Photo 52: A Play on Light

Diffused Light - Week 4

It's not surprising how sentimental I've been this final week of my second pregnancy.  The photo below of my first born was taken just before bedtime with a diffuser attached to my flash unit.  He appears so big to me and I'm sure will only seem more so once there is a newborn in the house.  I like the evenness of the light that the flash diffuser was able to create as well as the innocence of his gaze.  And the bruises on his legs are a reminder that he is definitely an active boy growing up far far too quickly.     

 

Waiting for brother

Please take a spin to see the rest of Photo 52's images for this week.  Next up is Jill Cassara, one of the most talented lifestyle photographers I know.   

Photo 52: A Play on Light

Diffused Light - Week 3

As I mentioned in the first post of our diffused light study, one way to soften the light is by shooting through a gauzy, sheer material.  The photo below was not staged.  I promise.  Rather I was lying in bed when I saw my son playing behind our bedroom curtain and frantically raced for my camera.  With a playful moment so fleeting, I managed to capture the photograph for this week which has since become one of my favorites taken so far this year.  Sometimes in photography you are given a gift.     

 

Please take a spin through the rest of Photo 52's images for this week.  Next up is Erica Collins, a most talented photographer and midwest friend of mine.   

Photo 52: A Play on Light

Diffused Light - Week 1

For the next four weeks Photo 52 will be tackling diffused light photography which occurs when soft light, with neither the intensity nor the glare of direct light, is used. The light is scattered and comes from all directions, thus seeming to wrap around objects.  Also shadows are less sharply-defined and have a lower contrast.

Shooting through windows or soft, gauzy material or in open shade can soften the light while clouds are an example of a natural diffuser when shooting outdoors.  Photographing subjects in light falling through trees is yet another example and was my experiment for this first week.    

This past weekend we spent the afternoon at the Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City, Queens.  My husband and I were seated on one of the wooden chaise lounge chairs shaded by a weeping willow tree while our son played along the waterfront.  Despite it being a rather bright afternoon, the willow's canopy provided the perfect diffusion in the series of photos seen below.  Though not typically my style - I usually opt for strong contrast and sharply-defined shadows - I actually ended up liking the images.  The contrast lies rather in the scenery itself -  tall grasses and the East River juxtaposed against Manhattan's skyline of tall buildings.

 

 

 

 

Please take a spin through the rest of Photo 52's images for this week.  Next up is Linda Hooper, my friend and fellow New Yorker.   

"Boardwalk Empire" in Harlem

Yesterday we were beyond excited to find out that our favorite series, Boardwalk Empire, starring Steve Buschemi was filming down the block from our Harlem digs.  The show takes place in the 1920's during Prohibition so you can imagine the dozens of vintage cars that were lining the street and all the actors dazzling in their finest uptown threads.    

It was such a beautiful spring day in New York City, so my beloved husband and son, donning their best 1920s garb, went for a stroll along the set while I had my camera in tow.

We spotted some of the cast getting styled and even encountered the kindness of the production manager who allowed us to take photos within a cordoned off area.  It was a real thrill.  And if for some strange reason you haven't heard of Boardwalk Empire, click HERE to find out about this amazing show.  You'll be hooked.

Photo 52: A Play on Light

Week 32:  Exploring Daylight

Around noon the sunlight floods my son's room from the west, creating some amazing shadows.  On a particularly bright day this week (thank goodness spring has finally arrived!) I captured him playing with not only his toy cars, but trying to catch the sunbeams that were streaming through the window.  There were moments where he was so mesmerized by these beams that he didn't even notice me or the big lens encroaching in on his personal space.  My favorite sight however, at this particular time and in this particular room, is always the angelic halo that the sunlight creates as it lands on the hair of my little angel boy.   

 

 

Please continue along the circle to see the rest of Photo 52's work for this week.  Next up is the sweet and talented Texan, Kim Dupree.   

