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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4

DarrenS
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Nov 10, 2006, 3:02 AM

Post #1 of 25 (1465 views)
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Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4	Can't Post

Shot these Wed on location at a business. What a pain in the neck it is hauling studio gear around. Nobody wants to come to my place, they all want me to go to theirs. Anyway, just wondering what you peeps think of these. What I do wrong? I'ma wildlife photographer afterall. Blush

(This post was edited by DarrenS on Nov 10, 2006, 3:06 AM)

Colvin ADTR
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Nov 10, 2006, 3:29 AM

Post #2 of 25 (1460 views)
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Re: [DarrenS] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

1 is prety much spot on but needs a bit more headroom to my taste.
2 seems to broad on to camera and I would prefer more light reflected on to the dark side of her face
3 looks like the camera was just a bit too low - too much nostril and neck under her chin.

Postal Boy
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Nov 10, 2006, 1:38 PM

Post #3 of 25 (1436 views)
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Re: [DarrenS] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

For head shots they look pretty darn good. For the comment on more head room, if you do give her more head room you will need to maybe back up a little to keep the eyes close to the top third...as is, it is balanced.

I don't see a problem really with any of them. If you are putting them in the same location then the lighting on #2 could be a little more constistant (as far as the "dark" side), but as a standalone I don't really see an issue.

What gear did you haul onsite?

-Postal

Brackish
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Nov 11, 2006, 5:34 AM

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DarrenS
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Nov 11, 2006, 6:37 AM

Post #5 of 25 (1406 views)
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Re: [Colvin ADTR] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks Colvin I appreciate it! 2 had some facial feature issues to deal with, that's why it's straight-on. Would you believe 3 is over forty years old? :)
I think you're right about the angle being a tad too low.

(This post was edited by DarrenS on Nov 11, 2006, 7:30 AM)

DarrenS
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Nov 11, 2006, 6:42 AM

Post #6 of 25 (1404 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks Postal! To answer you and Brack together, I use two softboxes...one extra large and one medium on a boom for hair, and one flood for the background. These were business portraits, not super dramatic, but I still like to use contrast for dimension and be a little different than everyone else. Everyone else seems to fill the space with light. The big light wraps nicely around the face so the contrast works, I think. It's not 'hard'.

Thanks again.

DarrenS
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Nov 11, 2006, 6:42 AM

Post #7 of 25 (1403 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks Brack. See answer above, of course.

Brackish
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Nov 11, 2006, 6:54 AM

Post #8 of 25 (1399 views)
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DarrenS
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Nov 11, 2006, 7:40 AM

Post #9 of 25 (1392 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks again, Brack Smile

And to answer the rest of Postal's question, I use Manfrotto tripod and hydraulic ball head. Can't remember what models. And Manfrotto's autopoles 2 system to hold backgrounds. I'll get something lighter if I'm going to be on-location often. Can't remember who made the muslin used that day. Westcott maybe. My bag is prolly the heaviest thing, it's a Tamrac 613.

Jenn M
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Nov 11, 2006, 1:32 PM

Post #10 of 25 (1379 views)
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Re: [DarrenS] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Very nice. I like the posture on #1 the best for a formal biz portrait. There's something funky going on with her (camera) right eye - the reflection of the softbox, I think. Looks good in the pupil, but reflecting the whites of her eye looks odd.

#2 would look better with the shoulder angled more. #3 is a wee bit tight.

Supplimental lighting looks great. Maybe a reflector on the dark side on #2 would help. But I'm sure they won't even notice.

Very pro-looking. How much of a pain was it setting up?

DarrenS
Veteran

Nov 11, 2006, 10:07 PM

Post #11 of 25 (1371 views)
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Re: [Jenn M] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

You are an extremely observant individual.

The first girl has a condition known as 'Graves Disease'. It affects the shape of the eyes, and not equally, apparently. I am going to touch up that point you made. Thank you.

Three is too tight because I had a momentary lapse of professionalism. I had to get close to that kitten. Laugh

(just kidding). I might recrop. Client said the same thing as you, even tho the subject gave me a kiss on the cheek for making her look beautiful. She wants a print for her home even tho these are for a business publication.

It was less of a pain than my last two weeks with the new girlfriend, and more of a pain than shopping for clothes. All involve pain, but everything's relative. Smile

Thank-you, Jenn.

Darren

kevin
User

Nov 13, 2006, 11:57 PM

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Brackish
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Nov 14, 2006, 5:14 AM

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Postal Boy
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Nov 14, 2006, 9:08 AM

Post #14 of 25 (1313 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

That is my understanding as well - to make it "warmer"...and asking Darren if he has his monitor calibrated is like asking an NRA spokesperson if he has a handgun... Wink

-Postal

Brackish
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Nov 14, 2006, 9:54 AM

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Jenn M
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Nov 14, 2006, 11:56 AM

Post #16 of 25 (1302 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

It's wierd how your eyes and your brain can adjust to something the longer you look at it. Sometimes I'll walk out of the room and come back to the computer and look at the monitor and think, "Holy cow - this looks blue, or orange, or green..." But 5 minutes earlier, I adjusted an entire timeline of clips to match it b/c it looked balanced to me then.

