Tech Info:
Handheld Nikon D3, 85mm f1.4 lens. B/W JPG mode. Sun behind subjects, as usual. Meter reading taken off the kids’ faces, then fine tuned after looking at the histogram.
–Eddie.
Tech Info:
Handheld Nikon D3, 85mm f1.4 lens. B/W JPG mode. Sun behind subjects, as usual. Meter reading taken off the kids’ faces, then fine tuned after looking at the histogram.
–Eddie.
Great to see a new post! I love these, both here and on ILP. Congrats on the new camera too.
Nice work,good feeling and contrast. Love the shirts
with the lines too.
Eddie do you shoot in Raw and tweak later?
I find much more latitude in raw for high contrast lighting
but am trying to shoot in jpg too.
If I have a color cast I find I can correct it in Fine JPG
with a levels adj layer on the 3 RGB channels.
But in brite sun and backlighting where you need all the latitude
you can get, Raw seems to work well.
Still learning digi but am clinging to the Ilford XP rated 250 ISO
LOL.
Eddie: Another beautiful portrait! Glad to see. Nice backlight on hair and good contrast of checked shirts. Very sharp picture; even sharper eyes by the subject!
Influenced by your B&W pictures, I bought a used Nikon D2H. I have no 85mm lens but will start with a 60mm to capture B&W portraits. Will 105mm be suitable for portrait on a DX format? I am fumbling with this D2H if it is possible to setup B&W Fine JPEG or should I shoot in Color Fine JPEG and then convert to B&W. Thanks. Subra
Thank you, MaryAnn. Ü
Annie, I hope not to sound like a broken record, but I don’t shoot in raw mode, only in b/w jpg mode. And the reasons are not technical at all, only preference related. To me, the ease and simplicity of the whole photographic process is as important as the technical results (image quality). Since I like to see my files in b/w right from the start, I shoot in b/w mode exclusively, again, not because there’s any technical benefit (there may even be drawbacks), but because I enjoy the simplicity and fun of viewing only b/w results. I would agree with you that raw mode is a wise choice for contrasty situations, since it allows you to manipulate the file better in post processing. Glad to hear you’re still doing some film! Ü
Subra, thank you. Regarding whether a 105mm lens (do you mean the f2.0 version?) would be a good next step for your lens collection with the D2x, I would recommend the 85mm more. With the 1.5 crop factor on a Nikon DX camera, the 85mm length, along with a shallow aperture, is dreamy. Portraits taken at about f2.0 to f2.3 or so on the 85mm will give you wonderfully blurred backgrounds. And the reason I don’t think the 105mm would be as good is because for portraits of moving kids, I think it turns out to be a tad too long on DX cameras. An 85mm is adequately nimble in catching those movements and keeping them in focus, whereas with the 105mm or 135mm on a DX camera, it’s a little more difficult. If you’re referring to the 105mm 2.8 micro lens, and need it for super closeups, then that’s a different story. However, your 60mm micro will do the job for closeups. In my view, the 105mm 2.8 micro is a little bit limiting because it can’t go wider than f2.8. Regarding shooting in b/w mode on the D2x: I don’t have experience with that camera, but I would imagine that it is possible to set it to b/w fine jpg mode. If not, and you shoot in color, you may as well shoot in raw mode, since you’ll have to convert anyway. See above for my reasons for personally liking b/w jpg mode, which don’t relate to technical factors.
Ü
–Eddie.
Love that image on the cover Eddie!
Thanks, Judy!
Ü
–Eddie.
Oh, wow. As a mom of two boys, I am absolutely enthralled by these images.
Gorgeous work!
