GH2 How does this guy achieve such awesome selective focus/bokeh?

[Drybread]

http://www.anunknownquantity.com/


I've been browsing his page and I really enjoy the look of his photos. I've been trying to learn how to shoot stills of people in practical light with my 0.95 25mm Voigtlander + GH2, and I think the results look pretty good, but nothing like this. Can anyone comment as to steps one might take to create shots like those?

 

[woodcarver]

The lens looks longer than 25mm or a 50mm FF equivalent. Depth seems compressed to me.

 

[malibudutchie]

Shoot a 50mm or 80mm - somewhere around there - and open up the aperture to around F2. If you can't get that low, use a 5-8 step ND. Double check your focus when wide open as you will have very limited DOF. Bingo instant pro !!

 

[LyleGorch]

It looks a little like a 180 or 200 f2.8 on ff, so off the top of my head I would guess he might be using the Olympus 75mm f1.8. DOF is as much a function of subject distance/focal length as aperture.

 

[TheDingo]

You can achieve this compressed look with a GH2 by shooting wide open with longer lenses.

The least expensive way to try out this look would be a Nikon SERIES E 70-210mm F/4.0 zoom lens, which can be bought on eBay for as little as $50.

 

[aljudy]

A Minolta 58mm/f1.2 will achieve the look.

 

[dvbrother]

Your 25mm Voigtlander won't give you shallow DOF like that when shooting a person head to toe, because your focus is set too far away. A close-up, on the other hand, at f0.95 on that lens will have sweet bokeh. To get the look of those photos, you need at least a 50mm or maybe an 85mm shot wide open. Try a 50mm f1.4 on your Gh2. Or an 85mm f2.

 

[ErikTande]

http://www.anunknownquantity.com/


I've been browsing his page and I really enjoy the look of his photos. I've been trying to learn how to shoot stills of people in practical light with my 0.95 25mm Voigtlander + GH2, and I think the results look pretty good, but nothing like this. Can anyone comment as to steps one might take to create shots like those?

Use a longer lens, like others here have mentioned. Here's a bunch of shots I took at a relay with my GH2 and Olympus 75mm.


P1090440 by Erik Tande, on Flickr


P1090484 by Erik Tande, on Flickr


P1090479 by Erik Tande, on Flickr


P1090832 by Erik Tande, on Flickr


P1090693 by Erik Tande, on Flickr


P1090613 by Erik Tande, on Flickr


P1090415 by Erik Tande, on Flickr


P1090414 by Erik Tande, on Flickr

 

[dregenthal]

Erik- What settings did you use when the runners were running toward you?
Was enjoyable (and colorful) to watch, thank you.

 

[bgundu]

lens info on the flickr page.

Erik- What settings did you use when the runners were running toward you?
Was enjoyable (and colorful) to watch, thank you.

 

[dregenthal]

lens info on the flickr page.

Saw that, what I am asking is how he set the intervalometer functions . . . shutter speed, frequency of actuations (though I'm probably still not explaining myself very well).