Same thing with stills. Sometimes I just have to look away from the monitor for a while. Look out the window or at the dogs or even Brian Wink

and then look back at the screen to make sure I still like the color tones, saturation and balance.

I'm not a big fan of vector scopes and all that. I go by sight, which is flawed, I'm sure, b/c I'm human. By the way, my monitor is calibrated.

DarrenS
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Nov 14, 2006, 2:12 PM

Post #17 of 25 (1286 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

I can't see Kevin's post but it looks like he was saying they looked orange. They do.

Here's my take (and only my take...I could be 'wrong' compared to another shooter's taste). The best hours for outdoor photography are half hour before sundown and after sunrise over the horizon. The temperature is very warm at those times. Colors reflected off of things appear very saturated, and I think photos of people look their best made at those times, for several reasons. So by using a warmer temperature in raw processing with people shots in the studio you mimic the benefits of the magical hours outdoors. Warm. Yes, it's intentional. If you look at a warming lens filter it also looks 'orangy'.

DarrenS
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Nov 14, 2006, 2:14 PM

Post #18 of 25 (1283 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

lol @ NRA spokesperson Laugh

DarrenS
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Nov 14, 2006, 2:21 PM

Post #19 of 25 (1279 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

You should give up Brack and just do what you want. You're the artist. You present things the way you want them, not what someone else or some book says is 'right'. As long as the client doesn't think they look abnormal it's all good, at the end of the day. If they kiss you it's a pretty good indication they like how they look Wink

And if you prefer your people work to appear 'warmer' and they complain, just tell them they look good in a fake tan. Laugh

(just kidding).

The first girl is Italian and her skin is a little darker naturally.

Brackish
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Nov 14, 2006, 2:23 PM

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DarrenS
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Nov 14, 2006, 2:26 PM

Post #21 of 25 (1276 views)
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Re: [Jenn M] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes your eyes do indeed adjust. You prolly shouldn't leave the editing room while color correcting, however. But if you do, give your eyes lots of time to adjust once you return to your seat.

What temperature do you calibrate to Jenn? I calibrate to 6500.

DarrenS
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Nov 14, 2006, 2:39 PM

Post #22 of 25 (1273 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ohhh boy.

Well, I'm a wop where it counts. Buying a big gun has never crossed my mind. Laugh

Postal Boy
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Nov 14, 2006, 2:44 PM

Post #23 of 25 (1270 views)
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Re: [DarrenS] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes. Our eyes naturally "white balance" given time...just like our brain turns off odors that we are constantly around (think animal smells or baby smells in your house). Only after leaving for a while and coming back do you notice the "actual" colors or smells...Our brains are amazing - they are also the best image stabilizers around.

Having said that, if you calibrate your monitor properly, your "eyes" and "brain" will look at it as "proper" - which it should, because "garbage in/garbage out". If you are looking at odd colors, your brain will see them as normal after a short time. But if you are looking at correct colors, it doesn't matter what auto-adjusting your brain is doing...what you see is what you get...

Now I need to go look at more calibrating tools since I am still doing "garbage in - garbage out" Mad

DarrenS
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Nov 14, 2006, 2:59 PM

Post #24 of 25 (1263 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

they are also the best image stabilizers around

Wow. You're right. I've never even thought of that before.

DarrenS
Veteran

Nov 14, 2006, 3:32 PM

Post #25 of 25 (1258 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] Headshots with the Nikkor 85/1.4 [In reply to]	Can't Post

If you are looking at odd colors, your brain will see them as normal after a short time

I agree. That's why hardware calibration is so important. Adobe Gamma is lame. Once you've calibrated proper the monitor is displaying colors according to standards (ICC). So if you then go outside for a while your eyes are going to adjust to the analog world at the current temperature it's at, then you come back inside to color correct images and the eyes aren't adjusted for the color displayed on the lcd. If one doesn't let their eyes adjust they may be tempted to make changes right away, which could be wrong. I think that's why it's best to stay in front of the monitor while you edit images, but only if it's profiled properly. Otherwise it's doesn't matter 'cause nothing will be correct anyhow. Also helps to have the room painted neutral (mine's greyish-brown), have indirect lighting away from the display (d50 with CRI > 95 for viewing prints), have a grey windows desktop and not some funky graphic background or other solid color, and no bright shirts with light bouncing off them.

I'm no expert and am still learning all this stuff, and it ain't easy. Boggles the little mind, actually. Smile

If anybody's reading this and wondering what kind of LCD to purchase for photography work, I think the biggest bang for the buck is the NEC LCD1990SXi (or the bigger models). I couldn't justify spending more than double what these things cost to get the next level up from Eizo. Simply wearing a bright shirt with light in the wrong direction can throw everything off, so the subtle difference is unimportant to me at my current level of work. Maybe if you're doing millions of dollars per year in color correcting, but I'm not and neither are most shooters.