The Hazy Lazy Days...that make for fab photos!

Okay, I admit it, I am now officially addicted to the hazy late day summer light.  I think it's because it challenges me to capture great images quickly while the sun is setting.  I figure I get about 30 minutes of yummy warm light between 7 and 8pm.  There are so many open fields here in NJ, I find that big doesn't always mean better.  As one photographer put it, "think small",  so when scouting for cool locations, large football sized areas are ridiculous if you're only shooting a toddler.  In these photos, you'd never know that I took them on a neighbors hill facing the sunset.  Behind the first portrait there is a perfect view of the pristine golf course but I didn't want the bright green grass and golfers as my backdrop, which is the problem when we run out the door for last minute shoots (when I get a crazy urge or idea) and there are golfers on the green.  

Depending on the heat and bug index, I have captured some splendid photos of my big girl (who by the way has been a very willing model these days providing I include her unique facial expressions).  


In the second photo I changed the position of her stool, which provided ample light without use of a reflector.  


In both my images I did very little processing.  I sharpened, lightened (where needed), then added two of my favorite tonal actions from Florabella's Classic Workflow, soft warmth and rosy cream (set at very low opacities).  Then pulled the midtones down with the curve adjustment tool, blended on soft light and sharpened again!  


Now off to plan a rather interesting themed shoot with a group of teen girls (who happen to be BFF's).  


Thanks for peeking in.


Ivy

Welcome Summer!

 

The heat is on!  Summer started off here on the east with an incredibly oppressive heat wave.  However, that also means hours in a plastic child pool,running under the sprinkler, making water filled balloons to throw at anyone who passes by your "fort" and drinking cold iced tea.  That's what I think of when I recall my childhood. 


Although I have been trying to gather my props and ideas for a "themed photo session", I couldn't resist the warm setting sun this week as it cascading perfectly over my daughter's wide brim hat.  Seems to me these may be my most favorite photos ever as the last photo required no editing except a little de-fogging and the first two I added a bit of contrast to capture the shadows on her pretty dimples.


I am so excited for this evening shoot with another favorite model.  Last night I met with her parents and we walked miles scouting out beautiful locations right near their house.  I love finding unexpected new locations!  Now all I have to do is narrow them all down to 1-2 hours (should be fun considering all the outfit changes).  


Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the warm, lazy summer days!


Ivy

"Everything I learned about posing...I learned from my Pre-Schooler" by Kira's Mommy

Yes, it's so true, most of what I learned from posing children I actually learned from my daughter!  She is very determined and stubborn and so I thought, why not take advantage of doing things her way? Actually knowing the developmental behaviors of kids is really the key.  Although, Kira has always been set in her ways, most 5 yr olds love to run, dance, explore and of course dress up and use their imaginations.  So ya just got to work with it.

I used to believe that in order to capture those "perfect" shots I had to continuously keep my finger on the shutter button or by the end of a shoot walk away exhausted from trying to entertain a child who had their individual ideas of what "play" was (and sitting through an hour or two family session just wasn't one of them.)  

So my sweet, creative and feisty little girl helped me to realize that pre-schoolers are quite capable of knowing the true definition of candid photography.  

These images were taken with my D700 and 50/1.8mm lens.  I changed the ISO depending on the light since I love to shoot nearly wide open (f/2.2 or lower) and adjusted the shutter speed as needed.  Also I like to set my EV at 0.3; a nice combination that works for me when trying to obtain optimal exposure.

Yesterday I bought some flowers and as we walked around the house we found some bright pink azaleas that caught Kira's eye and so as you can see this is what she did and how she wanted to use her "props".  Notice she wanted a "pony tail that was off to the side" so I had no control over this spontaneous shoot, which made it even more fun!

Here is the typical, "okay Mom, you can take just one picture," with hands placed strategically on the hips and a face that says "you've got one shot"!

Oh how this child makes me laugh and if I can say one thing, her attitude is adorably displayed in the image above.  She wanted to blow bubbles and I wanted just one more photo and again, her face says it all.  I love her laughter, pouting and most of all her sensitive personality.  But this image I'm saving for her future husband:)) and in gallery of favorite images.

 

Where are those bugs?

Capturing the "Butterfly" in motion.

The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.

Albert Einstein

Tired out after a day of "working the camera"!

Thank you sweet Kira, for these very important child posing tips.

A Year of Beautiful Places and Faces

After almost 7 months with our Gansu Girl, I felt a bit nostalgic for China and wanted to post a few of my favorite images of my precious daughters and their birth country, amazing China. 

Seriously, I try so hard not to pose Kira, in fact I have no idea where she learned how to "work the camera" like this, but I enjoy capturing her new interest in being photographed.

Beautiful Leah in Bejing, China

Very cute school children of Guandong Province

This has to be one of my all time favorite images from our journey to Shelby. Though our trip was rushed and there was barely enough time to eat, let alone take photographs, I took several of this Mother and her children.  This is a typical Hutong (small neighborhood) where the locals reside in the bigger cities.  I adored the history and antiquity of this country.

Beauty in back light

Well I am switching gears, FINALLY,  and stepping out of a learned habit...that is, to not shoot directly into the light, but instead use shade or face your subject away from the light.  WHAT WAS I THINKING?   the most beautiful photographs are always back lit, especially in ambient light settings.  


So last week, as the warm sun started to set, I dragged my equipment out to a nearby field and again using candy to bribe my favorite subject, I was honestly astonished at the results when I down loaded the photos.  Processing these photos was a breeze, only because I got the exposure correct for a change:))  But the fun part was using blending modes to soften, deepen surrounding colors.  I used a bit of sharpening to polish off the images but otherwise was quite happy with the results.  Now I can't wait to do more.  Warm afternoon light is so beautiful, especially this time of year when Spring is just around the corner.


More photographs to come.  I decided since I learned so much from many online free tutorials, I wanted to give back and share what works for me.  So in my next post, bring your pencil and pad and take some notes on the most simplest way to process a photo in five minutes or less (and yes that's a record for me).  


Happy Spring!

Much to Blog about

Well this blog has certainly been ignored, especially since I have been using Facebook to network with.  However, when it's quiet and I have a moment to write I always find joy in blogging about what I love, photography!

It's been a long and busy winter and we are all excited Spring has arrived.  This past winter I added a brand new Nikon D700 to my camera bag  and actually gave my 85mm DX to a dear friend who could use it.  I am mostly concentrating my time on family and busy with paperwork and more paperwork needed to ready our dossier for our new adoption from China.

Currently I am planning to do some free tutorials on photoshop, maybe teach a few basic concepts on photography via the internet and then sell some fabulous photo props I am designing.  Here's a small sample of what I have in mind.