Born to be Wild - Baby

[Melody]

Well it's harder then I thought, however I will get this! :baldy:

The mom of this little boy is fabulous, we literally cranked up the stereo since he loves music and will react with it.....and I did have Born to be Wild Playing while he was on the bike ;)

Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way

Well it seems fitting anyway :lol:

Now the harder then I thought problem how on earth do I crop these?? I'm showing you straight from the camera on the bike ones...any suggestions? Oh and help with improving the lighting would be appreciated, do I need to put a reflector down in front or move the left light more over the top or what?

One thing about this he's not moving from the spot on the bike so I can make the lights work then....I like that part! :) Otherwise I've got them in a pretty standard position and just let them play and catch what I can as they don't like to sit still long and you really don't get to 'pose' anything.

On the full view of the bike I think I should have done a more level with him angle....(it's amazing what I'll learn from this first shot with a kid on it) The second one I like the angle ok unless you can think of a better one.

Melody

[Melody]

HA thought I was done didn't you! :lol:

The one here with is little flirty look I hope I can salvage by cropping his arm out or something I got a horrid angle I was just about to get up and grabbed it...the elbow and the arm distract, or is it hopeless on that one?

Melody

[lightwrangler]

Melody,
My initial reaction is that the child is too young for this prop. It looks too big and not really right for him. I like the closer views better and the one shot without the bike the best (laying down). I do think that a very large reflector on camera left would help. A couple of sheets of 4x8 foamcore would do I think. You don't want to make it too flat, but the shadows could use a bit of opening up, especially for the young ones.

No, it's not as easy as it looks, but your work is still looking good.

Adrian

[Melody]

Thank you Adrian! :) Ok I will try the foamcore I wasn't sure if I should lower the left light that's coming down from above however I could tell that really wasn't going to help me much. Oh wait I do have a large reflector :doh: blast well it's not as big as some I think mine is 5feet or something. I'll try again thank you for help :)

Yes he is tiny for it, he's 13mos old. I thought 2 or up would work, however the 'father' of this little boy is rather shall we say paranoid that he is all 'boy'. He saw the chopper in the window of the studio and that's what got them ;) The mom on the other hand is much more open and since she brought him in, we also had him in a basket, and on a bench, and ones just dancing around.

Melody

Edit: forgot to add I think this is a perfect example if what am I taking a picture of a prop or the kid? However the business person in me is saying OK if that's what you want, put him on it, then when they see the plain ones that's what they like, then they purchase both ;)

[lightwrangler]

I agree that the client is right, they have the cash after all. So with that out of the way, let's look at the lighting.

You could move the main light around a bit to the front. If it gets in the way then you need to get it on a boom arm. The other thing you might try is to use a "kicker" or small fill light at the camera. This will fill in the shadow areas a bit while giving you a catchlight in the eyes. The key to using this is too keep the power down, so that you don't overpower the main.

As far as reflectors go, make sure that they are angled correctly, so that the main light spill hits them and bounces to the subject. Often I see people put up a reflector without checking to see that it is aimed properly. Often the reflector is putting the light behind the subject and not at it. You can light the reflector too, but at that point, I usually get out another softbox and use that instead.

cheers,
Adrian

[Glasseye]

Looks like fun Melody, :goldcup: great prop

:cheers:
Andy

[lightwrangler]

To the tune of "Born to be Wild"

Get the car seat loaded
Head out on the highway
Gonna fill the diaper
Somewhere along the way

I like peas and carrots
really like 'em mushy
but little baby corns
give me problems in my tushie

I'm a baby and I need a soothie
Or listen to me yell
Shatter silence with my crying
Driving adults straight to hell

Like a true drooling child
Gonna drive mommies wild
With a stink so high
You're gonna want to die

Corn makes me wild

(repeat with a diaper change every 50 miles or so)

[Melody]

Looks like fun Melody, :goldcup: great prop

:cheers:
Andy

Actually parts of it are Andy ;)

Now if I could just get the people in the building to truely let me start it in the studio wouldn't that be fun! :evilnyah: I could get all over that building and this one in nothing flat! :getdown:

Melody

[Melody]

To the tune of "Born to be Wild"

Get the car seat loaded
Head out on the highway
Gonna fill the diaper
Somewhere along the way

I like peas and carrots
really like 'em mushy
but little baby corns
give me problems in my tushie

I'm a baby and I need a soothie
Or listen to me yell
Shatter silence with my crying
Driving adults straight to hell

Like a true drooling child
Gonna drive mommies wild
With a stink so high
You're gonna want to die

Corn makes me wild

(repeat with a diaper change every 50 miles or so)


OH I so had to quote this since I never want it to be GONE!


