Douglas Dubler
On a rooftop in New York City, veteran photographer Douglas Dubler watched the sun's angle shift across the urban landscape, his internal clock fastidiously tracking the few minutes of perfect light. With a 13-person crew standing by and model Nadia Kazakova already styled in Aknvas, Dubler prepared to capture the exterior urban NYC' shot he'd imagined since scouting the location. The weather cooperated and, relying on an intimate knowledge of light cultivated through fifty years of hard-won photographic mastery, the shot was his.
It was a faultless image from the first shutter snap, captured at f/1.4 on the Zeiss Otus ML 85mm razor sharp on Kazakova's face despite the wide aperture, with the background melting into creamy boke. (Dubler prefers using a literal translation of the Japanese boke' to the Americanized spelling bokeh'.) Nothing is left to chance in Dubler's process. Each photo testifies to technical mastery supported by the best technology and cutting-edge optics.
A Legacy Built by the Best
Dubler's philosophy is straightforward: Get educated by the people at the top of the pyramid. A glance at his resume of mentors and associates bears this out. In his early twenties, Dubler studied with Ansel Adams, learning the master's technique of pre-visualization and famous Zone System for controlling the appearance of the final B&W print. He mentored with renowned fashion photographer Neal Barr in New York City, collaborated with legendary sculptor Isamu Noguchi, and learned the nuances of optics from optical engineer expert Oscar Soetbeer. His 30-year relationship with the studio of Irving Penn included architecting the great 20th century photographer's digital print workflow.
Dubler's relationship with Zeiss dates to the 1970s, when camera manufacturer Victor Hasselblad flew the young photographer to Sweden for a personal factory tour, arranging for a Zeiss executive to join them. The two executives gifted Dubler a choice of camera and lens. Victor Hasselblad made me a special handmade leather case with a brass plaque with my name engraved on it, Dubler recalls. I still have the case today.
Over the years, I collaborated with Zeiss through my connection with Hasselblad. With my transition to digital, post 2000, I made a logical progression to the Loxia, Batis, and Otus lenses, and most recently the Otus ML. One extraordinary collaboration involved Dubler's pioneering ultraviolet flash fashion photography using a specialized 105mm quartz Zeiss lens. The result: a completely unique process that produced startlingly vibrant neon images while maintaining Dubler's pristine style. In retrospect, Dubler says, It has been the most important manufacturer relationship of my career.
Putting the Otus ML to the Test
In 2025, when Zeiss debuted the new Otus ML lenses, Dubler's expert review was sought. I have the original Otus lenses. I was very interested in seeing how this ML lens compared to the originals, which are much heavier and more expensive, he explains. Designed to provide the highest optical performance, Otus ML lenses build on the Otus legacy with exceptional sharpness, accurate color reproduction, and minimal chromatic aberrations. Available in 1.4/50mm and 1.4/85mm focal lengths, the lenses feature precise manual focus with control at the heart of their design.
A creative who memorizes a camera's manual cover to cover, Dubler rigorously vets any equipment before putting it to work. When it comes to lenses, he puts each focal length through its paces, taking photos at each f/stop and different distances to ascertain the best performance. I shot the 85 Otus against the 85 Otis ML, Dubler elaborates. The ML lenses compare quite favorably, the 85 especially. To test a lens, you take the lens and focus it manually, take a picture, and then change the f/stop and focus it again. Sometimes when you compare, the focus is different between settings that doesn't happen with this Zeiss lens.
I was immediately curious: could the Otus legacy, legendary resolution, contrast, and micro-contrast translate into mirrorless lenses while retaining the tactile sensibilities I rely on as a professional? Shadow & Light
Model Nadia Kazakova
Dubler chose the Zeiss 85mm Otus ML lens for an intensive one-day fashion shoot with Shadow & Light Magazine to photograph model Nadia Kazakova. The shoot consisted of multiple setups using studio flash, studio daylight and exterior sunlight. I was very interested in the light outdoors, and I was watching that light all day long, he says. Using the Sun Seeker app, Dubler tracked the sunlight along the rooftop access, preparing for the brief window of afternoon light when the staircase would be thrown mostly into shadow, leaving Kazakova framed in sunlight against the rich blue of the New York sky.
This optimal light would only last a few minutes. Dubler required absolute confidence in his focus for the rooftop sequences, especially when shooting at f/1.4 for that maximum boke. I didn't want the background or the foreground to fight with the model. At 1.4, her face was razor sharp. The first picture that I shot was at 1.4 and it was the perfect picture. Indeed, a detail cropping at approximately 3% of the full frame in the Shadow & Light story still reveals individual eyelashes. This exceptional resolution for such a wide aperture is characteristic of the crisp dimensionality Dubler brings to every image. His decades long pursuit has been to bring a sense of the third dimension to photography, an inherently a two-dimensional art form. The tools at his disposal are simple and limited. Optics and light. Period.
Back inside the studio, Dubler tested the lenses against various lighting scenarios: daylight filtering through adjustable skylight shutters,
Europe Stories
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
02/03/2026
Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates FR1-FR3 carrier aggregation, advancing 6G readiness Rohde & Schwarz and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. have reached another pivotal ...
02/03/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, and Arqit Quantum Inc. (Nasdaq: ARQQ, A...
02/03/2026
Luxembourg, February 26, 2026 - SES and Africa Mobile Network (AMN) have expande...
02/03/2026
Monday 2 March 2026
Saturday Night Live UK announces writing team
L-R: Jonno Johnson; Charlie Skelton; Celya AB; Omar Badawy; Gr inne Maguire; Laura Claxton; ...
