Creating a Brenizer Method Portrait on Medium Format Film

A Brenizer portrait is a composite photograph that is created by combining 9-15 different captures into a single final image. The technique is often performed using a full frame digital camera but the final image has a perspective that resembles an image taken on a medium format camera. In this video, photographer Steven Schultz takes this technique one step further by using a medium format film camera to create a Brenizer portrait.

I was unfamiliar with this type of portrait, but after watching the video, I wanted to give it a try, so I reached out to Steven who walked me through the process. For the initial image captures, it is best to use a 50mm lens and take the shots in portrait orientation. Start with a portrait of your subject where the subject is centered in the frame. Then imagine a grid of nine rectangles where that first image is the center of the grid. Now, begin taking a series of three photographs where you have the subject lower in the frame. This means you are pointing your camera higher than you did for the initial photograph and capturing one shot with the camera aimed to the left of the subject, one with the camera aimed directly above the subject, and one with the camera aimed to the right. Next, shoot a series of three images at the same height where you captured the initial photograph. Technically, you could skip the middle image since it would be the same as the very first shot you captured. Finally, aim your camera lower and take three final photographs. If this process sounds tedious, I can assure you that it is not; you can take all of these images in tgree or four seconds.

When you are shooting the photos, it is important that you focus on your subject for the initial photograph and then lock focus for all subsequent shots. Also, use a lens that is at least 50mm or longer in focal length. If you were to shoot with a wider focal length such as a 35mm lens, the subject would be distorted and the depth of field would be wide. To create the medium format look, you must use a focal length and subject-to-camera distance that will create both compression and a shallow depth of field.

While there is no exact formula for how to compose the photos and after the initial capture, if you strive for a 30% overlap in your compositions, you will probably be pleased with the final composite image. Depending on how far away you are from your subject the additional images may or may not show the subject. Elements of the background will certainly be repeated. You are creating art, so be prepared to experiment. For the photographs accompanying this article, I made four attempts at creating a Brenizer portrait, and I was pleased with each of the final composites.

Check the video for details on how to assemble the images in Lightroom. For more of Steven Schultz’s work, check his website.