Liza's First Snow

Mary Sparrow · 01-10-2004, 07:43 AM

You all told me to use my kids to practice on, you might be sorry, LOL.

I started this last night. It snowed here briefly yesterday and I took a pile of pictures while she watched mesmerized.

This angle was harder than I thought it would be. She is SO pale,(like her mother) that Im having a hard time putting the light in her face without it just looking white.

Any suggestions towards finishing appreciated.

Mary Sparrow · 01-10-2004, 07:46 AM

Resource.

Mary Sparrow · 01-10-2004, 09:38 AM

I've piddled with her a little more, but feel like Im going in the opposite direction.

Valerie Warner · 01-10-2004, 12:15 PM

First of all, this is such a great pose. I love the lighting and that look on her face. You will cherish this forever and this start is wonderful!

Now for the problem areas as I see them:

Squint and look at your ref. Look at the value differences between light and shadow. Do you see the color you

Marvin Mattelson · 01-10-2004, 01:41 PM

The value range of your subject exceeds the dynamic range of your camera so that the lightest lights are bleached out giving you no highlight information. Lowering the lightest lights a tad and placing the small highlights in the right places is very crucial IMHO.

I remember you just purchased a new digital camera. Besides pixel count, the dynamic range is extremely important and for the purposes as an artist reference even more so.

The mental strategy that needs to be front and foremost is that of relating each form to the lightsource. For example consider how each curl turn towards and away from the light? The top center curl looks more like a donut and needs to be considered in this way.

Problems of likeness color and composition are all secondary to the convincing resolution of form in light. Get it to turn. Again IMHO!

You've been really making great progress lately. Keep up the good work.

Mary Sparrow · 01-10-2004, 02:18 PM

and Marvin, yes, I did get a new camera. Outside, it takes wonderful pictures, inside, well, lets just say I need to take a photography class and learn how to use more than the auto mode. I have complained about it and have been assured that once I learn the camera I will be amazed. Time will tell.

Now, let me see what I can do to fix this portrait.

Mary Sparrow · 01-10-2004, 04:05 PM

I know Cynthia is ready to Bop me over the head, I posted a thank you and comment to the above threads and accidently posted it as a new thread.

Marvin, I understand, contrary to the way my adjustments may appear, what you are saying about making the curls turn. I messed with that curl a zillion different ways, but it seems as though I need about 500 more choices in pastel sticks. I tried to take some of the white out of her face. I think Im going to retire this one, not because it is a lost cause, but because I have reworked her face so many times, she is starting to look muddy and the paper is not going to take much more. I am also going to find someone that can explain how to take pictures with this new camera.

Despite its shortcomings, I do like it for the moment it captures. Hard to believe my baby will be ONE in a couple of weeks.

Chris Saper · 01-10-2004, 05:06 PM

Hi Mary,

Just a thought for your next portrait - keep the overall temperature sense in shadow and light identifiable. Although both shadow and light have temperature variations, you want to maintain a sense of differential.

This photo set-up is one you should continue experimenting with - the combination of indirect light, cool sky and snow give you the opportunity to underscore cool notes in the light, compared to the warm shadows (as in the the back of her neck). Also, you want the flesh- against-flesh areas (nostrils, eye corners, inner ears, skin creases) to read as warm, regardless of the light temperature.

You might want to shoot more photos in this location - and certainly feel free to post in photo resource critique if you would like.

Denise Hall · 02-01-2004, 10:27 AM

Mary,

This has such a nice quality - as all your pastel work does. The softness, color harmony and you ability to catch the softness of a child's skin is remarkable.

I can't really give any criticism -but I can say that you have captured her "look" very well. The name says it all - first snow.

Keep up the good work!

Denise