December portrait thread

**Hugo Zhang** · 9-Dec-2018, 14:15

Monty,

Great head shot with 20x24! I do have a question for you: How did you do this beautiful 1:1 head on 20x24 camera with a 550mm lens without distorting his face? This is almost like using a 300mm lens on 8x10, if you know what I mean. The shortest lens I can do head shot 1:1 that is pleasing to my eyes is 420mm lens.

Thanks.
Hugo

**Monty McCutchen** · 9-Dec-2018, 14:50

Thank you Merg, it’s good to be back! Hugo the bigger the format you go there is no distortion. Peter LeGrand I believe used a 355 G-Claron on a project for Columbia College where the head shots where much bigger than life size. That lens was several inches away from the sitters faces! In fact for both my 16 x 20 back and the 20 x24 back I use shorter lenses which requires less bellows extension. Wisner wrote an article about that lack of distortion in ULF—I’m sure it’s still on the web somewhere. If I can find it I’ll post it here. I’ve found it to be true that there isn’t the distortion that you get in smaller formats.

**Hugo Zhang** · 9-Dec-2018, 16:25

Monty,

Great to hear this and I think I will try some 1:1 head shots with 14x17 and 16x20. Maybe some 19 and 24" lenses. Did you use small stops like f/22?

Thanks.
Hugo

**Monty McCutchen** · 9-Dec-2018, 16:58

Hugo I stop down when I shoot multiple people but I normally shoot wide open at f11 for individuals. With the wet plate work that wide open gets long!! Hope you are well. Look forward to seeing your work. Please post when they are done!

Monty