Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/01/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ted Grant wrote: > <snip> > > "Shoot from the shadowside! Watch the eyes and get the action!" And > >you rarely go wrong! :-) "Light - eyes - action!" It's KISS simple!<<<< Barry Hinderks asked & showed: > Is this kinda what you mean?? Hi Barry, Comment with each as posted: 1/ >> http://www.members.shaw.ca/bhinderks/EdMis.1.jpg<<< You are close on the lighting, soft on the focus! This is a family moment and although we always strive for sharp focus, sometimes it's a nice picture so we live with it being slightly off. However, the focus point here is the eyes and you're just behind it leaving the face soft. Having it right on the mark using a wide aperture is difficult with a child moving and squirming and to get the eyes smack dab on the mark means it comes down to "experience of handling" the camera and how quickly you move your fingers. The more you shoot the more adept you become and the next time chances are you'll be right on the mark sharp. 2/ >> http://www.members.shaw.ca/bhinderks/EdMis.2.jpg<< Now you're very close! And in this case with nice soft light and open shadows. And good eyeline attention. Unfortunately on my screen it appears slightly soft and not on the mark sharp on the eyes? Disregard the comment if in reality it is sharp. ;-) 3/ >> http://www.members.shaw.ca/bhinderks/Grams.1.jpg<< Where you were close above, this one couldn't be any better for "shooting from the shadow side," it's perfect!! It's typical Rembrandt 3/4 lighting that we see in his paintings. It's what I look for in most situations, obviously it's not always there. But if one works at it all the time, eventually it becomes an automatic recognition factor without hunting for it. Remember this lighting look on the baby's face because that's what Rembrandt light from the shadow-side is all about! And no matter what the situation, if you find the shadow-side and use it with good composition the content will be enhanced and your pictures will have a greater degree of success. 4/ >> http://www.members.shaw.ca/bhinderks/Grams.2.jpg<< The light works very well as it skims the "grandmother's?" face contrasting the softer light on the baby, which accents the contrast between old and new. No offense intended to the lady in the picture being "old." This is the kind of content where ones immediate re-action is "jeeesh look at that - shoot!" And that's an immediate action before one even has any thoughts about "shooting from the shadow-side!" And we get lucky because it all works very well. Over the years when I explain "shoot from the shadow side" people make a point of looking for it whether taking pictures or not. After awhile the looking part becomes a natural observation and an instinctive assessing of a scene without thinking about being on the shadow side. Why? Because you automatically gravitate to the shadowside without thinking about it. It's called "doing what comes naturally." ;-) I hope this helps. > Been lurking here for the past couple of months. Must say I love your > Doctor's series.<<< Thank you, much appreciated. Watch for "Women in Medicine" it's a beauty! :-) ted - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html