Reflectors

I want to briefly discuss the use of reflectors: some sort of object used to reflect light on to what you are photographing. There are 5-in-1 reflectors on the market that are a diffuser covered by a reversible case. Each side of the case is a different color for a total of four once you've turned the case inside out and re-inserted the diffuser on the round frame. These are relatively inexpensive, and very handy to carry along. But you can also use many other types. There are expensive ones on large collapsible frames (scrim jims) that are useful for providing a larger area of light. You can use a piece of white foam board for a nice white (diffuse) reflection, or even the bottom of a large white box.

So here are some examples. First is an example of using a reflector to bounce extra light onto the already lit side of the subject. I had my husband standing to my right holding a white reflector to lighten the shadows under the eyes, add extra light to the side where the main light came from (the sky) and therefore a bit of contrast (difference between the lit side and dark side), and also add catch lights to the eyes. He had to stand so as to catch the light from the sun and bounce it back onto the subject who was sitting in the shade:

Here she is without the reflector. I had to brighten it more in post processing.

Here is another example. Again in the first, my husband is holding a reflector to my right (adding light to the lighter side, adding catch lights, and lightening the shadows under her eyes):

Here she is without the reflector. The "catch-lights" in the eyes are actually reflections of sunny patches on the sidewalk in front of her. It required a little more editing on my part to brighten up her face.

Here is an example of a photo I took a few years ago with window light. I was following around my two children with a reflector, looking for an opportunity. Here they wanted me to use the reflector as a "roof" and willingly snuggled together to wait. I grabbed the shot and then did as they were expecting. I actually took the photo upside down looking straight down on them, then flipped the photo around later. The window light is lighting them from below, and my gold reflector is reflecting light onto the tops of their heads:

This last shot I also took several years ago with one studio light. A large white foam core (you can pick up at art supply stores) is to my left reflecting light onto the shadow side of their faces. This is called the "fill". The catch light in the upper left of their eyes is from my large softbox.

Texture

I've been working with adding textures to photos. Here are five I've worked with. The first three are recent photos. The last two I took several months ago.

 

Portrait of a Two Year Old Princess

California Coast

We just returned from a family vacation, driving out to the Redwoods of northern California. While we were there my kids got to experience the Pacific coast for the first time. While we took many many pictures, I chose a few from one beach adventure to share here.

The sun was low in the southwest so for many photos I went down the beach to shoot back at my children so the light would illuminate them and sky would not be washed out behind. Several photos I allowed to be silhouettes in order to catch the action as well as the rolling water.

Here again I exposed for the water and like how I capture the expectancy then the wild run as the wave came in, then the return.

A simple study of light

I took several photos of some flowers we picked in our backyard yesterday with my iPhone. I just took them for a record so I could possibly work on identifying them with my children. I think they do a good job of demonstrating the effect of light direction.

This first was taken with the camera flash on (coming directly from the iPhone). Notice how it effectively flattens the appearance of the flowers in the water. This might be the look you are after or it might not.
I find it very interesting.

In the next two I simply turned the flash off so that the flowers were lit by the light coming in from the windows to my left. Notice how the flowers appear more dimensional.
But in the first, the large flower is turned away from the light. Notice where your eye is drawn.

In this last one, I turned the large flower to open toward the light.

Family Photos in Abuquerque

I took a few photos for this neat family last Friday evening. They wanted photos of everyone while the grandmother was here visiting. We planned it to be shortly before sunset to use the shade behind their house for a more diffused light and take advantage of the pretty sky in the background for another setting on their back deck area. Everyone was patient and cooperative - quite a feat for any group of children!

In the first shot we used pure natural light, as they were in the shadow cast by the house, on the hill right behind their house. I used aperture priority mode, with an aperture of f/10 so as to keep everyone in focus. I had to overexpose as the sky was bright, with evaluative exposure bias of 2/3 of a stop. This brought my shutter speed to 1/160 of a second. Since I was using a focal length of 50mm, this shutter speed was just ok as long as no one was really moving. In order to get at least this I bumped the ISO to 1250.

