Diane

[Giovanni]

Following up a hint from another thread I am so very glad and proud to introduce you Diane who was blessed with some of the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen

 

[beavens]

Lovely photos, Giovanni! I hope that you convert her to mono as well.

What lens have you been employing for this series?

Jeff

 

[Giovanni]

Lovely photos, Giovanni! I hope that you convert her to mono as well.

What lens have you been employing for this series?

Jeff

Hello Jeff,

for almost all of the ones in this series I used the 85mm f1.8G from Nikon, great value for money, don't know if the f1.4 would have made a noticeable difference if not in the blur but since I never shot fully open I don't see the need of a larger aperture neither I am a pro making money out of it so that lens works beautifully coupled with the old (...) Nikon D800.

Color vs BW wise I think that, with regards to this photo, in first instance I'd have lost the color out of those stunning eyes not to mention that a woman would never want to see the "flaws" a BW conversion would show so I'll pass the conversion, at least on this one, I will let a little time pass before I upload something else both male and female

p.s. thank you for your comment

 

[Ben Egbert]

This certainlly has a different vibe than the B&W somewhat gritty look of your male images, but I like it and agree, a lady would probably not like that look. Thanks for showing us more of your talent.

 

[JimFox]

Very cool Giovanni! I like this one very much and I agree that color was an excellent choice here as it really does emphasize those beautiful eyes of her more. I totally love your B&W series which I think works to the advantage when shooting older people, but in this case I am glad you kept this in color as it not only shows the beauty of her eyes, it also helps impart a sense of youth to the image.

 

[beavens]

Hello Jeff,

for almost all of the ones in this series I used the 85mm f1.8G from Nikon, great value for money, don't know if the f1.4 would have made a noticeable difference if not in the blur but since I never shot fully open I don't see the need of a larger aperture neither I am a pro making money out of it so that lens works beautifully coupled with the old (...) Nikon D800.

Color vs BW wise I think that, with regards to this photo, in first instance I'd have lost the color out of those stunning eyes not to mention that a woman would never want to see the "flaws" a BW conversion would show so I'll pass the conversion, at least on this one, I will let a little time pass before I upload something else both male and female

p.s. thank you for your comment

Thanks for the info!! What aperture did you generally find yourself using if you weren't wide open? Roughly how far were you away from your subjects? Are these people you know or folks you encounter on the streets? Sorry for all the questions - I'm just very curious.

In regard to the color vs. b&w discussion, you do make some very valid points. But I do think that it all depends on which direction you take your conversion. The men are contrasty, bold and sharpened - I can definitely see why a woman would not like this treatment. But what if you left most of the heavy contrast and sharpening and left things more lighter and airy? I did a quick conversion below (please PM if you do not want this rework up - I will remove it ASAP!!) and cannot escape her eyes! She could have a hole in her head and I would not notice.

Jeff

 

[AlanLichty]

I like the color rendition here as this lady has delightful skin color and the eyes are everything for her portrait.

 

[Giovanni]

Thanks for the info!! What aperture did you generally find yourself using if you weren't wide open? Roughly how far were you away from your subjects? Are these people you know or folks you encounter on the streets? Sorry for all the questions - I'm just very curious.

In regard to the color vs. b&w discussion, you do make some very valid points. But I do think that it all depends on which direction you take your conversion. The men are contrasty, bold and sharpened - I can definitely see why a woman would not like this treatment. But what if you left most of the heavy contrast and sharpening and left things more lighter and airy? I did a quick conversion below (please PM if you do not want this rework up - I will remove it ASAP!!) and cannot escape her eyes! She could have a hole in her head and I would not notice.

Jeff

View attachment 8272

Generally the working distance is exactly as to fill the whole frame of the 85mm field of view, sometimes, like in Diane's case, just a little further and this makes using wider apertures tricky as depth of field becomes really shallow at these distances but it works well to blur the background so a starting point of f2.8 to an extreme of f3.5 but since mostly they are candids where I keep my camera on a table or in my hand not to be too intrusive the camera is not always set at the desired aperture and there might be exceptions, should I have time to set it up the way I need I would still use that range to allow me enough DOF to keep eyes the sharpest and lips still sharp enough and quite in focus.

This is not a rule, this is what I found working for me, I see many people shooting f1.4 (the lucky ones) or f1.8 (the poor ones) but with way more distance between lens and subject, this works for them, mine works for me...

