Getting High and a few other shots from this weekend

[toddb]

What did you think when I said getting high? My daughter is only three I hope I won't have to worry about that for at least a couple years.

http://cablespeed.com/~toddb/images/CRW_7132.jpg

http://cablespeed.com/~toddb/images/CRW_7164_BW.jpg

http://cablespeed.com/~toddb/images/CRW_7175_bw.jpg

[jukas]

Your host doesn't seem to want to co-operate here.


Sorry, the Server failed to retrieve the requested data.

[Avalonthas]

I dont see any pics in this post so i will comment on ur equipment: Nice stuff :p

[toddb]

Opps, trying out a new web host. Should work now.

[xdjoynerx]

love the pics

[Mazza]

Those photos are wonderful. What a gorgeous little girl.

[robvonk]

I love the black and white pictures.

The 'getting high' might be better ff you shoot her from the front so you can see her big smile!

[charlesu]

Simply wonderful. Two of the best portraits I have seen in......I cannot remember how long. Very simple and very lovely. Good job!

[chris.bailey]

#2 is just brilliant, shadows in #3 put me off a little.

[D Boone]

Beautiful little girl, beautiful compositions, beautiful shadows. I am really impressed. I hope my daughter will photograph that well... Her expressions are really great.

[Reminisce]

She is a darling, and I agree, #2 is brilliantly lit

[Jetmech1]

Very nice pictures. Enjoyed them all.

[Trekker2005]

I love the little girl's facial expression, nice capture.

[Fer!]

Great shots. #2 is my favourite. It'd improve a bit if you clone out some of the grey stuff in the background.

[pradeep1]

#2 is the best.

[hank1105]

Number #2 wins it for me, excellent shot! Very well done.

Hank

[sparker1]

Simply wonderful shots, and a wonderful little girl, it seems.

[Raj]

Beautiful pics. I love #2

[Geeeyejo]

#2 - amazing - all are great..

[L Pagan]

love the pictures

i see you have a 10D ,what lens did you use and also what settings / setup

[jgbeam]

Cute little girl. Keep shooting. :)

Jim

[JamesW]

Wonderful pictures. I'd also be interested in what your setup was.

[queenbee288]

#2 is wonderful. Love those dimples!

[IanBMW]

I wouldn't exactly print out the pic with the words getting high on it, but they are very nice pictures.... bravo :)

[Michaelmjc]

The second and third pictures are great!

Good job,
Mike

[blueskybutterfly]

beautiful :)

[froman98]

she's so cute!! I love her smile in the second one.

[ayotnoms]

These shots blow me away.

I remember seeing some of those shots you posted when you bought your Alien Bees and thought, "I got to get me some of this equipment"

The quality of your images are going to contribute to a drastic reduction in my disposable income.

...but don't let that stop you from posting the gems you've posted so far LOL

[flyfisher]

great shots #2 is awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[[blur]]

That little girl is incredibly cute and photogenic. Great shots.

[kickmaster]

Love the pictures! Especially #2 and #3

[Jessica Rabbit]

Wow! I really like them all. What a beautiful child you have :)

[tim]

I love the lighting in those two photos. May I ask what you used and how you set it up?

That's a cute little girl too :)

[schmoelzel]

Excellent shots Todd!! What a gorgeous daughter you have.........makes it easy to find a willing model!! Beautiful composition and the B/W is great. Which lens and camera are you using?

[toddb]

Thanks for all the comments...I must have struck some interest by putting "getting high" in my subject line. I hope that wasn't too under handed, lol. Sorry, got stuck at work for the last few weeks so I finally got a chance to reply.

Setup:
10D with the 28-135IS (I actually wanted to use my 50 F1.8 but couldn't get back far enough for most shots but this one I would have but just didn't have it on).

Shutter: 1/125sec
Aperture: F9
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 41mm

Used my Alien Bee 800 with the large soft box (just adjusted the settings on it till I got the right exposure, it was probably 2-3 feet away about at a 45 degree angle to the right of her). See my Alien Bee post here: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=51658

Then I used my favorite B&W conversion in LAB color space.
In photoshop I roughly did this:
1) Converted to to B&W using the lab color technique
a) convert to Lab Color
b) Select lightness channel
c) Convert mode to greyscale
d) Convert mode back to RGB
e) duplicate the layer and change that layer to multiply
f) Set opacity to about 50% and then adjust to where you want it


Maybe adjust the curves if you haven't already if needed.

Then I took this image and duplicate the layer (flatten it or if you want, create a new layer and alt click on the little arrow button on the upper right had side and click on the "merge visible" to create a layer with all the content or it tends to be using non-normal layers....anyway.).
From there, change the layer type from normal to something like screen, overlay, softlight, or hardlight, or whatever looks good. You can change the opacity, but the cooler way is to click on that little "F" button on the lower left part of the layers window and select "blending options". Down on the bottom of this dialog, you can hold down the alt key and move the second to the bottom sliders left (black) adjustment knobs (this is the "this layer"). By using the alt you can separate this black knobby into two separate ones and adjust the image.

For more info on this last technique, check out Jack Davis's newer "How to Wow Photoshop for Photography" on p.136. Good book.