Craig Stephen: Autumn Shooting with the Petzval 85 Lens

Craig Stephen is a UK photographer based in in Perth, Scotland. He took the Petzval 85 Lens out to some woodlands in the middle of autumn, which was the perfect setting to capture some beautiful bokeh.

Hi, Craig. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m a second generation photographer that covers all disciplines from my studio in Perth, Scotland. I shoot a varied mix of commercial and social photography, shooting a lot in the rural sector and also capture a fair bit of product work. I have 2 young children who I never tire of photographing, though they sometimes do and my son Oscar is shaping up to be a pretty decent assistant in the studio!

How did you get on with the Petzval Lens?

I shot the Petzval lens digitally using a Canon 6D which I really like for shooting personal work – it’s a nice size for wandering around with. I was impressed with lens right from the start. It felt like a premium product and I was surprised just how sharp it was. I opted to shoot wide open so there’s perhaps a touch of dreaminess to the pictures but in a nice not-too-digital way. I found focusing at a distance to be ever so slightly challenging but closer up was much easier. I threw very little of my pictures away because of poor focusing.

What did you choose to shoot?

I shot my kids. I did carry the lens on a few live jobs but always forgot to use it or was pushed for time. Scotland in autumn is stunning so we went for a walk in a local forest. The sun was already low in the sky and the light was somewhat flat at times but I exposed a bit darker than my usual style and was really happy with some of the pictures. I think the lens faired best at medium portrait distance with a nice out of focus background, lit a bit brighter, to show off the signature swirly bokeh. I shared a few clicks on social media, someone commented the images looked ethereal which I think some the look nicely.

What’s coming up in the future?

I’ve picked up some new business this year that I’m looking forward to working with in 2017 and I’m expanding my commercial studio work having recently invested in some new kit and rearranged my studio a bit. A nice full diary and a good family holiday would make me a happy man!

See more of Craig Stephen's work via his website.

2016-11-14 #people #soho #autumn #london #uk #lgs #art-lens #petzval-85 #craig-stephen