problem with the Olympus - no IS. I would put the 70-200 on my 20D and walk around our grounds taking dozens of pictures, hoping for one or two keepers. The long lens (not just mm but physical length) makes it easy to shake. To ensure sharp photos on these you have to shoot at 300 or 400, respectively, taking in the multiplier.

If I do get the 5D, the 24-70, 70-200, and a 1.4 convertor will do it for me - I also have an 85 1.8. For the L1, I keep the "kit lens". What is really needed is an affordable 35 or 50mm fast prime for the 4/3 system. (The new Leica lens has got to be expensive - I haven't seen a price on it yet.)

(And you know I am holding on to my LC1!)

-ddog
 
designdog said:
Angus:

Yes indeed, the bokeh with the Olympus 50-200mm is very good. The
lens has 9 aperture blades.

I was seriously considering it, but got swayed by the response form
the new Canon 70-200 f4L IS. I had the former non-IS version, which
took excellent photos - when the lens was steady. And this was why
I sold it, and this is my main problem with the Olympus - no IS. I
would put the 70-200 on my 20D and walk around our grounds taking
dozens of pictures, hoping for one or two keepers. The long lens
(not just mm but physical length) makes it easy to shake. To ensure
sharp photos on these you have to shoot at 300 or 400,
respectively, taking in the multiplier.

If I do get the 5D, the 24-70, 70-200, and a 1.4 convertor will do
it for me - I also have an 85 1.8. For the L1, I keep the "kit
lens". What is really needed is an affordable 35 or 50mm fast prime
for the 4/3 system. (The new Leica lens has got to be expensive - I
haven't seen a price on it yet.)

(And you know I am holding on to my LC1!)

-ddog
Click to expand...
-- DD, there is nothing wrong with the 50-200mm, it doesn't have IS, but is has longer reach, better and faster glass, and is cheaper.. here's one taken from the camera shop of 2 guys waiting for the bus down the block, check out the original at my gallery, look at the design on the guy in the foregrounds gloves or the ringlets on his boots..taken at the 400 end of the zoom..Bill ~



'Always be good' * Current camera and lens set-up in profile...

img src=



Panasonic Lumix DMC- L1
Canon Powershot G7
Voightlander R3M RF
My Gallery-- http://doogla.smugmug.com/
 
Whats all that white stuff Bill.
I live in North GA Mountains and can't find any of that here this year.
--
Best regards

Eric USA
 
Nice shots!

Out of curiosity, what technique are you using to go from color to black and white? I've been fiddling with various different techniques myself...
--
Cloverdale, B.C., Canada
Panasonic Lumix FZ50
http://joesiv.smugmug.com
 
First three are very good. The last one is too soft (not sharp) for my taste. I don't find the flash reflection distracting but the shadow on the second one is a tad strong. Difficult to avoid unless you have an external flash that can bounce off something (ceiling/wall). And it is a great photo still.

How do you go about your black and white shots? Do you shoot in B/W mode or post process? I never shoot with in-camera B/W as I both want the option to use the colour version of the shot and I believe PP in most cases will give you a better result. If you PP - how do you go about it? I just started experimenting with channels for B/W and it seems the way to go. Is that your method? If not - what do you do to get the result you want?

Do you ask these people if it's OK that you post their portraits on the net? Any which way they should be proud as they look great in these shots! Well done!
 
Beautiful shots, Bill. I love looking at your portraits - they are inspiring, and capture people in just being relaxed in front of the camera. You need to put together a book of your work someday. I'd be the first in line to buy one. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Daniel
--
My gallery: http://danielsonkin.smugmug.com/
 
OK Bill - I checked out your gallery!

Here, in my humble opinion, is a rating of your shots by camera:
1. The Voigtlander (I want one!)
2. 30D (the blond gal and the guy in the t shirt with a scowl on his face)
3. LC1 (for the landscapes)
4. L1 (I perceive that you are like me and trying to see where this boy fits...)
5. G7 (sent mine back so I am disqualified!)

You have a wonderful ability to get people to pose for you - forget about camera skill, that can be learned. For the former, you have to be a "people person" and which, my wife reminds me, I am not.

It seems to me that you are like many of us who wish to somehow replicate the Leica rangefinder experience with a digital camera. Unfortunately this seems not to be possible, although we will keep on trying!

