MelissaDeAmicis
FollowViews
1698
Likes
Awards
Zenith Award
Top Shot Award 21
Legendary Award
Member Selection Award
Featured
Contest Finalist in Friendship Photo Contest Valentines
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
All Star
Magnificent Capture
Love it
Genius
Superior Skill
Top Ranks
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at Fort McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ at one of the on base housing developments.Time
This particular photo was taken on a late summer afternoon just after 4pm. The kids came out to play after the hottest time of day passed.They were a bundle of energy and I just followed them around with my camera.Lighting
There are many large trees in the particular neighborhood this was shot at. The angle of the sun as the day was starting to come to a close created fantastic side lighting as it shone through the branches, creating the highlighting on the children faces as they "repaired" the aircraft. This was a candid shot, so it was luck that they stopped where they did.Equipment
I used a Sony SLT A-57 with a 300mm zoom lens (hand held, no tripod). The shot was taken at the 300mm focal length, f5.6, 1/500 of a second.Inspiration
As a military family we move around a lot. It is important to me to ensure my children have mementos to keep with them as we go through this journey together, so they can remember the friends they have met and the places they have been. This particular shot is my two children (the boy and girl on the right) and our neighbors child (in the plane) playing outside of our houses in the military community on base. It is symbolic to me for many reasons. It shows the innocence of children, as well as the power of their imagination. It also symbolizes how families from different backgrounds, and even different military branches (we are Army, the other family is Air Force) can come together knowing that one day we will part ways, but we are all always on the same side.Editing
The original photo was in color. I utilized Corel After Shot Pro II to change it to black and white.In my camera bag
I have moved on from my Sony SLT a-57 and now carry a Nikon D7200 with three different lenses. The kit lens, which is a 18-140mm, as well as a 300mm zoom and a recently purchased "nifty 50". My bag also contains an external flash and various filters, cleaning tools and spare batteries. Often, but not always, I will carry a tripod, though I admittedly hardly use it.Feedback
I am a big fan of candid shots. To me they are the most pure, and I think the random moments are the best because they don't look fake or strained. My kids are my favorite subject. If you have children, just follow them around at a distance with a good zoom lens and fire away. You never know what you are going to get because you never know where children imagination will take them.