Contemplation

[pink_panther]

Just playing with my Canon 400D in low light and sunset. The picture is of my partner Lesley.

 

[LaFoto]

Nice use of fill flash!
The wide angle distorts here face a little, but maybe that was even intentional?

 

[pink_panther]

Nice use of fill flash!
The wide angle distorts here face a little, but maybe that was even intentional?

Thank You. Sunsets and sunrises are my favourite time for photography. The effect of wide angle was unintentional.

 

[FidelCastrovich]

Thank You. Sunsets and sunrises are my favourite time for photography. The effect of wide angle was unintentional.

As was said, nice use of fill flash. Nice colors, as well.

As for the distortion - too wide a lens will do that. Use a normal lens or portrait lens for distortion free faces.
Other than that - never shoot people's faces from beneath or above, you will surely distort them. Too low - nose is too short and the nostrils become huge(this is the case here); Too high - nose and forehead are elongated. If you're sitting lower or higher than the person's face, compensate by asking them to lower or raise their head, accordingly.

Keep up the good work.

 

[pink_panther]

So for portraits then, best to keep level with the face when shooting?

 

[FidelCastrovich]

So for portraits then, best to keep level with the face when shooting?

I take it back - it's not "Never". It's "user discretion advised".
If you're doing just a shoulder+head portrait then yes, stay in the same plane as the face. If you're including more torso then you need to lower the camera, but ask the subject to lower their chin just a bit.
Again, this is not a black and white situation. It's a rule of thumb. For a person with a longer nose you might want to shoot from a lowish point - to compensate and "shorten" it.

As with everything else in photography and in life - you need to be aware of it, and experiment. Not do what others do.
Eventually you'll figure out what works.

 

[pink_panther]

I take it back - it's not "Never". It's "user discretion advised".
If you're doing just a shoulder+head portrait then yes, stay in the same plane as the face. If you're including more torso then you need to lower the camera, but ask the subject to lower their chin just a bit.
Again, this is not a black and white situation. It's a rule of thumb. For a person with a longer nose you might want to shoot from a lowish point - to compensate and "shorten" it.

As with everything else in photography and in life - you need to be aware of it, and experiment. Not do what others do.
Eventually you'll figure out what works.

Thanks. Noted. I will bear this in mind for future photos.