Mum N young N

[Grain]

Yup more baby pics!!!!!
C + C's needed ta. Particularly you D.Craig, may yeven PM you about these if you don't mind mate. :)

http://www.thesoundplace.com/images/Nat2/daisy%20shigh%20key.jpg http://www.thesoundplace.com/images/Nat2/closemonocv.jpg

http://www.thesoundplace.com/images/Nat2/daisythirdfs.jpg

http://www.thesoundplace.com/images/Nat2/natndaisy4net.jpg

[eos_o_eos]

Very nice. Number two the babies expression seems almost wise, quite an intense infant. I like them overall but there is something lacking that I am unable to put my finger on. The phrase, 'you are almost there.' keeps running through my head. I'm going to look again tomorrow.

[thrumyeye]

These are beautiful. Just lovely!!

[lakiluno]

Really wonderful pictures. Nice looking baby!

My only critique is that the softbox is very visible in the baby's eyes - I don't know much about flash photography, so I don't know if thats fixable (softer light with a sheet or something between the softbox and baby would help, but that would ruin the lighting on the rest of the baby.

Perhaps its something that can be fixed in PS.

Anyway - I really love them. I wish I could take pictures half as good as those.

[thrumyeye]

Some photographers find catchlights very desirable in a subject's eyes. I don't think they're entirely bad. I like the look of them in most photos.

[D. Craig Flory]

The look of wonderment on #1 is great ... and I love him holding his toes like that. (for the person who mentioned the catch lights ... it is easy to make catch lights the right size)

The love is apparent in #2 ... both from how the Mom is holding him & the look on babies face.

He looks about to say something on pose #3.

Number 4 is ok but I would have liked it better without the white t-shirt on the baby.

On all of them, a bit more room around each would have worked better but as a group I love them.

[Grain]

The look of wonderment on #1 is great ... and I love him holding his toes like that. (for the person who mentioned the catch lights ... it is easy to make catch lights the right size)

The love is apparent in #2 ... both from how the Mom is holding him & the look on babies face.

He looks about to say something on pose #3.

Number 4 is ok but I would have liked it better without the white t-shirt on the baby.

On all of them, a bit more room around each would have worked better but as a group I love them.

I did ask 'Mum' to bring a black top for Daisy (yes its a girl ;) ) after your advice last time D.Craig but she forgot. I shot a baby boy the other day and we simply removed his top, but with Daisy being a girl we all thought it less appropriate to remove clothing at this age. I know its silly but these days you have to be so careful when taking pictures of babies/children as you can appreciate. Its sad what has happened to society (only my view).

What is considered the right size for catchlights? I am struggling a lot with this. My heads are 750w bowens and the softbox is 100 x 100. Is it simply a case of upping the power and moving the main light back away from the subject a few more feet? I have not got a huge amount of space, especially side to side. I would rather get things right and not have to rely on photoshop too much, wonderful as the software is.

One other thing. How is the mono conversion to you? At work ( I work at a commercial litho printers) we will print 4-col black when producing fine art or mono photo gallery work, using stocastic/stocatto. When on the monitor it does not show hugely but when on press, the physical CMYK reproduction from the press gives massive tonal range and a real creative,gritty and deep monotone look, loads of life and feeling. Is there any way to get this look? Or should I just leave as is?

Thanks again for comments and advice. :)

[Dilligaf]

these shots have blown me away,. what was the technique used to get the background so white ??

[TeeJay]

One word - AWESOME!

Beatiful baby, wonderful photo's - well taken.

TJ

[D. Craig Flory]

I did ask 'Mum' to bring a black top for Daisy (yes its a girl ;) ) after your advice last time D.Craig but she forgot. I shot a baby boy the other day and we simply removed his top, but with Daisy being a girl we all thought it less appropriate to remove clothing at this age. I know its silly but these days you have to be so careful when taking pictures of babies/children as you can appreciate. Its sad what has happened to society (only my view).

What is considered the right size for catchlights? I am struggling a lot with this. My heads are 750w bowens and the softbox is 100 x 100. Is it simply a case of upping the power and moving the main light back away from the subject a few more feet? I have not got a huge amount of space, especially side to side. I would rather get things right and not have to rely on photoshop too much, wonderful as the software is.

One other thing. How is the mono conversion to you? At work ( I work at a commercial litho printers) we will print 4-col black when producing fine art or mono photo gallery work, using stocastic/stocatto. When on the monitor it does not show hugely but when on press, the physical CMYK reproduction from the press gives massive tonal range and a real creative,gritty and deep monotone look, loads of life and feeling. Is there any way to get this look? Or should I just leave as is?

Thanks again for comments and advice. :)

I think the black and whites look good. As for catch lights ... sometimes I take them out entirely and put in new ones. Other times I'll make a dupe layer and use the brush tool at 100% opacity to paint the catch lights down to a size I like. If I add new catch lights I do that on a new transparent layer.

Gotta go ... a client is picking up their wedding album in a few minutes. Oh ... so you know. My wife & I live about 3 miles from world famous Hershey where chocolate is made. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are also made in Hershey. Drive through with car windows open and just breathe deeply. *S*

[Grain]

Dilligaf, Hello mate!
Where in the county are you? Mum and baby in these shots are from Newquay and I live just up the road about 6 mile or so. To get the background white I merely hung a white bedsheet up in my conservatory. The baby was sat at least 3/4 feet in front of this. Then I aimed a light at the sheet and whacked the power up full making sure none spilled onto the subject. The subject/baby was lit with the other light and two reflectors added fill to the other places. Finally put through photoshop to make sure it looked reasonably tidy. Thanks for the comments buddy. :)

Teejay,
I have read many of your posts and heeded much of the advice you have given to others in older posts, so I am thrilled you like them mate; much the same as I was when Rad made some positive remarks about my other shots. Thanks a lot!

