Say Hello to Ellie @ Gardens of the World

[Loose Canon]

Very inspirational, Colin. I’m giving these and your other series a lot of perusal and thinking of some walk abouts I could do at home. Poses are one of the many things I am unsure of.

I have a question regarding #8, #9, #10. I hate to hack off my instructor in another thread, but since I’m not getting a “10” anyway, I might as well make an observation, hope for a “3”, and settle for a “1” or less! Since you are posting these as a learning scenario as well as eye candy, I might as well jump right in the big middle of it!

Doesn’t it seem that the background in these shots may be a bit distracting with the sky light right at head level? (Bokeh is very nice in #9 & #10, however) For that matter, is there a reason you shot so much head room in those particularly or is this one of those subjective personal preference things? I do like the poses in those shots. And I love the pose in #7 for a full shot. Goes perfect with her facial expression and age range.

But say, in #5. To me, Miss Ellie looks very in place behind a wall with a lot of background and foreground. Relatively speaking, Miss Ellie is a low percentage of the actual shot, but it works for me. Probably because I am used to being in the Great Outdoors a lot and seeing these kinds of scenes.

The “Buddy” shots of Miss Jesica & Miss Ellie. I haven’t tried any of these but one thing I am seeing is that heads need to be in close proximity. You have a lot of actual physical contact all around. It seems that people shy away from this, but actually looks more natural in an image. I say this because I am going to need to remember this since some of the freeloading family and friends now (mistakenly) think they may want me to shoot some portrait types of them! I’ll hopefully have a chance to do some small groups (not mobs) in the future and if I make these observations and post them, I can come back and kick myself if I blow it!

[Jim B.]

Colin,
All are really nice,but this one is superb!

[rpcrowe]

Great images. It also looks like a lovely place to shoot with wonderful scenery.

[Colin Southern]

Very inspirational, Colin. I’m giving these and your other series a lot of perusal and thinking of some walk abouts I could do at home. Poses are one of the many things I am unsure of.

Thanks Terry It's something you can pickup a little from books, but I think possibly the better way is to just shoot shoot shoot and learn for yourself what works, and what doesn't. Sometimes just saying to kids "do the model thing" produces some good stuff (they all watch modeling shows on TV, and suck it up like a sponge). At other times a little help also goes a long way, eg the legs and feet in 7, 8, 12, 13 (far nicer than straight and 9" apart) (also the transfer of weight onto one hip in 12).

Keeping in mind too, that you good folks need to develop your own style - I'm conscious of the fact that if I don't push you all out of the nest a bit then I run the risk of having "versions of Colin's style" popping up all over the globe.

I have a question regarding #8, #9, #10. I hate to hack off my instructor in another thread, but since I’m not getting a “10” anyway, I might as well make an observation, hope for a “3”, and settle for a “1” or less! Since you are posting these as a learning scenario as well as eye candy, I might as well jump right in the big middle of it!

Before I can give you a 10 or a 1 you're going to have to post something!

Doesn’t it seem that the background in these shots may be a bit distracting with the sky light right at head level? (Bokeh is very nice in #9 & #10, however) For that matter, is there a reason you shot so much head room in those particularly or is this one of those subjective personal preference things? I do like the poses in those shots. And I love the pose in #7 for a full shot. Goes perfect with her facial expression and age range.

Dunno I'm fine with it. The couple of preceding frames had those points blown so I knocked it back 2 stops. I was looking for a "halo around the head of an angel" type shot. With regards to the headroom, the background you see was the other side of a big pond, and I only had 200mm of reach (on a FF camera) on me - so that was the field of view I was limited to; also, I didn't want the band of light going through the face plane, and I'd either of had to lie down on wet grass or dig a trench to get it below the head plane

But say, in #5. To me, Miss Ellie looks very in place behind a wall with a lot of background and foreground. Relatively speaking, Miss Ellie is a low percentage of the actual shot, but it works for me. Probably because I am used to being in the Great Outdoors a lot and seeing these kinds of scenes.

Some problem; lack of reach. For #6 I was able to come down beside the bridge and get a lot closer, but in #5 I'd have needed to put a tall ladder in a culvert of water to get a narrower FoV (it was cropped quite heavily as it is).

The “Buddy” shots of Miss Jesica & Miss Ellie. I haven’t tried any of these but one thing I am seeing is that heads need to be in close proximity. You have a lot of actual physical contact all around. It seems that people shy away from this, but actually looks more natural in an image. I say this because I am going to need to remember this since some of the freeloading family and friends now (mistakenly) think they may want me to shoot some portrait types of them! I’ll hopefully have a chance to do some small groups (not mobs) in the future and if I make these observations and post them, I can come back and kick myself if I blow it!

Probably the first thing you'll learn when doing group shots is how the camera HATES gaps. I usually get them to lean in - take the shot - lean in some more - take the shot - rinse and repeat until they all have a nuclear fision in the middle (and take the shot!).

