Lauren

Kimberly Dow · 03-15-2005, 03:01 AM

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...

Kimberly Dow · 03-15-2005, 03:04 AM

Rooster (otherwise known as "studly")

Rest In Peace

Michele Rushworth · 03-15-2005, 10:21 AM

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.

Kimberly Dow · 03-15-2005, 10:19 PM

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.

John Reidy · 03-16-2005, 07:18 PM

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.

Kimberly Dow · 03-16-2005, 11:28 PM

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.