The Perfect Portrait Lens

The great French photographer Jeanloup Sieff shot many of his portraits using just the one lens - an 85mm prime. You might ask why?

There are two things I look for in choosing the ideal portrait lens. First of all it needs to be a prime lens and not a zoom lens. 

Prime lenses provide me with a big aperture and control of background blur and Bokeh. Most prime lenses are able to pass between four and eight times more light than a zoom lens. This means prime lenses can be used in low light situations and still maintain a fast shutter speed, resulting in increased sharpness.

Because of a prime's superior light gathering properties the photographer can also choose a lower ISO which reduces the risk of visual noise. This results in superior print quality.

The second major factor is the actual focal length of the lens. A photographer needs to be sufficiently close  to their subject to communicate without shouting but not so close that hey encroach on the subject’s personal space.  Of equal importance is subject-lens distance.  if you get too close to your subject you will steepen perspective and distort facial features. Few subjects, other than circus clowns would appreciate this!

An 85mm f1.4 prime lens addresses those two requirements, providing sharp images, flattened perspective and superb bokeh.

To learn more about lenses, cameras and portrait techniques join me on my next UWA Portraits - Memories Forever workshop.

Green on Blue

When one photographer shoots another photographer there's always a bit more intrigue. (or a court case!)
Abigail Harman is a sought-after, professional commercial photographer as well as a good friend. Abbe has an effervescent, slightly flirtatious personality under-strung with a razor-sharp business brain. So Abbe knew what I was about.

I'm always searching for something a bit different to what I've done before (hence the double macchiato to start the day). Also, I'm mindful of what my subject 'thinks' they want. But at the core of this it should be about fun.
 If you're not having fun you're not doing it right!
Sometimes a subject may complain that its too hot, too cold, too windy, too prickly or too hard. My answer is simple.
You need to suffer a  bit for art
Abbe didn't suffer (too much) and she certainly didn't complain.

Having your portrait taken is much like travelling abroard. There's the planning and preparation (hair, make-up, clothes); there's the journey and then;
 Ah yes then!
Then there are the memories!  The world would be  a much bleaker place without memories.
Its human nature to forget the boring bits. However, we never fail to remember the incidents; the bus that broke down in the desert, the perfume salesman that invited himself to your room and the restaurant in Patagonia that served up garlic guinea pig!
We relive the challenges met on our  journey and embellish how we developed superhuman powers to overcome them. Or maybe we just sit back and laugh about how silly we were. Nevertheless, travel traumas are marvelous  fodder for  after-dinner stories, the exaggerations, the delights; beautiful memories of the places and people we love.

Travel and photography walk side by side - we love the photos that capture the moment and reflect the relationship between two people,

Abbe's husband, John Harman, is a successful author, ghost writer, travel writer and tour leader. In Sept 2013 John and I join forces again for our second Turkish Delight Travel Writers' and Travel Photographers' tour to Turkey (with a Spanish option). Email  Helen Newnham for more details.

Nikon's 'The Event' Hunter Valley

Four days in the Hunter Valley NSW for Nikon's The Event will go down as one of my highlights for 2012. Three hundred of us got to listen to Australia's top professional photographers and the legend James Nachtwey from the USA. It was simply an enthralling and inspirational event. Congratulations to Nikon and the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) for organising a magnificent event. Simply so much photographic talent and passion under the one roof for four days.

There was a modicum of socializing that went on - golf, hot air balloon rides, a Nikon party and a gala dinner.  (Photo by Cheryl Coulson on iPhone)

Adrian Broughton

Talented photographer, travel adventurer and IT guru Adrian Broughton called into the studio. You can catch up on some of his adventures etc here  or here

Adrian heralds originally from Tasmania and is heading back there shortly.

Window Light

We don't always need a  studio. We don't always need an expensive camera or a Zeiss lens. I photographed Victoria using window light with a small Fuji camera. But what I did have was beautiful light and a memory of Rembrandt.

Me and My Brothers

There are portraits and then there are memorable portraits.
There are ordinary portraits and then there are extraordinary portraits.
I aim to shoot 50% 'insurance' shots,
25% 'creative' and
25% 'edgy'
And at the end of the day the most important thing is that the client feels special.
Thanks to Adam, Amy and Matt.

Win $5000 with your best Portrait in the Fremantle Portrait Prize. Entries close 1 August 2012.

Learn tips and techniques in Dale Neill's Portrait workshop at UWA Extension. Starts 13 October 2012.