[Loose Canon]

With regards to the headroom, the background you see was the other side of a big pond, and I only had 200mm of reach (on a FF camera) on me - so that was the field of view I was limited to; also, I didn't want the band of light going through the face plane, and I'd either of had to lie down on wet grass or dig a trench to get it below the head plane

Some problem; lack of reach. For #6 I was able to come down beside the bridge and get a lot closer, but in #5 I'd have needed to put a tall ladder in a culvert of water to get a narrower FoV (it was cropped quite heavily as it is).

Understood. A logistical thing. But if I don't ask, I'll never know!

Probably the first thing you'll learn when doing group shots is how the camera HATES gaps. I usually get them to lean in - take the shot - lean in some more - take the shot - rinse and repeat until they all have a nuclear fision in the middle (and take the shot!).

Something I think is very important for me to remember.

Before I can give you a 10 or a 1 you're going to have to post something!

Ouch! Seemed to me I was participating about as much as anyone. Especially with my work schedule!

When I get off my present Tour of Duty, I will try to redouble my efforts! I want to earn that "1"!

Thanks Colin. While it may not seem like it, you are definitely an inspiration to me.

[Colin Southern]

Ouch! Seemed to me I was participating about as much as anyone. Especially with my work schedule!

Sorry, since I hadn't rated images before, I thought we were starting from now!

[Loose Canon]

My bad!

Guess I'm kinda stuck in the neighboring thread regarding portrait instruction! I seem to be kinda crossed up!

[Colin Southern]

Colin,
All are really nice,but this one is superb!

Thanks Jim,

I like them all

[Colin Southern]

Great images. It also looks like a lovely place to shoot with wonderful scenery.

Thanks Richard,

I think that the point I've taught myself is that it takes practice to be able to "see the shot" in any environment, and this is a good example. I was last here about 18 months ago ... quite enjoyed the gardens, but at the same time, was somewhat frustrated at the "lack of photo opportunities" ... was really just a case of "opening my eyes".

I've been guilty of that a lot with landscape too - always trying to think up the next "perfect spot", only to discover later that I've been driving past it several times a day for the past 10 years - and - with different light / conditions / composition etc there can well be more than 1 shot there.

[Alis]

Popped along to Gardens of the World which is just a couple of minutes drive from where I live (I can't figure out why I don't shoot here more often!). Spent just over an hour, making these images of Ellie.

Hope you enjoy

Happy to answer any questions etc.

Hi Colin.

Ellie is a lucky girl!

They are all great as always, this one is my favorite though.

Would you be able to give us the details on the general lighting setup in a short paragraph?

Thanks!

[Colin Southern]

Hi Colin.

Ellie is a lucky girl!

They are all great as always, this one is my favorite though.

Would you be able to give us the details on the general lighting setup in a short paragraph?

Thanks!

Hi Ali,

I'm typing this from my iPad whilst waiting for my flight (6:22am!), so I can't insert images very easily ... but - did you see the shot of my lighting rig that I posted into a PAD a few days ago? Basically, it's a couple of 580EX IIs driven by an external battery, and attached to a couple of PocketWizard Flex TT5s, triggered by a Mini TT1, and firing into a shoot-through umbrella (held by a VAL) (Voice Activated Light-stand!).

So with the rig held in the appropriate place (trying to illuminate the model without illuminating the surrounding scene) it comes down to simply adjusting EC and FEC to get the lighting looking good. The full ETTL of the new PocketWizards makes it all pretty easy

Does that help?

[Alis]

Hi Ali,

I'm typing this from my iPad whilst waiting for my flight (6:22am!), so I can't insert images very easily ... but - did you see the shot of my lighting rig that I posted into a PAD a few days ago? Basically, it's a couple of 580EX IIs driven by an external battery, and attached to a couple of PocketWizard Flex TT5s, triggered by a Mini TT1, and firing into a shoot-through umbrella (held by a VAL) (Voice Activated Light-stand!).

So with the rig held in the appropriate place (trying to illuminate the model without illuminating the surrounding scene) it comes down to simply adjusting EC and FEC to get the lighting looking good. The full ETTL of the new PocketWizards makes it all pretty easy

Does that help?

Thanks, Colin. That is exactly what I wanted to know. Great work!

[Colin Southern]

Thanks, Colin. That is exactly what I wanted to know. Great work!

No worries Ali.

PS: Still on the iPad ... Just different day and different airport!

[Class A]

So with the rig held in the appropriate place (trying to illuminate the model without illuminating the surrounding scene) it comes down to simply adjusting EC and FEC to get the lighting looking good.

So was the key light coming from your rig and some natural light from behind?
There is some nice "kicker" light on the back of the head and it looks cooler in temperature so that's why I'm assuming it is natural light.

What size is your shoot-through umbrella and would you want it to be smaller or larger?
Would a 60cm x 60cm softbox be fit for portrait use or would one have to be too close with such a "small" softbox?

BTW, #1, #7, #11, #17, and #18 are my favourites (I know, you like them all ). Very nice!