Usually my shots are taken around a table where I can build some confidence with my subject or in a restricted environment where, again, I can be close enough and still blur busy backgrounds, I wish I had an f1.4 85 whose character adds to the whole image but there are many lenses which would work better for different instances, women might better like an old 85/1.4D while I love the sharp and contrasty new G series (hope to never try the 85/1.4 because I might want it as well as the beautiful 105/1.4).

Generally these are people I know, I know you are envious, yes, Diane is a friend of mine even tho living on the other side of the planet, in some other cases I have kind of an acquaintance with the subjects and after building up with some chatting I try and take a shot, I wish I'll become more brave as to stop people I think being interesting to take pics of them but they will be posing which is what I absolutely don't look forward to.

I think the BW suits men, especially older ones, better than women, to me it is a way to underline the story their faces tell, those long and deep face lines, in some instances, say lot more than what words could ever say and I still have one to post of a man, you will then tell me.

In the Diane's case I think BW takes off a lot of her even tho, by personally knowing her, I would still love her the same way if she didn't have those wonderful eyes and sensual lips, no, I am sorry to disappoint but I find the BW not fitting her and, in your interpretation, to take away 3D, depth, warmth, sweetness... I would appreciate you taking the pic off, I asked Diane if I could post this pic a while ago but I am not sure she would appreciate her being "manipulated"

Thank you so much for your comments and for your questions, it gives me some sense of "proudness" if I can say so


Grazie


Giovanni

p.s. stay tuned for a couple more

 

[Leslie Hunter]

Such a beautiful woman.

 

[beavens]

Generally the working distance is exactly as to fill the whole frame of the 85mm field of view, sometimes, like in Diane's case, just a little further and this makes using wider apertures tricky as depth of field becomes really shallow at these distances but it works well to blur the background so a starting point of f2.8 to an extreme of f3.5 but since mostly they are candids where I keep my camera on a table or in my hand not to be too intrusive the camera is not always set at the desired aperture and there might be exceptions, should I have time to set it up the way I need I would still use that range to allow me enough DOF to keep eyes the sharpest and lips still sharp enough and quite in focus.

This is not a rule, this is what I found working for me, I see many people shooting f1.4 (the lucky ones) or f1.8 (the poor ones) but with way more distance between lens and subject, this works for them, mine works for me...

Usually my shots are taken around a table where I can build some confidence with my subject or in a restricted environment where, again, I can be close enough and still blur busy backgrounds, I wish I had an f1.4 85 whose character adds to the whole image but there are many lenses which would work better for different instances, women might better like an old 85/1.4D while I love the sharp and contrasty new G series (hope to never try the 85/1.4 because I might want it as well as the beautiful 105/1.4).

Generally these are people I know, I know you are envious, yes, Diane is a friend of mine even tho living on the other side of the planet, in some other cases I have kind of an acquaintance with the subjects and after building up with some chatting I try and take a shot, I wish I'll become more brave as to stop people I think being interesting to take pics of them but they will be posing which is what I absolutely don't look forward to.

I think the BW suits men, especially older ones, better than women, to me it is a way to underline the story their faces tell, those long and deep face lines, in some instances, say lot more than what words could ever say and I still have one to post of a man, you will then tell me.

In the Diane's case I think BW takes off a lot of her even tho, by personally knowing her, I would still love her the same way if she didn't have those wonderful eyes and sensual lips, no, I am sorry to disappoint but I find the BW not fitting her and, in your interpretation, to take away 3D, depth, warmth, sweetness... I would appreciate you taking the pic off, I asked Diane if I could post this pic a while ago but I am not sure she would appreciate her being "manipulated"

Thank you so much for your comments and for your questions, it gives me some sense of "proudness" if I can say so


Grazie


Giovanni

p.s. stay tuned for a couple more

Giovanni,

Thanks for all the background information!!! It is much appreciated.

I have respectfully removed the b&w rework.

Jeff

 

[Giovanni]

Giovanni,

Thanks for all the background information!!! It is much appreciated.

I have respectfully removed the b&w rework.

Jeff

Thanks to you Jeff, I am pleased to get appreciation off of my photography and I am same glad we can discuss personal techniques to improve our skills.

Ciao

 

[Mike Mancil]

Wow, the eyes! Beautiful.