27/02/2026
Since its inception, Gorillaz has been known for blending art with genre-bending...
27/02/2026
This week, Spotify introduced Audiobook Charts for the U.S. and U.K. The charts make it easy to discover your next favorite book by showing what's popular a...
27/02/2026
Rohde & Schwarz and Viasat to collaborate on NB-NTN IoT test plan for connectivi...
27/02/2026
In media technology, big features often steal the spotlight - AI integrations, cloud transformations, automation frameworks. But for the people who use these to...
27/02/2026
Digital Asset Management systems sit at the heart of most marcoms operations. They centralise content, organise it, and make it discoverable. Integrated with th...
27/02/2026
The AI Wild West comes to NAB 2026 and Blue Lucy is bringing the Sheriff
The AI Wild West is here, and media organisations are feeling the heat. On Booth W23...
27/02/2026
A deeply personal, uncompromising portrait of the legendary punk rock iconFriday...
27/02/2026
One of Ireland's favourite lifestyle shows Home of the Year, returns for its 12th series and will be proudly sponsored by SIRO. The brand-new series will ai...
27/02/2026
Our Farm: A GIY Story lands on RT One and RT Player from March 3
From walled garden to community farm, new six-part series captures the unfiltered realities...
27/02/2026
Note: English version included below the Irish language version.
Seachtain na Gaeilge 2026 ar RT
A Ghaeilge mo cheol th '
T feachtas athnuaite i n...
26/02/2026
Rohde & Schwarz awarded contract by Israel Airports Authority for QPS201 securit...
26/02/2026
Rohde & Schwarz highlights its unique CMX500 one-box tester tailored for NTN tes...
26/02/2026
Rohde & Schwarz high-efficiency transmitter powers next-gen broadcast services i...
26/02/2026
Rohde & Schwarz highlights its comprehensive embedded systems test solutions at ...
26/02/2026
Rohde & Schwarz to showcase spectrum security and network efficiency solutions a...
26/02/2026
Rohde & Schwarz and Broadcom showcase first Wi-Fi 8 RF signaling tests, paving w...
26/02/2026
Rohde & Schwarz advances AI-RAN testing using digital twins with NVIDIA Rohde & Schwarz, in collaboration with NVIDIA, continues to drive AI-RAN innovation fo...
26/02/2026
Rohde & Schwarz and LITEON demonstrate high throughput 5G femtocell testing with...
26/02/2026
The agreement ensures Europe's satellite-based augmentation continues enhanc...
26/02/2026
There were two big wins for RT KIDS shows at the 17th Kidscreen Awards in San Diego this week with Maddie Triggs and BeddyByes both taking home gongs.
The K...
26/02/2026
26 Feb 2026
VEON to Release FY25 Earnings Update on March 13, 2026 Dubai and New York, February 26, 2026 - VEON Ltd. (NASDAQ: VEON), a global digital operator ...
26/02/2026
What can I watch on UKTV and stream on U this week?
This week's highlights include new episodes of Will and Ralf Should Know Better, The Marlow Murder Club...
26/02/2026
Thursday 26 February 2026
Sky partners with STARZ on high-impact boxing drama F...
26/02/2026
Thursday 26 February 2026
An Open Letter to Our Fellow Leaders in Global Media
From:
Tim Davie, BBC Director-General
Jon Slade, CEO, Financial Times
Anna B...
26/02/2026
Wuppertal February 26, 2026
Teatro alla Scala Elevates Backstage Communication with Riedel's BoleroRiedel Communications today announced that Fondazione T...
26/02/2026
RT has confirmed that it has today received payment from the GAA for its 50% share of GAAGO.
RT confirmed in February 2025 that it had agreed in principle wi...
26/02/2026
RT Statement regarding the broadcast of Republic of Ireland vs Israel Nations League fixture
If the match goes ahead and that is a decision for the FAI as ...
25/02/2026
It's never been easier to customize your Spotify listening experience. Last year, we introduced more control over the way your playlist sounds, giving Premi...
25/02/2026
Hip-hop thrives on constant reinvention, with bold voices and fearless experimentation continually pushing the genre's boundaries. Every era brings new lead...
25/02/2026
In 2025, Magyar Telekom continued the consistent execution of its long-term stra...
25/02/2026
Joe Wilkinson and Joe Marler reunite for a tongue-in-cheek campaign exploring the hilarious extremes of modern loveWednesday 25 February 2026
Mix Tapes to Vide...
25/02/2026
Harmonic's XOS Advanced Media Processor Leverages AI-Powered Encoding to Deliver Exceptional Video Quality to Alcom Customers SAN JOSE, Calif. - Feb. 25, 2...
24/02/2026
Life needs music. So does the afterlife. That's why Spotify has partnered wi...
24/02/2026
Last weekend, S o Paulo buzzed with energy as Bad Bunny took the stage for two n...
24/02/2026
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...
24/02/2026
Paul C. Brunson: Red Flag to be produced by FirstLookTV and launch in 2026
UKTV...
24/02/2026
This year, we're back at the Media Production and Technology Show (MPTS) in London. As always, we're looking forward to catching up with existing contac...
24/02/2026
We are pleased to announce that Pete Whiteway is joining the dB Technology Group as a Senior Systems Engineer. Pete brings over 20 years of experience in broadc...
24/02/2026
End-to-End Transparency in the Supply Chain You Can Touch
The team at LogiMAT 2025 - from left: Michael Dreimann, Andr Haff, Nicolas Lapp, Bernd Jaschinski-...
24/02/2026
Katharine Wolinska appointed to lead Partnerships
RT Commercial has announced ...
Douglas Dubler
