Why Won't You Play With Me?
Sep, 2015Views
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Awards
Fall Award 2020
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this shot at home in Gatineau, QC, Canada on a gloomy day where Kaya was just really bored and her eyes screamed "Someone just do something with me!"Time
I love this picture because it really translates her emotions. Around lunch time, she had been pacing back and forth between front door, back door and I could hear her sigh and whimper for attention.Lighting
I sat on a chair across from the room where I could see her and noticed how the lack of direct sunlight allowed the oranges and browns to create this beautiful image that highlights her eyes. Shots like this make me realize that absence of light can work to the benefit of the overall balance in a shotEquipment
Shot with Nikon D800 with a 24-70mm lens, hands free to be able to capture the moment without her moving her head. I needed to capture the shot as quickly as possible because any incling that she might have a chance at someone playing with her would make that shot impossible. The eyes would change, her brow, the ears and the pressure of her head on the mattress make everything come together for pure emotionInspiration
The inspiration took all of 0.5 seconds to become the driver behind the need to capture that moment. Due to the gloomy day, I felt that anyone can have those days where things are just slow, boring and lack of energy. I feel that sometimes its nice to not feel alone and seeing others in that state reminds us that life does have those moments. Appreciating the loneliness of not having another being who wants to give us their attention and vice versa. It really shows how sensitive we are to companionship and camaraderie; life and all of its beings are social creatures.Editing
I played a bit with contrasts and a little bit of shadows on the edges for a bit of a vignetting effect so that the eye is guided to the face and center of the picture. Light color saturation was applied overall and a stroke of light on the left side of her muzzle and cheek, bringing out the white-gold fur to really grab your attention.In my camera bag
The equipment I carry tends to vary depending on which shots I set out to capture any given day. Typically I'll have a 55mm f1.4 prime lens and a 24-70mm f2.8 for regular shots. Indoor shots I'll have a 14-24mm f2.8 wide angled lens or to grab things at a distance I'll travel with my 70-200mm f2.8 lens. If I know I'll be shooting indoors and the location permits it, I'll bring a flash as well and perhaps a tripod due to low lighting environments requiring slower shutter speeds.Feedback
For me, I've always found it key to understand what makes capturing what my eye sees or what my mind wants to show. For that reason, I've taken 1000's of pictures on manual setting trying to really understand how to get the shot I'm looking for the first time and not the 20th snap. Through all that practice, it made it possible for me to not have to sit and wait for an expression to form in front of me and rather capture something in front of me as it happens. As with weddings, there are some moments that you just cannot recreate. To capture those requires the ability to grab the camera, turn it on and immediately dial in the settings you need to create that moment before it disappears. Sometimes, talking with the subjects can help those moments last a little longer such as with children or doing a photo shoot. I find that working the angles helps create the dramatic effect, something the eye doesn't normally see at standing height. Trying to kneel, lie down or anything in between makes my mind more interested in a shot just because its not normally something I can see all the time.