Eddie: Thank you for the detailed comments. I understand 105 is bit too long. I will look for a 85mm and use 60mm until then. The 60mm is not really for close up photography. With 1.5 crop factor in a DX format camera, it is equivalent to 90mm that in my opinion falls within portrait length. I am currently using 60mm at f/2.8 for kids photographs. I will figure from the manual on how to setup B&W fine JPEG. I prefer JPEGat the moment as I do not have any sophisticated post processing software. Once again thank you for your advice. Inspired by your great B&W photographs, I hope I too will take few good pictures. Subra
Eddie,
Another wonderful image!! I can’t rave enough on your BW. I’ll stare at it later and ask you questions(as usual! LOL!!!) I look forward to every post and your wonderful lessons each time.
Thank you so much!
Hi Eddie,
)
I am very new to ILP and I love how much useful info I have found here! Your photos are amazing and the information that you share about it is very helpful.
I have got a question I would like to ask you. I own Nikkon D60 with lenses that came with it 18-55mm and 55-200mm but would like to get the 50mm f1,8. I have been told that this lense (although AF lens) will only focus manualy when mounted on D60 body. What does that mean for me? Would you still recomend this lense? I am interested in children and family photography so would there be any other lenses you would recomend? I will apprecciate any response. Thank You
Thanks, Daveen!
Subra, yes, the 60mm f2.8 makes a great portrait lens. And as long as you don’t require an aperture wider than f2.8, then you can do just about anything and everything with it. Amazingly versatile! Thanks for your good encouragement! Ü
Thank you, Tiffany!
Pavla, it’s good to know you’re liking and using the notes I make here. Thanks for the feedback. I actually was not aware that you could not use the 50mm f1.8 on autofocus with the D60. If that is true: I would strongly suggest, if you’re serious about children’s portrait photography, getting a hold of two lenses: 50mm f1.4; 85mm f1.8. When you’re starting out, I think fixed lenses help a lot with composition and being creative, since they force you to move your body, instead of zooming in and out. The real pluses are the very wide apertures possible, letting you blur backgrounds easier. With those two lenses you can more than adequately cover just about any children’s portrait session. If you shoot one subject alone, use the 85mm almost exclusively… you’ll love the soft backgrounds at wide apertures. Use the 50mm more for small groups of kids, or when you want to show context (more of the environment). For many of my sessions, those are the only two lenses I use. So I think they would be very smart purchases. Ü
–Eddie.
Ü
–Eddie.
Thank You Eddie
)
D3? Hmmmm…how do you like it? I am looking at the new D700…
Very nice portraits…as usual!
Hi Lindy. I’m liking the D3 very much. I’m loving the large image in the viewfinder, which was my main reason for upgrading to the D3 (finally full frame for NIkon!). Being able to see the subject and expressions is of top priority for me. Also important is the quickness of handling/operation… short shutter lag time, quick focus. And the D3 is excellent there.
Image quality is perfectly adequate, but has been adequate with most of the digital cameras I’ve used so far… Fuji S2, S3, Nikon D200, and now the D3. My main reasons for upgrading usually are not related to image quality, but to handling and operating the camera. And I consider the D3 to be the best handling camera I’ve had so far. I may have more comments to come as I make more images with it.
PS It IS nice to know that I can make a 3200 ISO b/w image and not have it be real noisy. So that part of better image quality I do greatly welcome with the D3.
Ü
–Eddie.
Wow! I forget to go to the front page sometimes since i just have JSO bookmarked lol…and when i saw this and clicked i literally GASPED….i love the way this makes me feel…the love and bond of the brothers…the expressions and the innocence…the sweet purity..this and one on the front page are absolutely my fave ‘Eddies’ EVER…pardon me while i take that jaw of mine off the floor..WOW!
hey eddie–great image! nice to see you got the D3. i currently have the D200 and am considering upgrading myself. the high ISO is amazing.
as always, very fond of your work.
–becky p
Hi Lisa! Thanks for our good review. I’m very glad you are liking the cover images. Ü
Hi Becky. The D200 is a very capable camera, I think we both know that. Ü But yes, the D3 is very smooth at very high ISO’s, which can be helpful indoors. Thanks for commenting, Becky.
–Eddie.