portraits at wide apertures

[wheresmycheese]

I was wondering how you guys shoot up close portraits at wide apertures say f1.4 to f2. Especially when the model is not facing the photographer straight on and his/her eyes are not along the same plane. The DOF will be so thin only one eye will be focus. How do I go about at least getting both eyes sharp? PP?

Is there any special focusing technique that will enable me to overcome this one eye in-focus predicament?

When taking photography of people where spectacles, where should focus be? You get to at times get the spectacles frame in focus most of the time.

Note, I am using manual focus but I suppose it applies to both MF and AF. Maybe some gurus can share their techniques with all of us?

ps: i like shooting wide open and throwing the background off. Using a 50mm

[jacob]

very good question. i'll leave it to the pros to comment.

on side note, when you get closer to subject you need not shoot at 1.4 or 2 right? why not you try shooting at a distance with 1.4 or 2 and then get closer and shoot 4 or so. and then compare the backgrounds and see what are the difference apart from the angles.

my $10 worth

[wheresmycheese]

Originally Posted by jacob very good question. i'll leave it to the pros to comment. on side note, when you get closer to subject you need not shoot at 1.4 or 2 right? why not you try shooting at a distance with 1.4 or 2 and then get closer and shoot 4 or so. and then compare the backgrounds and see what are the difference apart from the angles. my $10 worth

hmm.. the point is to get close and yo usee her eyes in focus and the rest OOF creamy bokeh

pros?

[ejunlow]

DOF has a direct co-relation with how far you're shooting your subject... If you intend to shoot wide open, You can opt to stand farther back.... however, if you're using a prime... that might lead to composition limitations.... (85 1.2 almost always have a problem if u're 4 ft away and shooting wide open, unless the eyes are dead on the same plane)

so if you're intending to get the MAX bokeh while keeping the eye sharp, you'll need to make some composition trails and as well as know what distance works for that particular piece of lens.

If you wanna get in close .... then check the DOF and find one that works.... u don't need 1.2 to get creamy bokeh ... 1.6 can get creamy too if you're close... .. even 2.8 can

[wheresmycheese]

Originally Posted by ejunlow DOF has a direct co-relation with how far you're shooting your subject... If you intend to shoot wide open, You can opt to stand farther back.... however, if you're using a prime... that might lead to composition limitations.... (85 1.2 almost always have a problem if u're 4 ft away and shooting wide open, unless the eyes are dead on the same plane) so if you're intending to get the MAX bokeh while keeping the eye sharp, you'll need to make some composition trails and as well as know what distance works for that particular piece of lens.

thanks ejun!!

[garagez]

Originally Posted by ejunlow DOF has a direct co-relation with how far you're shooting your subject... If you intend to shoot wide open, You can opt to stand farther back.... however, if you're using a prime... that might lead to composition limitations.... (85 1.2 almost always have a problem if u're 4 ft away and shooting wide open, unless the eyes are dead on the same plane) so if you're intending to get the MAX bokeh while keeping the eye sharp, you'll need to make some composition trails and as well as know what distance works for that particular piece of lens. If you wanna get in close .... then check the DOF and find one that works.... u don't need 1.2 to get creamy bokeh ... 1.6 can get creamy too if you're close... .. even 2.8 can

ya good info oso....

chers

[jacob]

the basics of depth of field.

[TheChef]

On my Sigma 50mm, f1.4 seems to be on the soft side. The bokeh using f2-2.8 is great, while anything above f3.5 is on the harsh side.

[wheresmycheese]

Originally Posted by TheChef On my Sigma 50mm, f1.4 seems to be on the soft side. The bokeh using f2-2.8 is great, while anything above f3.5 is on the harsh side.

well, not abt being soft or harsh but some ppl enjoy shooting them wide open!

[roger8]

You need to study and understand this for your DoF control.

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

[wheresmycheese]

Originally Posted by roger8 You need to study and understand this for your DoF control. http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

thanks. Ejun explained to me i was curious.