Slow Portraits with Fast Lenses - GFX50R with Mitakon 65mm and vintage lenses

Sometimes it's better to slow down instead of relying on the newest and best technology. It makes you focused, creative and allows to build a strong connection to your subject.
In this video I take you behind-the-scenes of a slow portrait shoot. i will tell you why it's so beneficial to slow down and I'll talk about the (slow) gear that I used on this shoot:
- Fujifilm GFX50R
- Mitakon 65mm F1.4
- Vintage Minolta Rokkor 58mm F1.4 and 85mm F1.7 with a Kipon Adapter
- Sirui tripod
- Godox M1 RGB LED panels
- Godox SL60W LED light
- Phottix Raya 105cm softbox with grid
Then I'll take you through the different setups that I used for the shoot. .
0:00 intro
0:28 why slow?
2:15 slow gear
5:17 subject
5:55 location
6:48 getting started
9:35 bouncing light
10:57 ambient light
12:23 the white shirt
13:27 building the light
15:19 the setup too much?
16:22 recap
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[@stevocem]

It is great to see you using those vintage gems. Cool.

[@bertstephani]

Thanks, so much beauty in older lenses

[@Riccardo_Mori]

Suzanne's beauty - which you captured so well in this shoot - gives me goosebumps. Loved this video. Such an interesting setup. Cheers! //Rick

[@bertstephani]

Thank you Rick, she is indeed a beauty, both outside and inside

[@kbqvist]

Thanks for a great, slow video!

[@bertstephani]

You are welcome!

[@studiojege287]

Cool video! Love to see the "real" BTS/approach to a slow session! Thanks🤜🤛💪

[@bertstephani]

Merci Jeroen, glad you liked it

[@choobracer]

Beautiful shots Bert! Thanks for the great insight in to the shoot, too.

[@bertstephani]

Thank you Alex

[@stefankuhn6887]

Thanks for taking us with you and Suzanne on this slow shoot. From time to time I also use vintage lenses (Canon FD) on my Fuji x camera. I find focussing very hard especially under low light conditions.

[@bertstephani]

Thanks Stefan, there's definitely some amazing FD-glass and it's usually affordable. I use a combination of focus peaking and the zoom function for manual focus. Works pretty good for me. Tip: set your camera in B&W and use the red focus peaking.

[@sigurdrille9693]

Thank you! The right video for me just now, very inspiring! Love your approach to photography!

[@bertstephani]

Thank you, I'm happy that you got something out of it.

[@farosonico]

Great videos, great philosophy

[@bertstephani]

Thanks, glad you like it

[@LucioBusaPhotography]

Nice video, low lights, and poses.

[@bertstephani]

Thank you very much

[@AlejandroRVfoto]

Very very good video, experience and content, in the middle of new (almost robotic) technology, AI and "I am better" kind of race between photographers, this content give me back some happiness with the essentials of photography, so thank you so much for this wonderful moment.

[@bertstephani]

Thank you Alejandro, it's comments like yours that motivate me to keep creating content like this despite the fact that it doesn't get a ton of views and likes.

[@AlejandroRVfoto]

​@@bertstephani I understand what you are saying, I'm full of ideas for photobooks however just a few amount of people are allow -and want- to buy photobooks, but we are here for honor what we love, in content, format and way to do it.
I think all of us just must do what we love.
A big hug to you from the end of the world.

[@HenrikSkak]

Great shots. Any recommendation for aperture on the 56mm for portraits?

[@bertstephani]

thank you, I usually shoot between F1.2 and F2 on the 56mm unless there's a good reason for more depth of field.

[@GentialLAMBERT]

Imagine Dragons Singer here :-)

[@0_Edgar_Allan_Poe]

I wanted to try medium format and film cameras were all I could afford so I have been forced to slow down and being new to film it is often flawed. It is enjoyable. If I could I would get the 50R and one lens and be good.

[@bertstephani]

I love medium format film but if you shoot it rather often then digital is more affordable these days ;-)

[@0_Edgar_Allan_Poe]

@@bertstephani Yes film is getting expensive and can be frustrating. Being a hobbyist I don't have the cash/even selling every camera I have to get a digital. Im hoping that someday a GFX will get down into the range I can afford to buy or my Pentax 67 will raise up enough to sell for one. My biggest regret is selling my Fujifilm cameras to switch to a Nikon Z6 and 4x5. Part of the growing process.

[@heipuntnl]

Slow is good! ( nog bedankt voor de strobist lessen heeel lang geleden deze wetenschap is nog steeds in mijn gebruik) !

[@bertstephani]

Knowledge never goes out of style 😎

[@SA-ho1mu]

Really good information, but the "movement" pictures just look like blurry phone pics to be honest. I don't think that's a good idea for portraits.

[@bertstephani]

I appreciate your view but let's agree to disagree on those blurry pictures then ;-)