One Light Portraits Using 50D, 18-200IS, 580EXII

[Ragingblues]

I thought I would share some recent portrait shots I've taken of my family. Looking at photos taken with equipment I'm considering buying has always been helpful to me, so hopefully these will do the same for someone else.


Shot information is included for each photo, and all were taken with the Canon 50D, 18-200IS lens, and a 580EXII Speedlight Flash. I use an umbrella in either shoot through or reflective modes, and a couple of white project boards as reflectors when desired.


~ Ken





1/200 sec at f / 5.0 - ISO 100 - 80 mm








1/250 sec at f / 5.6 - ISO 200 - 50 mm








1/200 sec at f / 5.0 - ISO 200 - 80 mm











1/200 sec at f / 5.6 - ISO 200 - 70 mm








1/15 sec at f / 5.6 - ISO 1600 - 90 mm (natural light with reflector only)








1/60 sec at f / 5.0 - ISO 100 - 50 mm








1/200 sec at f / 5.6 - ISO 100 - 130 mm











1/160 sec at f / 5.0 - ISO 100 - 80 mm








1/200 sec at f / 4.0 - ISO 100 - 32 mm








1/200 sec at f / 5.0 - ISO 400 - 35 mm

[Chuck Lee]

Very nice.... The shoot through and white walls/ceiling give a very nice ambient wrap. The skin tones look fabulous. Shows that beautiful portraits can be produced without expensive L glass and studio lighting.

[Sean Setters]

Very well done Ken. ;-)

[BES]

Really nice shots, and i am amazed what you did with 18-200. well done. I would crop some of the pictures differently, but that is just my preference. Great job.

[Alan KE]

loving your work there Ken.

[Maleko]

Brilliant shots!


Just goes to show you don't need a load of lights to get a superb result

[Sean Setters]

Brilliant shots!


Just goes to show you don't need a load of lights to get a superb result
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Hey! Who was that directed at?!





hehe

[Maleko]

Brilliant shots!


Just goes to show you don't need a load of lights to get a superb result
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Hey! Who was that directed at?!





hehe
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lol, now why would you say a thing like that? :P

[Sean Setters]

lol, now why would you say a thing like that? :P

Because I flash more than a wild red-head on spring break!


"Strobist for life....Woo-hooo! Now give me some beads!"

[Ragingblues]

Thanks very much everyone! I shoot simply for my own enjoyment and am always learning new ways to get the most out of what I own. I literally just grabbed some images from recent galleries on our family website to post here. I take tons of outdoor shots and flash lit shots every week, depending on what we're doing as a family. For me, a lens like the 18-200IS was a great all around decision that servesus well. The portability of using the 580 EXII flash is perfect for me too. In the future, I would like to pick upa secondspeedlight, a 70-200, 2.8IS, and an as yet unreleased L lens in the wider range ( think 24-70 2.8, with IS).... but am still saving for those. The family budget comes first.


My intention here was to give hope to those (who, like myself), can't afford a ton of L lenses right now... or multiple light sources. I think opinions about certain lenses, camera bodies, or even "must haves" for lighting are largely swayed by groups of people that have never even used the items or techniques in question. It's a real shame because it tends to convince interested buyers that certain pieces of equipment are not good enough, and they should just continue saving to buy something else.


I think we can all agree that L lense are great and would like toown several of them. The same goes withhaving multiple high quality light sources, and probably even a studio with tons of backgrounds,props, and cool set pieces.Reality paints a slightly different picture (no pun intended), and we get the best we can afford/justify for our needs. I guess my point is not to simply follow the wave of popular opinion online or live and die by the revews an item gets. Search for images taken with the lens or camera body you are considering, or try one out in person at a local store before falling into the online opinion trap. Your needs may be very different from others and you could be missing out on capturing alot of fun memories.


Thanks for looking,


Ken