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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 28: Documentary - My Life (Hosted by Jonas Svedberg aka designboy) >> Challenge 28: Eligible > * A Mama is Many Things: Barber
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06-NOV-2004 Lonnit Rysher

* A Mama is Many Things: Barber

First and foremost, I am Mama. I take care of all my children's needs. For one of today's labors of love I was a barber. I am the only person who has ever cut thier hair. :)


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Guest 14-Nov-2004 04:55
Excellent suggestions Jonas. There would have been no room behind this shot to include a child, but had I thought about it, I could have shot from the opposite side and rearranged the items. I'm much better at candids than setup shots. I'm normally a very creative person - I don't understand why I can't seem to get creative in my setup shots. 95% of what I shoot is capturing an existing situation. This was actually a bit of both.

I also usually don't dodge my corners, but I do often burn them. In this shot burning didn't look quite right, and when I was pulling it lighter to ease up on it, I slipped and went past neutral into lightening and liked it better that way. But if you don't like it, that's cool too. :)

I really appreciate the input. Good stuff! :) ~ Lonnit
Guest 13-Nov-2004 20:16
Lonnit, first let me say that your entry is a great idea for this challenge. I agree with the others about flat lightning and maybe to calm composition. But it works. (Documentary, right?) It seems that you have lighter corners than the rest of the photo? I prefer darker corners (almost vingetting) to keep the photo "together".

My approach to this "subject" would have been another though. You have a very close, narrow composition. Almost a still life photo. I would trying to use a wide angle (17 mm on a 10D?) and maybe capture one child out of focus in the background on top, low perspective and the hair and trimmer in the bottom. Or maybe something else interesting in the background. I know nothing of your conditions so it's easy to be "creative". =) /Jonas
ctfchallenge13-Nov-2004 04:01
Thanks guys. I did shoot from assorted heights but this was the best compostion. You're totally right about the lighting. I really didn't give in any more thought than "is it enough light to take the shot". My head is just not into the lighting phase yet as much as it should be, considering that photography is literally 'writing with light', and in reality should be the MOST important thing to think about in ANY shot! How could I be so stupid? Isnt' that Photog 101? Yeesh! Ok, so I'll try to give the excuse that I still do not have any lights. Well, that's utter hogwash b/c I recall getting some very nice compliments on shots I took where I used my sons' toy flashlights as my lighting! Backlighting or sidelighting the hair should have been a no-brainer! As for a toy, yes! That would have been a great element, diffused in the background!

Excellent comments! Thanks sooooo much! And THIS is why we need the constructive critisism I've been lobbying for! ~ Lonnit :)
Canon DSLR Challenge12-Nov-2004 16:46
Jeff, I think that is a good analysis. I would try a more diagonal or triangular composition as well as use more directional lighting, maybe as backlighting [ie off camera flash behind the subject, or maybe at a 90 degree angle (side-lighting)]. Those suggestions might work, but I would have to shoot it to know for sure... --Olaf
Guest 12-Nov-2004 16:31
I'll give this another shot... IMHO the lighting is too flat and the composition is weak. The subject has merit but seems to be missing a critical element or balance between the existing elements. I was thinking that something colorful that would associate the hair with your child could anchor a foreground or background corner, but maybe the scissors just need to be repositioned and camera angle adjusted. A little back or side light might give more dimension to the hair while adding weight to the clippers.
ctfchallenge12-Nov-2004 14:30
I still wish I knew precisely what that "personality and style" was so I could replicate it!!!!! LOL!

Yes, the lensbaby would have been right. Why the heck wasn't I thinking about that? I ended up just using the 75-300mm b/c it happened to be on the camera and I grabbed it quickly when I thought, while cutting my sons' hair, "this would be good for the challenge". I wanted a shallow DOF so that lens was right for it. I wasn't thinking about the lensbaby. Brain glitch! LOL! ~ Thanks.

Lonnit
ctfchallenge12-Nov-2004 08:23
You should have shot this with your lensbaby. That would have been more intersting. -Byron
Guest 12-Nov-2004 06:29
OK. I usually don't comment on an image if it doesn't catch my eye. I've looked at this one several times and it just doesn't speak to me. There's nothing wrong with it technically but I'm used to seeing a lot more of your personality and style in your work.