Shallow DOF portraits

[cocasana]

Two portraits. One of a Sumbamese gentleman from Tarung village, the second of a lady met at Waikabubak's market. Sumba Barat, Indomesia. Both shot with a Canon 1dmk2, Canon 85mm f/1.2.
Would love to know what you think about them, comments, citiques, ecc
Thank you so much, Carlo

[Paul Tinworth]

I'm really sorry, but I find the DoF too shallow, personally! I love both the images, but the gentleman's ears being that out of focus really detract from the first image. The second is my favourite, but I would've preferred to have had the rest of her hair in focus - if not her shoulders, too.

Just my personal opinion, though! DoF aside, I think these are fantastic. :)

[Bill Roberts]

Well I like 'em... That's what f1.2 is for ;)

cheers
Bill

[bbc14f]

Ok thats it I've had enough!! I forbid you to post anymore pictures taken with this lens! You are making me want to run out and get one!! :lol:

Honestly thoughm I really like them!

[foundationranch]

I like the shallow DOF

[tmonatr]

That's what f1.2 is for.

cheers
Bill

Just because you have it, doesn't mean you have to use it all the time. The pictures are razor sharp and I love the B/W, but the man's nose and ears are out of focus and that is a bit distracting.

[Bill Roberts]

I never said you had to use it all the time. But I do take your point.

[Miniflash]

Beautiful shots as always you inspire me ~

[PhotoJourno]

Mmmmhhh... I can see both sides of the DOF issue on these photos.

On one hand, the posted images are extremely captivating, and yes, the ears already out of focus sort of takes away from the face. As if the subject was horizontal and submerged in water, except for the eyes nose and mouth.

On the other hand, I am not sure that the f1.2 applies to these images. Wouldn't they have beeen fine portraits at f2.8 anyways?...

I am torn. Definitely not desperate to get a f1.2 lens, but I must admit there is some certain charm to it.

Congrats.

[pbwing]

Shot number 1 is great.

Number 2 is simply fantastic.

Both of them capture such character

[Shutter22]

I like them both a lot. These are really beautiful.

[Master-9]

Looks great to me

[Beau Hudspeth]

Awesome contrast and just the right amount of DOP!

[Scarlett Nic]

Wow these are wonderful faces full of character. They are striking indeed.
Excellent work

[drandtus]

Carlo,I love them. I'm sorta of a sucker for shallow DOF. Especially since I just got my 85mm f/1.8! Very nice!

[nrellas]

I dont mind them, although the blur in the first looks more like you did it in photoshop than a 1.2, the transition seems a little much.
Otherwise the lighting and color are great, dragan action?

[cocasana]

Thank you all for stopping and commenting!
nrelas; you are wrong twice! It doesn't look like a PS blur, and it is not!

[justin carpenter]

wow that lens makes portrait photography very interesting!

[BLS]

In my opinion, the DOF is too shallow on the first one. The OOF nose bothers me, although the OOF ears do not. IMO, the DOF on the second one is great. The OOF hair, shoulders and background make me concentrate on the face. I like it a lot.

[mberger3]

I like the DOF it forces you to see look at the lives inside the faces. I don't think having an ear in focus would add anything. Excellent!

[4x4rock]

I like them. I'm a sucker for DOF too.But I think there was a little too much USM.

[Luke Johnson]

I think there great, but as said before it should not be over used!

[-Pleiades-]

I quiet like the shallow DOF, it really accentuates their features and you got the focus spot on.

[Advisor]

great pics, I think the DOF is fine because their facial expressions are the centerpiece...

[thekid24]

I really like detailed portraits like this. Very beautiful and surreal. Nice work. I like the tone conversion