Intense Eyes
Little Elle here didn't know quite what to think of me, but I think she may have been looking into my soul.
Little Elle here didn't know quite what to think of me, but I think she may have been looking into my soul.
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Aug, 2016Views
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Awards
People's Choice in Photos of babies 6mths to 12mths Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Superb Composition
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo of baby Elle was taken in my home studio in Western Michigan with natural light.Time
It was around 10-11am in the morning when the sunlight outside bounces a beautiful diffused light off my concrete driveway into my living room.Lighting
I don't work with a lot of lights, so I utilized the light from the window and reflected it back to the other side of the face with a v-flat.Equipment
This was shot with a Canon 7D, using a 50mm f1.8 Canon lens. I usually keep my iso around 400-640 inside, my aperture at f4.0-5.6 and try for a shutter speed over 100 for portraits.Inspiration
I was taking this photo for a client and friend and was delighted to see them return after I did her newborn shoot. Little Elle stood out to me as soon as she walked in the door. She seemed so conscious and aware and simply observed her surroundings calmly as her mother and I chatted. I wasn't even fully set up yet, but grabbed my camera to take a couple of test shots as we talked. Elle looked at me and when she did, it was like a window into her soul. There is so much communication that can happen with a single glance.Editing
I try to get it right in camera to lessen the amount of time needed to process an image. I typically use Adobe Lightroom and my own custom presents. This photo I chose a high key black and white to really highlight her intense eyes and deep connection.In my camera bag
Nowadays I shoot with a Nikon D610 and have a Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 and a Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 lens.Feedback
Learn how to watch for the moments when a person is being their true self. This usually happens when you interact with them, they interact with others or things, or you happen to see them off by themselves deep in thought. You just start to photograph them and then there is that moment when they notice you taking their picture. It's in that very short moment when their attention is drawn to you but they have not yet processed you or what you are doing that you are able to capture the true them. This also works great with a smile or a laugh. Try photographing someone smiling across the room in conversation. If you capture the moment they are still smiling but notice you, you will get a beautiful genuine capture of that person's truest self. If you wait a moment too long, you will get an uncertain look as they start to realize their picture is being taken. Most people get stiff and put up a facade when they know they are being photographed and it can take some work to get them to be themselves again.
