This is where Ian Burley, DPNow's editor and founder, shares his unique thoughts and impressions on subjects that he hopes will be of interest to others on the subjects of digital photography and other related or loosely related topics! You can follow DPNow Editor's blog on Facebook and Twitter, too.
Daily Photos No.13 - Lara
Posted 04-12-10 at 04:13 PM by Ian
I must say that this looks really nice on my laptop screen. I'm just hoping that the screen's propensity to alter the accuracy of its display if it's just a few degrees out of true won't spoil it for you on your display!
This is Lara, the younger of my two daughters, fresh back from the hairdressers and slightly less resistant to the idea of being photographed than usual! I arranged some small candles on the mantlepiece in the background and set the camera to full aperture for minimal depth of field. To the right is the bay window in our living room and there was some ambient light from there, the room light was dimmed, and so the majority of the light on Lara was from on-camera flash (Olympus FL-50R) diffused by a Lastolite EZYBOX Speed-Lite mini-softbox. Using manual power control I reduced the power to minimum as I wanted to balance the flash with the delicate light from the candles. I also reduced the shutter speed to 1/13th sec for the same reason. Consider that it was practically dark in the viewfinder, and I was hand-holding the camera, but I used live view to critically focus on Lara's right eye (the left as viewed). It's perfectly sharp, so I'm really pleased!
Total Comments 4
Comments
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a nice portrait. All the efforts and the considerations you made are duly rewarded by this superb result. I'm sure that the elder she becomes, the more she will appreciate and love this pic. One of the nice pix that should/could be shown at her wedding party or whatever.
yoshiPosted 04-12-10 at 09:59 PM by yoshi 
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Thanks Yoshi, that's a good idea - I will try to remember your suggestion when the time comes if she decides to get married! There are many pictures I can show for such an occasion
Posted 05-12-10 at 01:42 AM by Ian
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Again copied and pasted from your gallery photo.
"Mon 6, December 2010 7:38am
I think this is a gorgeous photo of Lara, so youthful and innocent with beautiful eyes. You have really caught a magical mood here Ian. Whilst I can appreciate the candlelit background, could it be darkened slightly, no, I think it is the four very bright/whiteish flames that need to be darkened to nearly the colour of the others because the eye tends to travel there away from Lara.
Lovely idea - she's beautiful. The skin tones, eyes and hair (although I have never met Lara) seem to be absolutely perfect."Posted 08-12-10 at 09:50 PM by Autumn
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Well I have, and she isQuote:Originally Posted by Autumn
Lovely idea - she's beautiful. The skin tones, eyes and hair (although I have never met Lara) seem to be absolutely perfect."
I think Ian has produced a very appealing photo here. Definitely one for the family albumPosted 09-12-10 at 09:39 AM by Stephen
