Family Portrait

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Family Portrait

Postby MHD on Mon Aug 29, 2005 9:19 am

Taken in the botanic gardens on that glorious day we had yesterday!!!
Mounted on tripod, using SB-80DX + LS II, d70 + 105/2.8 Micro-nikkor

The aim was to get the halo effect from the backlighting but not have the faces over blown... So I spot metered on the halo, added a little comp, then used the flash to bring up the faces...

White balance was achieved by holding a white card next to Louise's face in a previous shot and using the RGB values from that to compensate

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Postby MHD on Mon Aug 29, 2005 9:20 am

My critique: I should have had less stuff in the background...
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Postby Alex on Mon Aug 29, 2005 9:26 am

Very nice, MHD. I would only crop out the wheel of a (pram?) on the right.

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Postby MHD on Mon Aug 29, 2005 10:11 am

Yep... a pram..

Will give it a go...
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Postby moggy on Mon Aug 29, 2005 10:11 am

Great looking sandwich! He he, nice family group and would agree with Alex, the pram wheels needs to go. Well done.

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Postby MHD on Mon Aug 29, 2005 12:56 pm

mmmm cream cheese and smoked salmon :)
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Postby stubbsy on Mon Aug 29, 2005 1:05 pm

Scott

Beautifully lit, but finish eating the sanga next time :wink: . I think this is a great starting point for a series of shots. Louise looks great, but you look a little strange lounging in from the side (like you jumped down there after setting up the camera, rather than you were reclining there as part of the image). Perhaps you could be propping your head up with your hand - I think it's the loose arm that looks unnatural. You're on to a good thing with this approach so go back and have another go after being super analytical of the shot yourself. I'd really like to see the result of this since what you've achieved here is way in front of that boring studio portrait stuff.
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Postby leek on Mon Aug 29, 2005 1:22 pm

Well lit Scott... A nice informal portrait...

I'm not sure what was behind you, but it may have looked better from a lower viewpoint with an out of focus background...
Declutter and try again...
Can I suggest a brightly coloured toy that is perched on top of the camera so that you draw the baby's eyes to the lens too... Difficult to guarantee, but this might increase the chances of eye contact...
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Postby MHD on Mon Aug 29, 2005 4:12 pm

Excellent suggestions!
Yep... it looks like I just jumped into the shot because I did... perhaps time to pull out the remote again!

It was one of those experimental things and I will definately try again :)
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Postby petermmc on Mon Aug 29, 2005 7:04 pm

I think its a great fun family shot warts and all...having had twins you need a half eaten sandwhich and a pram to make it authentic. Notice everyone is looking at a different point...that's how it is. Beaut lighting.

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