Zoom Case

What is the length of the best focal points for portrait photography? In other words, if you're using a zoom lens, what is the best zoom position to take a picture of one or more people? What is different between a close-up and a full-length portrait? The answers to these questions will allow us to more refined take pictures of people who love photography.

To answer these questions, we must first focus on what we do. Usually want two things:

1) people to play without distortion.

2) Throw the background out of focus to avoid background distraction.

To comply with point 1) must avoid getting too close to our subject. So this in turn leads to the question: what is the correct distance of matter? The answer is twofold, depending on whether you want a closer, or rather a 3/4-length the length group portrait.

If you are making a close-up, short a telephoto lens is the best option, say a 80mm lens. This lens offers normal perspective, while a standard 50mm lens require the photographer to back too close to the subject, thus altering the perspective (a phenomenon known as "shortening"). If there is foreshortening, the more parties of the subject's face (nose, chin) looks older than they are, and the opposite would happen to the back of his head. Or, if a large group, people's faces front seems much larger than those in the back. That's why, if a large group, a goal still longer than 80 mm would be better. If a 200 mm is used for a close-up group portrait, the background is completely out of focus, if this is what I want, thus complying with the previous point 2). This is because the longer the length focal, the lower the depth of field (although this is something wrong). Be careful, however, to put all the faces in the surface plane of the same approach. Finally, avoid using extreme telephoto (300 mm), because, again, the perspective is distorted, all subject characteristics that appear compressed. Also, keep in mind the closer to the edges of the frame, the stronger the distortion. This is even more so for wide angle lenses.

If you are doing 3/4-length portrait or group size, a standard 50mm lens is the optimal choice. This time will be further from the field and foreshortening mentioned are not produced. Unfortunately, with this objective, it is impossible to separate the subject from the background, making it difficult meeting the requirement of 2). The best thing can do is using it with great openness, it also helps reduce the depth of field. This recommendation is valid even when the photographer is forced to use a wide angle lens to fit a large group in the frame and still maintaining a reasonable working distance.

Only if you are using a compact digital or film camera with a zoom lens if you have a 3x zoom, the focal length will be something like 35 mm when fully zoom (wide position angle) and 105 mm when fully extended (telephoto position). On the other hand, if you have a 10x zoom which is about 35-350mm. These equivalences will help implement the recommendations of this article.

Andrea Ghilardelli runs an online photo retouching service. For more articles and to get your photographs transformed into something special, please visit his site: http://www.ilghila.com.

Zoom Case

Zoom Case