You Gotta Fight for the Light at the Party
Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 1:06PM A couple of weeks ago I went to an “Easter party,” where I got to practice one of my great pastimes—taking photos of my friends’ kids. If you’ve read my Fact, Moment, Light post, you can imagine my trepidation as I brought my camera out—kids are great subjects (facts), especially when they’re doing adorable things like getting amped on candy and foraging for more, but this party was smack in the middle of a sunny spring day, light so notoriously unglamorous that one dad mentioned that he hadn’t bothered to bring his camera for just that reason.
I didn’t come home with many satisfying shots that day, but those I did get are examples of fighting hard for the light—using shade, bounce, and not being afraid of some contrast.
Sometimes the unfriendliness of the light can help you make a photo that’s about as unlike an Easter party shot as you’re likely to find.
See more at Easter 09 on flickr. Canon 5D Mark II with Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM.
Reader Comments (15)
The third one is really beautiful and dark. Looks like a painting from an interesting artist who happens to be have an exhibition here right now (in Holland that is):
Maya Kulenovic
http://www.mayakulenovic.com/paintingsfaces1.htm
Nice Pictures, the third one actually looks a bit like a still from a ring/grudge kind of movie :) How much post went into these pictures?
Grreetings
Those are beautiful shots indeed. Love how you played the bright patches of light against some rich darks. And the focus is spot on.
Gorgeous
jas
I was just shooting my kinds some days ago also. And also in a bright clear sunny day. But.... Polarized filter and some shade (that must be there - cause CPL works only in 90 degrees from sun direction, so the subject is always in half- or full- selfshadow). And shadows from trees, etc, also helped.
So the formula is: shade to eliminate direct sun, and CPL to darken the sky and the background (cause it's much-much brighter than shaded objects).
You can see the results here, in my blog:
take one
take two
take three
Stu, How many pics did you take that day? Just curious about your ratio of keepers to attempts? - And wow...just stellar images.
Matt, the sad answer is about 300.
those are really nice. super emotive and beautifully shot. 300 shots to get a few great ones sounds about right. my wife always says i take too many pics but when shes sees a really nice one its all worth it.
zombie child want braiiiiinss... and cadbury's!
Stu-
Dont know if you've tried/bought one, but I think you'd really like the 85/1.2.
Stu, when are you going to buy a real camera, like a D700 or D3x? I think you'd be getting a better keeper ratio that 3/300. Love, Eric.
P.S., Could you have another wedding (to the same woman). I think I got a few of the best FML pictures I've ever made at your wedding.
Hey Eric! I used to have cameras with the D on the left instead of the right — maybe I will again... If I can't make a decent photo with the 5D Mark II I'm not sure any Nikon's gonna save me!
You are absolutely right, you got some amazing FML shots at our wedding!
"the sad answer is about 300."
Stu- That is not a sad answer. That is a truthful photographer's answer. Capturing 'the decisive moment' can't be done perfectly with every photograph. No photographer is that good. There are professional photogs out there who -at best- occasionally hit ratios of 1 in 10 or 1 in 8. Frankly 1 in 100 is better than most non-pro photographers out there. Your imagery is terrific - made all the better by your unmatched color correction and post work.
Your 'FML' theory is interesting - a little more in depth than 'the decisive moment'. Still leads to the same place though. A fantastic photo is a fantastic photo is a fantastic photo - no matter how much you analyze it. A truly great photo is usually the product of a trained photographer's reflexes and equipment. (I'm still surprised you prefer Canon. Yuck.)
But most important, a good photo has all the technical stuff right WHILE TELLING A COMPELLING STORY!!! (Do you see a pattern here?)
A picture is worth 1000 words, right?
A great photograph is not just worth 1000 words torn from the dictionary at random. A great picture is worth 1000 carefully chosen and carefully written words which combine to tell an engaging story.
Thanks, Stu! Keep it up!
-Cy
wow, nice work !