In this second shot, I used my studio lights. I used two right next to each other for the main light in order to get enough light on everyone.  I had go to complete manual on my camera for this. I wanted the background to be darker than in the previous photo, so first I set the camera to expose for the background and then adjusted the lights so the family would be properly exposed.
 

Headshots!

I took photos of this family for the sole purpose of creating headshots for each of them. These they can then print in a large quantity for their agent to use in promoting them for acting. They are such sweet  and beautiful kids. The little girl has already been acting, including a part in a recent Hallmark movie. I had my husband alongside to either hold a reflector or diffuser (depending on lighting conditions). All were taken outdoors. Here are a few of my favorites.

Ramblings

If you had me take a photo of you or your family a year ago or even two years ago, you will find I've changed. I am never happy with stagnation. I want to create. I want to do everything better. I'm rarely satisfied with where I am at. And I think I have improved. I hope I continue to improve!

When I couldn't be taking business during the last year, I decided to plow ahead and do what it takes to get certification. This meant doing a thorough review of my work from the previous two years, and picking 20 photos from 20 different photography sessions that could be classified as being good photos. These had to be reviewed by a certification committee and approved. Then I studied the extensive field of photography, mostly via the book "Photography" by London, et al., and also via webinars, and studying of information on various sites.  This is a great book, and I will continue to enjoy it and refer to it in the years to come. It is packed with information and photos to help in explaining everything. After studying, I took the certification exam in July - a 100 question test covering just about every important area in the field of photography. I wasn't sure I'd studied enough, but decided to still go for it at least as a learning experience to help me better prepare for a next time. However, I passed. I am glad, but also want to learn this stuff better! So I'm officially a CPP now - certified professional photographer. One of 6 in the Albuquerque area.

What will this mean? Well, I'm not sure. It proves I've studied the field, and understand the basics of professional photography. It doesn't mean I'm better than everyone out there who hasn't decided to get certified. But I guess it means I've attained a certain level of professionalism. :-)

Meanwhile, I have a desire to create something beautiful, something to cherish, something to enlarge and put on your wall, something to come back to and look at again and again and enjoy as a piece of art. If I can attain this for someone, I have succeeded.

Senior Photo Session - Old Town

I met my first senior of the class of 2012 in Old Town for some senior photos, on Saturday. His mom and girlfriend were helpful assisting me with holding my reflector or off-camera flash as I directed. I had my 4 month old strapped to me in my baby carrier (and she slept most of the time), so it was fun! This great-hearted young man is homeschooled, and in addition works part time and helps care for his younger brothers and sisters. Here are a few of my favorites from our time together.

A couple of more from travel

The stark New Mexico landscape. I am titling the first "waiting for rain". I did my own color changes to get the effect I wanted.

 

 This was simply shot through the car window as we were driving home. The open spaces of New Mexico...

Travel

We traveled to SE New Mexico to visit family over the weekend. Unfortunately my 2 year old came down with something Saturday evening and she's still fighting it. I did manage to get a few pictures with the beautiful, stark ranch land the area offers in the background. My children put up with my camera with surprising grace. My daughter explained to her great grandmother "my mommy's a photographer; that's why she takes pictures of us". Hopefully, that isn't the only reason! Actually, I want documentation, and when I see an opportunity, I try to take it. I don't often have the luxury of having equipment on hand, reflectors ready, etc, and so I get what is available. I do, however. ask my kids to stop sometimes and "pose" where the light is good. Sometimes they are willing to comply, and other times I have to get what I can get! Here are several. The first three I took in the evening (when it got cooler).

This is more of a silhouette with the bright sky behind him:

I had to take a few with the brick wall of the house. The light was lovely with light reflected off the white wall behind the house. These were taken in the morning in the shade of the house.

 

The light was a bit too bright in the morning with the light reflecting off the white wall! My son couldn't get his eyes open enough looking the direction of the white wall... I still liked the photo I got :-)

Back to the evening, I stopped my kids as they came around the corner playing some imaginative game together. I intentionally worked in the leading lines of the bricks, and placed my kids in the right third of the photo.

I didn't post the photos I took with family members.