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Home → Contests and Critique

How Was This Picture Made #07?

By John Bosley 37 Comments
Last Updated On February 11, 2018

For Part 7 of our How Was This Picture Taken series, I have another portrait for you. Our last related article was a complete spoof and a joke (for those who did not get that it was an April Fool’s joke, including our “sell-out” to Canon!), so this time we will get back to our more serious regular scheduled programming. Compared to the last one, hopefully you can learn something from this one :)

The answer has been posted here.

How Was This Image Created 6 Main-1
How Was This Image Created?

This is Belinda, my wife. One morning when she was heading out to work, I thought she looked quite nice and asked if I could take a quick photo of her. I also had something I had been wanting to try out, so this was the perfect opportunity.

There are a few things I’d like you to consider about this image:

  • What type of camera and lens were used?
  • What camera settings were used?
  • What was done in post production?
  • Is there anything unusual about how this image was created?

I’ll reveal how this picture was made later this week, so keep checking back!

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Filed Under: Contests and Critique Tagged With: Picture Contest, Portrait Photography

About John Bosley

John Bosley is a wedding and portrait photographer in Denver who loves creating authentic, emotional images with his clients. He has a soft spot for functional antiques. You might see him writing with a fountain pen from his collection or shooting with one of his many film cameras. You can view his work on his website or see what he’s been up to lately on Instagram.

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Erol
Erol
April 7, 2016 7:57 am

Radial blur in post. Windows behind the camera. FF. 85mm. F2.2

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Rob
Rob
April 7, 2016 7:17 am

Hmm…. I’ll have another go…. If it’s not focal reducer on micro four thirds then how about tilt-shift on medium format? Top left of her hair seems sharper than it should be, the other side not….
Camera settings are pretty arbitrary these days but the lens is wide open for sure, low ISO.
PP; curves to the right and blacks held back.
“•Is there anything unusual about how this image was created?” as well as asking for lens/camera implies technique rather than just hardware so maybe you guys are right and it is Brenizer method afterall.

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DR. KISHORE KUMAR MAYYA
DR. KISHORE KUMAR MAYYA
April 7, 2016 5:41 am

wide aperture telephoto like 85/1.4, with full frame, natural light with big tall window probably with a bit of fill (reflector).I can see the shadow of photographer’s head in her eyes.Spot metered to face . minimal PP.

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Armando
Armando
April 7, 2016 4:16 am

how bout : D750 + Nikon 58mm f/1,4G or Zeiss planar T 85mm f/1,4 ZF2; natural light + pop-up flash (face metering), post-production softening + reduce shadow. Something unusual ? maybe 3-d look . Hhaha

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Armando
Armando
Reply to  Armando
April 7, 2016 4:24 am

aperture at f 1,4 , shutter speed 1/100-1/125, ASA 100-200 (forgot this)

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Martin
Martin
April 7, 2016 12:51 am

Nikon Full Frame Cam + Nikon AF-S 200 2.0 VR (I or II) could also be possible.

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DAVID HAROLD
DAVID HAROLD
April 6, 2016 8:56 pm

I don’t believe that a photo, such as this, which so successfully portrays both the photographer’s intent and a high level of technical control will disclose how it was produced. It is evident in the subject’s eyes that they were confidently focused on a person she could trust with parting smile per his request.

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Manaca
Manaca
April 6, 2016 8:52 pm

FF. (D800?)
58mm, F1.4 @ 1.4
Available light.
Expose for face.

Simple & quick

No flashes.

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kacie
kacie
April 6, 2016 2:14 pm

I am going to guess- 105mm or 85mm, natural light– not sure on iso because I cant see any grain…

I am not sure what body you shoot– I wanted to guess dslr with an 85 or a 56mm open 1.4

other option was mirrorless a7 or fuji with a 58mm open 1.2.

There is a light source in front and it back— catch light in her eye..

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Jim
Jim
April 6, 2016 1:51 pm

The very shallow depth of field suggests a long fast telephoto lens as a possibility. Mostly over exposure suggests spot metering on face.

FF camera with 300-500 mm lens, tripod as the in-focus portion of picture is nicely sharp
f2.8 or fastest available aperture, no noticeable noise so low ISO at or near 100, some sort of subtle flash fill as there is apparently lots of light behind the subject but she does not have any noticeable shadows, careful use of small auto-focus area helped assure eyes are sharply focused
Nothing too heroic in post production

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Muhammad Omer
Muhammad Omer
April 6, 2016 12:04 pm

The DOF is very shallow. Only the face is in focus. So a lens with an aperture of 1.4. Her face looks nice and compressed. So shot with an 85mm. Spot metering on her face. Captured in harsh sunlight coming through an open door behind the photographer. Considering she was leaving for work, i would say it was a single exposure taken just before she left through the font door.

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