Want this look!

[hihowdy]

I was searching around on the internet looking for the type of style I would like in my pictures. I found this photographer and would to know how you think she acheived this look. It is mainly outside portriats that I am interested in. I am wondering if a lens can do this much blur or do you think she did editing in photoshop? Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks!
http://www.arianajones.com/main/photo.asp?pid=789
http://www.arianajones.com/main/photo.asp?pid=432
http://www.arianajones.com/main/photo.asp?pid=376

[defordphoto]

The first one looks partial lens, partial Photosop. She can also be using digital backdrops, but they all look Photoshopped to me. The bokeh doesn't look natural. Not that that's a bad thing, just a comment.

[stopbath]

It looks like she used a portait lens (with naturally narrow depth of field) and one of the wider apertures (to restrict the depth of field down.)

In some of her other shots, you can see the back ground get pregressively more out of focus (natually, not photoshopped.)

A portrait lens is usually about 80 to 90 mm and is able to open fairly fast. The depth of field is nice and short, and the image has little or no distortion.

[evilenglishman]

I don't think they are faked at all.
This was taken last summer with natural light and fill in flash with the 50mm f1.8 @ 1/60th f3.5 - imagine what f 1.8 would have done

gone

here is another shot at F2 with the same lens and natural light

gone

[msvadi]

I guess what you want is a "long" lens and wide aperture (small f numbers). You also need to keep some distance between your subject and the background.


By the way, evilenglishman, you posted excellent portraits! :) sharp and beautiful colors :) excellent DOF too.

[msvadi]

It's nothing compared to evilenglishman pictures, but I decided to post it anyway. This is a picture on my daughter I took with Canon Powershot G2 with f/3.2. I used the Olympus TCON-17 teleconverter. It gave me the focal length of about 180mm (in 35mm equiv.). The blur is from the lens ;)

http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/data/538/302031130_004.jpg?3764

[w10d]

Looks natural to me, but if anything longer than the typical portrait lens. I'd say 90-135mm (35mm format), at 1.8 - 2.8. Don't forget, the longer the focal length, the shallower the DoF. (I'd guess the couple were shot with a shorter focal length, and the kids with longer - they look 'flatter' and the background seems more compressed and softer).

[evilenglishman]

By the way, evilenglishman, you posted excellent portraits! :) sharp and beautiful colors :) excellent DOF too.


why thank you :D

[PhotosGuy]

I really like that pic. A lot! The only thing wrong with it is it will probably drive the measurebaters crazy trying to figure out how you could get something that nice with only a G2!
:shock:

[msvadi]

Thank you, Photosguy :)

I really like that pic. A lot! The only thing wrong with it is it will probably drive the measurebaters crazy trying to figure out how you could get something that nice with only a G2!
:shock:

[PhotosGuy]

Rather, thank you!
:D