Twelve tips for Better Portraits

Achieving a memorable portrait is far more about the quality of lighting and communicating with your subject than it is about camera settings. Visualising the end result and choosing the right location are important factors. However, at the basis of a ll great portraits is genuinely liking your subject. The great English portrait photographer said he often fell in lobe with his subject during the portrait sitting.

1. Use telephoto in preference to wide-angle

A telephoto lens brings the subject closer but does something more important – the longer focal length flattens perspective and keeps the shape of the face in correct proportion. A telephoto lens avoids the ‘I’ve just been to the dentist’ look!



Eugenie Ong

2. Keep lens above subject’s nose height

If there’s one thing that’s likely to upset your subject it’s a double-chin. Keeping your lens height higher than the subject’s nose reduces the risk. And reduces hours of Photo shopping.

3. Subject-background distance greater than subject-camera distance

An out-of-focus background usually enhances portraits. One simple technique is to keep the background a long way away and the subject close.

4. Focus on the eyes

There’s one part of a portrait that just has to be as sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel – the subject’s eyes (both of them!). The eyes aren’t just the ‘windows to the soul’ they are first point of contact for the viewer.

5. Kids – get down to kid’s level physically and mentally

Typically, parents and grandparents start off by doing the ‘ogre’ shots – standing directly above the baby. Photographers should become children themselves – shoot from their level physically and think like a child when shooting them at play.

6. Shoot for a black and white image
There’s a saying, ‘Shoot in colour and you photograph the subject’s clothes, photograph in black and white and you photograph the subject’s soul.’ Technically, it’s best to shoot in colour and convert in your computer.

7. Choose a great background

A great background makes your subject the ‘star’; makes your subject shine in the frame. Backgrounds that are overly sharp or bright with strong lines and angles should generally be avoided. Dark blurred recesses and open doorways are often useful backgrounds.

8. Become a student of light and use ‘Rembrandt’ lighting

The word ‘Photograph’ comes from the Greek meaning writing or painting with light. Using a light source at ninety degrees to the subject’s face adds drama and modeling. Window light is the easiest quality light to use.

9. Get couples/groups to interact with each other rather than you

The linkages between the couple or members of the group should be far closer than the linkages with the photographer. Ask your subjects to chat and interact with each other. Your task as a portrait photographer is to record the emotional bonds.

10. Photograph your subject with their most treasured item

An individual, no matter whether adult or child will often feel more comfortable with their most treasured item – their guitar, cat, dog or football.

Indian Tsunami
WAPPA - Award winning image 2005

11. Use Auto-Bracket

The ‘Auto-bracket’ setting on your camera gives you sequence of different exposures in quick succession. Auto-bracketing overcomes many of the problems of blinking and odd expressions.

12. Create an Environmental Portrait

Choose a ‘Landscape’ aspect ratio, place your subject in a position of power and use the subject’s favourite room, workspace or outdoors on each side of your subject to help tell the story of your subject.

If you have a special portrait and you'd like to win $5000 cash enter the Fremantle Portrait Prize before 1 August 2012.

And if you want to learn more about Portrait Photography join UWA Extension's Portraits - Memories Forever workshop.

APPA Silver Award

When I met the Carter family from Denmark and saw their beautiful farm it reminded me so much of the 'Little House on the Prairie' television series in the 60s and 70s.

The image won a Silver Award in the Family Portrait category at APPA (Australian Professional Photography Awards) in Melbourne in May 2012.
It also won a Silver Award at WAPPA (Western australian Professional Photography Awards in July 2012.

ENTER the Fremantle Portrait Prize and win AU$5000. Entries close 1 August 2012.

Fremantle Portrait Prize

Fremantle Portrait Prize is Australia's newest photographic award. First prize is $5000 cash and is open to photographers of all ages from around the world. Entries are $15 each and all profits go to the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Foundation of Western Australia.

For details and entry forms please visit:

www.fremantleportraitprize.org.au

Studio Noah drops by

It was one of those days when things started to go wrong. Kerry, a student all the way from PNG, who was having a second session with me after a few unavoidable delays. Then our 'model' for the portrait shoot was delayed in a jam (not sure if traffic or strawberry).

But a ring on our doorbell and there stood beautiful Brenda fresh from the physio. Now Brenda and I go back a little ways - she travelled with me to Greece a decade ago and posed for me at the Acropolis. A year later I asked Brenda to photograph me for my www.fotograf.com.au  website. I chose Brenda because I felt more comfortable with her than any other photographer.

