Cropping

[portraitsbytracy]

I'm not sure how others handle this, but sometimes I'll take a full body shot (Canon Digital Rebel XT, 50mm lens) of a person and later crop it down to just the person's head. However, this greatly reduces the image quality as I've found once I have it printed. How does everyone compensate for this? I tried increasing image size, but it doesn't seem to help. It has a very "digital" unnatural look to it.

[Mark_Cohran]

Resolution is resolution - if you need a head shot, then you're best off shooting a head shot. When you crop that much of your photo away, your throwing away data. You can try an up-rezzing program like Genuine Fractals, but there are limits to what even that type of program can do.

Mark

[portraitsbytracy]

Thank you, that makes sense. There are just those times where the best facial expressions are captured in those full body shots and I'd like to preserve those separately, but it doesn't always turn out for the best in the end.

[PhotosGuy]

However, this greatly reduces the image quality as I've found once I have it printed. You'll have to reduce the size of the print too. If you shoot RAW for the highest quality file, then you can probably crop down & still get a reasonable looking 5X7" print.

[gjl711]

Even up-rezzing will not re-create lost information. It will make the photo look better but data lost is lost forever. One thing you might try but it’s a lot of work is to use the headshot but replace the parts you are not happy with. For example, headshot smile sucks but a full body one has a great smile. Use Marks technique to up-rez just the smile and replace it on the headshot. A lot of blending and photoshopping will be needed to make it look natural, but it’s doable.

[Tixeon]

Thank you, that makes sense. There are just those times where the best facial expressions are captured in those full body shots and I'd like to preserve those separately, but it doesn't always turn out for the best in the end.

I'm going to address the facial expression issue by suggesting a longer focal length lens such as 100mm or more. The 50mm lens possibly puts you & the camera a little too close for some subjects & they might feel self conscious. When you back off for that full length shot, your subject has a little more breathing room & relaxes with a better expression.

Using a longer focal length lens usually results in better closeups - at least for me it does, and the backgrounds go out of focus easier too. Hope this helps some.

[DAMphyne]

Good point Chigger, also there is a minimum # of pixels across a face that is needed for good quality portraits. When I upgraded from a D30 to the 10D, I thought I could easily crop to get portraits, not necessarily so, you have to have info to get quality.
Even though it has twice the pixels, you need 4 times the resolution to double the size.

[portraitsbytracy]

I'm going to address the facial expression issue by suggesting a longer focal length lens such as 100mm or more. The 50mm lens possibly puts you & the camera a little too close for some subjects & they might feel self conscious. When you back off for that full length shot, your subject has a little more breathing room & relaxes with a better expression.

Using a longer focal length lens usually results in better closeups - at least for me it does, and the backgrounds go out of focus easier too. Hope this helps some.

All I'm working with right now is my 50mm and the kit 18-55mm lenses, so maybe I'll have to invest in another. Either that, or just shoot my close-ups, closer up!