Taking Pictures of Tobogganing

Tobogganing can be fun for everyone, and it can be fun to take photos. However, it isn't always easy to do so. There are several things you have to take into account. You need to have a fast enough shutter speed, and you also need to make sure your aperture is small enough to pick up the detail. Both these and the ISO are going to make the difference of whether you can have your subject in focus.

I didn't manage to get every subject in focus as much as I wanted to, but it is good practice. I loved the expressions on the children's faces as they were flying down the hill. 

There was a jump and I tried taking photos of them coming over the jump. Most of these were too blurry to put on this blog, but I will put one on so that I can remember what it looks like when the subject is not in focus. It gives the idea of speed, but I didn't get the focus on the subject.

And the last thing to remember is to make sure you are safe when you are taking the pictures. When I was near the jump, the 10 year old lost control of his toboggan and bowled me over ... head over heels. I'm glad we were both okay (and that my camera was too). Do be careful if you are trying to get these photos and have fun.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

Snoot Pictures Again

I was putting my 2012 scrapbook together this week (I know - I might be done by summer - I'm almost done), and I saw some of my practice sessions with my snoot. I had some willing models, which was good as they were very patient with me. It obviously takes awhile to learn how to use it, and how to ask your model to "pose". 

Now I need to find some more models who might be willing to let me try some more.

Visitors of the Four-legged Kind

Last week we were blessed with seeing several different kinds of wildlife in our yard. First there were raccoons looking for some food. This is the first time we've seen them this winter. Then we watched a marten running all over the back yard. It was amazing how fast they can move. I was able to get a couple of fuzzy pictures, but he never stayed still long enough to get a good picture this time. When he decides to move, he's like a bullet going across the yard and up the gully. We also saw some crows ... a sure sign of spring coming. 

Finally, we saw a couple of young deer coming down the gully and then up onto the hill behind the house. They stopped at one point, and I was able to get some pictures through the window. They aren't very afraid of us as long as we stay in the house, and they actually looked like they were posing for me. I think it's only fair to have them stop for a photo when they eat our cedar trees in the winter, and the hosta plants in the summer.

The deer are beautiful to look at, even when they can be a nuisance. We enjoy watching them, and seeing their footprints (hoofprints?) in the bush when we go for walks.

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, 

or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; 

or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, 

or let the fish in the sea inform you. 

Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? 

Job 12:7-9

Using the Snow as a Reflector

When you take a photo of someone, you need to have reflections or catch lights in their eyes to make the photo come to life. This is the part I am concentrating on right now. Last week I managed to take a photo of a young boy who was outside in the snow and was able to catch the reflections in his eyes. The snow is a great reflector, especially when the sun isn't too bright. It was bright that day, and he was usually squinting.

The following pictures were taken on an overcast day, and the snow was still a good reflector. Since the sun wasn't too bright, the children were opening their eyes more, and not squinting. I like the look of the reflections in their eyes better than the reflection you get from a direct flash. I still have more to learn ...

We are blessed to have children around us and can be thankful to God for them. 

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. 

For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." 

 ~ Jesus 

(Matthew 18:10)