I’ve been thinking about this project for quite awhile, and finally got some time to make the photo part of the project materialize.  The kids performed well and giggled while I wrote on their hands.  Now, I have to figure out how to make the card part of the project.  We have tons of materials, just need to figure out size and embellishments.  I could see several projects like this in the future! 

There’s a crop on this photo, color desaturation, and the toned down brightness create this effect.

“For the Kingdom of Heaven” is my first hand picture.  With a single 285HV flash behind a small softbox 45 degrees to the left at 7ft high this shot has some great contrast.  Of course, I’m using the 50mm still.

I was busy playing with my garage sale gear from last weekend (wishing I had bought more) and took this self portrait.  There’s three 285HV flashes triggered by Cactus v4s in this shot plus an obnoxious hair light.  Even with a 9 foot ceiling that hair light is really overbearing.  I rarely call Chris in to view my photos, but I did on this one.  She like’s the wedding ring in this photo the best! 

On Easter Day the family and I found ourselves across from Calamity Line Park in Olathe, Kansas.  The Japanese Cherry Trees where in full blossom and the 50mm lens was just waiting to flare.  The new lens definitely delivered.

All natural light, but then again you already knew that…

Cross-posted on Flickr.

Shot with my new 50mm prime lens.  Quickly becoming one of my favorite lenses of all time.

Now debuting, our family pet, Sissy!  She’s a 7 year old 3 pound Yorkie.  Two Canon speedlights at 45 degree offsets behind umbrellas with a straw grid snoot doing the highlight (trusty 285HV).  All triggered with Cactus v4 wireless triggers.

The look is timeless.  This is one of those photos that you can hang up for the next twenty years and never quite know if it was taken yesterday or not.

Strobist Info:  550EX behind a shoot through umbrella at 1/2 power about 3 feet in front of the model.  Fired by Cactus v4 triggers

Flickr Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_reynolds/4111631008/

Normally, I put a bunch of detailed photo info here.  But this photo is so good I’m just getting it out here as quick as I can and dispensing with junk.

Ok, I freaked when she asked me for my hat…

Please, don't ask for my hat.  It's cool and comfy.  The last girl who took it didn't want to give it back...this is me while she takes a photo of my tantrum.  Not a bad photo from a 5 year old.

Strobist Information:  1/2 power 550EX to the left of the model with a shoot through umbrella.  Fired with my handy Cactus v4 triggers.

Photo Info: 

Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 32 mm
Exposure: +1.15
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Strobist

Flickr Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_reynolds/4104992388/

 
This is what she looked like today...nothing much else to it.  I was supposed to be taking Christmas photos and wouldn't you know it she took my hat and put it on herself.  Then the defiant look of you're so not going to take this from me.

Strobist:  1/4 power 550EX behind a shoot through umbrella to the models right.  Triggered by Cactus v4s.

Photo Info:

Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 32 mm
Exposure: +1.15
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Strobist

Flickr Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_reynolds/4104925098/

I’ve discovered YouTube as a source for my learning of portrait photography.  I’m posting on this blog for two purposes to share with my readers is an obvious plus.  For my own personal gain I’ll type a sentence or two what I liked about the video.

From this video I' learned two points.  Have the family dress in long sleeves and break down groups of people into smaller units and combinations.

Recently, PhotoConstrux.com crossed a milestone by having 50 views of a single post in a day.  Invariably, you start to get a few emails, some are supportive and inspire you to do more, others are… well, not so inspiring.  Today, I received an email asking if I’d ever done a portrait with all natural light.  Well, here’s my third favorite portrait that I’ve taken and it is all natural light and no alterations.  I do shoot in RAW mode in case I’d like to adjust the white balance, but I seldom make the adjustment. 

Background:  About an hour before her first dance recital it was time to get the hair done.  This is one of the photos that you just know she’s not enjoying the salon treatment, yet you get the feeling she’s going to endure.  What can I say, but a superstar attitude in a pint sized package?

Photo Info:
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.04 sec (1/25)
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 31 mm
Exposure: 0.00
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

This photo was taken in my drive way as I was just flashin’ around.  I would have liked to reduced some shadows on the left side of his face but in the end I decided enough of his character shows through to make an interesting presentation.

Photo info:

Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 40 mm
Exposure: -1.91
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off Camera
Location:  Olathe, Kansas

Strobist info:
Canon 550EX on the right at 1/16 power behind an umbrella.  285HV on the left...it's bare because I haven't bought another shoot through umbrella.

This was the first time I'd had a chance to try two flashes, one was fired off with my Cactus v4 trigger and the other via a cord.  I got the second trigger ordered but it's not here yet!

Totally about to blow a photo shoot stinks…especially when that photo shoot contains a family member.  Unlike most situations photographers get themselves into, there was no expectations for this shoot—except the ones I put on myself.  That’s right the pressure I put on myself to success is more than any client has put on me to date.  Now, let me take you back to that fate-full day. 

My sister had taken on the job of hairstylist for my daughter and was in the first thirty minutes of the hour long job when the idea of taking photos of Kaci was thrown out.  Thrilled with nervous excitement I grabbed my Canon 40D and headed to my studio.  I started with a black background and an beige footstool.  That was my first poor choice.  Kaci has a vibrant personality and an unparalleled fashion sense to match.  Combined with a serene inner beauty and now you have a teen a few steps away from being a huge success.

While I like this photo and I’m sure many will appreciate the composition and the pensive look does add the necessary flair to make this photograph more outstanding than the ordinary snapshot, but my personal take on this photo is this…

The composition falls within norms.  Exposure is nice with no blown highlights and nice tone.  In the end this is just a nice senior portrait that looks good on Grandmother’s mantle… but this photo just doesn’t pop.

Passion is what I feel is lacking.  I just asked for a pose.  I guided and said look up, move your arm here tilt your head to the left, no a little more to the right.  Plain and simple I was going through the motions.  There are few technical flaws in this photo, again, just the lack of passion.

“Can you jump?”  Reflecting back on my question I could have phrased it a bit better but that simple question yielded the photos that illustrate spirit and passion.  Passion takes ordinary photographs and turns them into memory makers…those pictures in your head that you can’t shake out of your mind.

Clearly, I prefer the more fun photos.  Now, if I can just figure out how to bring that out in every photo shoot and write it up in a simple blog post…  The world will perfect on that day.