-ddog
 
Eric Dodson said:
Whats all that white stuff Bill.
I live in North GA Mountains and can't find any of that here this
year.
--
Best regards

Eric USA
Click to expand...
-- Hey Eric, must be the Southern Breeze that's keeping it away from you down there..the Northern Breeze up here has chilled us to the Bone..Bill ~

'Always be good' * Current camera and lens set-up in profile...

img src=



Panasonic Lumix DMC- L1
Canon Powershot G7
Voightlander R3M RF
My Gallery-- http://doogla.smugmug.com/
 
Joesiv said:
Nice shots!

Out of curiosity, what technique are you using to go from color to
black and white? I've been fiddling with various different
techniques myself...
--
Cloverdale, B.C., Canada
Panasonic Lumix FZ50
http://joesiv.smugmug.com
Click to expand...
-- Hi Joesiv, I convert by using Greyscale and lighten or darken to taste..that's it..Bill ~

'Always be good' * Current camera and lens set-up in profile...

img src=



Panasonic Lumix DMC- L1
Canon Powershot G7
Voightlander R3M RF
My Gallery-- http://doogla.smugmug.com/
 
ngari said:
First three are very good. The last one is too soft (not sharp) for
my taste. I don't find the flash reflection distracting but the
shadow on the second one is a tad strong. Difficult to avoid unless
you have an external flash that can bounce off something
(ceiling/wall). And it is a great photo still.

How do you go about your black and white shots? Do you shoot in B/W
mode or post process? I never shoot with in-camera B/W as I both
want the option to use the colour version of the shot and I believe
PP in most cases will give you a better result. If you PP - how do
you go about it? I just started experimenting with channels for B/W
and it seems the way to go. Is that your method? If not - what do
you do to get the result you want?

Do you ask these people if it's OK that you post their portraits on
the net? Any which way they should be proud as they look great in
these shots! Well done!
Click to expand...
-- Thanks Ngari, on B&W conversion read previous post, and yes I do ask and only a handfull of people said no..Bill ~

'Always be good' * Current camera and lens set-up in profile...

img src=



Panasonic Lumix DMC- L1
Canon Powershot G7
Voightlander R3M RF
My Gallery-- http://doogla.smugmug.com/
 
danielsonkin said:
Beautiful shots, Bill. I love looking at your portraits - they are
inspiring, and capture people in just being relaxed in front of the
camera. You need to put together a book of your work someday. I'd
be the first in line to buy one. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Daniel
--
My gallery: http://danielsonkin.smugmug.com/
Click to expand...
-- Many thanks Daniel, now that's a thought I'll have to consider..Bill ~

'Always be good' * Current camera and lens set-up in profile...

img src=



Panasonic Lumix DMC- L1
Canon Powershot G7
Voightlander R3M RF
My Gallery-- http://doogla.smugmug.com/
 
designdog said:
OK Bill - I checked out your gallery!

Here, in my humble opinion, is a rating of your shots by camera:
1. The Voigtlander (I want one!)
2. 30D (the blond gal and the guy in the t shirt with a scowl on
his face)
3. LC1 (for the landscapes)
4. L1 (I perceive that you are like me and trying to see where this
boy fits...)
5. G7 (sent mine back so I am disqualified!)

You have a wonderful ability to get people to pose for you - forget
about camera skill, that can be learned. For the former, you have
to be a "people person" and which, my wife reminds me, I am not.

It seems to me that you are like many of us who wish to somehow
replicate the Leica rangefinder experience with a digital camera.
Unfortunately this seems not to be possible, although we will keep
on trying!

-ddog
Click to expand...
-- O.K. DD, how bad do you want the Voightlander? I'm sure we can work something out..E-mail me..the 30D and LC1 are gone..so the L1 and G7 are it for now..Bill ~

'Always be good' * Current camera and lens set-up in profile...

img src=



Panasonic Lumix DMC- L1
Canon Powershot G7
Voightlander R3M RF
My Gallery-- http://doogla.smugmug.com/
 
B_Algood said:
Joesiv said:
Nice shots!

Out of curiosity, what technique are you using to go from color to
black and white? I've been fiddling with various different
techniques myself...
Click to expand...
-- Hi Joesiv, I convert by using Greyscale and lighten or darken
to taste..that's it..Bill ~
Click to expand...
Cool, thanks for the info, have you tried using more in-depth techniques? I found this small tutorial a good resource for various techniques:

http://cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/color-black-white.htm

I'd be interested in seeing the difference it may/maynot make on some of your Portraits, perhaps they could be even better with some TLC :)

--
Cloverdale, B.C., Canada
Panasonic Lumix FZ50
http://joesiv.smugmug.com
 
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