Nikon Lenses for Portrait Photography
Calvin Skeen
TED SMITH
" Calvin Skeen" <csk...@mw.mediaone.net> wrote in message
news:aOne5.4282$%P2.5...@typhoon.mw.mediaone.net...
> What Nikon lens work well for portrait photography?
Calvin,
Any lens in 85mm to 105mm is ideal for 35 mm portrait work. Lens longer or
shorter tend to create some distortion that would not be pleasing in a
portrait.
If you're shooting Nikon AF, I would take a good look at the 80-200 f2.8
zoom. This is a good portrait lens when used at the short end of the zoom
and the wide aperature can create some nice effects when used with a little
backlighting. The 35-105 zoom is nice too. They also make a couple of
distortian control AF lens ... but they're pretty big bucks.
If you are shooting MF lens you should be able to pick up a 105 or 85 used
for a good price. Nikon has made a couple of versions of their 85mm over the
years .... an f2 or f1.8 would be a great lens. Also consider the Tamron
90mm f2.5 in MF.
As far as a basement studio goes .... the first commercial photographer I
worked for back in the late 60's had his studio in the basement with a seven
and a half foot ceiling.
You should look for studio flash heads that have a modeling light and are in
the 80 to 125 Watt Second power range. Look at Bowens and Multiblitz
systems. Pick up a used Minolta or Gossen flash meter. Backdrops for single
and couple shots can be six foot wide bolts of heavy velveteen material.
Get one in black and one in sky blue. Seamless paper comes in four foot to
nine foot widthes. Using white paper and putting a coloured gell in one
light and throwing it on the white paper can give you a wide variety of
"couloured" backdrops.
Pick up some umbrellas or soft boxes to shoot through. You can buy
reflectors from a couple of sources or you can make your own from poster
board covered with silver or gold foil ... the gold will warm up one side of
the portrait creating a window light effect.
Back drop stand sets are available for probably less than $100. Look at a
good easy-to-adjust tripod.
Some other things worth having ... a piano stool (or two) so that you can
adjust subject heights when doing couples. Also buy a thick sheet of
styrofoam insullation ... two inches is best. Cut the sheet into pieces
about 6x12 inches. Pile these up to form blocks that are 4,6, and 8inches
thick. Wrap them well with duct tape. These can be used to prop a sitting
subject's foot up to make their body tilt a little into the portrait or a
little out of the portrait. They're great for making shorter children fir a
little better into the composition.Put them on a subjects lap, drap them
with some black clothe, and you have a place for the subject to rest and arm
or put and elbow on to create some poses.
If you're going to shoot children pick up a hand puppet ... and one of those
three foot long multi=coloured "dusters" made out of nylon threads. They're
great to reach out and tickle a youngster with. (And learn how to blow
bubbles with one hand and shoot with the other!)
Portraits are the most "fun" type of photography.
Hope this info helps. e-mail me if you want any further info ...I've got
over 30 years experience (I started when I was TWO) ... owned my own studio
and photo store .... supervised a half dozen studios for a national chain
... and taught photography. I am retired from it now (at least for a while)
... but I'll be happy to help out if I can.
Good shooting.
Ted Smith
Chaffeys Lock ON Canada
Karen Simmons
>
> What Nikon lens work well for portrait photography?
Anything in the 85 to 150 range is good for compressing the background a
bit and not distorting facial features.
I personally love the 85 1.4 shot pretty much wide open. Great depth of
field, wonderful out of focus highlights, and very dramatic looking.
Karen