The Times ARE Changing - Digital Pres. Portrait

[RayPA]

Barack Obama, the first U.S. president to have his official portrait taken with a digital camera.

Now what camera did the new white house photographer use (I don't know, I'm wondering)?

BTW, the full-size image is available for free HERE.




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[rogue_designer]

Pete was a Trib photographer - if he was using pool equipment, it was a Nikon dSLR of one variety or another.

But who knows what he put on his wishlist for the new gig as White house photographer.

 

[rogue_designer]

edit:

the exif metadata on the full file says he was actually using a Canon 5D mark II

Focal length 105mm, but does not specify what lens.

 

[charjohncarter]

Doesn't look to good. Maybe he ought to get a back up. The blacks in the flag and the hair are blocked out, but owing to Nikon's (and Canon's) desire to not blow highlights at least they are OK. The colors look flat and uninspired. Better luck next time.

EDIT: I guess it is a Canon; rogue jumped back in, it doesn't matter there isn't much difference between DSLRs.

 

[rogue_designer]

the full file in a color managed workspace (photoshop) is much better than the small one posted here.

Still loses the blacks, but at least the colors aren't all washed.

 

[Lani Kai]

I'm going to guess 24-105L IS at the 105mm end, but I suppose it could be one of the 70-200s.

 

[35mmdelux]

mediocre mug shot.

 

[capitalK]

I agree it looks better in Photoshop in the proper colour space but the portrait itself does look pretty rushed.

He's a busy guy right now, so I guess it's understandable.

 

[rogue_designer]

Needed a basic image to send out with press releases, not a fine art portrait for the national gallery, I guess. 😀

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Doesn't look to good. Maybe he ought to get a back up. The blacks in the flag and the hair are blocked out

??? I don't see a problem on my monitor. Perhaps your monitor isn't calibrated?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

mediocre mug shot.

I'd put it in less crass terms and say that it requires post-processing. I know W. has created a power vacuum right now, but Obama isn't yet President, so probably they're waiting for the time he's actually in office so they can take an official photo.

 

[charjohncarter]

Gabriel, maybe my monitor isn't calibrated like all digital nuts do. But the blacks are zero on all the shots I've seen. And some have not been on my monitor. Isn't this the digital age of politics? So then get it right for the Proletariat Socialist masses.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

My q&d 5-minute post-processing attempt

My q&d 5-minute post-processing attempt

OK, so Mr. Souza could have spent an extra five minutes (or could have given me a call) and get this:

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Gabriel, maybe my monitor isn't calibrated like all digital nuts do. But the blacks are zero on all the shots I've seen. And some have not been on my monitor. Isn't this the digital age of politics? So then get it right for the Proletariat Socialist masses.

I agree, you have to do a bit of balancing, specially when there's a whole gamut of users out there on the Internets.

I'm curious (genuinely) if my attempt looks better on your monitor.

 

[35mmdelux]

it needs more than post processing IMHO.

(why are the flags so bunched up?)

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

it needs more than post processing IMHO.

(why are the flags so bunched up?)

I agree, the framing and DOF could have used a bit more attention. This was clearly a very very rushed job. For a very important, professional, world news-worthy shot, it was foolishly rushed.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Hmm, I see that the RFF attachment uploading tool does some post-processing of its own and soften things up.

Let's try this:

 

[charjohncarter]

Gabriel, your version looks better on my uncalibrated monitor, but you know and I know that any number of MF cameras using a any number of portrait specific film would have done a much better job. Black guys are hard to photograph (ask any wedding photographer in California where white gowns on white girls are getting married to black guys in black tuxedos or even vice versa) so why make it worse by using digital when it isn't able to do the job.

 

[rogue_designer]

Gabriel - while I like the overall drama that you've created in the shot, I think that it loses some of the midtone detail - like the blue shirt, for instance, has gone almost white on my monitor (in your version).

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Gabriel, your version looks better on my uncalibrated monitor

Part of the "secret" is to convert back to sRGB. As far as the wedding photography issues: that's why they still have that "M" (Manual) mode in cameras. Most "professionals" leave the camera in "P" (or the Green Square), and then blame the camera. Any good photographer would take out his light meter and dial in accordingly. If that's too much, metering your palm gets you out of a lot of trouble.