(english readers, check bottom paragraph)
Als een van mijn vele goede nieuwjaar voornemens ga ik in 2009 eens werk maken van een mooi portfolio boek. Waarschijnlijk maak ik er eentje bij asukabook. Ik wil daarbij geen collages maken maar telkens een foto op een wit blad, zodat de foto mooi kan ademen. Ik ben er wel nog niet uit of ik daarbij custom borders ga gebruiken of niet. Sommige vierkante crops lenen zich goed voor dit soort borders, andere dan weer niet. Het mag ook geen kakafonie worden en het draait tenslotte om de foto, niet de border.
Wat doen jullie, en hoe automatiseer je dit soort dingen eventueel?
Alvast een experimentje, deze foto werd genomen vanuit de skytrain op Chicago International Airport.
Je hebt het misschien gemerkt … t’is ineens int nederlands te doen. Een andere knoop die ik wil doorhakken: bloggen in 2talen of nederlands, of door blijven doen int engels. Ik denk alleen dat ik me niet altijd even goed kan uitdrukken in mijn eigen moedertaal … and I can’t use the english jokes…
And for the international readers, you might have noticed that this article was written in some strange foreign (non english) language. I’m thinking about blogging in dutch, or maybe both. Let your voice be heard cause I’m not sure how many english readers I have.
Something totally different from what I normally post. I came across this picture in my way too big library of unprocessed images from our South-America adventure. I took this picture on the 17th of October, a couple of weeks before election day. We were stuck in Miami airport waiting for our next flight and CNN didn’t cover anything else beside the elections. The battle between McCain and Obama was still wide open (if it ever was). Both candidates were attending some benefit event and they both took turns making a speech. When Obama took the stand everybody gathered around the TV’s laughing at every not so funny joke. After the long lines at the customs (where I wasn’t allowed to take a picture) this was our second encounter of what we call “omg is this America” feeling. It was time to find a Burger King…
This picture would probably have more meaning if I had posted it when it was still news…
Filed under: Baby & Child Photography, Tips & Tricks | Tags: baththub, child photography, on camera flash, Strobist, toddler
This is actually a reader inspired blogpost. A couple of days ago DieterThePhotographer asked me how I got the clarity/sharpness in Lissa’s eyes and if that reflection in her eyes was a softbox I used…
This shot was actually taken with on camera flash. The camera held in portrait mode (obviously), low enough so it was inside the tub, the flash head in a 75° degree angle with the bounce card out. So the flash was actually aimed to the opposite side of the model, towards the tub. The tub now acted as a gigantic softbox / reflection panel that gave me soft yet very defined 3Dimensional light.
Shot info: 1/200th – F2.8 – ISO400 and for the flash 1/64th was all that was needed.
B/W conversion was done in lightroom. (with increased contrasts/blacks)
Whenever I can I use off camera light, but you can make great pictures if you get creative with what you have available around you.
For the eyes, unfortunately I can’t take any credits. Mom & Dad are still having heavy debates over who’s eyes she has 
Filed under: Baby & Child Photography, Tips & Tricks | Tags: baby photography, digital, processing, selecting, workflow
Something weird happened, after showing Emma’s slideshow, a lot of people, including the parents had the above shot as one their favourites.
But this image was actually recovered from my rejected pictures and almost found it’s way to the recycle bin.
When I browse through my pictures I pick/flag the best ones, these are also pictures that don’t need to any photoshop corrections besides the normal exposure and contrast adjustments. This is my A list and these pictures normally make the preview or slideshow presentation. Test shots , blinkers and under/over exposed shots get the rejected (Keyboard command – X) flag.
But there are usually a lot more images to discover in your library when you look at them a second time. What works for me is letting my images rest for a while before taking a new look at them. I exclude my A list and focus on the pictures that are less than good. I also check the rejected pictures before actually deleting them. I turn out the lights (Keyboard command – L) and use the crop board to see what potential an image might have.
This is what the original image looked like … a very uninspiring test shot
