I know, I know...it's not Monday. Let's just call this a wednesday lesson then. The holiday season is in full swing here at the studio and it's getting busy here!
On monday I had a basic photography class at my studio for the members of the Bellaire Young Mothers organization. One of the things that I talked about was how, when we grab our cameras and go to take some pictures of our kids, we often meddle with and stop the very activity that they are doing that inspired us to photograph them. We start directing them and asking them to do this and move over here and look up. They get annoyed, give us that cheesy grin to make us go away and we end up frustrated. Ever been there?
I would like to challenge you to try something different. The next time you look over and see the kids playing or doing something cute, go secret agent style with your camera. Grab the camera and use your zoom lens to get close to them (but stay back) and photograph them as they are without direction. If you can be really sneaky, grab the camera and sit down with them and play a little while you shoot them doing whatever they are doing. The big key here is minimal direction and interference!
When we were on vacation this past summer, the house that we rented has a little garden in the front and it was full of snails. One of the kid's favorite activities was collecting the snails and making a "snail home" as they called it. One afternoon I heard them chit chatting away out there and peeked out. The sky was overcast (a great time to shoot by the way) and they were playing happily together (not always the case). So, I grabbed my camera and went outside and just watched them and photographed them playing. The only direction that I gave them was, at one point, I said "Cool! Show me your snail, hold it up so I can see!". I didn't move them or ask them get closer or "look up and smile!" or anything like that.
We all want the image of our kids looking straight at the camera and smiling. We want the picture of all 3 or both of them (or however many you have) together and looking up and smiling. Keep chasing that shot but, while you're at it, try this too. Your kids will appreciate less meddling and you will get some nice candid shots. I would love to hear how you do with it.
(On a technical note, I shot these on AV (aperture priority mode) on my Canon 5D Mark II. I have not photoshopped these and I was not using a flash or any other light source.)
And this is the snail home that they made...
Now it's your turn...think stealth, spy-like, unobtrusive, a journalist! Have fun and I'd love to hear how it goes.
Lee-ANn says:
well, you did a great job on these!! I tend to snap under cover. I love the shots that show who a person truly is!
(10.14.09 @ 01:22 PM)
Rhonda Kasowski says:
Love your work & follow your blog! In the images above, what type of lens were you using at the time? Your work is always so beautiful!
(10.19.09 @ 06:06 AM)
Chase Shull says:
What Lens was used on the photos of the kids and snails?
(10.19.09 @ 11:27 PM)
Chase Shull says:
What Lens was used on the photos of the kids and snails?
(10.19.09 @ 11:27 PM)
Farrah says:
For the info on my lens of choice, see the Monday lesson above on lenses. For these, I used my canon 24-70 F2.8.
(10.20.09 @ 04:15 PM)
This past July we took our summer vacation to Santa Barbara. If you read this blog regularly then you probably saw my July posts from our misc. California adventures. We stay away for a month so, as you can imagine, when I return home it is a whirlwind of activity. So, I am playing catch up with some images that I haven't blogged from our trip. Anyone want to virtually visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium this afternoon?
Finn, appreciating some sand dollars
This was a cool spot. It was a clear glass ceiling and a wave crashed over you into a tank on the outside deck. Sayer loved it but, as you can see, Finn was less sure about the whole thing.
Here is the outside part of that big wave aquarium.
Finn, appreciating some sand dollars
This was a cool spot. It was a clear glass ceiling and a wave crashed over you into a tank on the outside deck. Sayer loved it but, as you can see, Finn was less sure about the whole thing.Here is the outside part of that big wave aquarium.They have an entire area devoted to jellyfish, awesome!
the boys, awed by the jellies...
the boys, awed by the jellies...This aquarium was incredible, it was 2 stories! And...it had sharks so Finnian was psyched!
This was the lower story of that same tank. I love that image of Finnian on the right. This tank and the one where you got to touch everything were his favorites.
The aquarium had a special seahorse exhibit while we were there. Sayer knows what my favorite sea creature is. I was standing next to one exhibit when Sayer came running up to me. He was so excited, "Close your eyes Mommy! Close your eyes!". He led me through the crowd to this...he said, "Your favorite!". It was so sweet.
I love these little guys. For me, this is a perfect example of how incredible our world is. I could have watched him swim around forever. When they are carrying eggs, you can see them all clustered on the outside of their bellies. I would not classify myself as religious but this creature is my version of God. This is our natural world in all of it's amazing glory.
There is your little taste. If you haven't been to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, put it on your bucket list. It's an incredible place!
This was the lower story of that same tank. I love that image of Finnian on the right. This tank and the one where you got to touch everything were his favorites.The aquarium had a special seahorse exhibit while we were there. Sayer knows what my favorite sea creature is. I was standing next to one exhibit when Sayer came running up to me. He was so excited, "Close your eyes Mommy! Close your eyes!". He led me through the crowd to this...he said, "Your favorite!". It was so sweet.I love these little guys. For me, this is a perfect example of how incredible our world is. I could have watched him swim around forever. When they are carrying eggs, you can see them all clustered on the outside of their bellies. I would not classify myself as religious but this creature is my version of God. This is our natural world in all of it's amazing glory.There is your little taste. If you haven't been to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, put it on your bucket list. It's an incredible place!
I have so much to blog! Since my last entry we're actually back home but, before that, we went to the aquarium, explored Carmel, hiked, seen the best sunrise EVER and more. I need to catch up so I'll start with some exploring in Carmel. After seeing the Monterrey Bay Aquarium (which is a whole other post for later) we set out down the 17-mile drive through Pebble Beach. It's a beautiful drive with dramatic coastal views and cool forests too. We've stopped by the side of the road and did a little hiking...
and made a few wishes
and made tiny discoveries.
