Tutorial & DIY: DIY Soft Box Example Pic

There are several reasons I love this photo. Why, I think I’ll count the ways…

1. It’s of Isla, and I’m biased when it comes to her cuteness.
2. It’s the first photo in a long time where I instantly thought, “that’s being blown up.” Normally, I have such a hard time narrowing them down and then I get stuck and then another day strikes and, before I know it, I’ve got folders upon folder to sort through.
3. It was really easy to take and get this result instantly.

Manual | f/3.2 Aperture @ 1/125 Shutter Speed, ISO 400, Exposure Bracket +1.5

This was taken in a part of the room where the sun doesn’t easily reach. (It was also taken on a part of the carpet that needed vacuumed and in front of a hallway that needed decluttered. But that’s neither here nor there, right?) 

It’s a problem lots of us face if we’re hanging out playing in an area where natural light doesn’t easily filter in. In order to get this setting to the level I would need to get this nice, bright picture with a smooth complexion. I solved this by busting out my DIY Soft Box lamp which I posted about the other day.

I carefully placed the soft box lamp on its side and ensured the cords were well out of reach as well as the bulb as it tends to get hot. The front was covered with a piece of winter white heat safe non-flammable fabric and clipped on with office supply clips.

The lamp was then placed securely on a side table which brought it to the same height as me, sitting on the floor, and aimed directly at her. If you look closely at Isla’s eyes, you can see two squares in each one; one of those squares is the window and the other is the soft box.

Has anyone else tried a DIY soft box?!

8 November 8 Permalink

Tutorial & DIY: Fall’s First Portrait @ Home

There is something about the approach of Fall that makes me think of portraits on the front stoop. Maybe it’s the whole “back to school” notion or the fact that the cooler weather makes backyard play less appealing and front yard bike-riding and exploring the absolute thing to do.

This week, we should all nab a picture of our little jam-faces at the front door, no matter how big or little they may be. I mean, why not, right? Point and shoot or DSLR or camera phone, a quick stop on the stoop before heading out for the day makes for a great place marker in any memory book.

Manual | f/3.2 @ 1/320, ISO 200

I wanted lots of bokeh/background blur so, because of that, I needed to control how sunny it was. With a wide aperture of f/3.2 the shutter speed went way up to 1/320 to reduce the flood of light, even though Isla wasn’t exactly on the move.

Manual | f/3.2 @ 1/320, ISO 200

Just by changing perspectives, see how much more bokeh there is? By tightening the frame to show just Isla, I lose the detail in the background as well as parts of her sweater. Sweet. But the 1/320 at this closeness was overexposing her face a little and her sweater a lot, so I quickened the shutter speed to 1/400 for the next round.

Manual | f/3.2 @ 1/400, ISO 200

I came in at a slight 45 degree angle and followed the rule of thirds to fill out the frame making a picture of her not looking at the camera hold more interest.

Manual | f/3.2 @ 1/400, ISO 200

Remember to mind your backgrounds (like if there is any clutter on the landing, etc.), keep tight but also grab a full body shot, rule of thirds for composition with just the head shot and, most importantly, to keep it safe if there are stairs. I was able to get away with this by using my 17-55mm lens rather than a 50mm which would have required me to be further back for the first and last photos and well out of arm’s reach. It meant I gave up a much lower aperture (could have done say an f/1.8 @ 1/640 or 1/800) with extra dreamy bokeh, but I’m a safety nut so there you have it.

Have fun!

xo Tamara

20 September 9 Permalink