The Intricacies of Portrait Photography
In the world of photography, there is a broad understanding that you can take any photo with any lens. However, this axiom comes with a footnote – understanding the impact of perspective is crucial. Perspective refers to the rendition of a scene as viewed from a specific location in real space, and it plays a significant role in how a human face appears through different focal lengths.
Focal lengths as short as 18mm tend to create facial distortion, with a barrel effect causing the nose to look larger due to its positioning at the center of the frame. Progressing to 35mm lessens this distortion, providing a more refined appearance.
When we reach the 50mm and 80mm focal lengths, the visual representation of the human face improves dramatically. The nose appears smaller and the edges of the face are more refined. From a purely aesthetic viewpoint, this is where photographers often find their sweet spot for portraiture.
However, the story doesn’t end here. With focal lengths of 100mm and 154mm, a phenomenon known as compression starts to be evident. When the subject’s face is exposed sideways to the camera, flat areas tend to appear broader and wider. This is due to the light falling on a broad surface without any shadow runoff, exacerbating the compression effect.
At 200mm, the compression effect becomes even more pronounced, making objects look closer together and enhancing a flat and wide look. While this can be used for artistic effect, it is not typically considered ideal for portrait photography.
In conclusion, the sweet spot for portraits lies between 50mm and 100mm for APS-C sensors. Anything less can be too wide, and anything more introduces undesirable compression and flatness. However, experimenting with dramatic lighting techniques can extend this range, offering a broader scope for creativity.
The Art of Composing with Compression
Higher focal lengths, as mentioned above, compress images. This is an instrumental tool for controlling the size of background elements and the amount of background visible in the shot. By simply stepping back and adjusting the focal length, you can achieve a similar composition with a vastly different perspective.
Let’s say you compose a shot at a wide angle, like 20mm. If you then step back and increase the focal length, the subject can remain the same size, but the background will appear much closer. This phenomenon is known as compression, and it results in background objects appearing larger and more prominent. Simply put, adjusting your distance and focal length can result in a vastly different perspective, even with similar compositions.
Macro Lenses: An Introduction
Macro lenses are unique as they allow photographers to focus much closer to the lens than standard lenses. This close focusing ability results in greater than life-size reproduction of the subject on the image sensor. The comparison of the real size to the perceived size is what we call the reproduction ratio.
Magnification describes the relative size the subject will appear in the final image. Many lenses have macro features, with the amount of magnification depending on the specifics of the lens.
Using a macro lens requires precision, as even slight shifts can result in a significantly different image. Manual focus is recommended because photos taken at such close range will have a shallow depth of field.
When the lens is extremely close to the subject, it can inadvertently block light, leading to underexposed images. A potential solution is to use a macro flash to adequately light the subject.
There are more cost-effective ways to delve into macro photography, such as using extension tubes to increase magnification. These tubes, however, can come with their own set of challenges. Cheaper versions may lack electronic contacts, requiring a workaround to change the aperture. If you intend to use extension tubes frequently, investing in one with electronics could save you a lot of hassle.
However, nothing beats the sharpness provided by a dedicated macro lens. Be aware, extension tubes add weight and can put strain on your camera, so be cautious of the total weight of your setup.
Lighting can be a challenge in macro photography, especially if the lens must be extremely close to the subject. In such cases, off-camera flash might be necessary to properly illuminate the subject.
To sum up, understanding the nuances of camera lenses and the effects they create, from facial distortion and compression in portrait photography to reproduction ratio in macro photography, will significantly enhance your ability to compose and capture impressive images. Whether you’re an amateur or a professional, mastering these concepts will open up new avenues of creativity in your photographic journey.