LF for environmental portraits

I would like to talk to someone who has experience shooting people with LF. I don't mean studio portraits where the parameters are fairly constant, but rather portraits, up to full length, out of the studio. I have a lot of problems with perspective and DOF. There are too many questions, I think, to put in this posting, so I am looking for an experienced volunteer with whom I can discuss this at greater length. But just in case, let me try one question here.

Should the camera always be perfectly level for "people shots" to avoid distortion? Example: a child sitting on a couch, shooting with a 4x5 and a 150mm lens, at a slightly downward angle. The knees and feet, closest to the camera, seem disporportionately large, but when I correct with back movements, something is ... just not right.

When the subject is not a person and it slightly distorted, it really doesn't matter, but with people it REALLY does. Are there any "rules of thumb" I should know? Are there any good books? I am all ears (or at least, some of my subjects appear to be in the ground glass when I get too close with the 8x10 and the 14 inch lens ).

Don,
I am by no means an expert on environmental portraiture though I have taken a workshop on the subject. I found that I started with my camera in a level/zero position for each session and then worked from there to get my image. Change location, I put the camera back into the level/zero position. I put the camera down to the level of the model; I even was sitting on the ground working with the camera (a 5x12) for a vertical shot once.

hi don

i think you answered your own questions!
you mention that your subject looks a bit distorted when you
use your lens and camera combination at whatever distance you want to
shoot ...
you could adjust the camera ( to level things off ) to get rid of some of the distortion, that-way
or step back a bit to give you and your subject a little more room.
i do mostly environmental portraits ... (not really an expert )
i haven't used my 8x10 out of a studio setting for portraits,
but use a 5x7 and 4x5 like that all the time. sometimes i use a wide lens,
sometimes longer, i always level the camera off ( like diane said ).
if i can't get far enough back to show everything i need to show,
i to use the next wider lens in my kit.
sometimes though, i want some of the distortion and shoot with
a graflex slr, or speed graphic and don't worry about it ...

good luck!
john

I am not an expert by any means but, I have done more than a few LF photos with people in them. I can't think of a time when I've not kept all of the camera movements zeroed. may have used a little swing once or twice but...that would have been in a more formal setting.

One of the things that I seem to struggle with is, camera height. Too low and your looking up the nostrils...too high and...well, the subject looks kinda dimished...OK for kids not so good for adults.

I think you should ask your questions here so that we can all benefit from the discussion.

some of my LF people pics can be seen Dead Link Removed

I always start with the camera in zero position.

You might be finding that the 150mm is too wide
and that you are too close.

If you are doing enviro portraits, show the environment too, like in Brad's examples.

OK, I am getting the picture - pun intended. I have to level the camera and probably work mainly with my 210mm. This is good to know. I have got some interesting and pleasing effects because of distortion, but this is really the exception. I usually find it easier to explore the limits AFTER I get down the basics, so I will work on leveling and repositioning for now.

I have a problem with the 8x10 because the tripod will not go low enough to level it for children. Time for a new tripod.

Thanks folks!

I love the 210 on the 4x5. Great perspective. I've been using this set-up for some street portraiture and it works great.

Yeah, me too. I think that the 210mm focal length on 4x5 is just perfect for people.

I like to shoot a lot of LF environmental portraiture. Examples on my web site.

Dead Link Removed

The environmental portraits on this page of my site where shot on 8x10 using a Nikkor 240 mm lens. Camera level and zero.

I find with wide angle lenses it is good zero out the camera to avoid egg heads and the like. But for portraits using long glass, zeroing out isn't as important, but having lots of light to get maximum depth-of-field is very important.

For 8x10 of children, get a ground pod by Really Right Stuff. The low tripod is more than enough to hold 8x10. http://reallyrightstuff.com/tripods/04.html

I've never noticed any distortion when doing environmental people photos with a 150mm lens on my 4x5. That's pretty much all I shoot with mine.

Zero out, as people smarter than I suggest, and I'll bet you see the same.

I think mounting up the 210 will cure much of what is bothering you. I have found the 150 too wide for dealing with people. By the time you are far enough away to have a normal perspective with the 150, much of the intimacy has been removed. Not so with the 210, and you are also putting a bit more distance between you and the subject, which is a bit less intimidating from their POV.