Baby B

This weekend I headed back up to help out my little sister.  It has been such a rough bit of time for her with having this little one and also balancing her health and my niece.  Things seem to be smoothing out, though.

As I walked out the door to head up, I grabbed my camera and 2 lenses.  I wasn't sure if there would be an appropriate time in the day to try to photograph that little hunk- but wanted to try.  It turned out, in the afternoon that I got some time.  I have read over the years bits and pieces of newborn photography advice. I looked around for some props and didn't come up with anything.  I was hoping for a cool basket.  I found my niece's bean bag.  However, a newborn bean bag needs to be very full.  I flipped it over and used clothes pins to tighten it up.  Ideally, a nicely textured blanket is what I would use to cover the bean bag and use as a back drop sort of sloping away from the baby.  The only thing available that was large enough was a fuzzy, bluish blanket on the spare bed.  Soo we used that.
I had also learned that the room needed to be very warm to keep the baby asleep.  I begged my brother-in-law to turn off the air conditioner. I opened a window in the living room and set up about 3 feet from the window.  The challenge was using my new 85mm lens in that small space.  I ended up having to use my 35mm.  A 50mm would have been perfect but I don't have one.  I used natural light from the window. I used a white sheet draped in front of the coffee table to reflect more light onto the baby.

I was able to position him- though I have soo much to learn in that department.  Each time I moved him and he began to fuss, I would just cup his head with one hand and his bottom with my other hand and just slightly bounce his bottom. It was MAGIC! Each time he just settled down and went back to sleep and then I could move his hand or adjust the blanket, etc.

I learned I need to position the baby all the way forward on the bean bag.  I need to continually smooth out wrinkles in the blanket.  I learned that the hands are used to prop up the head.  And I learned that it is really hard work to photograph a baby! I was drenched in sweat when I was finished!

I don't think my sister really loves any of the shots I got. :) They still plan to go to JCPenney.  But, I am glad for the experience and learning I got to do.  I think the lighting is kind of flat here, but I was hoping for a good picture of him, and the ability to fix the jaundice in post-processing.  As I have saved this into JPEG format-- the vignetting looks too strong in my opinion.  It's hard to say how it will look in print. I think she might use this for the announcements.
Here it is- first try

the girls

The Lord really blessed me.  He answered my prayers with this photo shoot and gave me my heart's desire.  I wanted to be able to recall everything I had learned so far.  I wanted the sky to not get overcast like in so many other photo shoots I have planned.  I wanted my family to be settled enough for me to leave on time for the shoot.  I wanted all the little details to work out on site- camera, location, lighting, mood. The girls were great.  The mom was great.  Nobody was stressed and I was able to keep things moving along and changing my settings according to the changing light and also according to the pose.  I have learned so much over time-- I knew this time that I couldn't shoot wide open when the girls were trying to do an acrobatic lift-type pose because I KNEW I would only have a depth of field of about 2 inches or less and that most likely- they were going to be moving and not on an even plane.  Little things like that.. I'm so thankful for where I can see growth. On one hand, I know some professional photogs could give me a list of criticism for some of these shots, and that one day I might see a whole bunch of mistakes..  but, I'm pretty happy with them.  They are my best yet, I think.  I see a few things I could change. Yet, I see a bunch of things I did right and while the editing process sure gives them a nice, finished touch- the SOOC shots aren't that far off! It's exciting!!!

I just realized I haven't watermarked any of these on export.  Hopefully nobody steals them! People are crazy!

3/4

I'm about to do a photo shoot with a set of beautiful sisters in a grassy field. So so nervous.  I hope the Lord provides knowledge and the perfect recipe of factors for a beautiful outcome.

It's windy, too!

Summer is almost here. I'm so glad. I couldn't fit time in for photography lately even if I wanted to. It's been a few years since I have felt this behind, this much weight. Each day runs into the next with the same to do list running over. I'm thankful from the depths of me to the Lord for providing strength and health this year to get us through so much. Truly, truly thankful. Yet, I feel so ready for a change of pace. There's been no time for exercise, no time for fellowship or friendship, really. Things are busy...so that's nice in a way, but isolated. I don't like to be stuck in my own head too long.:) Hubby has had extra work related responsibilities and extra fatigue so either he is gone, asleep, or too tired to talk much by the end of the day. Poor guy.
Anyway, I am hopefully photographing Susan's girls next week..and after this week school will mostly be over for all of them..and baseball.  I'm hoping for time to get caught up. Time to read with the kids and play. Time to exercise! (My middle son and I are going to start "training" in the early mornings by jogging together. I'm looking forward to this one on one time with him.) AND, looking forward to a little time to devote to photography, learning, and creativity.

85mm

I got an 85mm lens! So excited! This should make portrait work so much better! I played for a few minutes yesterday while we were out.  I grabbed this shot of poppies.  I love poppies.  SOOC, this one looked pretty good-- like a painting, kind of muted.

I got the "kindness" picture printed 10x10 onto bamboo. It's hanging in the kitchen. And, I took advantage of a sale with a professional lab I have been wanting to try and got my old barbed wire photo printed on canvas for the living room. 20x20. It feels a little conceited :) but I really love them!! The kindness one is everything I hoped it would be for its visual reminder of the concept. The barbed wire -- ohhh it's so great.. The blades of grasses are just illuminated with warm sunlight and the field looks endless. Looking at it brings such stillness and..I don't know! I remember taking that photo and how I felt at the time- so excited about photography and having fun being adventurous and courageous with it..add to that a quiet, country sunset with a soft breeze.  I also just love the symbolism in that one...the barbed wire always reminds me of pain and yet it is just blanketed in golden goodness. Like the pain is a little piece..just a piece of a glorious whole. Anyway, I'm so glad I finally got the nerve or the motivation to spend the money on printing these.