Alex 1 year party with the PC 45mm

Qarik · August 9, 2010

So the 1 year b-day in korean culture is a BIG deal. This last weekend we threw a huge bash with family and friends flying in from all over. At the same time I had rented a PC 45mm lens (tilt/shift). It is a manual focus lens. After playing with it I basically set it up with max tilt to achieve the thinnest DOF and shot the party with it. Just FYI I am currently in love with bokeh and it is probably over done but I wanted to see what the lens is capable of and wanted to challenge myself to see if I could shoot MF in those conditions.

Results below. In summary I am in love with the lens and it will be my next purchase. Also a quick plug to "borrowlenses". Reserved and picked up the lens from their home base in San Carlos with out a hitch.

The 1st shot was actually the 24-70mm..needed to get some "risk free" shots!

1. alex in his hanbok

2. my wife made all the cupcakes

3. we hired a caterer who made paella in a 5 foot pan..this guy was hungry

4. pre wardrobe alex

5. playing horsey

6. playing baseball (note the pergola in the back was where I got married)

7. a little off camera rim light..camera left, 5 billion watt light about 93 million miles away

8. kids chillin and eating the yummy cupcakes

9. this guys GF got mad at him during the party and so he was lonely and found other company

10. more playing horsey

11. kids at play

and a few posed shots under the pergola with umbrella

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18.

The rest at:
http://la15ota.smugmug.com/Kim-Boys/Alex-1st-Birthday/13259837_jZny8#962997960_6gUnY

anonymouscuban · August 9, 2010

Nice series. Looks like a fun birthday. Question... the blurring... was it done in post or were you shooting wide open? I like it some photos but not so much in others.

Qarik · August 9, 2010

anonymouscuban wrote: »

Nice series. Looks like a fun birthday. Question... the blurring... was it done in post or were you shooting wide open? I like it some photos but not so much in others.

the blur was 100% in camera..shooting wide open with max tilt.

anonymouscuban · August 9, 2010

Just noticed you mention the lens in the thread title. Now it makes sense.

Dooginfif20 · August 9, 2010

totally jealous. i want a 45mm PC lens bad but cant afford the $2000. Especially when I want to get a D700 now too because of you! Wanna sell me your lens for $500?

Qarik · August 9, 2010

Dooginfif20 wrote: »

totally jealous. i want a 45mm PC lens bad but cant afford the $2000. Especially when I want to get a D700 now too because of you! Wanna sell me your lens for $500?

haha..I can't afford it either..the lens is rented. I am saving up for it now though..it's a pretty unique look (though over done in this case I am sure!) which I can parly into my wedding work.

met · August 9, 2010

These are really cool. I've never heard of that lens before and if I've seen the results of it just assumed someone did it in post. I'm really digging it. Now I want one!

Nikonic1 · August 9, 2010

A buddy does a bunch of tilt/shift shooting in the offroad motorcycling world. Turns out awesome shooting down a long skinny piece of single track with just boring forest on both sides. Also uses it for some cool video on his 5dmkII. Nice set Qarik. Cool outfit too. I had no idea the significance of the 1st bday in Korean culture. Thanks for sharing.

kidzmom · August 10, 2010

Happy birthday! Looks like a fun party for everyone (including you who got to play with a new lens). Cool!

Qarik · August 10, 2010

Thanks for looking and commenting all.

Agnieszka · August 11, 2010

Very nice set Quarik

Love what you did with the lens, love all the portraits + candids /// looks like you guys had a great time

heatherfeather · August 11, 2010

Oooh, makes me want to rent something fun! Love the photos!

22shooter · August 13, 2010

Some nice shots there, looks like you have a good rapport with the subjects. I feel like you partially framed or cropped out a lot of parts of objects and people that would have been better left in the image...the truck in 2, the bat in 6, the girl holding the legs in 7, the rearmost girls head in 8, etc.

Qarik · August 13, 2010

22shooter wrote: »

Some nice shots there, looks like you have a good rapport with the subjects. I feel like you partially framed or cropped out a lot of parts of objects and people that would have been better left in the image...the truck in 2, the bat in 6, the girl holding the legs in 7, the rearmost girls head in 8, etc.

probably too busy trying to manually focus haha.

trevorb · August 13, 2010

Wonderful images, you really captured the day. You did an amazing job with the tilt/shift.

RoyGBiv · August 14, 2010

Qarik wrote: »

probably too busy trying to manually focus haha.

How easy is it to work w/ that lens? It takes a bit of patience, I take it?

Qarik · August 14, 2010

if you have done some manual focus then you can just set what tilt you want and treat it as MF lens with very shallow depth of field. So it's pick a focal point..place it over an eye (or what ever subject)..focus..shoot. Repeat. One thing I realized AFTERWARDS was the "band" of focus depends on the orientation of the lens. (because the lens tilts in one orientation and shifts in the other) So when in landscape view for example the "band" of focus is horizontal..in portrait mode though it is vertical! I typically want the band of focus to always be horizontal. It's a matter of just twisting the the entire front end of the lens to switch the "tilt" and "shift" orientation..though it didn't occur to me to do that when i was shooting these.

As far as changing up the "tilt"..well I just left it at max tilt thin DOF. If I wanted adjust the tilt to achieve more DOF then would normally be possible, it's a matter of 3-5 sec adjustment. For non-architectual shooting I can't imagine much "shifting" going on.

RoyGBiv · August 14, 2010

Qarik wrote: »

if you have done some manual focus then you can just set what tilt you want and treat it as MF lens with very shallow depth of field. So it's pick a focal point..place it over an eye (or what ever subject)..focus..shoot. Repeat. One thing I realized AFTERWARDS was the "band" of focus depends on the orientation of the lens. (because the lens tilts in one orientation and shifts in the other) So when in landscape view for example the "band" of focus is horizontal..in portrait mode though it is vertical! I typically want the band of focus to always be horizontal. It's a matter of just twisting the the entire front end of the lens to switch the "tilt" and "shift" orientation..though it didn't occur to me to do that when i was shooting these.

As far as changing up the "tilt"..well I just left it at max tilt thin DOF. If I wanted adjust the tilt to achieve more DOF then would normally be possible, it's a matter of 3-5 sec adjustment. For non-architectual shooting I can't imagine much "shifting" going on.

thx for the feedback. Definitely something I'd like to rent some time & play with.

wrt the tradition...what're the choices Alex gets? coins...string & pen, right?

Qarik · August 14, 2010

RoyGBiv wrote: »

thx for the feedback. Definitely something I'd like to rent some time & play with.

wrt the tradition...what're the choices Alex gets? coins...string & pen, right?

haha..

money: wealth
pen: artitist
book: scholar
noodle or yarn: long life

I threw in a golf ball as well: PGA tour player!

He touched the pen then picked up the golf ball.

Elaine · August 15, 2010

I can't believe he's 1 already! I saw the title of your thread and thought, "No way!" These are great! Lovely light, beautiful people, great colors, nice and clear, even with the TS and manual focusing...impressive. I like 'em a lot!

l.k.madison · August 15, 2010

7. a little off camera rim light..camera left, 5 billion watt light about 93 million miles away

+10,000 for that caption. Awesome. I'll have to steal that one

Alex 1 year party with the PC 45mm

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