OMG! OMG! OMG! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: You are an absoulute NUT! Very creative! :lol: :lol: Now I'm not reading it more then once, since I tend to sing or hum something or another all day anyway and I don't want it to be these lyrics!!! :surrender

Melody

[Melody]

I agree that the client is right, they have the cash after all. So with that out of the way, let's look at the lighting.

You could move the main light around a bit to the front. If it gets in the way then you need to get it on a boom arm. The other thing you might try is to use a "kicker" or small fill light at the camera. This will fill in the shadow areas a bit while giving you a catchlight in the eyes. The key to using this is too keep the power down, so that you don't overpower the main.

As far as reflectors go, make sure that they are angled correctly, so that the main light spill hits them and bounces to the subject. Often I see people put up a reflector without checking to see that it is aimed properly. Often the reflector is putting the light behind the subject and not at it. You can light the reflector too, but at that point, I usually get out another softbox and use that instead.

cheers,
Adrian


Thank you, know let's see if I am understanding you at all :p first I didn't think I wanted to make my main light high but that's ok? I've got it really low now I mean the softbox bottom is only about 18 inches from the ground, I can move it more in front of the subject, the fill is a softbox to my left about 45 degrees, it's up high and facing down about 45 degrees. The other two lights are on the backdrop.

Hey have you seen this site? http://www.sdgphoto.com/lightingstudio/ once I figure out how to save the diagram it's really easy to show where lights etc. should be placed.

So is this sort of where you think the reflector might be? Sorry they only have women as models sheesh! :lol: The black blob thing is where my light was :p

Melody (btw I came back in this thread and just sped past those lyrics!)

[lightwrangler]

Ok, the drawing helps me a bit.

I agree that the main should stay as it was. The highlight on the shadow side of your model's face is coming off of the background light on that side. You should gobo that off. Use a bit of foamcore. While you are at it, put some on the other side as well. Foamcore will help to pick up the chrome in the cycle as well. Move the mainlight (the one on camera right) back to where you had it. Take the other light and move it back and more on axis to the subject. This is your fill light, the power should be much less (1.5 to 2.5 stops - it's a taste thing) than the main.

I hope the quick marking up of your lovely diagram makes sense. Call me if you have any questions.

Cheers,
Adrian

ps glad you liked my song :haha: :crazy:

[lightwrangler]

Oh and yes you can raise your main light and tilt it down. I would leave the fill lower.

:cheers:
Adrian

[Serge]

All good :righton:
the first one is a real classic, a regular little Meatloaf :troutsmac

:D

[Melody]

All good :righton:
the first one is a real classic, a regular little Meatloaf :troutsmac

:D

Thank you! :lol:

Melody

[Melody]

Oh and yes you can raise your main light and tilt it down. I would leave the fill lower.

:cheers:
Adrian

Hmmm.....you do realize this would be so much easier if you just flew out here! :lol:

Leave it to me to just try and get the kids and then throw in a HUGE chrome object :baldy: Oh well I always love a challenge! Thanks for the info, so I'm going to lower my fill light and raise the main and tilt it. Hmmm late tonight...well maybe Monday I will practice I hate moving that bike too many times the darn thing is heavy..it's scheduled to be in the window with the little boy's other pictures for grandparents coming out of town to see (I haven't even done the viewing session for the parents yet! I am such a sucker for someone saying please that I'll do it) Oh yeah back to practice I've got HUGE teddy bears and I'll put them on the bike so I can practice shadows and the eyes with the lights and reflector.....now don't say I should have done that before I know that! :baldy: :baldy: ;)

