Mary,

Let's devise a plan for your son.

Basically what we will do is replace the statue with your son.

I noticed that you have open back dining room chairs. Let me see if I can suggest a pose. With your camera set up as it was, place your chair such that your son would be sitting facing the camera. Now, rotate the chair about 45 degrees clockwise. Now, sit your son sideways in the chair so that he is facing to your right of the camera. From this position he should be able to grasp the vertical rail of the chairback with both hands, one on top of the other as if it were a baseball bat.

As far as the reflected light -- with your son in this position you should be able to hold the reflector yourself with your left hand just off camera on your left. You should position the reflector somewhat in front of your son and not purely to the side. Anytime you use these reflectors you have to allow the light a direct path to it and not let the subject block out the light.

With your son sitting in this position, direct his nose to a position off to the right of the camera (not much, use your best judgment), then direct his eyes back to the camera. And with his chin up, take this half figure shot.

There's all kinds of variations on this pose that you can experiment with. What I like about it is that it gives you the ability to incorporate the hands into the composition in a natural sort of way.

Mostly what we are trying to achieve here is a pleasing light pattern. The pose is really secondary at this point. To this end you should be taking notice of how bright the lighting conditions are at the time you are setting up to shoot. Just make the adjustment toward, or away from, the window. Good luck and know that the future of the forum, and the entire internet, is riding on you.

Did I mention that the winner of the "Photo Adventure" sweepstakes will win this new Lexus hardtop convertible?

Just mail in $75,000 for each raffle ticket and sit back and cross your fingers. We will be giving away three of these fabulous cars for each five entries we receive.

Ok, you nut case, here is my oldest daugther Marcy...UM, I mean son Marc ;)

I tried my best to follow directions, an assistant would make this much easier. Trying to explain to him to "do this and that and NOT move while Mommy comes at you with a big white thing because the timer is about to go off"was testy. But since I paint nothing but children, I suppose I need to learn to do this on my own.

The first image was without the reflector the second was with it as you describe. Can you tell a difference?

Mary,

That's the sweetest looking boy I've ever seen.

Before we go any further I would like for you to give me some of the camera settings you've been using.

1) ISO? -- should start at 160 and then 200, 400 etc.
2) resolution? -- (2832 x 2128)?, (640 x 480)? other?

Have you been using manual or auto focus?

And, what are you using for a reflector, size, color?

ISO setting
 

It may be useful to give an explanation of "ISO." When operating in low indoor lighting conditions this feature becomes meaningful.

When using a film camera it was necessary to prejudge your lighting conditions before you loaded the camera with film. If you were going to spend the day outside in the sunlight you would choose a slow film such as a 100 ASA . Or, if you were going to a track meet and you wanted to

Mike, I usually use the automatic setting. Shouldn't that take care of ISO automatically?

However, I just pulled out the camera and it was set in P mode, so I have a feeling those last photos were taken in that setting in which case the ISO, from what I could tell, was set at 400. Let's assume I inadvertently did have it set in "P" mode, should I have had it set on 160?

As for resolution, it was set on the lowest resolution, I will switch it to the highest. Technology is just too much for me sometimes. :bewildere

Mary,

I don

:D , I'm sorry Mike, but look at it this way, if you can get me to do this right under the circumstances, imagine what I will be able to do under optimal circumstances.

Mary,

At some point you may want to investigate some ready made reflectors. The Photoflex Company offers a wide range of equipment to assist the photographer, including reflectors and stands.

Mary,

As you go about your work make it one of your goals to get a good close up of your subjects face. Also, if there are other important details of the composition, close ups of these features can make your life so much easier.