Mothers Day Present

destes

Took my two boys to the local park to shoot some pictures for a mothers day present. (pictures of the kids always seem to work :wink )



I promised them lunch out if they stayed clean in their good school clothes.



2 Vivitar 285HV's, one camera left at 1/2 power through white umbrella, the other camera right, 1/4 power with a diffuser.

Thanks for looking, C&C welcome.

Frog Lady

hi Dale,

nice shots - they look near the same age as my boys, and boy do they grow fast about then:D

I like the 1st one better for several reasons. The you did a nice job of cropping out most of the graffiti, your older boy's smile looks more relaxed/less forced in the 1st and I like the relaxed poses of the 1st as well. In either case, I imagine "mom" will like them just the same (wish my hubby would do that for me).

C.

Hinson

Nice but...
they appear a bit flat to me. Other than that, they're great mom's day gifts.

Hinson

Cantfeelmyfingers

too many shadows, definitely looks a little flat. the colour seems a little off or something as well? maybe just the location.

destes

They were shot under an overpass at a local park. Time was about 11:00 AM. Two Vivitar 285HV strobes, one camera left bounced off a silver umbrealla @ 1/2 power, the other camera right 1/16 power straight on. White balance was set with a Whibal card.

Maybe the flatness is from the lack of color range. To me it looks very monochromatic. Maybe I overlit it?

Not sure I understand the "too many shadows" comment. If I eliminate the shadows, then I think it would really look flat.

Hinson

Hope you don't mind...

destes wrote:

They were shot under an overpass at a local park. Time was about 11:00 AM. Two Vivitar 285HV strobes, one camera left bounced off a silver umbrealla @ 1/2 power, the other camera right 1/16 power straight on. White balance was set with a Whibal card.

Maybe the flatness is from the lack of color range. To me it looks very monochromatic. Maybe I overlit it?

Not sure I understand the "too many shadows" comment. If I eliminate the shadows, then I think it would really look flat.

...but here is an example of what is meant.

Hinson

Hinson wrote:

...but here is an example of what is meant.

And here is the other one. These were done really quick in photoshop so they could actually be a bit better.

As for the 'shadows:' Notice the shadows behind their heads? This could have been partially eliminated by raising your main light a bit higher to drop the shadows down behind them.

Hinson

destes

You're right, there's a definite improvment. Was this a curves adjustment, what did you do? Thanks for the help.

Hinson

Glad you like...

destes wrote:

You're right, there's a definite improvment. Was this a curves adjustment, what did you do? Thanks for the help.

The first was levels only, the second was curves and then levels. It was a quick and dirty adj just to show you what could be done. I think it gave them a bit more 'snap.'

Hinson