As a photographer I have some pet peeves for sure. One of them concerns “portrait” lenses.
For me a portrait lens is a lens I use to take a photo of a person. I have used 15mm and 200mm, but prefer a couple of focal lengths in between those extremes.
My all time favourite is probably the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L. This is a perfect focal length for the type of environmental portraiture I do day to day. (That means showing the subject in their environment.) 35mm is just a bit wider then the eye sees, and the 1.4 aperture allows me to really blur the background as is my style (or schtick).
Which brings me to my peeve. In so many of these online photography forums you have people saying that 85mm is “the perfect portrait lens”. Don’t get me wrong, 85mm is one of my other go-to focal lengths, along with the 135mm. But to limit yourself to this kind of thinking hobbles your efforts before you even take a shot.
Don’t worry about what others tell you to use. Use your eyes, then the gear. Don’t worry about these ridiculous camera club rules.
Here are a few samples of my work with the 35L.
For me a portrait lens is a lens I use to take a photo of a person. I have used 15mm and 200mm, but prefer a couple of focal lengths in between those extremes.
My all time favourite is probably the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L. This is a perfect focal length for the type of environmental portraiture I do day to day. (That means showing the subject in their environment.) 35mm is just a bit wider then the eye sees, and the 1.4 aperture allows me to really blur the background as is my style (or schtick).
Which brings me to my peeve. In so many of these online photography forums you have people saying that 85mm is “the perfect portrait lens”. Don’t get me wrong, 85mm is one of my other go-to focal lengths, along with the 135mm. But to limit yourself to this kind of thinking hobbles your efforts before you even take a shot.
Don’t worry about what others tell you to use. Use your eyes, then the gear. Don’t worry about these ridiculous camera club rules.
Here are a few samples of my work with the 35L.
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| Canon 35L |
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| Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L |
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| Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L |
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| Canon 35/1.4 |
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| Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L |
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| Canon 35L |
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| Cambodia |
Ian Taylor Photography 