Photo 52: A Play on Light

Artificial Light | Flash - Week 4

Due to a lingering winter and a very pregnant momma, my 2 year-old and I have been indoors more than usual this past month.  For this final week of artificial light, I used my speedlite to capture a tightly cropped portrait of him.  The grainy effect with its "film noir" feel appeals to me and how, because I was so close to him, the flash created an intense contrast between the foreground and background.  I think I'm also fond of this photo because I can envision how he will look as he grows older.  My little man.

 

​My little man

Please continue along to see the rest of Photo 52's images for this week.  Next up is Cheryl Sawyer, fellow New Yorker and photographer friend of mine.  

Photo 52: A Play on Light

Flash | Artificial Light - Week 2

Since January my husband and I have been rearranging and redecorating our apartment to accommodate the arrival of our new baby this May.  Weekends have been dedicated to shopping trips, painting, drilling shelves into walls, putting together and moving around furniture, building a closet and transforming our living room into a bedroom for two boys to share.  This past week we FINALLY finished their room and I wanted to capture my son's first night in the new space soon to be shared with his baby brother.  All day he had been saying, "Nice room.  I like new room!"

I used my flash to add minimal fill light so my husband and son would be illuminated without having to increase my film speed too much (ISO), therefore introducing unwanted grain into this particular image.  I was forced to take several shots while dialing down the strength of my flash but overall I'm happy with the end result.  This final version is quite close to what I had envisioned even before starting to shoot.      

​First night in his new room

Please continue along to see the rest of Photo 52's images for this week.  Next up is Jessie Wixon, fellow New Yorker and friend of mine.    

Photo 52: A Play on Light

Flash | Artificial Light - Week 1

This month Photo 52 is tackling the use of flash, both on and off-camera, in our photography and let's just say it ain't the easiest thing to master.  In fact it's downright intimidating.  Our group has spent nearly the whole month of February gearing up (quite literally) for the month of March.  Online tutorials were swapped, reference books and strobes were purchased and those of us living in New York City even attended a 3-hour flash workshop at Adorama camera supply & learning center a couple of weeks ago.  Needless to say this group of natural light photographers still feels like we are swimming through the fog of this technique.  But the good news is we have each other's support as we take on this challenge, learning as we go along and most importantly from our mistakes.  Without question there will be times when it will be useful to know how to manipulate light from an external source to get the image we envision as artists.  This is what we will tackle in the weeks and months ahead.          

Below is my debut image which I chose because of the catchlights in his eyes.  I used a flash modifier and bounced the light off of the ceiling 45 degrees behind me to diffuse the strobe's intensity.  My goal was to add some fill light to an otherwise drab indoors shot.  This being one of my first flash shots I realize it could perhaps portray stronger shadows and contouring (the result of more thoughtful positioning) but I am reminded that this is only the beginning and Rome wasn't built in a day.    

 

​The Dandy Tooth Brusher

My "Dandy Tooth Brusher" was feeling a bit under the weather when this was taken and wanted to wear his porkpie hat all day long, even during the most mundane activities.  Who says you can't don a hat for all occasions?

Please continue along to see the rest of Photo 52's images for this week.  Next up is Kami Chaudhery, a Seattle resident and talented photographer who I was thrilled to finally meet in person this past month.  

 

 

Photo 52: A Play on Light

Seeing Light in Black and White - Week 3 

Lately my husband has been taking over bath time responsibilities as I've become too pregnant to bear the brunt of the task.  This week I decided to sneak in and capture a moment I usually opt to process in color, but for this month's theme I envisioned the image in black and white.  In order to make it dynamic enough as a tonal image, I patiently waited for a strong composition of contrasting lines.  The result is an "X" made of limbs around a central, trusting gaze.     

Please continue along to see the rest of Photo 52's work for this week.  Next up is Kami Chaudhery, who resides in Seattle with her husband and two adorable girls.   

 

"X's" and O's

Photo 52: A Play on Light

Seeing Light in Black & White:  Week 1

This week kicks off a new theme for Photo 52.  Over the next four weeks we will be seeing light in black and white, envisioning our images in a range of tonal values before we even press the shutter button.  

