Little Mermaid
This photo was taken at a park by my house. There is a lake surrounded by a path. I had my daughter face the setting sun. Post processed in Nik....
Read more
This photo was taken at a park by my house. There is a lake surrounded by a path. I had my daughter face the setting sun. Post processed in Nik.
Read less
Read less
Mar, 2015Views
339
Likes
Awards
People's Choice in Your Best Senior Portraits Photo Challenge
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Peer Award
All Star
Love it
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
Top Ranks
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 3Top 20 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 2Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at Oak Grove Park in Chesapeake, Virginia.Time
This capture was taken mid morning on a cold winter sunny day.Lighting
I wanted to capitalize on the water background in this shot. I had the subject stand on an elevated part of the shore with the sun light to her front. The lighting is all natural with very little post processing needed.Equipment
I used a Nikon D300, 50mm f1.8, and a tripod to obtain this shot.Inspiration
This is part of a series of photos I took of my teenage daughter as part of a 'teen shoot'. We decided to walk around this lake to determine the best lighting vantage and happened along this section. There is a part in the trees lining the lake and a bench. The shore is elevated at this spot to a minor vertical cliff. Although it was a cold day, the cold added a red 'blush' to her cheeks which definitely turned out to be a nice addition in my opinion.Editing
I post process my photos in CS5 (Photoshop). Along with minor color/sharpening/and exposure adjustments I smoothed her skin slightly to ensure the red cheek blushing blended in well. The original blush on her cheek was too splotchy for my taste. I also brightened the eyes a bit to emphasize the light captured in them. Finally I used the burn tool and darkened the water background about a stop as it was a bit too light in the original exposure.In my camera bag
I have taken a liking to carry around a D700 and/or D300 body, a 35mm f1.8; 50mm f1.8; 85mm f1.8; Sigma 150mm f2.8 Macro; and a Tokina 12-24mm f4 in my kit. I do bring along a strobe flash sometimes if I am doing portraiture but prefer natural light. Sometimes I will tote a tripod when I feel like carrying it but most of the time not. I did have a tripod with me in this shot.Feedback
In my style I prefer natural light. I try to think of lighting in every shot prior to even setting up for the shot. I walk around and look at how the light is on surrounding objects, buildings, or even reflections. I like this shot especially for the quality of light as it peered through the trees and lightened up the subject's face as if a reflector was used. Of course the golden hour of morning and evening or a cloudy day is the best time for portraits but I will find a shadow to take portraits when the sun washes out and becomes too harsh to shoot in the open.
