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Took a few shots today of Andrew and couldn't resist sharing
Got to love the SB800 & the kit lens ! ....can't wait to get my hands on a 50mm 1.4 though











Critiques/comments most welcomed...

Dave,

What a lovely quality you have captured in the skin - it is just a joy. And the tell-tale colour of the whites of the eyes is so real. I applaud this and it reassures me that the time is now right for digital - big time.

May I ask about the flash: did you use some sort of diffuser like a Sto-Fen in addition to nearby bounce? It's a great look.

Cheers,

Oh, and should have said: Andrew is a real little charmer too - awake or napping!

I agree with Sheetshooter. I think the pictures are gorgeous and will be something to treasure. If I remember correctly, doesn't Andrew have a twin sister? I would love to see pictures of her too. I would also be interested to find out if you used the diffuser.

thanks Guys.....I was very happy with how they turned out. They are definitely "keepers".

With the SB800, I've found (personally), that I get better results without the diffuser, when bouncing off the ceiling - at close range to the subject.

For these shots I had the wide-angle flap down over the flash to disperse the light to a broader area and angled it at 90deg, straight up (bouncing off ceiling/wall). I also had natural light coming in from a window (approx. 3 metres away).

I find that if I have the diffuser on when doing this, the light comes out from the sides of the diffuser as well as the front, so you get "direct light" hitting the subject - when in close proximity (1-2 metres). The shots don't turn out bad, I just think they look better without the diffuser...IMHO

You are correct Marvin, Andrew does have a twin sister (Jennifer).
Here are a couple of pics from today as well:





I certainly cannot complain that I don't have anything to take photos of anymore

Don't let Onyx see. He might describe them as looking retarded!

Btw, nice captures.

Dave

I'm a card carrying I Hate Baby Pics member

These are a great bunch of pics and really show the quality of the kit lens. You'll love the 50/1.4 when you can save for it (maybe about the time the twins hit high school )

Number three pushes my buttons for it's cuteness. Clever idea.

Edit: The second shot of Jennifer is great two.

Looking at these - it looks like they are NOT identical twins?

Nice shots mate...

Now for my advice.... burn them to a CD (perhaps two) and store them away...

These will be worth 10 times the cost of your d70 in 20 years time!

stubbsy wrote:Dave

I'm a card carrying I Hate Baby Pics member

These are a great bunch of pics and really show the quality of the kit lens. You'll love the 50/1.4 when you can save for it (maybe about the time the twins hit high school )

Number three pushes my buttons for it's cuteness. Clever idea.

Edit: The second shot of Jennifer is great two.

Looking at these - it looks like they are NOT identical twins?

Cheers Stubbsy. Yes, I am saving every 20 cent piece to get to the price of the 50 1.4

How I'll manage the 70-200VR is beyond me

Alot of people ask if they are identical twins or not......of course, a boy/girl combination can never be identical (for obvious reasons)

MHD wrote:Nice shots mate...!

Thanks Scott.

Now for my advice.... burn them to a CD (perhaps two) and store them away...

Yes indeed. I usually ait till I have enough to burn on a DVD, which doesn't usually take very long these days....but I will certainly be taking your advice !

These will be worth 10 times the cost of your d70 in 20 years time!

That would be about $2.00 ??

Aussie Dave wrote:<snip>Alot of people ask if they are identical twins or not......of course, a boy/girl combination can never be identical (for obvious reasons)

Dave I'm a smart fella - think I'd have had enough brains to know that wouldn't you  PS ask for 20 cents for the answer every time someone asks you this question. You'll have enough for the 50/1.4 AND the 70-200 in no time

Dave, firstly I must congratulate you on the birth of your beautiful twins. I must have been on another planet when you posted the fact.
I love the clearity and exposure in the images. You've done well to capture your kids without suggesting too much that a flash has been used. I think that's the trick for really great images like these.
Like you, the 70-200VR is out of my reach, but the SB800 is definitely the next in line followed by the 50mm 1.4
You'll certainly have even more uses for your D70 as the twins grow up. Plenty of 21st snaps to embarass them too!
Cheers, Jase.

