Well I woz at the races on Saturday ;)

[Stephen]

Which is why I couldn't come to Oxford.
Just a few shots of my 2 neices in the studio yesterday as they race in the 2 'o clock.

Here they are at the starting line



But whats this, looks like some argy bargy going on down the straight



But as Jess draws ahead, they still seem to be enjoying themselves. Still could be anyones race.



Come on girl you can do it



and Jess wins by a head



Look I only lost by this much

[Autumn]

Re: Well I woz at the races on Saturday

Fantastic images Stephen. They really look as though they are enjoying themselves. You have obviously got their confidences to get such natural results.

I love the soft delicate presentation, so suitable for their ages. Makes me realise how much I have to learn.

Now I know this is not in the critique forum, but I would like to ask the reason for so much white space above the girls on the first photograph and also why did you not include the foot of the little girl on the right and give her a little more room like her sister on the left?

I know you will have done it on purpose, and wonder if it is the "New modern way to present portraits." Also some of the facial features lack definition almost to the point of burning the highlights. I believe it is this "High Key" look, but I don't really understand the reason behind it.

I know I am opening a can of worms daring to ask you these questions Stephen but I hope you will take my ignorance in portraiture photography as a good enough reason for my asking and not as a criticism.

Finally, I have to say what pretty little girls they are with such gorgeous coloured hair and translucent skin (all down to the photographer - the skin I mean)

[Stephen]

Re: Well I woz at the races on Saturday

Fantastic images Stephen. They really look as though they are enjoying themselves. You have obviously got their confidences to get such natural results.

I love the soft delicate presentation, so suitable for their ages. Makes me realise how much I have to learn.

Now I know this is not in the critique forum, but I would like to ask the reason for so much white space above the girls on the first photograph and also why did you not include the foot of the little girl on the right and give her a little more room like her sister on the left?

I know you will have done it on purpose, and wonder if it is the "New modern way to present portraits." Also some of the facial features lack definition almost to the point of burning the highlights. I believe it is this "High Key" look, but I don't really understand the reason behind it.

I know I am opening a can of worms daring to ask you these questions Stephen but I hope you will take my ignorance in portraiture photography as a good enough reason for my asking and not as a criticism.

Finally, I have to say what pretty little girls they are with such gorgeous coloured hair and translucent skin (all down to the photographer - the skin I mean)

Audrey, the space above the heads in the first shot, is not so much technique as not being bothered to crop. I basically wanted to keep a 3:2 ratio and had I cropped down I wouldn't have preserved that ratio without also cropping into the sides. Also I think the space accentuates the feeling that these are small people. This is the crop I chose incamera, had I had them more central in the frame there would have been more floor, which I didn't want. I was kneeling at their level and the space therefore was at the top.

I was after a high key effect, and this essentially means loads of light and slightly overexposing. In this instance there was plenty of light being put on the white background, it was about 1.5 EV higher than the foreground. As a result there is sometimes some light bleed around the edges of the subject.

I hadn't especially noticed the end of Hollies foot missing when I picked the shot for this thread, do you have a problem with it, is your eye drawn to it over the rest of the picture? If I'd chosen the next frame, which I could easily have done, the complete foot is there In this instance though I don't think it bothers me.

Much of the shoot, there were about 360 shots taken, was influenced by the Venture style, with white backgrounds, high key and bright colours. If I'm honest its a long time since I shot children in the studio and I had to make a lot of it up as I went along. the idea was not to go for the formal portrait style and rather a relaxed playful atmosphere was encouraged. There were plenty of toys, food, drinks, and adults to look after things whilst I continued shooting. At times it was like mayhem, but everyone enjoyed it and I got a pretty decent set of images.

[Pol]

Re: Well I woz at the races on Saturday

Initial impressions, immediate impact ........ they're reminiscent of the sort of lively, fun shots that are found in mail order and/or toy catalogues. Cheerful, lively and full of fun - wearing nice little feminine outfits too.

I especially like the 'flying hair' in the second shot. They must've been galloping a quite a pace.

Pol

[jojo]

Re: Well I woz at the races on Saturday

Audrey's braver than me! I noticed the absent foot and yes it did detract for me. However, in the big picture, it's a mere toenail clipping!
Jo

[Pops]

Re: Well I woz at the races on Saturday

Better than the real races anytime. Looks like everybody had fun.

