What 8x10 lens do I need for full face portraits like this?

[Policar]

300mm or 360mm sounds likely. The lens is somewhat wide for portraiture, based on the shape of the face. The lighting is pretty obvious from looking in the eyes, two huge soft lights very close to the face, serving as both a wash of very even, shadowless light and eyelights (the "window to the soul").

Save money and shoot it on 4x5! You'll need 1/4 the light and film will be cheaper, too. (Just saying this since I don't have an 8x10.)

[Struan Gray]

Cheaper and more fun: 8x10 and an Aero-Ektar wide open:

http://trichromie.free.fr/trichromie...otesqueBaroque

[Armin Seeholzer]

Martin Schoeller used neon lights for his book close ups and he told in a interview he was always only "exakt 63,5 Zentimeter" 63,5cm from the faces away wis hes lens!
He use shorter then normal lenses if I remember correctly!

Cheers Armin

[jnantz]

there is a video of him shooting one of
the female body builders

... in an interview with smithsonian
he mentions that some of those portraits
are done with a medium format camera .

http://blog.photoshelter.com/2008/08...-schoelle.html

http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/arou...s-photography/

[Peter K]

Martin Schoeller used neon lights for his book close ups and he told in a interview he was always only "exakt 63,5 Zentimeter" 63,5cm from the faces away wis hes lens!
He use shorter then normal lenses if I remember correctly!

Not much shorter.

If the subject distance is 635 mm and the magnification is 1 the focal-lenght is approx. 300mm.

Peter

[Scott Davis]

I'd look for a Kodak Commercial Ektar either the 12" or 14" version. Super-sharp lens where you need it to be, and beautiful transitions to creamy out-of-focus areas.

[Robert Skeoch]

Why not give it a try.

I have a studio outside of Toronto. You can try it here if you like. I have an 8x10, a selection of lenses and could come up with a couple softboxes in the cupboard somewhere.... give it a try.

Just bring a model.

I would suggest a shorter lens though.... bellows extension/factor would make it hard to manage.

-rob

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

I take back my previous comment after looking through the video, Strobist commentary, and then Smithsonian article. After reading I see that the catch lights are clearly not softboxes, but florescent banks. In the video they are some sort of strip light (not sure which). Considering the small room he uses in the video, I can't imagine he could use anything but a 300mm or shorter lens. His back is pretty much up against the wall.

His technique of flipping through 8x10 holders (see the assistant in the back reloading in a changing tent?) and rapport (constant chatter and comforting questions) with subject are really great. I have no great love of his style, but his expertise is unquestionable.

[John Berry]

If you want that look of roundness in the face, you should use a 10 lens. Longer lenses will flatten out the face.

[Steve M Hostetter]

Cheaper and more fun: 8x10 and an Aero-Ektar wide open:

http://trichromie.free.fr/trichromie...otesqueBaroque

fun to scroll down fast... nice shots!