These days Brenda owns and runs Studio Noah - where Brenda photographs animals - everything from Elephants to Aardvarks, budgerigars to buffaloes and doggies to dragons. If you want the favourite pet in your life photographed by the very best pet photographer this side of the rabbit-proof fence visit Brenda at http://studionoah.com.au/ - tell her Dale sent you!

170 years before Photoshop was invented photographers were thinking on how to do interesting stuff inside their own brains and inside their cameras.

For those not completely addicted tp Photoshop you can still do this.

All I did here was use a slow shutter speed and ask one person to stand still. Photoshop time: 0.000 seconds!

Mind you, keep playing with Photoshop and you can sell your DSLR in 5 years with brand, spanking new one second shutter speed in your camera.

My talent: Stringed quartet 'Mill Pond' - watch out for them!

Alix hamilton visits FACEZ

Alix Hamilton t FACEZ

Violinist Alix Hamilton breezed into FACEZ on Easter Monday. Alix plays solo and with a stringed quartet. She's off to visit the old country shortly. Keep an eye on this young lady and her ensemble.
I asked her to make some 'beautiful noise' for me and she did! (apologies to Neil Diamond)

National Portrait Award Finalist 2012

Farewell my Son

This image  was shot in FACEZ studio and a finalist in the National Portrait Awards in Canberra 2012.
The image, along with other finalists will hang in the National gallery for two months from the 19 March and then tour Australia for a further 10 months.

I'd like to thank PJ at Fitzgerald's Photo Labs for their advice and expertise in printing, Doug at Stewart's Fine Art Framers and Pack and Send for safe transport.
In particular, I'd like to thank my subjects, Narayani and Sean Palmer for their gift.

Narayani Palmer had asked me to photograph her and her son, Sean Palmer, the night before he left Australia for England for five years. Narayani is a single mother and Sean is her only child. They arrived a few minutes apart to be photographed. Narayani was upset and had been crying, Sean was aloof and not talking. They had been arguing. They stood before me, silent for several minutes, tears glistening in Narayani's eyes. Then Sean slowly stepped towards his mother, gently put an arm around her shoulders and said, "I'm sorry Mum". Narayani sobbed gently. This was Sean's final farewell.

See National Portrait Award finalists at See: http://bit.ly/HhOeew

Dale Neill's next Portraits course 'Portraits - Memories Forever; commences at UWA Extension on 21 April 2012. Details: http://www.extension.uwa.edu.au/course/cc214

Fake V Genuine smiles

More than a century ago, scientists discovered that although authentic and fake smiles involve the sides of the mouth being pulled up, only a genuine smile causes crinkling around the sides of the eyes.

Sandy Chaney

Other research suggests that smiles that take longer to spread over a person's face (over half a second) are perceived as very attractive, especially when accompanied by a slight tilt of the head.

Photographers may also note that some subjects actually look more attractive when they don't smile because of large gums or exaggerated line valleys in the face.

What does all this mean for the portrait photographer - we need to observe and 'tune in' to our subject. Sincere communication and patience are helpful - but always keeping in mind that you want to reveal the real person.

Learn Portrait Photography
http://www.extension.uwa.edu.au/course/CC214

Single Light

Ran a Studio Lighting course for Team Digital last Wednesday. Its surprising what can be achieved with a  single light. The biggest mistake inexperienced photographers make is to switch on all the lights and once without understanding HOW lighting works.
Start working with one (compliant) person and one light. Try Rembrandt broad, then Rembrandt shot. This here is a variation of Rembrandt short I call Rembrandt acute (bordering on rim). Its theatrical, dramatic and    with two people creates a narrative.
You can see some of the lighting gear Team have got on display here
http://bit.ly/xtNgYM
The price on the exposure meter is very good.

Rembrandt Tips

Its no surprise that the word photography derives from the Greek 'writing with light'. For glamour use front light, for safety use 45 degree light. For art, use 90 degree light. Ad for edgy theatrical type light use 120 degrees.
That's fairly easy in the studio but more tricky outside. Not only do you have to find the light hitting your subject at an acute angle but you need to reduce or eliminate all the front light to maintain the contrast and drama. I used a  tunnel for this shot in a private tuition group.
You may like to practise with a watermelon or pineapple - they don't get bored or have an emotional reaction. When you get it right swap the melon for a real live human being.
Tech info;
Nikon D700 50mm prime lens
1/320 sec f2.8 Aperture priority; 400 ISO EV -2.0