Reader's Comments - Index of - Free

Portrait Photography
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I am in agreement with Alex Lee. Too many people view photos and one of the first things they check is the
photo equipment. Professional equipment does not make for a professional photographer. Whatever equipment a
pro is using, instead, becomes pro equipment. Any decent camera and lens will give great results, when used
properly.
-- Jeff Bishop, December 8, 2002
The D-30/D-60 class of digital SLRs can certainly take fine portraits. I have been using my D-30 for that purpose
for some time, and even an off the cuff "snapshot" can turn out quite well with this camera, an 85 1.8 lens and a
bounced 550EX flash. Here's an example of one I shot around Christmas. ISO 100.
Image:father.jpg
-- Stephen Lutz, January 20, 2003
As a new member of photo.net, it has been a real pleasure reading this article and the responses from so many
members. Having been involved with photography since 1970, I would like to put in my two cents. My first
camera was a Canon Ftb and I took some of my most flattering, sharp, and valued portraits with that camera and
the 55mm lens that came with it. Today, I own my second camera, an Elan bought in 1992, before they started
numbering them. I purchased it because of my failing eyesight; I could no longer see well enough to focus
manually. I still take flattering portraits but with all the focusing assist of the Elan, I feel like I've lost some
control of my portraits. Even still, I love my Elan because it allows me to still be involved in photography. So
I've owned two cameras in 32 years. I've heard people argue about equipment for decades, and now that digital is
on the scene, I'm listening to the digital/chemical debate. It all comes down to one thing though. Its the way we
see. It doesn't matter whether its using a point-and-shoot or a Hasselblad, an S-100 or a D-1, its the final result
that matters and in the case of portraits for pay, its what the client sees that matters too. When I listen to others
talk about equipment, I really hear them talk about how they love to see, what a beautiful world they see through
their own eyes, how their equipment helps them see, and how they want to share what they see with others.
-- Jon Revere, January 24, 2003
I found the Portait article to be very informative, the only comment is that I personally like zooms they allow me
a student on a budget to get the photos I want without having to dish out for extra lenses, I currently use a
Minolta x-700 for studio work, and a canon eos 1n with a 70-200mm 2.8 sigma for outdoor,location work. I am
not a portrait photographer, I shoot rock bands but have been hired to photograph bands for promotional work
and I like the lens I have just fine. I think tele zooms do have a place, the optics are really good, and the allow
more creative freedom. -Mark
-- Mark Whitaker, January 31, 2003
The portrait page is good, but I agree with a couple of the comments that there is too much talk about equipment.
http://www.photo.net/portraits/intro (24 of 37)7/3/2005 2:16:41 AM