Photography Portrait Photography Techniques 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which focal length is widely considered the most flattering for portrait photography because it minimizes facial distortion?
- 24mm
- 50mm
- 85mm (Correct answer)
- 135mm
Correct answer: 85mm
An 85mm lens produces a natural perspective that avoids the distortion caused by wider lenses while keeping a comfortable working distance from the subject.
Question 2: In portrait photography, where should the focus point be placed to ensure the sharpest, most engaging image?
- The tip of the nose
- The nearest eye to the camera (Correct answer)
- The mouth
- The forehead
Correct answer: The nearest eye to the camera
Focusing on the nearest eye ensures the most important feature of a portrait is tack-sharp, even when shooting at a wide aperture.
Question 3: What is 'Rembrandt lighting' in portrait photography?
- Even, flat lighting from the front
- A small triangle of light on the shadow side of the face (Correct answer)
- Harsh side lighting with no fill
- Backlighting that creates a rim around the subject
Correct answer: A small triangle of light on the shadow side of the face
Rembrandt lighting is identified by a small, inverted triangle of light on the cheek of the shadowed side, named after the painter who frequently used it.
Question 4: What does 'catchlight' refer to in portrait photography?
- The main strobe triggering system
- The specular reflection of a light source visible in the subject's eyes (Correct answer)
- A diffusion panel placed over the lens
- Fill light aimed at the chin
Correct answer: The specular reflection of a light source visible in the subject's eyes
Catchlights are small reflections of the light source in the subject's eyes that add life and sparkle to a portrait.
Question 5: Which aperture setting produces the shallowest depth of field and the most prominent background blur (bokeh) in a portrait?
- f/11
- f/8
- f/4
- f/1.8 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: f/1.8
A very wide aperture like f/1.8 limits the depth of field dramatically, rendering the background as a smooth blur that isolates the subject.
Question 6: What is 'short lighting' (also called narrow lighting) in portrait photography?
- Using a shorter focal length lens
- Lighting the side of the face that is turned away from the camera (Correct answer)
- Using lower-powered lights to reduce contrast
- Placing lights closer to the subject than usual
Correct answer: Lighting the side of the face that is turned away from the camera
Short lighting illuminates the smaller, far side of the face, which tends to narrow facial features and add dimension.
Photography Portrait Photography Techniques 1
Which focal length is widely considered the most flattering for portrait photography because it minimizes facial distortion?