175. Family - October 16-22, 2016
Jerry-
I chose to photograph my daughter and my son-in-law, taking them to a nearby park where I walk our dog Sam. So I had it scouted out pretty well with what I thought were ideal spots. But they had their own idea of where to pose and this is what I'm submitting. This time I used the Nikon D750 with 80-400 zoomed to 165mm, exposure 1/80 at f8, ISO 800. This time I chose not to use my compact Sony A6300 though I haven't given up on it. I am experimenting with its various "creative" modes. The wife and I were out at the arboretum this week and I took photos in "autumn" mode (really warmed up for fall colors) and "portrait" mode which more resembles what I get out of the Nikon portrait mode. The colors the Sony produces are "different" from what I'm used to - but it has many modes and ways of altering them - it will take some learning and practice.
I chose to photograph my daughter and my son-in-law, taking them to a nearby park where I walk our dog Sam. So I had it scouted out pretty well with what I thought were ideal spots. But they had their own idea of where to pose and this is what I'm submitting. This time I used the Nikon D750 with 80-400 zoomed to 165mm, exposure 1/80 at f8, ISO 800. This time I chose not to use my compact Sony A6300 though I haven't given up on it. I am experimenting with its various "creative" modes. The wife and I were out at the arboretum this week and I took photos in "autumn" mode (really warmed up for fall colors) and "portrait" mode which more resembles what I get out of the Nikon portrait mode. The colors the Sony produces are "different" from what I'm used to - but it has many modes and ways of altering them - it will take some learning and practice.
Don-
Well, this is what happened. I was happy to see the theme of family because
the assignment at school this Thursday was to photograph a family. The class
was divided into three groups and each group was to take pictures of a
volunteer family. Two families showed up so one group was short a family,
my group. So I took the other three members of my group and they became
a family. I played with my picture of the fake family in Photoshop and what
you see is the final. The photo was shot with two alien bee strobes (1600 and 800
watt) outside in an area at San Juan College. I chose not to use any diffusers on
the strobes as I prefer a harder look.
The camera was set to manual. I used a 24 to 70mm lens
I believe was set at 70mm. Exposure was 1/250sec shutter; ISO 100;
f/8 and in flash mode using a remote trigger for the two studio strobes.
Well, this is what happened. I was happy to see the theme of family because
the assignment at school this Thursday was to photograph a family. The class
was divided into three groups and each group was to take pictures of a
volunteer family. Two families showed up so one group was short a family,
my group. So I took the other three members of my group and they became
a family. I played with my picture of the fake family in Photoshop and what
you see is the final. The photo was shot with two alien bee strobes (1600 and 800
watt) outside in an area at San Juan College. I chose not to use any diffusers on
the strobes as I prefer a harder look.
The camera was set to manual. I used a 24 to 70mm lens
I believe was set at 70mm. Exposure was 1/250sec shutter; ISO 100;
f/8 and in flash mode using a remote trigger for the two studio strobes.
Byron-
I struggled with this theme until Friday. Then I decided to photograph what I have in my house. I remembered I have these examples that represent the Kodak Family of fine cameras. That is assuming you are living in 1920. I shot it in my Living Room with light coming in through the big window. It was making an interesting pattern so I went with it.
There is something I don't understand about my camera. It assigns ISO settings seemingly at random. I shoot at 100 or 200 sometimes in a stretch 400. I noticed the ISO for this picture is 1250. I'll have to figure out why it does that. f8, 1/100 sec. Available light.
I struggled with this theme until Friday. Then I decided to photograph what I have in my house. I remembered I have these examples that represent the Kodak Family of fine cameras. That is assuming you are living in 1920. I shot it in my Living Room with light coming in through the big window. It was making an interesting pattern so I went with it.
There is something I don't understand about my camera. It assigns ISO settings seemingly at random. I shoot at 100 or 200 sometimes in a stretch 400. I noticed the ISO for this picture is 1250. I'll have to figure out why it does that. f8, 1/100 sec. Available light.
Kevin-
Family was a challenging theme for me. First, perhaps because we are a very small family, and I really don’t associate with any extended family. Second because if the family photo included actual people my ugly mug would have to be a part of the image. And who wants to look at that? Finally because I have spending the week traveling, to California, Arizona and back to California. So it became essential to capture an image before departing.
Then a rings idea came to me! My ring, Michelle’s ring, representing family. But how do I represent Squirt? Well there is a ring that holds the name tag on her leash. Bingo!
Three studio strobes were used. One on full power with a 3’x4’ softbox provided overall light. Another at full power with a standard reflector provided a little sparkle. And the third at half power put light on the white card which was positioned below the smoked glass sheet the rings sat on.
Nikon D4s mounted on a Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 tripod with a Acratech ballhead, 105mm f/2.8 Micro Nikkor lens, ISO 80, f/45 @ 1/250th of a second (flash sync).
