Computer Screen As Backdrop

I am currently off sick from work and instead of sitting around feeling sorry for myself I have withdrawn into my studio and tried something new, at least new for me because I know others have done this before.

I have used my computer screen as a backdrop, with the desktop sporting a cool Pacific Ocean scene of wide open water and clouds. The toy boat is standing on a blue sheet of cardboard and is being lit by a Nikon SB-910 Speedlight on a light stand, up and to the left, and triggered remotely via an SU-800 Commander unit mounted on a D750 with a Sigma 105mm macro lens attached. Settings: f11.0, ISO100, 1/60s, handheld and then edited in DXO PL 6.

Pull back shot.

How Does Focal Length Influence Portrait Photos?

Just a quick test to see how portraits look at vastly different focal lengths. I used two lenses for this starting off with the 24-120mm for the wider to "normal" portrait pics and then the 70-300mm for the two longer focal length pics. I tried out the following focal lengths: 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 120mm, 135mm & 200mm. 

I would like to say at this point that I don't think there is any right or wrong in which focal length you prefer to use for portraits, it really is up to you and your own vision. Don't let anyone try to tell you different.

As you can see from the series of photos below the wider the focal length the more distorted the face and also more background. The longer the focal length the more compressed the face and background become.

I prefer fairly standard focal lengths for my own portraits, more specifically the 85mm for headshots and 50mm for half or full length portraits as well as environmental portraits if I have the space, otherwise the 35mm is great for environmental portraits as well.

The choice at the end of the day depends on vision, so everything goes because it's an art, not a science.

200mm

135mm

120mm

85mm

50mm

35mm

24mm

Landskrona Harbour Area Photo Walkabout

 While I was photographing the church and town hall I also took a little walk around the area, so these are some of the other random pics I got on my evening walkabout. Everything looks good when photographed in the right light.