Next up, we found a little beach along the 17-mile drive that had beautiful bright white sand, barking seals, and amazing tide pools. Inside all the little nooks and crannies of the rocks you had an incredible variety of marine life. The world is such an amazing place.
We spent hours exploring this little beach and practically had to drag them away. This is my favorite thing about traveling - you never know what you might find. We never planned this excursion and it ended up being one of the kid's favorite things that we did. Do you have any little finds like this? Some amazing little gem that you found on one of your journeys? I'd love to hear about them.
Today is Monday and I know that some of you are expecting a Monday photography lesson. I really should be working more and staying on top of things but I can't. I am completely and totally on vacation. Sure, I check email and sometimes my phone messages but when it comes to actually working, I just can't bring myself to do it.
I'm not sure if this will make sense but I feel so happy at times that it makes me actually sad. When I think about going back to the grind my heart just aches a little. I don't want to wake up way too early and race to get everyone to school on time. I don't want to get back into the hot car. I don't want to send the kids off to school all day. I want it to stay very much like it is right now.
My heart is here right now...At least three of the days each week I have sand in between my toes. I might put some makeup on if I think about it, which I usually don't. I am living in flip flops. Everyday I am greeted by the Pacific Ocean and each day it gives you something a little different to see. I pull on a sweater when the sun goes down. I wake up every morning with at least one of my kids in my bed with me. The windows are open all day and the ocean breeze fills the house.
We've been drinking a lot of chocolate milkshakes and watching the sun go down while we play on the beach.
We have been exploring...and finding.
We have been snuggling...a LOT. We've been picking our own vegetables at local farms and spending a lot of time at the farmer's markets (which happen here 6 days a week). I ate corn on the cob the other day that was so good that I literally gasped.
We picnic at the foot of the Santa Barbara Mission in the Rose Garden.
So, I hope you will forgive my absence. My heart is on vacation and it needed it. Soon enough it will be back to the regularly scheduled programming.
I'm not sure if this will make sense but I feel so happy at times that it makes me actually sad. When I think about going back to the grind my heart just aches a little. I don't want to wake up way too early and race to get everyone to school on time. I don't want to get back into the hot car. I don't want to send the kids off to school all day. I want it to stay very much like it is right now.
My heart is here right now...At least three of the days each week I have sand in between my toes. I might put some makeup on if I think about it, which I usually don't. I am living in flip flops. Everyday I am greeted by the Pacific Ocean and each day it gives you something a little different to see. I pull on a sweater when the sun goes down. I wake up every morning with at least one of my kids in my bed with me. The windows are open all day and the ocean breeze fills the house.We've been drinking a lot of chocolate milkshakes and watching the sun go down while we play on the beach.We have been exploring...and finding.We have been snuggling...a LOT. We've been picking our own vegetables at local farms and spending a lot of time at the farmer's markets (which happen here 6 days a week). I ate corn on the cob the other day that was so good that I literally gasped. We picnic at the foot of the Santa Barbara Mission in the Rose Garden.So, I hope you will forgive my absence. My heart is on vacation and it needed it. Soon enough it will be back to the regularly scheduled programming.
kaytee says:
you capture the energy of people (especially kids!) and the beauty of landscapes so well. so much talent!!
(07.23.09 @ 02:23 AM)
kaytee says:
you capture the energy of kids and the beauty of the landscape so well. you're such a versatile and talented photographer!!
(07.23.09 @ 02:24 AM)
For those of you who don't know this little tid-bit about me, I am a Francophile. I love France! We spent part of the summer there last year and were all in heaven. I speak pretty good French too (when I am practicing and not being shy). So, I was excited when I saw a poster for a French Festival here in Santa Barbara. Come to find out it is one of the largest in the country!
The kids played in "pump it ups!" (inflatable bounce house thingies), ate baguettes, had their faces painted, ate frozen lemonade and celebrated the finale by watching the poodle parade.
The face painting looked amazing but Sayer decided that he didn't like his at all. To be exact, he "hated it" and we had to wash it off as soon as we got home. He had a specific idea what he wanted and was trying to explain it to the lady. He wanted the dragon to start on one side and go around the other eye and have flames going down his nose. She just said "oh, yeah, dragon, ok, I love dragons" and started painting away. Poor Sayer...I tried to tell him how cool it looked but he wasn't buying it. On the flip side, Finn loved his and wanted to sleep in it.
As is the case at all festivals, there is always (at least one) festival weirdo. You know, the person wandering around almost naked or staggering around drunk. At this festival, we had the one I will title the interpretive dancer. The kids just sat there staring not knowing what to make of it.
You know, I have never really understood the anti-French sentiment that I hear. The French have throughout history been great supporters of us and loyal allies. We give them so much grief though and I just don't get it. I saw a guy in Houston shortly before we left wearing a t-shirt that said "Texas, it's better than France". I mean, really? Has he ever even been there? I don't know, I just don't get it. No matter how I might feel about another country I can't imagine purchasing a shirt that had a message like that printed on it and then actually wearing it in public. I can assure you that all of the times that I have visited France, I have never seen a similar t-shirt there. Okay, no more soap box...
The final of the day was the poodle parade. The kids thought it was hilarious. Here are a few of my favorite poodles and poodle wanna-bes.
Au revoir!
Michelle Mustari says:
Amazing pictures - which lens did you use? They are so clear I love your sons' face paintings too - amazing clarity.
(09.05.09 @ 09:48 PM)