People & Pets

[Loose Canon]

Disclaimer: This is going to go into extra innings!

There is absolutely nothing more pathetic than a Grandpa boring the entire universe with happy photos of his beloved Grandkids!

Back in the back then Grandpa would pull out his 3” thick wallet that gives him hip problems at the drop of a hat an accordion plastic photo keeper would drop out of it to the floor! Today he pulls out his iPhone and finds that it is pegged with same happy photos and to scroll it aggravates his arthritis! But Grandpa doesn’t care ‘cause he is going to bore the entire universe anyway!

For better or worser I have lived long enough to become this Legendary (Infamous?) Grandpa and I feel obligated to carry on tradition and bore the snot out of the entire universe with happy photos of my beloved grandkids!

I am not a huge portrait shooter. After I post this photo it will be obvious why.

But #2 Granddaughter asked me for a basketball shoot in uniform and had specific ideas of what she wanted. So we set it up for a cool weekend before school started back up. #1 Grandaughter and Grandboyfriend had to come too. Grandboyfriend is a budding photographer/videographer and wanted to get in on this. This was a perfect opportunity for everyone to get out of the house and away from the parents for a time.

This was shot after the basketball shoot and this is #1 Grandaughter. I had the stage set for a different scenario so Grandboyfriend could shoot #1 Grandaughter with his camera. Miss GiGi (one of our puppies) decided to get in on the action and I told him to keep shooting. It is impromptu and I had no idea how it would play out.

This was shot with Grandboyfriend’s Canon xxxwhateverhehas (Rebel line) with a kitwhateveritis lens so he would have it on his card and could process it how he wants. I forgot to get the specifics on his camera. But it doesn’t really matter anyway. To me this shot proves you can shoot great stuff with other than pro grade gear.

I set the lighting so if it sucks that is on me! We shot everything tethered so I have the shoot on my computer and I processed this particular version. He pulled the trigger. They have not seen this version but I have his permission to do with it what I will! He knows that he is dating my Grandaughter and he is disposable if he jerks her around!!! Fun being a grouch_a** Grandpa! (He’s a really good young man and I am very impressed with him and how he treats my Grandaughter!)

It is of note that it is really difficult to be macho when you have a puppie named GiGi! It is also notable that she is a total Sweetie and she and the Grandaughters have my Heart!

I recommended he shoot at f/11, 1/200th, ISO 100 and explained why. So if that sucks that is also on me.

Now, after all this, I mentioned that I don’t do portrait stuff so much.

So please feel free to tell me what I need to know!

[truonda]

This is an absolutely beautiful shot, Terry. You totally could have fooled me about not being much of a portrait photographer! Your granddaughter's expression is very natural though I would have loved to see a smile. By the way, what is the breed of the dog? I'm fairly certain she's a mix of a Yorkie and something else.

[Loose Canon]

Thank you so much Daniel.

What struck me with this particular shot is the relationship these two had together at this particular moment. They are totally into each other.

I did try to get a smile! The pup just wouldn't cooperate!

So I smiled for the both of them!

[juznobsrvr]

This is absolutely stunning. The lighting is wonderful. And the context goes well with the composition. I would have preferred less sharpening though. But overall it is fine work. If you are not a huge portrait shooter, then you should be! I would have to disagree with you because either you are much too humble or you just don't know your talent yet. No it is not obvious why :-)

[Manfred M]

Terry - for a non-portrait shooter, this is one great image. Had you said you were a portrait shooter, I would have said exactly the same thing; it's just a wonderful shot, from both a technical and emotional standpoint!

Having both the granddaughter and dog cooperate at the same time is a minor miracle. It works well in B&W, how does it look in colour?

[John 2]

Just brilliant - and a very enjoyable read.

[Mark von Kanel]

Not A portrait tog?? HA! yeh right, i wish i wasnt a portrait tog, then id shoot shots like this....

[Donald]

What was it Henri-Cartier Bresson said about 'the decisive moment'?

Young person and dog connected intimately and intensely = The Moment.

Wonderful image.

[IzzieK]

With your intro to the photo, I was thinking that your boring the universe with shots of grandkiddie will be lots of shots of grandkiddie. You only shared one. Not enough to bore us really because it is such a beautiful shot. Your pretty grandkiddie is a pleasure to behold in this one. I like the B/W medium you chose here. Pretty much similar to the shot of Daniel of his boy. The mood is perfect.

[Kodiak]

The smile?
The smile is in what Donald quoted:
"Young person and dog connected intimately and intensely = The Moment!."

[Werner]

Hey Terry,
that was a long read --- but the picture at the end was worth it.
Great, thanks for sharing.

[Shadowman]

Terry,

There is also the Grandpa who would claim "why waste film on them kids, I can see them perfectly from my rocking chair?"

I think when they (whoever you show these to) see the work and effort you applied to your images they'll be wanting to see more. Nicely done.

[Brownbear]

An especially beautiful image (as are all of your images), accompanied by a beautiful story!

[terrib]

Ditto what everyone else said! Just wonderful!! Put a smile on my face early in the morning which isn't easy to do.

[KimC]

Positively beautiful. Just love how expressive this image is.

[Mike Buckley]

The first photo I've seen in ages that didn't require a big red bucket in your setup. (For those who don't get that, that's OK; Terry gets it.)

This is the kind of portraiture that I understand and appreciate the least, so take that into account when I mention that I like this one a lot. For me, a smile would have come close to ruining it.

The toning you used is spectacular -- a perfect fit with the mood of the image.

[Loose Canon]

Thank you Mike!

I was dying to get the BRT (Big Red Tub) in there and start hosing everything!

They would have none of the kind!

Some people just have no sense of humor!

[Manfred M]

Terry, I just had another look at the image and your granddaughter has an almost elf-like look to her. I'm thinkinig the Peter Jackson, Lord of the Rings elf look. The way that the hair falls over her ear produces an almost pointy look to it.

[Kodiak]

Terry, I just had another look at the image and your granddaughter has an almost elf-like look to her. I'm thinkinig the Peter Jackson, Lord of the Rings elf look. The way that the hair falls over her ear produces an almost pointy look to it.

That's a good observation! …I like that. ;-)

[Mike Buckley]

I assume Manfred's observations of the elf-like look are to be taken as compliments.