I took your advice and got the book. It jibes with my personal notions of how art occurs and what artists do plus much more. Well worth the time and money. I first acquired such notions from a quote by Picasso that I found many years ago: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
Rick Rubin’s insights are multidimensional! I am in my home studio daily and I break those music theory rules every day. Intentionally 😂. Great job, Angela.
The title drew me in. I sort of expected another opinion video by someone who would say what their fav lens was and their sales pitch, and frankly I thought it was going to be a repeat. “Fortyseven seconds” in you stated your intent, and I can truly appreciate that! Very few photographers will tell you to find your self by experimenting with your creativity instead of the latest marketing scheme! Nice video, simple and to the point! TU
The thing about breaking the rules successfully is Knowing the rules first and using it in practice. Only Then will we be able to think outside the box. I as many others back in the film days started with a nifty fifty being that is what was included with kit purchases, I lived with only a 50mm f1.8 for my first couple of years before I ventured out with other focal lengths (and could afford them), so in a sense we we had no choice but to be creative with one lens.
The thing many don’t realize about focal length is that that is actually distance to nearest subject not the focal length that controls near-far size perspective photographically. This can be seen with tests where different focal length lenses are used at the same distance and the sized face in the photo is made the same by cropping. The reason shorter focal length appears to distort perspective more is they have closer min. focus distances and are used closer to the subjects. When the camera gets closer than six feet the size of the nose relative the ears starts to appear unnaturally large compared to what is seen by eye and that’s one of the problems using a 50mm focal length on a full frame camera for head and shoulder portraits or tighter cropped headshots. If cropped in camera the camera winds up close enough to distort the size of the nose, why 85mm to 105mm are generally regarded as better focal lengths for portraits. Shooting from 8-9ft usually flatters most faces the most and those focal lengths created head and shoulders and headshot in-camera crops from that distance. One of the challenges of photographing non-models is that ordinary people don’t always have symmetrical faces. One side may be wider, one eye larger, etc. One of the tricks a skilled portrait photographer employs is to shoot such a subject at an oblique facial angle (nose pointed 45° to the side) and put the large eye further back. Then by varying the distance to the subject near - far perspective can be used to make the two eyes appear more identical. One if the interesting things I’ve noticed in my 50 years of photographing faces is how the standard for what seems ‘normal’ with regard to facial perspective has changed due to people taking selfies and recording videos at arms length. That exaggerates the size of the nose relative to eyes and ears but now seems to be the new “normal” facial perspective. 🤷🏼♂️
The nifty 50 is the frist lens I purchased when I first started my photography journey. since then I have upgraded my gear but some of my best shots have been on the 50mm.
That is a great lens! I don’t have it but the person I have as a second shooter when I do weddings has it and she loves it! Interesting how everyone has their favorite lenses :)
The reality of it is that any lens can be used for any type of photography, depending on the look you are after. "Rules" are made to be broken and "Laws" are there to try and bend.
I took your advice and got the book. It jibes with my personal notions of how art occurs and what artists do plus much more. Well worth the time and money. I first acquired such notions from a quote by Picasso that I found many years ago: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
I have always believed that the lens is a tool and you’re the artist. You can do whatever the hell you want with it. It’s YOUR vision. Great video.
Rick Rubin’s insights are multidimensional! I am in my home studio daily and I break those music theory rules every day. Intentionally 😂. Great job, Angela.
The title drew me in. I sort of expected another opinion video by someone who would say what their fav lens was and their sales pitch, and frankly I thought it was going to be a repeat. “Fortyseven seconds” in you stated your intent, and I can truly appreciate that! Very few photographers will tell you to find your self by experimenting with your creativity instead of the latest marketing scheme! Nice video, simple and to the point! TU
I rarely use my EF 50mm but I got some good photos of the Milky Way core with it.
The thing about breaking the rules successfully is Knowing the rules first and using it in practice. Only Then will we be able to think outside the box.
I as many others back in the film days started with a nifty fifty being that is what was included with kit purchases, I lived with only a 50mm f1.8 for my first couple of years before I ventured out with other focal lengths (and could afford them), so in a sense we we had no choice but to be creative with one lens.
The thing many don’t realize about focal length is that that is actually distance to nearest subject not the focal length that controls near-far size perspective photographically. This can be seen with tests where different focal length lenses are used at the same distance and the sized face in the photo is made the same by cropping. The reason shorter focal length appears to distort perspective more is they have closer min. focus distances and are used closer to the subjects.
When the camera gets closer than six feet the size of the nose relative the ears starts to appear unnaturally large compared to what is seen by eye and that’s one of the problems using a 50mm focal length on a full frame camera for head and shoulder portraits or tighter cropped headshots. If cropped in camera the camera winds up close enough to distort the size of the nose, why 85mm to 105mm are generally regarded as better focal lengths for portraits. Shooting from 8-9ft usually flatters most faces the most and those focal lengths created head and shoulders and headshot in-camera crops from that distance.
One of the challenges of photographing non-models is that ordinary people don’t always have symmetrical faces. One side may be wider, one eye larger, etc. One of the tricks a skilled portrait photographer employs is to shoot such a subject at an oblique facial angle (nose pointed 45° to the side) and put the large eye further back. Then by varying the distance to the subject near - far perspective can be used to make the two eyes appear more identical.
One if the interesting things I’ve noticed in my 50 years of photographing faces is how the standard for what seems ‘normal’ with regard to facial perspective has changed due to people taking selfies and recording videos at arms length. That exaggerates the size of the nose relative to eyes and ears but now seems to be the new “normal” facial perspective. 🤷🏼♂️
Thanks for the insight!
Good vid, Angela, I finish Rick book about 3 weeks ago and yes it is a great reference for artists especially musiciens...
The nifty 50 is the frist lens I purchased when I first started my photography journey. since then I have upgraded my gear but some of my best shots have been on the 50mm.
Same for me! It was my first non-kit lens and it’s definitely a staple lens ☺️👌🏽
Suggestions, the best keyword that should be used in any art form.
I may need to buy that book… another great video! Although to be totally honest I’ve been living in my 24-70mm 2.8 ever since I got it 😅
That is a great lens! I don’t have it but the person I have as a second shooter when I do weddings has it and she loves it! Interesting how everyone has their favorite lenses :)
Good video….my feeling has always been artists and rules usually don’t mix well.
Same!
50 mm was my go-to lens. Now I find myself trying something different. Trying to find my creative eye.
Lately my go to has turned into my 35mm 🫣
The reality of it is that any lens can be used for any type of photography, depending on the look you are after. "Rules" are made to be broken and "Laws" are there to try and bend.
For sure!
That was a waste of time
Thanks for the watch time and comment ☺️👌🏽
50mm lens is not good for portrait photography.
I think it depends on who is shooting