This post is kind of nerdy, so be warned. Ok, it’s really nerdy. It’s a post about my camera…The new camera arrived this week. And it is lovely.
I wanted to be able to shoot with great detail in low light, without getting grainy shots. I am not disappointed.
{ Coincidentally, a lot of great photographers who already shoot with amazing digital cameras (see here and here) seem to be messing around with their Hasselblads this month. Kind of “rediscovering” low-grain medium format shooting. I don’t know if I am uncool, but I have no temptation to touch my medium format cameras. Not now. }
So here’s a shot from last weekend’s family, showing extreme detail in her eye. We are talking about tack* on the front of the eye. Um, hello? That’s me in her eyeball. And look how nicely the focus falls off. That’s due to a particularly wonderful lens. For photographers: this was shot with a D700 at ISO400, 85mm 1.4f lens, 2.2f at 1/500sec, window light at left, reflector at 45 degrees right.
Love being a dork. — heidi
* tack is super-nerd lingo for tack sharp.
Great light and a bunch of really cool kids in the studio this weekend…
I’ve been told that the technical information I sometimes include on the blog is interesting to my readers, so here’s a little background to what made these shots:
For the headshots, we started with full streaming sunlight coming directly into the studio. I diffused the light with sheers on the windows then sat each child with their back to the light. To prevent the child’s face from becoming too dark, we used a large white reflector in front of the child to bounce the window light back onto the face and lift the shadows. If you have a window and a piece of large white cardboard this is a technique you can try at home.
For the group shot, the window light was coming from the left side. We used the same principle and bounced the light with the reflector from about 45 degrees right, back onto their faces.
Thanks to everyone for a fun time, and to the childrens’ dad for being my reflector assistant!
—heidi
The dates for upcoming GIMME 5 sessions have now been released! They are (drumroll please…)
February 20 : studio
March 20 : studio/urban
April 24 : Beemis field
May 22 : Somewhere flowery, to be determined. Possibly a blooming orchard.
Click here for full information about GIMME 5 sessions.
Another beautiful baby came to the studio today, with another extremely lovely and chilled out mom. I wish when my first baby was born that I’d mustered half the confidence that these new moms seem to have.
Ava’s mother brought a few special things with her, including the plaid blanket that Ava’s father used as a baby. Love the truly retro colors! We spent a good portion of the morning giggling at Ava’s half-hearted protests at having her clothes off. Then we watched her smile and wiggle. Then we spent a while just watching her fall asleep. Very, very slowly falling asleep.
I think my favorite shots from the morning are Ava being held by her mom. Technically the images are quite simple — just straight window light. What I love is the feeling of intense, new closeness. It’s a closeness universal to all parents, but personal here to Ava and her mother.
Thank you, ladies, for a lovely morning.
Beautiful dreamy Sarah, with skin and hair so fair, she brightens you up just to look at her.
These shots were from the first batch of Gimme 5 sessions. Gimme 5 sessions last just 15 minutes. (they’re so fast the kids hardly notice! totally painless for mom!). The next date will be February 20th. More info about Gimme 5 here.
Some kids I shoot have buckets of personality. No matter what they do, the camera loves them… Finn is in this category. The big cheeks, curly hair, and wide eyes don’t hurt either…
And if there were an award for “Most chilled family”, I would nominate these guys.
Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles awake you when you rise;
Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby,
Rock them, rock them, lullaby.
Care is heavy, therefore sleep you,
You are care, and care must keep you;
Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby,
Rock them, rock them, lullaby.
— from “Golden Slumbers”
The first newborn session of the year - and such a delightful one, at that. Big brother played serious “boxes” while little brother was fed and cuddled and photographed.
The newly-fallen snow was calling out to me this week. “come play… come play… come play…” It was so powdery and soft. I could not have been more excited when Dalia & Lara’s mom agreed to have a session in the snow. We took a few quick shots in the studio then headed out! Everyone brought their snow boots and the girls were very good sports. They happily agreed get fully snow-tastic.
Snow presents a technical challenge for photographers, not because it is wet and cold, but because it is pure white and easy to overexpose…. but it also makes a wonderfully light and reflective background.
Thank you to this enthusiastic family for having fun with me (oh, and also for the delicious banana nut muffins which I did NOT share with my children.)
–heidi
So, Facebook has taken over the world, right?
A couple years ago, when Facebook was new, I had about 7 friends. And it just stayed that way for months and months. Just 7 friends. Nobody ever looked at their Facebook, or posted pictures, or sent anyone a message, or had a cause, or wrote on a wall. And nobody really cared. That was fine.
Times have changed.
The 20-year reunion at my high school last year prompted a flurry of sign-up activity for me. Everyone was checking each other out; checking out the progress we had all made. Who had kids? Who was married? Where did they live? People that I had only scant memory of passing in the school hallways were now on Facebook. What was happening?! I thought these people were part of my past. Should we be friends now?
Like everyone, I had trepidation about making my personal life available to the world. All that voyeurism. All those teenage insecurities came flooding back. But then I stood back and looked at the situation more objectively. I have a pretty normal life, a fun job, nice kids. I’m slightly left of center (being a vegetarian, and all…) Nothing weird. I thought Facebook would be ok. Confirm friend? Click.
Now, despite my early hesitations, I am sold. I like to share pictures this way. Its great for my clients and I love seeing other people’s photos. Plus, it has introduced me to some cool photographers. This year I plan on offering some fun “specials” via my Facebook page.
So maybe you’ve been checking in to this blog regularly? Maybe you receive the email newsletters? Maybe you are another photographer wanting to connect? Great: this is my heartfelt invitation to you to be friends with me on Facebook. I will not be creating a separate Facebook account for Heidi Peters Photography. I don’t want “fans”. I figure, when you hire me to be your photographer, you hire me. Let’s not make it complicated. Let’s be friends.
Friends from Ithaca visited last week. After an ice-skating/sledding outing, we decided to hang out at the studio. Here’s two shots of Ellie in her cozy winter cap and sweater. I feel snuggly just looking at her…
Reminder: GIMME 5 sessions are being booked now. February 20th has been added as additional date. Click here for more info. Spread the word. Email to get on the list.
{{ Also… many apologies to folks who have posted comments in the past few weeks. My spam software had a nervous breakdown and did some bad filtering. All fixed. Comments posted! }}
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