Portraits with my new 50mm 1.8G, C&C appreciated

nmasters · Jul 18, 2012

Hey guys,
I received my very first nifty fifty in the mail today!
First thing I noticed: SUPER SHARP! As expected

I'm using it on a Nikon D5100, so it has the 35mm equivalent of 75mm; suitable to be a portrait lens.
So I took some portraits of my mother around the house.
I positioned her near windows to get the softest light, and I used a light meter to measure the light falling on her face.
So, I think I did most of the technical things correctly, but how is my composition?
I realized while I was shooting that I didn't really know how exactly to position my subject and compose my shot.
Thanks for any feedback.

Nick

1 ISO 400 50mm f2 1/50

mom by nico418, on Flickr

2 ISO 500 50mm f2 1/80

mom-3 by nico418, on Flickr

3 ISO 500 50mm f2 1/80

mom-2 by nico418, on Flickr

4 ISO 400 50mm f2 1/100

mom-4 by nico418, on Flickr

5 ISO 400 50mm f2 1/125

mom-5 by nico418, on Flickr

Edsport · Jul 19, 2012

Yup, very sharp and very nice. Looks like a keeper. I had a go and editing one of your photos...

JoshuaSimPhotography · Jul 19, 2012

NIce, it’s very sharp. The lighting is a bit strong but a nice lens

nmasters · Jul 19, 2012

Edsport said:
Yup, very sharp and very nice. Looks like a keeper. I had a go and editing one of your photos...

Wow, that's a good edit! What exactly did you do? Which software?

jowensphoto · Jul 19, 2012

I love number two! Be careful with your crops, looks like she lost some finger tips.

The last is nice too, but again it's a tight crop and a landscape portrait. Just a tiny bit more light in her eyes would really make them sparkle.

nmasters · Jul 19, 2012

jowensphoto said:
I love number two! Be careful with your crops, looks like she lost some finger tips.

The last is nice too, but again it's a tight crop and a landscape portrait. Just a tiny bit more light in her eyes would really make them sparkle.

Thanks, yes I realized that I cut her fingers, I'd have to say its the only down side to this one.
I'll be more careful next time.

jowensphoto · Jul 19, 2012

So crop it a little tighter in post

I'm not a "fix it later" type of person in terms of extreme manipulation, but cropping so long as you don't lose IQ isn't a big deal.

irishguy0224 · Jul 19, 2012

nmasters said:
Edsport said:

Yup, very sharp and very nice. Looks like a keeper. I had a go and editing one of your photos...

Click to expand...

Wow, that's a good edit! What exactly did you do? Which software?

first thing i notice is that the "crows feet" and other wrinkle marks are gone. I am assuming the software used was photoshop, but could also be done in LR. Correct me if i am wrong.

nmasters · Jul 19, 2012

jowensphoto said:
So crop it a little tighter in post

I'm not a "fix it later" type of person in terms of extreme manipulation, but cropping so long as you don't lose IQ isn't a big deal.

Crop by nico418, on

I feel like I'm cutting off the hands now. Where would be the ideal place to crop? I know not to crop at joints, is that correct?

nmasters · Jul 19, 2012

irishguy0224 said:
first thing i notice is that the "crows feet" and other wrinkle marks are gone. I am assuming the software used was photoshop, but could also be done in LR. Correct me if i am wrong.

I don't think this can be done in Lightroom, but I could be wrong. Please correct me if I am.

Edsport · Jul 19, 2012

nmasters said:
Edsport said:

Yup, very sharp and very nice. Looks like a keeper. I had a go and editing one of your photos...

Click to expand...

Wow, that's a good edit! What exactly did you do? Which software?

I used Imagenomic to smooth the skin a little but most of the edit is with photoshop. (No lightroom was used). I used the healing brush for the crows feet around the eyes and the imperfections on her forehead. I used the dodge tool set to shadows to remove some of the dark around the eyes. I used the burn tool set to highlights on her nose and the left side of her face to remove just a bit of the highlights and so that her nose would now have a smoother transition from the darker part to the highlights. I didn't do much just enough to notice. I converted it to sRGB IEC61966-2.1 profile and a slight S-curve in curves to add a bit of contrast...

Edit - I did a bit of Vibrance and Saturation also...

rokvi · Jul 20, 2012

Maybe this sort of a crop.

Otherwise, nice sharp photo's!

Pittsky · Jul 20, 2012

Good looking photos...I have a d5100 also and am debating whether to get the 50mm or the 35mm. I'll probably end up getting both at some point but I'm sorta leaning towards the 50mm right now.

gargieya · Jul 20, 2012

Nice !!

nmasters · Jul 20, 2012

rokvi said:
Maybe this sort of a crop.

<img src="http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=14347"/>

Otherwise, nice sharp photo's!

I like this crop, thanks!

Pittsky said:
Good looking photos...I have a d5100 also and am debating whether to get the 50mm or the 35mm. I'll probably end up getting both at some point but I'm sorta leaning towards the 50mm right now.

The 50mm will really open your eyes to having a truly sharp lens. I like to shoot landscapes, so I'm most likely going to get the 35mm next; although it would be nice to get a 28mm prime or a 12-24. Whatever lens you purchase I believe you'll be very satisfied. Especially if your upgrading from the 18-55.