Now that I am 24 weeks pregnant with my second son I've been desperately meaning to capture my first born kissing my belly which he loves to do, saying, "Mommy, kiss baby brother".  But lately I just didn't quite have the motivation to do everything that was required to get that image and frankly wasn't even sure if it was possible.  Then while in the midst of one of the most trying days of my pregnancy thus far, I decided to take out my tripod in the hopes that magic might transpire.  I set up the tripod, positioned myself where I would stand in order to get the proper settings on my camera and then called my son into the room to see if he'd be a willing participant.  Mind you, my vision was to capture a black and white image that I would cherish over the years where the reflection would be a main character in the composition.      

Below is the result of our endeavor and I can honestly say that this is my favorite photo I have taken.  Ever.  Somehow all things aligned between the moment I pressed the self-timer and the moment the flash went off which is not an easy task when working with a two year old!   But I will say, that coming away with this image, most certainly turned around what was otherwise a very crappy day.  

And I will always treasure this photograph and the memory of how we made it. 

 

 

 

baby brother

Please continue along the circle to see the rest of Photo 52's images for this week.  Next up is Linda Hooper, my friend and fellow photographer who, lucky for all of us, just returned to New York after living for some time abroad in Switzerland.  

Photo 52: A Play on Light

Natural Indoor Light - Week 4

When it's brutally cold outside and mommy is too tired to cook, there's nothing better than a happy meal with your daddy.  I presume there will be many moments like these shared amongst the men of the house. 

 

Fry guys

Please follow along the circle to see the rest of Photo 52's images for this week.  Next up is Stacey Vukelj, a fellow New Yorker, friend and photographer extraordinaire.  Seriously her work is simply amazing.  

 

Photo 52: A Play on Light

Natural Light Indoors - Week 3

Lately my son won't go too far without his Fischer Price toy camera (the same one I had as a child in the late 70's) taking pictures of whatever is before him.  This past week he spent time "snapping photos" of the cars and busses on the street below the living room window.  Documenting this moment of his childhood with my own camera, I wanted to convey a sense of him taking a peek into what lies ahead, the great white expanse of his future, so bright and so infinite.  

​Budding photog

Please follow along the circle to see the rest of Photo 52's images for this week.  Next up is Erica Obenchain Collins, my friend and beautiful mother of five living in Indiana.  Her images are always so touching and rife with emotion.  

 

Photo 52: A Play on Light

Natural Indoor Light - Week 1

Well it's now January of 2013, and because it's a winter month for most of us our photography group decided that Natural Indoor Light would be an appropriate theme to challenge us to find available and interesting light in our hibernation.  

For Christmas this year Santa put a Lensbaby in my stocking and I have been spending time striving to master its capabilities.  (A Lensbaby is a special effects lens that creates an area of focus in your image surrounded by beautiful blur).  For this month's debut image I chose to capture my son at play near the window which was getting some diffuse afternoon light.  My vision was to show the detail of some of his hair while the rest of it faded into a blurry mane and the Lensbaby helped me achieve it.  Below is my little Lion King.  

Lion King

Please follow along the circle to see the rest of Photo 52's images for this week.  Next up is Jill Cassara, my photographer friend who is insanely talented at capturing the daily life of her family, particularly her two adorable children.  

Photo 52: A Play on Light

The Holiday Edition - Week 2

This was the first year that my little one helped decorate our small Christmas tree.  Though we always travel to Chicago to spend Christmas with family we still have a small tree in our apartment through the holiday season.  The magic of the lights and his joy while hanging the ornaments on the tree was the subject of my installation for this week.  I created a diptych to showcase a sort of split screen, highlighting both the small Christmas tree down the hallway and his up close and personal reaction to hanging the family ornament.  

Small tree, little boy wonder

Please follow along the circle to see the rest of Photo 52's images for this week.  Next up is Kelly Roth Patton, my fellow New Yorker and dear friend whose skills for capturing alluring and romantic images are astounding.