Author: Peter | Prosophos

Q&A: Bishop asks about shooting portraits with a 35mm lens.

Leica 35mm Summarit f/2.5, Leica 35mm Summilux ASPH FLE f/1.4, Q&A, Teaching point

“I am new to following your site…via your guest blog entry on Steve Hufff’s site and I wanted to say I enjoy your work very much.  The tones, the processing when in color and your subject matter are a joy.  I look forward to seeing more of your posts in the future.

A quick question for you though.  I noticed many of your portraits are shot with a 35mm lens.  I am wondering if you are cropping your resulting image?  I ask because your portraits are closer than what I am achieving with a 50mm without being in the face of my own children.  Not that I am a purist and don’t crop images but I try not too.  Appreciate your comments on this as you are able.

I should also add that I enjoy how you capture your children in the midst of their activities…not an easy thing to do I am sure but what a great result.

Thanks and I look forward to more of your work.  

Best regards — Bishop”

Hi Bishop,

Thank you so much for writing, and for the kind words!

In answer to your question, I don’t often crop when using a 35mm lens*, because if I did, I would lose the more interesting perspective I get with this FOV, vs. the 50mm. It’s true that one needs to be more careful with distortion when photographing people with a 35mm lens (and to some extent distortion is always there), but with practice you learn to minimize it and/or take advantage of it.

It took me some time to learn how to do this, because I was always a “50mm photographer”, but the rewards have been worth it.  Of course, I still shoot with a 50mm lens!

I hope I’ve been able to help, and thanks again for writing,

—Peter.

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*In those of my 35mm images where people appear “closer” than what you’re able to achieve with your 50mm lens, Bishop, I have obviously cropped the image.  Having said that, I’m normally photographing people as close as possible.

Getting the most out of your camera (and photography): turn everything off.

2012, Inspiration, Teaching point

If you want to get the most out of your camera, and be a better photographer, turn every “Auto” function on your camera OFF.

Photograph in Manual mode and decide for yourself what the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO should be.  If possible, use a prime (fixed focal length) lens and focus it manually.

In short, remove (and control for) as many variables as possible when photographing.

In this way only will you be able to understand the behaviour and importance of light.  In this way only will you begin to anticipate images before they materialize.

 —Peter.

She, then and now (film).

2012, Film, Inspiration, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Leica M2, Leica M3, Portrait, Teaching point, Voigtländer 40mm f/1.4 Nokton

A few years ago, I realized I had never captured her on film.

It was important to me for some reason.

So I started shooting film again.

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(please click on the images to view)

2009:

↑Leica M3, Fuji X-tra 400, and Voigtländer Nokton 40mm @ f/1.4.

2010:

↑Leica MP, Ilford HP5 Plus 400, and Voigtländer Nokton 40mm @ f/1.4.

2011:

↑ Leica M2, Ilford HP5 Plus 400, and Voigtländer Nokton 40mm @ f/1.4.

2012:

↑Leica M2, Kodak Tri-X 400, and Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH @ f/1.4.

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I look at these images now, and follow the path of light:

originating from the late afternoon sun,

filtering through the window,

touching her face before reflecting off,

traversing the distance between us,

bending in the glass elements of a lens,

and finally etching her image onto an organic emulsion.

_

The film, like the viewer, is forever altered.

And it all happens in a fraction of a second — just like growing up.

—Peter.

The twinkle in his eye.

2012, Favourite, Inspiration, Leica 75mm Summilux (Canada 🇨🇦) f/1.4, Portrait, Teaching point

This one was challenging, but ultimately very rewarding.

He was constantly moving, with his back toward me most of the time, making a decent shot difficult (it’s always a struggle at this age when kids start getting mobile, but — on the positive side — they’re still “naturals” in front of the camera).

So, I tried a few times throughout the day to capture him… without success.

Then, at the time of the “golden hour“, he was once again looking out the window.  As he turned here, and smiled, a shaft of soft light from outside acted as a gentle spotlight on his left face and shoulder.

As I couldn’t back up any further from where I was, I could just fit him within the 75mm frame lines.  And I tried my best to hit focus, as this wonderful combination of expression, light, and composition would likely not repeat itself.  Fortunately, it all came together.

A  Life’s Little Moment to be cherished.

(please click on the image to view)

↑Leica M9 and Leica 75mm Summilux @ f/1.4.