Re: Best ****trait lens focal length

In article <D4Zbi.82753$Sa4.73104@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
 "Andrew Koenig" <ark@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

> "Colyn" <jcg13@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
> news:jcg13-2D82AB.11390411062007@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
> >I have several lens for my 4x5 view camera and was wondering what focal
> > length is considered best for head and shoulders ****traits and which
for
> > full length ****traits?
> 
> I think you're asking the wrong question.  Instead, I think you should
be 
> asking how far you want the camera to be from the subject.  The point is

> that the camera-subject distance contributes greatly to the feeling of 
> intimacy, or lack thereof, in the picture.  If you want the viewer to
feel 
> like being part of a conversation with the subject, choose a
conversational 
> distance -- 3 to 4 feet.  If you want things to be more formal and
remote, a 
> greater distance might make more sense.  Usually, if you get closer than

> about three feet, the unusually close perspective looks distorted
because 
> people are not used to viewing people with whom they are not emotionally

> close from such an intimate perspective.
> 
> Once you know how far you want the camera to be from the subject,
choosing 
> the lens is easy :-)

I've been trying out the 210 and 250mm lens with a Polaroid back for 
quick shots and so far the 210 has won out for ****trait head and 
shoulder shots taken from 4 ft. The 250 does good from around 6 ft 
though.

I'm going to try full length next...