Lovely photo's and absolutely gorgeous babies.

I don't have any kids myself, but I take a lot of baby/toddler photo's for friends with young families. I figure the more practice I can get with others the better I'll be when I finally have my own kids to photograph.

Thanks for sharing your great shots with us, (do you have any of them as a pair ?)

The eyes truly are the windows to the soul! absolutly beautiful!

Great shots Dave. And as MHD said, keep 'em safe.

Dave, the first shot of Andrew made me laugh out loud, it was such a pleasure to view.

I am really going to have to work on my husband to allow me to buy the SB800 (see, not all of us have nagging wives....some of us have HUSBANDS). The photos are magic.

You have reminded me that I need to take some photos of my little one soon. He seems to be either in my arms of late, or if he isn't I'm running around keeping the other three happy

thanks for sharing.
Deb

Yes Deb & Jase, you really need to work at getting a SB800....it is so worth the money. I imported mine from B&H in the US earlier this year, however Birdy has some great prices, and I'm sure he'd be only too happy to oblige

As I don't have a fast prime (such as the 50 1.4 or 1.8 - yet), the SB800 (or SB600) really helps the kit lens to shine in otherwise difficult situations.

Basically, I shoot on manual @ usually stick around the 1/100sec mark and just play with apertures....the SB800 does the rest for me. I've found when bouncing the flash, it also helps to dial in +2/3 to +1.0 EV to account for the spread & falloff of light as it travels the further distance from ceiling to subject.

And Deb....remember, there's no film processing to contend with anymore so the only cost is time....so get that camera out TODAY and take some pics ! I trust we'll see your endevours posted sometime soon

Dave good to see the fantastic work of a proud father - great stuff!

may i make a suggestion - the 5th shot of Andrew (my favourite - though i'd love to hear what he says about the Ferrari hat shots in years to come ),shallow DOF, just focusing in his hand - try a B+W conversion - i think stripping the colour out will really focus the viewers eye on the hand?
Just a thought - seems i'm b+w mad at the moment

Great shots of the kids Dave, you have really nailed it, eveything is perfect (as are the kiddies, of course)

I know the 1.4 v 1.8 debate has raged - but you could have the 1.8 a LOT sooner than the 1.4, and it really is a good lens.

Deb, just buy the SB800 - your husband will appreciate your initiative

Greg B wrote:Deb, just buy the SB800 - your husband will appreciate your initiative

He loved my initiative when I purchased his first drum kit for him as a Christmas surprise, this one though, I think I might be pushing the friendship a bit.

I have to admit though, he took a lot of notice of what everyone had on their cameras at the Saturday night feast for the AW. Flyer was even helpful enough to pull his flash out and let Chris have a look. Helpful bunch aren't we?

But hey, I could always say..... "but Greg told me to"...... do you think it would work?

Sorry to steal your thread Dave.

Deb

Greg B wrote:Great shots of the kids Dave, you have really nailed it, eveything is perfect (as are the kiddies, of course)

I know the 1.4 v 1.8 debate has raged - but you could have the 1.8 a LOT sooner than the 1.4, and it really is a good lens.

Deb, just buy the SB800 - your husband will appreciate your initiative

Thanks Greg. Yes, I am in 2 minds now as to if I should look at the 1.8 instead. I really don't know if I'd need the luxury of being able to shoot at 1.4, but I'd hate to need it and not have it.

Too many decisions....won't someone just purchase one for me and make my mind up for me

And Deb....I had to sell my drumkit to buy the D70, so I don't see why you can't sell hubbies drumkit to get the SB800 Just give him a Bunnings voucher for Fathers Day to buy some buckets and sticks - they're great substitutes

Dave, I reckon the extra third of a stop or thereabouts is not going to be critical - I gather that the biggest differences with the 1.4 are that it is more solid, has more glass, is made in Japan. But you pay a considerable premium.