So, I don't know if you know this, but I try to put some thought into how I take pictures for this blog. Images are really important to me, and I hate to post without a picture. Also, many of my posts are kind of built around pictures. So when I take pictures for this blog, I try to find a balance between staging a photo, and letting things happen spontaneously, while at the same time keeping in mind where the picture is happening, what's in the background, and what the lighting is like. Its a constant juggling of the elements of what I hope is good candid photography. I don't consider myself a 'professional' photographer, by any stretch of the imagination, but I do my best to be a good amateur.
That being said, its hard to keep composition and lighting and a clean background in consideration when your most frequent subject is a two year old. Its all I can do sometimes to make sure there is not a bucketful of ugly plastic toys in the background, but usually the major obstacle is that he's doing something really, REALLY cute, and I need to get a picture of him doing it before he stops. Because you can't get a two year old to 'do that again'. They're all like "Whatever mom, I've got a digger to find, and then I'm going to run around in circles for a few minutes, plus also, can I have a snack right now, and... um.... potty." But less articulate, you know. Though really, that's what I imagine his thought process is like. Anyhow, occasionally you just have to reach for the camera, pray the battery is charged and snap away. Case in point:
He's learned how to open closet doors, and found this old skidoo helmet, and had to wear it immediately. "On. On. Wear!", he declared and while hubs helped him with the helmet, I reached for the camera, knowing this would be a good one, but a fast one. Because that's a heavy helmet! Plus also, its old (70's at least) and smells funny (eau de winter mitts and boots) so I knew I'd have 20 - 30 seconds max. No time to change the lighting. No time to clear the background.
And so the result is awesome subject matter (my toddler in a giant white helmet) but rather crappy photographs (hello low lighting with gross flash effects). Also, you get to see the total un-decorator-y-ness of our home. This is downstairs, so its the area that gets the least TLC, as you'll note from the microwave on the side table (huh) and the plastic bin of crap sitting on top of it, accessorized by electrical cords. Sigh. Someday I'll have a house in which I will make conscious decisions about all the items and their placement in it. Someday.
But at the moment what I have is an adorable little boy, who loves anything that makes him look like a speed racer, robot, or space traveller. And I'll totally take that any day.
no, that first pic is SO AWESOME!
Posted by: brooklyn_codger | 07/16/2010 at 03:08 PM