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Sunday, February 05, 2012
 Take better photos of your kids this summerSix easy solutions to vacation photography challenges By Gretje Ferguson The summer months invite us to bring out our cameras to capture fun times with our families. Here are some solutions for common problems parents encounter in photographing their children at play in the yard, in the park, or at the beach. 1. My photos never look the way I expect. Every time you take a photograph, look carefully at what is in your viewfinder or on the LCD screen. Is your subject too far away? Is there clutter in the background? Is there a pole growing out of someone's head? Is your child's face in shadow? Sometimes all it takes is moving to your right or left to get better composition, moving your subject to a different location, or zooming in to cut out unwanted objects. 2. How can I take good photos on a sunny day at the beach? This is a tough one! The beach in bright sun is one of the hardest places to photograph because of harsh lighting that creates strong shadows and "owl eyes." The best times to shoot outdoor portraits are in the first or last hours of sunlight (known as "the golden hour"). At these times the sun is low on the horizon and casts a soft, warm light and avoid the overhead shadows from the midday sun. But to get passable results during the day, try turning on your camera's flash to fill in the shadows. Also, look for any available shade, such as a cabana or umbrella. 3. My photos always look the same. Little changes can shake up your photography. Try photographing from new angles. Get down to eye level with your toddler, or point the lens skyward as your six-year-old climbs the jungle gym. Tip your camera sideways for an edgy look. Come in close to photograph just a part of the face. Experiment with capturing different emotions and special moments. Let yourself go! With digital cameras, all you need is the “delete” button if your creative attempts fail. 4. My kids always have silly grins on their faces when I take their pictures. Up until your kids hit the age of four, it’s relatively easy to get nice candid photos, as they will ignore the camera after a minute or so and go back to playing. After the age of five however, the mugging begins! If your child seems perpetually aware of the camera, practice patience. In my experience, just telling them to wipe that grin off their faces never works, and they will keep doing it just to bug you. (Note: They are probably doing this because adults have this misguided urge to tell their kids to “Say ‘Cheese!’”) But if you wait long enough they will need to relax that clown smile just for a moment, and BAM! You are ready to open the shutter. Also, the more photos you take in candid situations, the less attention they will pay to you. That’s the key to relaxed, natural expressions. 5. How can I photograph a running child? The key to stopping movement is a fast shutter speed, ideally on a bright day. Dial your camera to the Sports setting, or, if your camera allows it, set it to Shutter Priority at 250/sec or higher. A higher ISO (400 or above) will also help you get a faster shutter speed. Another tip: try “panning.” Set your camera to continuous focus, focus on the subject and then move the camera along (with a gentle sweeping motion) in the direction in which she is moving. Keep the camera moving for a few feet even after you have released the shutter. 6. Faces are too dark in a lot of my pictures, even when it’s a sunny day. This is a common problem, and is most apt to happen when the subject is in front of a bright background. That’s because the camera meter is trying to balance skin tone with the brightness behind. As a result, any skin tone can end up looking grayish or muddy as the camera struggles to find the right exposure. Solution: Look for areas to photograph where you don't have extreme lighting conditions. If possible, move your subjects in front of a background that is a similar tone or darker than your subjects’ faces. Is there a bank of trees nearby that can serve as backdrop? How about the side of your home that is in shade? The key is to avoid a bright spot in the viewfinder that can skew your exposure results. I encourage you to have fun with your photography this summer. Experiment with lighting, mood, and composition. Shoot lots of frames, and analyze what works and what doesn’t. Your creativity may surprise you! Gretje Ferguson is a portrait photographer with a studio in Dedham. www.gfergphoto.com |
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ACTIVITIES
BIRTHDAYS
CAMPS
CHILDCARE & EDUCATION
COMMUNITY
FAMILY FUN
SERVICES
SPECIAL SECTIONS
SPORTS
SUMMER FUN AND PARTIES
BIRTHDAYS
CAMPS
CHILDCARE & EDUCATION
COMMUNITY
FAMILY FUN
SERVICES
SPECIAL SECTIONS
SPORTS
SUMMER FUN AND PARTIES