Oh and get ready for baby questions next week I get 2 1mo old girls in the same session, they are cousins born 6 hours apart and about 12 miles apart this ought to be interesting! ;)

Melody

[lightwrangler]

Hmmm.....you do realize this would be so much easier if you just flew out here! :lol:

Oh and get ready for baby questions next week I get 2 1mo old girls in the same session, they are cousins born 6 hours apart and about 12 miles apart this ought to be interesting! ;)

Melody

As much as I'd love to come and visit, I don't think that you are in such a bad place. You are doing great and practicing with the teddy bears can only help. As for two 1 month olds .... are you nuts? All kidding aside, I wish you the best of luck with them at that age, especially 2 at once. Still I am sure that you will produce something that the parents will just love. And what makes you think I am an expert on babies? I have only one child and I did the easy part! :clap:

:cheers:
Adrian

[LiVe]

Great great photos there, I bet that must have been a blast to shoot :goldcup:

[Melody]

Great great photos there, I bet that must have been a blast to shoot :goldcup:

Thank you :) Yes it was fun to watch his little eyes and excitement with something new. It's also inspiring to watch the parents reaction seeing liking the kids playing while getting their pictures taken as opposed to asking them to 'pose' for a camera.

Melody

[Camarochas]

Melody,

I think you're doing a fine job. I do think the first shot needs to have the shadows opened up a bit and the lighting on the child's face should be evened out some. As it is now, his face has highlights on both sides but the front is in shadow. A large reflector (or light source) in front should do the trick for the shadows, but Photoshop (Shadows and Highlights) will also fix it.

I have to disagree with Adrian on the prop. I think the size relationship shows that he's a little guy, and obvioulsy he's having a great time and you've caught some wonderful expressions.

I'm a big fan of high key but I'm not sure all the dark colors work well with the high key set.

[Melody]

As much as I'd love to come and visit, I don't think that you are in such a bad place. You are doing great and practicing with the teddy bears can only help. As for two 1 month olds .... are you nuts? All kidding aside, I wish you the best of luck with them at that age, especially 2 at once. Still I am sure that you will produce something that the parents will just love. And what makes you think I am an expert on babies? I have only one child and I did the easy part! :clap:

:cheers:
Adrian

Oh come on you know everything :) I have No children LOL I know you would be able to give the babies the most complimentary lighting. I don't yet so the blonde in me has no fear in trying anything at this point I just figure well... I'll learn with each new experience. Word of mouth is getting me a group of willing parents bringing their children.

So far the toddlers are actually the hardest for me they keep running up to me during shooting to give me hugs and it's really hard to focus on their faces with their arms around my neck.

Thank you for the vote of confidence you timing is perfect I'm having a bit of nerves this morning. Turns out its this afternoon/evening and I thought I would have 1 week more to get ready the street fair starts and I'm literally 20 feet inside the entrance. The few times the door has been open to the public I have several people come in...today I know I will be uh 'busy' as the fair always attracts a lot of people. My new project isn't ready yet so I'm disappointed it won't be on view for anyone to see, hopefully it will be in a few weeks, the fair happens every weekend now through the summer though. Well time to go get ready for it regardless...........Have a wonderful weekend!

Melody

[Melody]

Melody,

I think you're doing a fine job. I do think the first shot needs to have the shadows opened up a bit and the lighting on the child's face should be evened out some. As it is now, his face has highlights on both sides but the front is in shadow. A large reflector (or light source) in front should do the trick for the shadows, but Photoshop (Shadows and Highlights) will also fix it.

I have to disagree with Adrian on the prop. I think the size relationship shows that he's a little guy, and obvioulsy he's having a great time and you've caught some wonderful expressions.

I'm a big fan of high key but I'm not sure all the dark colors work well with the high key set.

Thank you Charlie :)

Oh my gosh this is what makes the feedback so valuable it's right in front of me and I don't even see it I'm so busy thinking or concentrating on something else. I've got the other backdrops. Hmm...you think PS will fix them to a degree? I'll have to give that a go this week! I'll return for more info....sorry I've got to rush and get ready for the day... Thanks for the tips/ideas!

Melody