REVEALED IN THIS VIDEO!!
Congratulations to our winner!! And thanks to all who entered.
If you would still like to schedule a holiday mini-session, just let me know!
2010
Back in 2010 when I was still fiddling around learning more and more about The Precious, I attempted to take a shot of Zara during our annual pumpkin picking adventure at Windingbrook Farm. Unfortunately I was still shooting in aperture priority and not full manual as well as full frame metering instead of spot metering. I also made the silly mistake of trying out the auto ISO feature (memo to self, never, ever, do that again!)
It was supposed to be a shot of Zara in the center of an old hollow log. I made several attempts with the ISO jumping around from 6400 to 100. This was the best of the lot:
f2.8, 1/15, ISO 360
Note that shutter speed. That is NOT a hand held shutter speed! That is a mess. But since I was shooting on aperture priority, the camera chose the shutter speed for me and I didn’t notice how low it was. UGH!
The camera had also exposed mainly for the scene/light on the other side of the log. Thus I had an underexposed child with motion blur that I attempted to fix as best as I could in Photoshop. But there is no hiding the soft focus and grain evident on Z’s face.
2012
This year, however, it was very, very different indeed! Shooting on full manual gave me the control I needed to set all the parameters to get the shot. Also, spot metering allowed me to meter specifically on her face and expose for her and not the background. The results are much better.
f1.8, 1/640, ISO 400
f1.8, 1/640, ISO 400
f1.8, 1/400, ISO 400
Same kid, same log, same camera + better photographer=
Today is the birthday of an amazing young woman who used to be my patient back in the day. She is now a fully grown sista with education and skills that do my heart proud.
Just a few minutes ago I was checking in on my Facebook stream before packing it in on a night of editing and order prep. There I noticed that Joia had just posted a cell phone photo of herself that was so awesome that the minute I saw it, I had to play and then share with her. (And she gave me permission to share it here as well!)
Here’s the original:
As we can see, the image is gorgeous despite the too cool white balance and low res quality. So I went to work.
My edit:
A chocolate black and white conversion:
A matte edit:
Oh my goodness, I have got to get Joia in front of my real camera! She is stunning, indeed.
I remember once several years ago, I posted a photo on the Nikonians board of little Zara blowing a dandelion.
I mentioned in the comments about the shot that we had gone for a walk when she started picking the dandelions and blowing them. I then had to run back home to get my camera in order to capture the moment. I asked for feedback on the shot and one of the old timers there replied, “The only thing you did wrong was not having your camera with you in the first place.”
Since then I’ve taken that bit of wisdom to heart. Even though it is a big as a toaster, I try to make sure I have my camera with me as much as possible. (But not the time that one of my co-workers stopped me in the hallway at work and asked, “Oh Liana, do you have your camera with you?” To which I almost replied, “Yes, I happen to bring thousands of dollars in camera and lens to work with me every day just in case that perfect opportunity arises for an impromptu photo shoot! Especially when there’s a sign as you enter the building that reads, ‘NO CAMERAS ALLOWED!’) That episode notwithstanding, I do try to do my best to keep The Precious on hand for the opportunity shots that arise if you’re lucky.
I had my camera on me when my division was invited to brunch at a colleague’s home last November. The kids (including my own) went outside to play and I seized the opportunity to snap some kid pics.
Look at these great shots of little M:
And of course when your daughter insists on parading around wearing a car, you just have to capture that shot!
Then there’s the luck that comes when you’re hanging out at home for Memorial Day and see your kid out playing with the neighbors from across the street. You get your camera to have some fun and catch these great shots:
Even managed to coax the girls’ lovely mother to sit with them for this beautiful portrait:
Recent I attended a birthday party for a 2-year-old peanut and saw the 8-year-old boy who had been dragged to the celebration sitting forlornly as if he had entered one of the circles of hell. He was the only one above 5 and the only other male but for the birthday boy. So I decided to just ask him if I could take some photos for his dad (my colleague). He agreed more because it was something to do other than watching the little girls run back and forth giggling.
I posed him under a tree and got this amazing image:
I tried matte processing on it and loved it as well…
But I knew that though this image was evocative, we had to get some smiles on the face to make dad happy. I tried asking for a smile. This is what happened:
I moved to a new location:
But then I pulled out my secret weapon for kids of this age. My iFart app! The smile started to appear:
By the time I played “the brown mosquito” teeth were showing!
So the lesson for today is that you should always keep your camera handy!
I may have mentioned (or neglected to mention) that last year was the first year that I attempted to photograph fireworks. Well due to the disastrously late arrival we had at the location and my attempting to set up in the dark with a penlight, my efforts were less than spectacular.
This year, however, I vowed it would be different. We arrived very early prior to the display, and other than coping with my dear daughter’s boredom, I had an easy-peasy time getting the gear ready to rock and roll.
I debated about whether to use my 50 mm lens versus my 24-70, and chose the latter because we were SO close to the display. So with that, I present to you some of my favorites from this year’s 4th of July fireworks display!
