Random Images - Newborns and teens

Peanuts · Jul 2, 2008

ah! I love summer, except everything is relatively busy so I am just getting around to editing. I have to finish an entire grad order, finish editing the newborn session, my cousin's 'senior' session. Then I have to prepare for next weeks two engagement sessions and a toddler. Yee-haw!

Anyways, to keep my sanity I thought I would share some of the images

If you want any stats just ask! (All shot in manual)

1. This is my cousin. While I was visiting all my relatives in Ontario/Michigan I offered to do a mini session with him for free and we had a blast.

f/1.2 1/200 ISO250 85mm

2. Can you guess what his passion is? He had really red skin tones for the session since he was doing a week long basketball camp and was thoroughly sunnified!
f/4 1/200 ISO ISO400 45mm

3. Honestly, I decreased his redness here.
f/1.2 1/800 ISO250 85mm

4. Babushka? This newborn was such a sweetheart but she refused to slep for three hours straight. All of the images I post were taken within a 30 minute period at the end :lol:

f/4.5 1/160 ISO500 100mm (natural light via window to camera left)

5.
f/2.8 1/125 ISO800 67mm (natural light via window behind myself..oops)

6.
f/8 1/250 ISO200 28mm (using a softbox to the right)

7.
f/8 1/250 ISO200 28mm (using a softbox to the right)

8.
f/8 1/250 ISO200 28mm (using a softbox to the right)

9. I'm just going to throw this in because it makes me laugh
f/3.2 1/160 ISO250 24mm

10. Last but not least is my grandfather
f/1.8 1/800 ISO160 85mm

Thanks for looking!

noescape · Jul 2, 2008

Wow- I'm impressed!!! These are great IMO! I'm loving the Belgian/Haflinger/?

gpimages · Jul 2, 2008

Very nice!

Peanuts · Jul 2, 2008

Thanks for the comments! I believe it is a Haflinger (from searching them on google)

kellylindseyphotography · Jul 2, 2008

Fab stuff, as always. I particularly love the first one, you nailed focus and color, it's beautiful! SEnding you a PM!

toots23 · Jul 2, 2008

wow awsome

poppy67 · Jul 3, 2008

Beautiful beautiful images what lens are you using?

Lacey Anne · Jul 3, 2008

These are all absolutely stunning work!

RowmyF · Jul 3, 2008

These got a reaction out of me.

I always know a good shot when I see it and I say something out loud ( to myself )...a gasp...or a WOW... you got those!

I love #4 and I love #5..

You're incredibly talented!!!!!!

Can you share with us the lens you were using for these...tips on your post processing and your exiff ( I know I'm asking a lot lol so whatever you can offer, I'll take!)

Peanuts · Jul 3, 2008

Thanks everyone

Poppy67: Here is the list of lenses I was using:

1,3,10: 85mm f/1.2L (borrowed, I adore this lens)
2: 45mm TS
4,5: 100mm f/2.8 Macro
6,7,8,9: 24-70 f/2.8 (my fave)

Rowmy: I don't think there is any better compliment then hearing that someone reacted to an image so thank you immensely!
I will post my EXIF data above each image right now and later today I will post a bit about my PP.

Oh and what the hey here is another one of my cousin
11.
f/2 1/500 ISO250 85mm (lit by reflector which you can see reflecting in the bottom left portion of his eye)

Peanuts · Jul 4, 2008

Okay postprocessing!

To begin with I shoot 100% and manual. To help with getting bang on exposure I use a light meter which has probably saved my behind more then a few times.

Once I put them on my computer, I use Capture One to process them out to JPEGs. I personally do very little editing in this program, usually some exposure tweaking, WB (I shoot completely in Auto WB right now - which I need to work on) and adding or taking away some contrast, the odd time cropping. After this, I open the JPEGs in photoshop and this is where the fun starts

Colour
I have a secret, I use a single action :blushing: . now before anyne thinks that actions are the way to go, halt! You need to have a good understanding of PS already as actions are essentially just a quicker way of getting around. The one I use is Andrew's AIO action which I love since ti is so quick and I find it so universal. I haven't bought a single other action and refuse to. If I can't make due without this one then i just have to work some more on optimizing it for my needs. Anyways, after running the basics of that I simply use curves to make it how I envision it

BW

Yay! No actions here! I just call it the Lab BW. Most of this information I picked up from reading magazines so I can't take any credit but I love it because it creates this nice creamy, contrasty BW that work with essentially everything. Here are the steps, you can make it a self-made action if you want to speed it up a bit.

1. image --> Mode --> Greyscale (yes discard information)
2. Image --> Mode --> Lab Colour
3. Go to your palette and select 'Channels'
4. Delete 'b' channel
5. Delete 'Alpha 2' channel
6. Image --> Mode --> Greyscale
7. Image --> Mode --> RGB Colour
8. Duplicate layer and change blending mode to soft light (adjust opacity - watch the highlights!!)
8b. Optional: use curves to tweak a bit
9. Burn and dodge to your hearts desire

The end

3of11 · Jul 9, 2008

Love the pictures! And thanks for all the great information.

butterflygirl · Jul 17, 2008

Wow! Nothing short of amazing! I confess, I have been lurking lately and not doing much posting, but I had to post a comment for these - great!

Also, I had a quick question - do you use a reflector for most of your outdoor shots or just for close-ups? I haven't been using one myself much, and have a couple of senior sessions coming up - so I was thinking of maybe using it more - what do you think?

Again GREAT work!

Peanuts · Jul 17, 2008

No problem - I am all for sharing information!

Butterflygirl - If I have an extra pair of hands I always bring my reflector along since it works wonders for adding in a catchlight on those cloudy days and honestly, the subject usually cracks up when the extra pair of hands is awkwardly trying to position the reflector. If you don't have an extra pair of hands, you can still have it for headshots, just ahve the subject hold it at about waste height and it gets rid of some ugly shadows - plus, I tell them it is the quickest way to get a tan

butterflygirl · Jul 17, 2008

Peanuts said:
No problem - I am all for sharing information!

Butterflygirl - If I have an extra pair of hands I always bring my reflector along since it works wonders for adding in a catchlight on those cloudy days and honestly, the subject usually cracks up when the extra pair of hands is awkwardly trying to position the reflector. If you don't have an extra pair of hands, you can still have it for headshots, just ahve the subject hold it at about waste height and it gets rid of some ugly shadows - plus, I tell them it is the quickest way to get a tan

Sweet! Thanks!