Try It: Do it Every Year

1/320: f4.5: 20mm

My mom did not carry a camera wherever she went.  But she did bring it to the bus stop on our first day of school every year.  We love those photos.  We remark on the outfits, the big yellow station wagon, and is that my baby sister strapped into the front seat?  

First day of school photos are commonplace.  If you peek at Facebook this week, you’ll see many kids with backpacks and giddy smiles.  Does that mean you shouldn’t bother?  I don’t think so.  They are a perfect opportunity to make a series that you can look back on in 2032.  (Your kids may ask why you let them go out of the house in those clothes.)

1/80: f5.6: 20mm1/80: f3.5: 100mm1/250: f3.5: 100mm1/320: f3.2: 100mm

Try It is back! The kids are back to school and there’s a little room to breathe around here. I’ll be posting something to try every Wednesday.  If you Try It, share your photo in the Flickr group.  It’s fine if you are trying something from a previous week.  There’s no late around here.

Up Close

1/200: f3.2

I know some people like to get perspective by backing up and looking at the big picture. I find comfort in looking at something close up.  Noticing a tiny, beautiful detail about a child who is having a moment is like focusing in close on a weed in the yard.  It doesn’t make it go away, but it no longer looks like a problem.

1/250: f5.6

I mentioned in a recent post that I’m using my 100mm macro lens more because my 50mm isn’t working. (It is on it’s way right now to be repaired.)  Most of the time I just use the 100mm and back way, way, way up.  At a distance, it’s not wildly different than a 50mm.  

These photos are examples of letting the macro lens shine.  When I think of macro photography I usually think of bugs and flowers.  I like bugs and flowers but I love children.  So, I was looking for good kid/macro subjects.  I tried a few other things up close (chalky fingers and a scraped knee), but I liked my niece’s eyelashes and freckles best.

Evening Walk

I kept the camera out after I got the scary faces.  We went for a little walk around the park.

1/320: f3.2

I wanted to get a photo of me and the baby on the benches for the banner.  Atticus saw how much fun we were having and wanted to join in.

1/200: f3.51/250: f2.81/50: f5.6Since watching the Olympics, he calls himself the King of Running. 

Technically: For this last photo I was panning.  I wrote a little about it here and there’s lots more information out there on photography websites.

One Very Scary Night

At dinner Atticus says, “Whoever makes the scariest face wins!” Then the competition begins for who face is scariest.  I didn’t want to let this ritual go unrecorded.  Be prepared to be scared…

(She really is trying to scare you.)

Technically…

All of these photos were taken with my 100mm lens at f/3.2.  Why 100mm?  My 50mm is broken and I haven’t sent it off for a repair yet.  (Have you ever gone to the post office or Fed Ex with four kids?)  I am missing my 50 but being pushed to use this lens more is helping me understand its strengths and weaknesses.