Lauren
 

These are not the best of the photos from a shoot today, but I wanted to share.

As some of you might remember - I moved to a ranch last summer and will be leaving this coming summer. Back to a city where there are actually people instead of just cows.. We took advantage of the surroundings and got ourselves some chickens. After all - the pens were there and they were far from the house. I agreed only on the condition that I get at least one colorful rooster to add to a painting somehow. Unfortunately - the day before this shoot something got into the roosters area and ate him. Country life.... We are getting eggs at this point - which is a novel thing. So - wanting to incorporate everything around me into paintings...here are some shots from today.

I am still very frustrated that I still cant seem to get a shot exposed right when there is a bright sky there. And I have lots of distortion on the building. I havent been using my new lens because I havent gotten a decent tripod yet. whine, whine...

Rooster (otherwise known as "studly")

Rest In Peace

Too bad you lost "studly" -- he would have made for a fine painting.

As for the exposure when there's a bright sky (as in the shot of the girl who is backlighted) using your camera's spot meter on the face, or center weighted averaging, if there's no spot metering, works wonders. Also, you can bracket and combine information from different exposures.

Yes, it is too bad we lost him. I'm suprised at how attached I felt to a rooster... :(

Michele - Ive read all the tips here about the spot metering and all the other comments - I know what to do in my head, but just seem to forget it all when having a shoot. What I really need to do is practice over and over with the kids until its automatic.

Kimberly - you don't need to practice on your kids or animals to get to know and be familiar with metering and bracketing. Waiting for them can create all sorts of reasons for putting this off. You can use inanimate objects of various colors. And they don't ever get tired of posing.

It also helps to write down your procedure at first and follow it while making notes that you can review after your pictures are developed (or if you're using a digital camera, downloaded). You may need to go through this process several times or make adjustments before you get the type of results you are looking for.

Once you have figured out your process, write it down and keep it with your camera for reference. It's real easy to forget these new procedures once you are on an actual shoot.

Don't forget Michele's advice about braketing. This is a critical step.

I hope that this helps.

Thanks John. You have a point - but the still life objects are a bit different out in the sun than faces. Common sense advice though - thanks! Writing it all down - why didnt I think of that?

Here are a few more photos from a shoot today. It's Spring Break here this week so I have been taking advantage of my models being out of school. The last one is going to be a painting for sure.

Kim,
so sorry to hear about your rooster, what a beautiful bird he was :(.

This must have been a fun day for you, neat photos... there's something especially charming to me about the one with the girl kneeling on the ground holding the chicken. .. maybe that it looks unposed?

I like the middle shot the best, personally. Reminds me of that famous National Geographic cover.

Yup, the "Afghan Girl" revisited. I especially like the wide range of colors in that shot. Can we see a close-up of her eyes?

Jean

Yes Michele & Jean - I like that one also. I guess you two dont find a problem with the fact that she isnt of any decent that would naturally wear something like that?

Thanks Terri - in lieu of flowers for the funeral, send money. ;) I like the one you mentioned also - I just wish her eyes were looking a little higher. I have the same shot with her looking directly at me, but it isnt the same feeling.

Jean - here are her gorgeous eyes and beneath that a shot I took when we were working on the No Evil shot...such a gorgeous face I knew I wanted to use her again.