backlighting, field of weeds, smiley boy = happy Mama!

    I have been wanting to shoot the kids in the field next to T’s school and was determined to do it this week. Since I am trying out backlighting again we did it before school! Tyler had a blast, he was running in them pulling them out and ultimately falling down! Then I got this little gem…

and a couple more that he is his cheeky self in!

Enjoy J

playing with light and backdrops

I have been trying to use the light in our house and figure out the best spots to take photos and get some great pics for the Christmas cards this year. still working on it but gosh I am happy with these shots of my boys!

>   

enjoy J

NLCC assignment 2 - 45 degree indoor lighting

This assignment was all about using natural light but at a 45 degree angle to create modelling shadows across the face. It was also the opportunity to use a reflector for the first time. I struggled with that so that is going to be a practice thing. Daz is so wonderful he even made time to model for me before heading off to work.  my setting were f1.7, 1/250, ISO100 with a CWB set as well.

 

enjoy J

NLCC assignment 1 take 2

   I bribed! I enlisted the help of my darling husband who cracks me up. The boys had had enough of photos (not of the chocolate though!) and I had realised that I still hadn't taken my pics ins manual SO I asked the one who under sufferance does and awesome job. I have been picky lately because Daz squints and since I have been trying to work on catch lights in the eyes he tends to open his eyes WIDE open as a joke to start with. well today he went one better, he got a second set of eyes - complete with catch lights!!

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I edited a couple of different ways here. SOOC data is f6.3, ss1/125, ISO1600

I tried to bring the wall back to cream but he was a bit further away hence the shadows and I reduced the ruddiness in his face a tad as well. I cant decide now which I prefer in terms of the photos but gee I think he is AWESOME!!

 

enjoy J

natural light cc group {assignment 1}

ok here is my assignment 1 take 2. It was still a really crappy day weather wise and I had to bump my ISO up to 3200. I dropped it down here to 800 to see how much of difference it made. I think heaps but that could be personal preference. I have just realised it was supposed to be in manual so have to do it again tomorrow!

 

enjoy J

Cant figure out what is going on with my crappy pictures!

I have been so stressed and frustrated lately with my pics being out of focus and blurry, underexposed and you know just crappy. This is compounded by putting just about everything I hear or see about pp in my photos ALL AT ONCE> I have been trying to get back to basics with my pp because I am realising the photos really are not that bad just need a few minor tweaks to make the WAY better in camera. But my PS skills need scaling back and refining.

SO today we had a little ray of sunshine coming through Tyler's window. I told the boys that they could have some lolly's if they let me take some pictures and I would follow it up with a cake as well. They were quite happy to do this for me today and we had some fun! I nailed my exposures and my focus and then I also tried a new way of pping and nailed it in a Much better way than before!

so here are my cuties in a SOOC and edited order.  

 

so as my second attempt at the lighting assignment I was way happier. as I was with the colours and everything else!

finally may have had an aha moment!

Here is one cute one of Tyler that I think is  my hand to rest his chin on!

enjoy J

Natural light cc group

On 2peas at the moment is a group (well a couple of groups really) that are working towards learning how to effectively give constructive criticism (cc) and get it. This group is designed to use natural light in a variety of ways so that you can learn to use it the best advantage.

I got into group a which has only 18 participants and will receive cc form some awesome photographers.

The first assignment is to use flat lighting. where the light is coming in straight through the window or onto the subject. anyway here is the link to the original post on 2peas.

It is supposed to be done as a sunny or bright day assignment but since we have had nothing but rain I have learnt a few things!!

anyway here is my first attempt at it.

it is so dark here that I really don't like this photo as the exif is f1.7, 1/160 and ISO3200. I underexposed it so that made the noise worse in pp. I did get the centred catch lights and the pretty even tones shadows drifting off his face but I hate how there is very little detail kept in it because of the noiseware run over it. his eyes are pink because he had been crying an no amount of fiddling is going to get rid of it! but all in all a pretty crappy shot!