Here is my grandson, Dec. 19, 2008. Ok, he's not really my grandson but I claim him and he has fun playing with me. I will probably have a unique relationship with him, just like I did with his mom and his uncle. His grandma loves this photo. The look on his face is great. Let's see how I made it. I was skulking around in back of the couch (which was in the middle of the room). The boy got on it and I just maneuvered and got the shot. I actually had a little time to focus, so it should have been sharper.
Nikon D-50 ISO 200 SS- 1/125 f 5.6 lens at 55mm (slight telephoto). The flash was bounced straight up. You can tell this look by seeing the shadows on his forehead and eyes.
Why did I use ISO 200? Because I use the slowest ISO I can. That's the lowest ISO my camera has.
Why did I use 1/125 shutter speed? It is the slowest hand held shutter speed I should use with my lens (standard Nikon zoom). In fact maybe I used 1/100.
Why did I bounce the flash? For a softer look. Direct flash can be very hard looking. You need a flash where the head tilts.
Photoshop- I made a selection around the boy. Did Inverse (which selected what I didn't select). Used Curves to darken the distracting background (people, gifts). Used the Clone (rubber stamp) to get rid of exposed underwear. Then I burned in the couch where his hands are.
And now to something more philosophical. People will often say that candid photos reveal more of a person's character than a professional portrait. Think, the studio portrait is made in an unfamiliar place. The kids are hauled to wherever. One kid somehow, gets dirt on his shirt. The mother is tense, the kids pick up on that and they get nervous and there goes the whole thing.
Candid photos are usually made in familiar surroundings, with familiar people, everybody's at ease.
You might well ask, how do you get photos like this? The answer is, have your camera ready and be at the right place at the right time. That's all there is to it.
KT
No comments:
Post a Comment