D.Craig,
Thanks as always for the advice sir. I'll give it a go. I have more babies headed this way just after christmas as well as a Husky dog! (should be fun). My wife just read your post about the chocolate aroma and is sick with envy! Show me a woman who does not like chocolate, I don't think they exist!

Many thanks to all you guys who posted and looked..:D

[D. Craig Flory]

Dilligaf, Hello mate!
Where in the county are you? Mum and baby in these shots are from Newquay and I live just up the road about 6 mile or so. To get the background white I merely hung a white bedsheet up in my conservatory. The baby was sat at least 3/4 feet in front of this. Then I aimed a light at the sheet and whacked the power up full making sure none spilled onto the subject. The subject/baby was lit with the other light and two reflectors added fill to the other places. Finally put through photoshop to make sure it looked reasonably tidy. Thanks for the comments buddy. :)

Teejay,
I have read many of your posts and heeded much of the advice you have given to others in older posts, so I am thrilled you like them mate; much the same as I was when Rad made some positive remarks about my other shots. Thanks a lot!

D.Craig,
Thanks as always for the advice sir. I'll give it a go. I have more babies headed this way just after christmas as well as a Husky dog! (should be fun). My wife just read your post about the chocolate aroma and is sick with envy! Show me a woman who does not like chocolate, I don't think they exist!

Many thanks to all you guys who posted and looked..:D

Pet portraits .... keep this in mind: Pets fur eats up light and doesn't reflect like skin. Also, very directional lighting is best because you want a lot of detail in the fur.

[D. Craig Flory]

For your wife: http://www.hersheys.com/ I hope she finds lots of tasty treats to look at. *S*

[Dilligaf]

Dilligaf, Hello mate!
Where in the county are you? Mum and baby in these shots are from Newquay and I live just up the road about 6 mile or so. To get the background white I merely hung a white bedsheet up in my conservatory. The baby was sat at least 3/4 feet in front of this. Then I aimed a light at the sheet and whacked the power up full making sure none spilled onto the subject. The subject/baby was lit with the other light and two reflectors added fill to the other places. Finally put through photoshop to make sure it looked reasonably tidy. Thanks for the comments buddy. :)


Hello Grain, I am in Newquay :) do you need an unpaid assistant :)

[Grain]

Hello Grain, I am in Newquay :) do you need an unpaid assistant :)

heh heh Yeah right!

I work at a printers Dilligaf, i'm no photographer yet but i'm working on it. :)
I'm out at Quintrell Downs mate, not far from the pub. If this was my job you would be more than welcome to tag along mate. Have you tried Mel Bonfield on the round-a-bout? I did ask him myself via email but no reply i'm afraid. I guess he must be busy. There are a few pro's in town I think. What kind of shots do you enjoy doing?

[Dilligaf]

I have often past Mel Bonfields place and wondered :)
I like people photography, candids etc, natural light, cause I can never achieve what you have done with those baby and Mum shots :)
Also like low light photography, and I intend to go get a picture of the new fountain in Trenance park. have you seen it yet ?

[Grain]

Not seen it mate. Though myself the wife and baby are going go out for a Christmas day stroll. Do you mean the park down by the boating lake? Speaking of which, that 'swan taking off' sculpture sat in the middle has got some potential. Thanks again for the comments about the baby shots.
I only got the flasheads a couple of weeks ago. Before that I was using old vivtar 283's flashguns. You can pick these up for around 15/30 quid on ebay. Just bung a mini softbox on one of them and get a cheapie reflector and you'd be amazed at what you can do.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=205043

These were done with the vivtars mate. Whole lighting set up was about £60.

The bowens stuff is a bit more expensive ;)

[Dilligaf]

Looks the I will attempt both the Swan and Fountian pics over xmas, would be nice if the lake was frozen, but I think it is still empty due to them installing the fountain.
My lads are both home for xmas :) but alas no longer nice, loveable babies :)
I have a Jessops Powerflash 400J head in the attic, I may get it down again.
Don't you just love it when you get a new toy :) takes me back 10 years to when I got the T90 and Flash and it never got put to any use which is a shame.
The 30D and seeing your baby pics has got me livened up again.
cheers. ( my missus will kill you for it :) £££££££

[Grain]

Post pics when your done mate and drag out that flash unit!
As for your missus killing me? well...she'll have to join the queue :)

[Dilligaf]

Merry xmas Grain :)

[Grain]

Merry Christmas mate.
Saw the fountain today, its quite epic for such a small pond! I'm off for a port and brandy. :D

[eos_o_eos]

Well, on return with a fresh set of eyeballs I think you have done a wonderful job Grain. The mother must be very happy with what you have produced for her.

[Simply Trinity]

Get rid of the vacant look from the baby and you are on to a winner. Photography is not just about taking pictures, especially with portraiture, you have to blend with your subject whether baby/pensioner or joe bloggs.
I'm not keen on the baby's look i'm afraid, she looks braindead. I know this seems harsh but you have to capture the client as well as the moment.