Vigilance

Uploaded: December 12, 2007

Description

Flash - SB-800 bounced off ceiling; BG darkened using curves, while layer masking the subject; Nik ColorEFX sunshine filter & Dave's Ethereal Glow action.

Exif: F Number: 8, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 5/300 seconds, Flash: fired, auto mode, return light detected, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 55.00 mm, Model: NIKON D70s

Comments

Jayme S. Hall December 13, 2007

I'm smiling, I understand everything you just wrote:) Layer masking & action filters, fun. My question is can this lighting be accomplished without them? Here's what I'm thinking. 1 very low light on the camera right, almost but not quite at 90 degrees to the dog & a reflector directly to the left of the camera, angled to capture some of the light& bounce it back as fill or just add another small light source for fill, in about the same place. Also use a colored gel filter on the main light source, maybe gold/brown. You just gave me a really cool idea! Read the discussion notes, please ;) #807176

Donna M. Dunaif December 13, 2007

Absolutely, Jayme...the reason I went with digital post-processing is that this 15 year-old dog didn't want to cooperate at all during her photo session. I got the best shots of her face while she was lying, curled up, in front of the inside front door. She simply would not come anywhere near the backdrop I set up.

I lay on my stomach and was able to get her attention long enough for this shot. I played around with it on the computer and this is what I came up with. You could definitely get a similar result with the lighting method you describe! #5203858

Donna M. Dunaif December 13, 2007

Oh, by the way, I corrected the original lighting description on this one: I had lit other shots in the session with an SB-800 in a Photek Softlighter, but forgot that for this one, I used the flash on camera, bounced off the ceiling. Sorry about the goof. #5203897

Jayme S. Hall December 14, 2007

Donna- Pets are much like children (in more ways than one:) They rarely want to cooperate when you want them to. They can be their sweetest when they are just trying to cuddle :) I have one grandson I've thought of putting an electric fence collar on :) Just kidding! He had refused to step on the backdrop until about a month ago. He's 2 1/2. He'd scream & cry & run like the wind. We tired just about everything. Finally, one day when he was visiting, I offered him a big box of costume jewelry to play with. I never dreamed he'd be interested. He was fascinated. I got a few really comical shots with him wearing a tiara, some antique spectacles while looking into a small hand mirror :) Who would have guessed, jewelry! A tiara? Oh well, I just laugh every time I see the images. I think 90% of taking images of kids & pets is being creative, having lots of patience & having a forgiving lighting set-up. Oh yeah, and PhotoShop! #5206514

Jayme S. Hall December 14, 2007

Donna- Pets are much like children (in more ways than one:) They rarely want to cooperate when you want them to. They can be their sweetest when they are just trying to cuddle :) I have one grandson I've thought of putting an electric fence collar on :) Just kidding! He had refused to step on the backdrop until about a month ago. He's 2 1/2. He'd scream & cry & run like the wind. We tired just about everything. Finally, one day when he was visiting, I offered him a big box of costume jewelry to play with. I never dreamed he'd be interested. He was fascinated. I got a few really comical shots with him wearing a tiara, some antique spectacles while looking into a small hand mirror :) Who would have guessed, jewelry! A tiara? Oh well, I just laugh every time I see the images. I think 90% of taking images of kids & pets is being creative, having lots of patience & having a forgiving lighting set-up. Oh yeah, and PhotoShop! #5206522

Jayme S. Hall December 14, 2007

Donna- Pets are much like children (in more ways than one:) They rarely want to cooperate when you want them to. They can be their sweetest when they are just trying to cuddle :) I have one grandson I've thought of putting an electric fence collar on :) Just kidding! He had refused to step on the backdrop until about a month ago. He's 2 1/2. He'd scream & cry & run like the wind. We tired just about everything. Finally, one day when he was visiting, I offered him a big box of costume jewelry to play with. I never dreamed he'd be interested. He was fascinated. I got a few really comical shots with him wearing a tiara, some antique spectacles while looking into a small hand mirror :) Who would have guessed, jewelry! A tiara? Oh well, I just laugh every time I see the images. I think 90% of taking images of kids & pets is being creative, having lots of patience & having a forgiving lighting set-up. Oh yeah, and PhotoShop! #5206523

Jayme S. Hall December 14, 2007

Sorry, I have no idea why this went in 3 times. Wishing I could delete 2 of them :) #5206533

Donna M. Dunaif December 14, 2007

Yes, Jayme, your comments are so true! We get lots of opportunity to make "lemonade out of lemons", and Photoshop helps us do it (God bless Adobe!)

I love your grandson's tiara photo - perhaps he is rehearsing for a future role as "royalty"...so adorable. Thanks for sharing it.
#5207574

Heather L. Haderly January 11, 2008

Precious beyond words Donna!!!!!!! #5325118

Donna M. Dunaif January 11, 2008

Thanks, Heather! #5325328

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