Family was a challenging theme for me. First, perhaps because we are a very small family, and I really don’t associate with any extended family. Second because if the family photo included actual people my ugly mug would have to be a part of the image. And who wants to look at that? Finally because I have spending the week traveling, to California, Arizona and back to California. So it became essential to capture an image before departing.
Then a rings idea came to me! My ring, Michelle’s ring, representing family. But how do I represent Squirt? Well there is a ring that holds the name tag on her leash. Bingo!
Three studio strobes were used. One on full power with a 3’x4’ softbox provided overall light. Another at full power with a standard reflector provided a little sparkle. And the third at half power put light on the white card which was positioned below the smoked glass sheet the rings sat on.
Nikon D4s mounted on a Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 tripod with a Acratech ballhead, 105mm f/2.8 Micro Nikkor lens, ISO 80, f/45 @ 1/250th of a second (flash sync).
Paul-
Initially, I thought about submitting a picture of flora or fauna from the same taxonomic group. That’s kind of “family:” a specific rank in the biological classification of organisms. But I lost interest, and was also disappointed to find no one knew where Sly & the Family Stone could be found.
So I went for something ornamental, whimsical, and [shudder] “cutesy.”
These figurines—and yeah, I have collected a few—are examples of Royal Copenhagen porcelain. The company was officially established in 1775 and has produced a variety of highly prized, wonderfully crafted and very collectible products up until present day. I purchased one of these four pieces especially to give to my daughter on her 16th birthday. You can probably guess which one.
I’m not crazy about the overall graininess of the photo, but didn’t have time for a re-shoot. In retrospect, I can think of a few things I could/should have done to render a crisper image. Shoot and learn, right? The figures were shot in a soft box—let’s hear it for PVC pipe, duct tape and cheap white sheets!—with flat black fabric draped across the back. I used one light (which was tilted slightly forward and diffused with a piece of acrylic) near the top of the tent and. Then I angled some scrap foamcore at the base of the figures to try and bring some additional illumination to the front. The camera was mounted on a tripod and positioned 6-7’ from the tableau.
This isn’t my best effort. Clearly. But I still like it. Oh…almost forgot: To my knowledge, none of these figurines were given names so I’m pretending they’re a Family. If you want to refer to any them if/when you provide comments call them (from left to right): Lyudmíla, Sachar, Pyotr and Galina. Sorry, it’s the Russian in me.
In order to shoot this in the Family Way… Leitz Macro f/1.4 lens, manual exposure; center-weight averaging; ISO 3200; 1/60 sec.; -1/2 EV; at approximately f/7. The digital equivalent of dodge/burn was made to some select areas. I also played with exposure, shadow, clarity, sharpness, luminance, and masking. When I ported the picture over to PhotoScape, I added a tiny bit of depth and back lighting.
Okay, so it’s not Sister Sledge. Sue me.
Initially, I thought about submitting a picture of flora or fauna from the same taxonomic group. That’s kind of “family:” a specific rank in the biological classification of organisms. But I lost interest, and was also disappointed to find no one knew where Sly & the Family Stone could be found.
So I went for something ornamental, whimsical, and [shudder] “cutesy.”
These figurines—and yeah, I have collected a few—are examples of Royal Copenhagen porcelain. The company was officially established in 1775 and has produced a variety of highly prized, wonderfully crafted and very collectible products up until present day. I purchased one of these four pieces especially to give to my daughter on her 16th birthday. You can probably guess which one.
I’m not crazy about the overall graininess of the photo, but didn’t have time for a re-shoot. In retrospect, I can think of a few things I could/should have done to render a crisper image. Shoot and learn, right? The figures were shot in a soft box—let’s hear it for PVC pipe, duct tape and cheap white sheets!—with flat black fabric draped across the back. I used one light (which was tilted slightly forward and diffused with a piece of acrylic) near the top of the tent and. Then I angled some scrap foamcore at the base of the figures to try and bring some additional illumination to the front. The camera was mounted on a tripod and positioned 6-7’ from the tableau.
This isn’t my best effort. Clearly. But I still like it. Oh…almost forgot: To my knowledge, none of these figurines were given names so I’m pretending they’re a Family. If you want to refer to any them if/when you provide comments call them (from left to right): Lyudmíla, Sachar, Pyotr and Galina. Sorry, it’s the Russian in me.
In order to shoot this in the Family Way… Leitz Macro f/1.4 lens, manual exposure; center-weight averaging; ISO 3200; 1/60 sec.; -1/2 EV; at approximately f/7. The digital equivalent of dodge/burn was made to some select areas. I also played with exposure, shadow, clarity, sharpness, luminance, and masking. When I ported the picture over to PhotoScape, I added a tiny bit of depth and back lighting.
Okay, so it’s not Sister Sledge. Sue me.