I'm not expecting a slew of comments on this picture as I suspect that the reasons that I like it are a bit idiosyncratic. The main reason is personal, i.e. it captures an aspect of Harmony's and Finley's relationship that I find endearing – Finley being a bit rough, but not aggressive, and Harmony letting him get away with it. On occasion, he does push things too far – and ends up getting in trouble and upsetting Harmony – but generally they're pretty good with one another.
The second reason I like it is technical, i.e. I like the way this lens produces a really smooth out of focus background when used at a wide aperture.
Oh, and having just read through the comments on yesterday's picture, I also have a third reason. Looking back through the last ten months it seems that I've only posted one shot of Tabitha, and that was taken on the day she was born. So I guess it isn't all that surprising that some of you thought that Finley was our youngest.
So, this shot is a current one of Finley, and at some point later this week I'll post a more up-to-date one of Tabby.
captured camera lens aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter cropped?
3.57pm on 10/2/08
Canon 1Ds Mark II
EF 35mm f/1.4L USM
f/2.2
1/200
aperture priority
+0.0
evaluative
100
no
RAW
C1 Pro
1x1
comment byAnne at 09:41 PM (GMT) on 26 February, 2008
Wonderful study of the children together! I like your technical reason too! I haven't had such great results as this since I changed to digital - my lenses are all zoom and too slow! Will have to save up for another which will open up to fl.4. Love your blog and the tutorials are really great!
comment byJennifer at 09:51 PM (GMT) on 26 February, 2008
I think it's lovely for all the reasons above - plus I now feel vindicated in my purchase today ;-)
comment bydenis at 11:34 PM (GMT) on 26 February, 2008
Delicious. As usual
comment bymaxine at 11:42 PM (GMT) on 26 February, 2008
Dave I love the pic (as usual)! It is a superb moment between they two and the photo itself is perfect, however - there is something in lillte Finley which make me wonder how it would be this pic in sepia ;)
comment by RD at 12:04 AM (GMT) on 27 February, 2008
Of course, I now remember Tabitha's picture when she was born--I need some ginko biloba! So sorry. But, really, you need to post more of her so we don't forget!
comment by kate at 02:50 AM (GMT) on 27 February, 2008
so lovely. i hope you don't get the wrong idea, because this is meant as a compliment, but as soon as i opened the photo i was reminded of the traditional feel/values of the 50s (?) black and white film of Alfred Hitchcock- Arsenic and Old Lace, one of my favorite black and white films due to its perfect use of black and white. of course, i'm guessing it's how you processed/balanced the black and white, but i guess their positioning on the fence with the vintage buildings in the background somehow allude to it. i love their eye contact and how their body language represents exactly the delicate tension you described. as always, when i open your portraits, there is often this type of delight/surprise. also, i think you're usually spot-on objective with most of your shots, as you are with this one. this is one of my favorites! :)
comment byDan at 08:52 AM (GMT) on 27 February, 2008
I like it very much, the capture of moments like this, that usually go unnoticed, is priceless. They will probably love this shot when they are much older.
comment bycsj @ id7.co.uk at 12:51 PM (GMT) on 27 February, 2008
A square crop, your children, and a great eye for a shot and a cracking camera, what more could you need to get a timeless image, like Dan commented, they will look back at this archive and really appreciate the time you took to point the camera in their direction when they are older. Sometimes we take pictures for absolutley no-one else to see, and they only have meaning to us as individuals, yet we take time to share them through blogging and let others make their views... its all photography. On another note, I was on the Canon Stand at Focus yesterday, and oh my life what toys there were to play with!!!! ;-)
comment byGeorg Tavonius at 09:20 PM (GMT) on 27 February, 2008
I like this picture. It's all sweet. And from the technical view not only the diffusse background is good also the golden sections work really well in this one.
By the way: I keep wondering how you get all this good shots of your childrens playing. I would miss the moments.
comment byROB at 11:25 AM (GMT) on 28 February, 2008
Just sensational. And on a slightly related note I received my copy of the Baby Book today. It is so much more that I expected!! Thanks.
comment byJamey at 03:38 PM (GMT) on 29 February, 2008
It's a lovely lens, isn't it. Couldn't be without mine.
I'm not expecting a slew of comments on this picture as I suspect that the reasons that I like it are a bit idiosyncratic. The main reason is personal, i.e. it captures an aspect of Harmony's and Finley's relationship that I find endearing – Finley being a bit rough, but not aggressive, and Harmony letting him get away with it. On occasion, he does push things too far – and ends up getting in trouble and upsetting Harmony – but generally they're pretty good with one another.
The second reason I like it is technical, i.e. I like the way this lens produces a really smooth out of focus background when used at a wide aperture.
Oh, and having just read through the comments on yesterday's picture, I also have a third reason. Looking back through the last ten months it seems that I've only posted one shot of Tabitha, and that was taken on the day she was born. So I guess it isn't all that surprising that some of you thought that Finley was our youngest.
So, this shot is a current one of Finley, and at some point later this week I'll post a more up-to-date one of Tabby.
camera
lens
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
Canon 1Ds Mark II
EF 35mm f/1.4L USM
f/2.2
1/200
aperture priority
+0.0
evaluative
100
no
RAW
C1 Pro
1x1
Wonderful study of the children together! I like your technical reason too! I haven't had such great results as this since I changed to digital - my lenses are all zoom and too slow! Will have to save up for another which will open up to fl.4. Love your blog and the tutorials are really great!
I think it's lovely for all the reasons above - plus I now feel vindicated in my purchase today ;-)
Delicious. As usual
Dave I love the pic (as usual)! It is a superb moment between they two and the photo itself is perfect, however - there is something in lillte Finley which make me wonder how it would be this pic in sepia ;)
Of course, I now remember Tabitha's picture when she was born--I need some ginko biloba! So sorry. But, really, you need to post more of her so we don't forget!
so lovely. i hope you don't get the wrong idea, because this is meant as a compliment, but as soon as i opened the photo i was reminded of the traditional feel/values of the 50s (?) black and white film of Alfred Hitchcock- Arsenic and Old Lace, one of my favorite black and white films due to its perfect use of black and white. of course, i'm guessing it's how you processed/balanced the black and white, but i guess their positioning on the fence with the vintage buildings in the background somehow allude to it. i love their eye contact and how their body language represents exactly the delicate tension you described. as always, when i open your portraits, there is often this type of delight/surprise. also, i think you're usually spot-on objective with most of your shots, as you are with this one. this is one of my favorites! :)
I like it very much, the capture of moments like this, that usually go unnoticed, is priceless. They will probably love this shot when they are much older.
A square crop, your children, and a great eye for a shot and a cracking camera, what more could you need to get a timeless image, like Dan commented, they will look back at this archive and really appreciate the time you took to point the camera in their direction when they are older. Sometimes we take pictures for absolutley no-one else to see, and they only have meaning to us as individuals, yet we take time to share them through blogging and let others make their views... its all photography. On another note, I was on the Canon Stand at Focus yesterday, and oh my life what toys there were to play with!!!! ;-)
I like this picture. It's all sweet. And from the technical view not only the diffusse background is good also the golden sections work really well in this one.
By the way: I keep wondering how you get all this good shots of your childrens playing. I would miss the moments.
Just sensational. And on a slightly related note I received my copy of the Baby Book today. It is so much more that I expected!! Thanks.
It's a lovely lens, isn't it. Couldn't be without mine.