'A Friend Like You'
Aug, 2016Views
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Awards
2020 Choice Award
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Genius
Superior Skill
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo at a beautiful little wetland park just down the road from where I live on the Gold Coast, Australia. I absolutely love the park because of how open and natural it is. The bridge is one of my favourite 'go to' spots.Time
This particular photo was taken literally in the last moments that the evening sun was touching the trees. I had rushed everyone around to the bridge because in those last moments of golden hour you get the yummy yellow and orange tinges on the trees in the background. This is my absolute favourite time of day - everything feels so peaceful and looks so beautiful.Lighting
I was really lucky to capture this moment in the last moments of light as this was the exact look I had in mind. I wanted the beautiful warm landscape in the background with a simple/rustic story in the foreground. Anyone who works with kids will understand you can't force a moment, the moment comes naturally and I was really lucky that, in this case, the moment coincided with the light I was after.Equipment
This was shot using a Canon 7D with a Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM lens. No other equipment was used.Inspiration
As a mother, you are always inspired to take photos of your children. This is my daughter and her best friend. They have such a beautiful relationship and my aim was to capture that moment. They did the work, I was a simple observer to their wonderful world of play.Editing
Absolutely, I spend a lot of time in post as I aim to create an artistic feel to my images - a bit more on the fine art side. I have no set way of editing a photo but rather do what I feel the photo needs. In this case, it was a matter of cleaning up any distractions, softening and sharpening where appropriate, adding warmth, separating my subjects from the background and adding different tones to give it a slightly dreamy and more classic feel.In my camera bag
Apart from my 7D and my 70-200 f2.8 lens, I always carry my 100mm f2.8 macro prime and my 24-105mm f4 as a backup. I always have my flash in my bag, however I very rarely use it as I love utilising natural light. Backup cards and batteries are a must!Feedback
Don't try to force the moment. Working with kids is never easy but the best photos always happen when they are at their most relaxed, when they are engrossed in their own play. Make the most of what light you have available and don't be afraid to shoot as it begins to get darker too. To get that beautiful creamy background make sure your aperture is as wide as it will go and try make sure you are closer to your subject than they are to the background. As kids are unpredictable and generally won't sit still if you ask them to, it is wise to shoot at a higher shutter speed to avoid blurred movements. Most importantly, make sure you (and the kids!) are having fun!
