My daughters Prom...

[Ron]

Here's one from inside, I didn't like this one but my daughter did. (their bodies are to much to the side, but I'm not into posing at home...) this is window light only, (I also don't like the window behind her, but it's the way the windows are laid out).

People are always emailing me asking about my lighting setup. I tell them it doesn't matter what setup I use. So this one illustrates my work using a window for main-light and a cookie sheet for fill.
I know, I know... now I'll get emails asking what brand and size cookie sheet I use = >



[ April 28, 2002: Message edited by: Ron ]

[Charles_Beasley]

Very nice, Ron. Now about that cookie sheet....?!

[Ron]

My daughter and her boyfriend asked if I would take some snaps of them before they left for dinner. I shot about 30 shots and this is one.

We stepped onto the front porch to get some decent light. Sky was VERY overcast and dark... it was raining (and still is) = (
It was also very cold - high 30's I think. So we rushed it... I also don't like "working" when at home so I don't do much posey stuff and refinement of poses when doing personal snapshots.

But to get a good shot I give some quick direction... you stand there and you stand behind and lean there... turn to the light a little... etc... I'm getting wet... snap,snap,snap...

D60, ISO 400, 28-70mm, auto"P" I believe, natural light from the worlds biggest softbox... I did use my wifes cookie sheet for a fill reflector for some... not sure if this is one of those or not.

http://www.houseofphotography.com/kr...ics/prom-1.jpg


[ April 28, 2002: Message edited by: Ron ]

[ May 01, 2002: Message edited by: Mike Sturk ]

[GabeSchaffer]

Do you prefer non-stick, or did you lightly coat it with butter first?

[Glen_Rosendahl]

Nice to know I can buy reflectors at MarthaStewart.com. LOL

[MarkRomine]

The following comments are merely an opinion and observation and not intended to be a flame toward anyone although some may well view these comments as such, so if after reading these comments you feel the desire to tear into me please feel free to do so.

An observation that I have made on numerous occasions when visiting in the homes of friends and relatives and the topic of family photos enters into the conversation. It doesn't take long before the family photo albums come out on the table where all can view them and have you ever noticed how people seem to just love snapshots of their friends and family members that were taken at the last family picnic. Many times these photos are Much less than perfect in lighting or composition but the expressions are real and they reveal something about the person and his/her personality. The viewers often comment about how good the photos are even though technically they are often even poor. Yet all the while in the same room are portraits of the same individuals seen in the afore- mentioned family album but are hanging on the walls in frames that were taken a by professional portrait photographer wherein every hair is in perfect place, every finger is perfectly curled, every elbow is at a perfect obtuse angle and the lighting is exquisite, not to mention the difference in the cost factor yet no one in the family so much as says a thing about these photos they always seem to enjoy the ones in the family album so much more. Why is that? Is it because they are unable to see the difference between the professional work and the snap shot artist or is because the snapshot really captured something about the person and his/her personality that is often lacking by the photos coming from a professional studio?

My observation of many of the photos that come from professional studios that have perfected their craft over many years, often at best, only capturing the shell of the person and little or none of their personality. Yes everything is so perfect, the hair, the fingers, the elbow etc that instead of the persons personality shinning through all you see is the personality of the photographer imposed onto the subject, their client, by molding them into this perfect portrait, so that it is more of a record of the subject's appearance at that point in time than a reflection of who this person really is. Therefore, these photos often are not enjoyed as much as the fading snapshots from an old Kodak Instamatic found in the family album. The later of course is much easier to achieve than former.

Why do I say all of this? For the first time in many of the photos that Ron has so graciously posted for all to see is a photo that begins to reveal something about the subjects themselves, I am referring to the top photo of his daughter and her boyfriend. Ron admittedly mentions that he spent little time posing his subjects and I think that this is what has made the difference between this portrait any many of the others he has shared with us. There is some life or personality showing or coming out of the subjects in this photo. I like it, for whatever my opinion matters. Ron often spends a fair amount of time graciously critiquing the work of others so I thought that I would offer some to Ron. You have all the technical skills needed to make lovely portraits just be careful not to impose a preconceived concept of perfection that steals your subjects personality by over perfecting and I think this will make your photos even better.

Regards,
Mark

[stevenmartin]

Photographers kids have it ingrained...but like you said the snaps have moment character and verve, while some studio, 'setup' pro shots are kinda stiff like you say. Trick is to get both at the same time. You can base a decent business around eliciting the right look from people. Digital helps in that I think. If it was easy everybody would be doing it.

Steve