Evolution of A Baby Portrait

The original 17 megapixel capture (Raw, 1/125 sec., f/8). Three adults assisting: My associate, Nicole blowing bubbles toward Talia, her mother, Sophia standing next to me talking to her, a student of mine, Tanya, spotting Talia to keep her safe. Photographed in the Rankin Arts Center's studio, two lights, black velvet backdrop. Notice that my main light, a 4x6' softbox, is positioned far around to the right (short lighting) to create three-dimensionality and to backlight the bubbles.

The image has now been cropped and I have adjusted contrast using Levels. I have also imported bubbles from another shot, resized and enhanced them, and retouched her pampers to appear solid white.





Cropped tighter now, scratch removed from her cheek, eyes enhanced.





I tried out a sepia/selective tint, decided I didn't like it.




I tried a watercolor filter. You may have to enlarge the image to see it (just click on it). Decided I didn't like it, either.


Here is the final portrait. I have added a Photoshop filter called Accented Edges, on a separate layer, adjusted opacity, and then created a rough, painterly edge. This portrait would look great printed on watercolor paper.

Good equipment, outstanding crew, beautiful happy baby, Photoshop, lots of patience in the studio and on the computer= Talia with Bubbles! See more of Talia here.

Love those babies, and

Keep Shootin'
Kenny

#1 Beginner's Mistake

Take a look at the three images to the left. The top two represent what you might see when looking through the viewfinder of your digital camera. You will likely see other numbers and icons that tell you the settings you have chosen for your camera. For now pay attention to the two numbers displayed: the number on the far left is your shutter speed, to the right, your aperture. It is the shutter speed that concerns us today. Notice that the shutter speed is one-forth of a second, (represented by 4 or 1/4, depending on your camera manufacturer), much too slow to hand-hold. In the low light of this cathedral, your camera is "telling you" that in order to get a good exposure, you need a slowwww shutter speed, no problem unless you forgot your tripod, but will result in camera shake without one.


The third image shows how your photograph might look. Camera shake is not a focus problem, it is a result of the camera (photographer) moving during a long exposure.

Your camera has a built-in light meter, and the shutter speed and aperture numbers displayed in your viewfinder, and LCD display, is the light reading. Learn to "read" your camera's display before taking your picture and you will avoid this common mistake.


Keep your eye on your light readings and

Keep Shootin'.
Kenny

Requiem for Polaroid ?

Sharon, 1993 from Dreamers

I have been thinking about Polaroid film lately, since the company's announcement that they were discontinuing production. Like most photographers of my generation, I used Polaroid cameras-initially the cheap, plastic versions my parents provided and later beautifully crafted folding models with Zeiss lenses, like the one I used in 1993 for a project called Dreamers. My film of choice was Polaroid Positive/Negative, which produced not only a black and white print (positive) but a large negative that could be cleared and dried and used in a darkroom to make enlargements. I also used Polaroid BW film to test lighting set-ups in my studio.

Polaroid film was important because it cut out the middleman; the photographer took a picture and within a few minutes, held the print in his hands. No drugstore or minilab to finish the job and often finish it badly. (Almost) instant gratification, way back in the 50's, and a unique one-of-a kind photograph, ready for a family album. I sincerely hope that some other company decides to license the Polaroid technology- there are a lot of photographers who are passionate about the product, but are there enough?

Check out this site, devoted to saving Polaroid film.

Ansel Adams was directly involved in the development of Polaroid film, used it extensively and wrote the definitive book on its creative use.

Dr. Edwin Land, Polaroid's inventor, profiled here.

Use any technology, old or new, simple or sophisticated, but

Keep Shootin'.
Kenny