Mediaeval Portraits, DA*50-135

DrOrloff · 2013-09-15T12:58:49+0100

Unlike the 50-135 masters, Messrs Trout and Cabstar, I have never really got to grips with this lens and have decided on more than one occasion to sell it, almost. There was a mediaeval festival in town yesterday so I decided to pop along and see if I could collar a few performers for portraits. The weather was grey and drizzly so the DA*50-135 was the obvious choice. I arrived to find my batteries flat so I had to charge one up for an hour or so during which the weather progressively worsened. But I managed to find some willing volunteers. Normally I chat to my subjects while I'm shooting to try and provoke some more interesting responses. Not so easy to do in French but I managed to get some of the things I wanted. I was a bit lazy, I should have set up the tripod but time was running out, space was a bit limited and the weather closing in horribly so I had to be quick. Some of the shots I was happy with but what could have been a very good shot indeed I messed up and it lacks sharpness and detail (note to self, use the ******* tripod). But I'm going to track down the fellow and see if I can do a shoot with him. But the upshot is that it has convinced me to definitely keep the lens. Aside from the obvious stellar quality the WR meant it was the only lens that was perfect for the job on this occasion. There was some discussion recently of the 50-135 as a portrait lens and I think these images give some idea of its potential:

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DrOrloff DrOrloff

2628 posts
16 years
Brighton,
England

Posted 15/09/2013 - 20:35 Link

TF, I like that. Thanks for all the comments. The gloomy conditions were a blessing, up to the point where it got really gloomy. Had I had my batteries ready earlier I would have done better. The spots of rain add to some portraits but detract from others (not shown here). I am a flash/studio numpty so I only do natural light portraits and I always avoid bright conditions. The small sizes of this forum disguise some of the inadequacies, the first two shots are up two standard the last two definitely not. The choices of background were deliberate and all mediaeval originals. These days I almost think of myself as a photographer of backgrounds with a subject in the way, I think it's that important. @Micheal, I took all their email adresses and I hope to be able to do some work with them in future if they like the results. It's the first time I have really just grabbed strangers and posed them, all the other photographers there just got whatever they could without any interaction. But the reaction I got was very rewarding and it is definitely something I'll be doing more of. @David, the DFA100WR would have done the job too but would have been a bit long. Looking retrospectively at the data from these shots I definitely have a predilection for shooting my style of portraiture at around 80mm. Which is good as it also confirms why I need the FA77. Anyway, glad that you all enjoyed the images.

You can see some of my photos here if you are so inclined

Dodge69 Dodge69

519 posts
15 years
Scotchland

Posted 16/09/2013 - 01:13 Link

FAO - davidstorm
By the commment I was blindly referring to how easily it would have been to get bored & throw the kitchen sink at these, as they are quite good candidates for Dragan effect etc. I've seen an awful lot recently.

Of course I like PP

But is the below still the refreshing insight Dr O gave us into the time, place, character and culture? Or has the photograph now lost it's 'soul' and become digital art? The latter for me, static scenes landscape architecture are one thing, PP is natural progression, has been going on since they invented the darkroom, and not worth the debates it stirs up. With regards to people I'm very much in the Vivian Maier camp. Apart from our own Tim Pile's work this year Edinburgh International exhibition seemed to be all this....... (except better of course)

Pentax pour des images riches en détails!

Blythman Blythman

4248 posts
15 years
Blyth,
Northumberland

Posted 16/09/2013 - 06:42 Link

Its really evident that you've engaged with the subjects which makes such a difference

Alan

PPG
Flickr

gartmore gartmore

6724 posts
20 years
Glasgow,
Scotland

Posted 16/09/2013 - 19:21 Link

All great, especially like the overall tone and colour

Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -

Plus Member davidtrout davidtrout

3312 posts
18 years
Durham,
England

Posted 16/09/2013 - 20:16 Link

Super portraits, every one a character study. Of course the DA*50-135mm lens is a superb tool for portraits, many of my favourite images were taken on mine (often in pouring rain and never any worries about that when its been coupled to the K10, K5 or K30). I've always considered it to be relatively compact and light compared to some of the zooms you see some photographers lugging around.
However its not operational at the moment; I'm waiting to pluck up courage to send it off to get the auto focussing motor sorted out yet again.
A couple of months ago I bought a DA* F2.8 200mm lens and that has been working overtime ever since. That's also a great portrait lens and ideal for isolating faces in crowded scenes such as the Edinburgh Fringe.
PS: Adrian I'm honoured to be promoted to 50-135mm master along with Cabstar.
David
PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

PPG: https://pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Edited by davidtrout: 16/09/2013 - 20:20