The Lolly

I had to do it! Yes, I bought the lollies.... she was more than happy to pose! I did another sitting with the lollies yesterday too. I'll share the storyboard soon... turned out cute. I really like the color on this one. I don't think Ky appreciated the clique shot (do they just "know" this) as I could really only get serious ones with her. You'd think the lolly tasted like meatloaf!

I added another one too. This one had an amazing amount of red in her face. I think I was able to deal with it well. Just trying some different poses... I don't like the composition though...

A gift

Here's a little something for my photographer buddies! It's the first template I've ever made to share.... it's not for everyone, but would fit your more "contemporary" crowd.... please only use for personal/client use. DO NOT sell this as your own work. I would love to continue making "shares" as I've received so much from other generous people! Enjoy!

**To use the template... "copy" the photo you'd like to put in, select the black square on the template using the magic wand tool, use the "Paste INTO" command to get your photo in. This allows you to move the photo until you are satisfied with it's position. (use the free transform tool). Also... b/w looks good in here IMO...

Download here

Black and white

I decided just for fun to try a b/w conversion. I have decided to do them on my own as I'm learning actions aren't always "all that". Here's one I tried this morning. I used a gradient map and that really helped a lot! I'm finding that once again, it's awesome to start with a correctly exposed photo because you really have to do very little to it.

Red!!

I'm on a roll! 2 days in a row! Got some red today and was playing... I'm getting more comfortable with my lighting. I actually moved my lights to change the backdrop and with little effort was able to meter and get them positioned where I wanted them! Yeah!!! Progress! It has taken so long to get here, however persistence (and a tad of good old fashioned German stubborness) goes a long way! Kylie was helping me out today... she wasn't **really** in the mood to model so most of the shots are her looking goofy! I thought this sums up most of the shoot today!

**Edited to add one more shot from today. It's what got her bribed into the studio!

Natural light

I took "gobs" (for those wondering it really is a technical word!) of picts yesterday, however didn't have time to post any. I guess that will carry me when I don't have time to get the camera out! I did some indoor natural light and some outdoor in the snow. I learned a lot!

So, the shot today is of our oldest. He was the one who cooperated the most... I have another of one of the other boys, but I don't like the composition and couldn't figure out a way to crop it well... so just this one for today! I got A LOT of red in his face... also a bit of a green cast from the walls. He was on our bed facing a good sized window. I think I took care of the color casts... but I'm still working on that!

Settings were:

50mm
ss 125
f 2.5
ISO 400

The only thing I really don't like again is the composition. I wish I had moved his eyes up to the upper part of the frame.... oh well.... I like the shot anyway.

Yeah!! and a template

Whoo Hoo! I nailed exposure on the first shot posted here! I posted SOOC first, then edited. Amazing how little you have to edit a nice exposure! I'm definitely feeling more comfortable with the lighting. I need to work on consistency now (and working faster!). I did another "shoot" tonight of Daddy and Kylie for a mock up of the Father Daughter dance photos I've been hired to do. I overexposed a bit.. so yes, still working on consistency.

I'm going to practice taking down and setting up the lights this week so that I can get some practice with getting everything right.

So, I continue to work on exposure.... I've also been working on focus a bit. That seems easier for me to get. I'm looking forward though to experimenting with some different apertures working with focus and exposure.... I think that will be next on my agenda! Easier to do outside, however with temps in the negatives that's not happening any time soon!