Zohar

This is Zohar. I took her photo at my friend's party. This time I took your advice and shot from her eye level, and I think it does improve the photo. What do you think?

Zohar

I like the picture, the green cast makes it look as if she is watching TV or a movie or something. I do feel it lacks sharpness. Is that due to the scanning, or is it my monitor? As for as I know, the 50mm f1.8 is known for its great speed and sharpness. Are you pleased by that lens btw? I am thinking of buying the same one, also for use with my EOS 50.

I like this one better than your other portraits. It does work better because you are on her level. As mentioned, she is green and it's not very sharp. I do like the side lighting (front lighting from her perspective) it gives depth to her features. The person in the background does not fit. Similar to your last shot, the background is visible enough to be distracting but not visible enough to really place the subject. I think this could be a very intimate portrait of her...except that there are people in the background.

 

You are definitely improving, keep it up.

The green cast is from the light there (there was a strong green lamp). The lack of sharpness is due to the slow shutter speed (1/4-1/15 I can't really remember). I think that the lack of it does help here in the way that it gives her more smoth look which is better for portraits (soft focus effect).

 

I do not suggest you to buy this lens Bjorn. For my purpose I hate it, but unfortunately it is my only lens... If you want a lens for portraits got for 100mm (f/2 or the macro f/2.8). If you need a lens for the wide angle effect then consider 35mm or shorter lengths (in my case I would choose 24mm). If you need a tele-lens than you'll have to try each length to find which suits you best. If I was given the choice again I would go with the 85mm f/1.8 instead of the 50mm. If you have spare 70$ than save them for a better lens than this one.

I started to read the thread you started about how you don't like the 50mm. Interesting that there are so many different views.

 

You may be right that it is an in-between focal length that is not idea for landscape or portrait photography. I read a tip somewhere that suggested this lens for the following reason.

 

It is a good lens for beginners because it will help teach them composition. Zooms are for lazy people who don't want to get closer or farther away from their subject. A fixed focal length will force the photographer to move himself to get the composition he wants or learn to look at the scene differently. It may not be convenient but we usually learn more when we have to put more effort into things.

 

Besides that...you can't beat the quality for the price. Forget the focal length...it is said to be the best glass for the money available. The 85/1.5 is five times more expensive than the 50/1.8.

What would the best optical quality lens could help you if it doesn't help you with your work?

 

My suggestion wasn't to use zooms instead of primes. I said that instead of telling every newbie 'buy 50mm and be there', they'll tell them to buy a zoom, experiment with different focal lengths and then choose what perspective they prefer and buy that focal length prime. In my case I want/need 24/28 and 100 wich is way out of the 50mm capability. The only thing I do like about the 50 is it's low light ability. Most of the replays were on the statement the 50mm is useless instead of the main issue that was 'what should be your first lens?'. If you'll scroll down you'll see that there was one man who did use my suggestion and thanked me for that. That replay has more value than all of the rest of the replays there.

Usually I dont like green light photos, but this is very good color. Sharpness maybe bacause the scanner. I like it.

i like the green light, and the softness. I cannot imagine this photo taken any other way.

 

I feel empty reading critiques which suggest otherwise, it seems to me they are spouting off conventional photo wisdom they heard elsewhere.

 

This image's mood goes well with tone and sharpness.

I like this, too! Thanks for trying the eye-level thing ... I believe it works very well here!! And, I would leave out the person in the background. Did you try cropping out the top 15% of the shot? I know that we've talked (!) about cropping, and we won't repeat that conversation. This might be a good example. Does your friend KNOW that you're taking her picture? I still get the feeling that you're running around with your camera, hiding and snapping surprise shots.

 

About lenses, I (again) am no expert. But I DO know that I started my EOS system with a 50mm lens. What I liked about learning on a 50mm is that it approximates what the eye sees. And, although I've added a 28mm for my landscapes and a 75-300mm for other things (like action or animal photography that doesn't give me time to "set up" the shots), I still use the 50 often ... and I really like the results. I am very happy with my system!!

Most of the people I photograph are aware of the fact that there is a camera in the room. After two years of hanging around with a camera to everywhere I go the results are as I wanted them to be - the stopped posing when the camera is near them and therefore I can shoot their 'natural' look.