[Autumn]

Re: Well I woz at the races on Saturday

Audrey, the space above the heads in the first shot, is not so much technique as not being bothered to crop. I basically wanted to keep a 3:2 ratio and had I cropped down I wouldn't have preserved that ratio without also cropping into the sides.

I know what you mean that is why mine often end up looking like letter boxes

Also I think the space accentuates the feeling that these are small people.

Yes it does give that impression.

I was after a high key effect, and this essentially means loads of light and slightly overexposing. In this instance there was plenty of light being put on the white background, it was about 1.5 EV higher than the foreground. As a result there is sometimes some light bleed around the edges of the subject.

Are these High Key Effects generally used for portraits or are they used in all types of photography - studio and outdoors?

I hadn't especially noticed the end of Hollies foot missing when I picked the shot for this thread, do you have a problem with it, is your eye drawn to it over the rest of the picture?

Erm, Yes, but that's me, I would need the whole foot. I know it is popular to miss off tops of heads but that it what I used to do without trying because I didn't understand the paralex lines.

Much of the shoot, there were about 360 shots taken, was influenced by the Venture style, with white backgrounds, high key and bright colours. If I'm honest its a long time since I shot children in the studio and I had to make a lot of it up as I went along. the idea was not to go for the formal portrait style and rather a relaxed playful atmosphere was encouraged. There were plenty of toys, food, drinks, and adults to look after things whilst I continued shooting. At times it was like mayhem, but everyone enjoyed it and I got a pretty decent set of images.

Thanks for that explanation Stephen. It's about time I got my head around something new.

I have just Googled for Venture Style Photography and there is so much to see. I am not sure whether it totally suits my mind, but it is refreshing to see another aspect of photography.

As you know I belong to a Photography Society and have never seen anything like that there, but there are not many portraits shown.

Like Pol, I love the pic with their hair blowing in the wind.

[Autumn]

Re: Well I woz at the races on Saturday

Audrey's braver than me! I noticed the absent foot and yes it did detract for me. However, in the big picture, it's a mere toenail clipping!
Jo

I am aren't I? After have written it all, I had to dare myself to post it. I thought Stephen would never speak to me again, but there you are, he's come up with just what I wanted.

After looking at the photographs yet again, I realise what fun the children are having which I don't think could be easy within a studio. They don't look as though they are posing for photographs, which I am sure is the idea!

BTW Stephen, how old are they?

[Stephen]

Re: Well I woz at the races on Saturday

The girls are around 3-4 yrs old. I think I would have fighting a losing battle trying to get them to pose all the time. They will look at the camera for a short time if you attract their attention, but this was not really the purpose of the shoot, it was more the interaction between them that I was after. The wind btw was created with a large fan, though you may have guessed that.

The high key effect is really better achieved in a studio where you can control the light, but of course that means some investment in studio lights etc. which probably accounts for you not seeing much portraiture at your Photo society. Frankly I would have thought they could invest in some kit for members use, maybe they already have.

Now why on earth would you need to pluck up courage to ask me questions, or comment on something you don't like

Here's one of them doing 'Hands Free' with all feet etc in the frame

[Autumn]

Re: Well I woz at the races on Saturday

The wind btw was created with a large fan, though you may have guessed that.

Yes I guessed it was something like that.

Frankly I would have thought they could invest in some kit for members use, maybe they already have.

We do have some lighting but "Workshops" are not very popular with the majority of the older members. So we don't often get the opportunity to use them.

Now why on earth would you need to pluck up courage to ask me questions, or comment on something you don't like

I didn't have to pluck up courage to ask the questions, it was the commenting on the missing foot, that I thought you might think was a cheek.

Here's one of them doing 'Hands Free' with all feet etc in the frame

[/QUOTE]

The skin tones are so gentle and natural. Lovely.

[Autumn]

Re: Well I woz at the races on Saturday

Here is one I looked at. I don't like these groups of people who look as though they are floating on air.

Just my opinion, you understand.

http://www.1astudio.co.uk/

[Pol]

Re: Well I woz at the races on Saturday

Here is one I looked at. I don't like these groups of people who look as though they are floating on air.

Just my opinion, you understand.

http://www.1astudio.co.uk/

I have to admit I tend to agree with you, Audrey. I can see how it might be a useful technique for some types of commercial work, eg saving a lot of PP cut-out work, but a lot of it does indeed make the subject appear to be levitating.

Pol