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06/29/2011 12:52:27 AM · #1 |
Hi all,
Im stressing out a little as my girlfriend has just asked me if I would take some photos of her 2 week old baby (which I have been dying to do, but now the pressure is on), so she can have some framed to give to her mum. She wants to do the nude thing black and white/select desat stuff. My problem is this will be indoors at her house and I dont have any off camera flash or lighting, only...gasp! pop up flash which I just dont want to use. I pretty much suck at the whole low light photography thing. Do I just put the baby next to a window for natural light, do I have the lights in the house on, which white balance is best Auto? Any tips/hints as to how best I can go about this will be greatly appreciated. |
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06/29/2011 12:58:18 AM · #2 |
Window light will be best, use it like you would a flash but position the baby instead of the light source. You are going to need a lot of patience. I have done a few of these now and I finally learned the trick to getting the baby to stay asleep while naked. It needs to be really warm. That means you and the mom are going to sweat a lot. Its summer so it shouldn't be a problem keeping the room warm but if for some reason you don't think it will be as warm as you like make sure you have a space heater handy.
Good luck and plan on about 2 to 3 times as long as you think it will take, unless you get extremely lucky. |
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06/29/2011 01:04:13 AM · #3 |
| Make sure lights inside are not on if you are using the window as your source like this (unless their lights are daylight balanced...they're out there). Otherwise, you will get differing light temperatures. |
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06/29/2011 01:24:18 AM · #4 |
| Thanks guys, It would not have occurred to me to 'position' the baby good point, and its actually winter here so will definately need that heater. I can ask her to have it on already. And didnt known not to have inside lights on as well when using the natual light. Excellent, at least I can go in there with some confidence. Cheers. |
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06/29/2011 01:41:32 AM · #5 |
I don't have an external flash either so I tried improvising with the popup flash in my T2i and it actually turned out very well. Here is what I did...
Pop up the flash and with your left hand hold up a CD at a 45 degree angle with the edge of the CD in the grove between the flash and the camera body. This will bounce the light off CD onto the ceiling to get a nice diffused light. It takes a little practice to position it at the correct angle and you need to make sure the hand holding the CD covers the hole in the middle so light doesn't get through.
You look pretty dumb doing it this way but you may be surprised at how well it works!
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06/29/2011 02:05:01 AM · #6 |
| You can also use silver foil as a reflector or put a translucent gel over your flash or make a snoot out of paper. just ideas practice first but window light is the best with babies. |
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06/29/2011 02:23:08 AM · #7 |
| Ok great ideas, thats what i love, improvising. This is so exciting, Im going to pratice on a doll or something tomorrow at home. Lucky I still live in the world of CDs and not just Ipods. Ha ha.. |
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06/29/2011 02:30:43 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by sulamk:
You can also use silver foil as a reflector or put a translucent gel over your flash or make a snoot out of paper. just ideas practice first but window light is the best with babies. |
Yup, and crinkling the foil first and then straightening it back out will soften it if you feel it's too hard. |
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06/29/2011 03:59:27 AM · #9 |
Practice on a doll is great idea.
Halogen work lights give a half decent colour temperature - you could bounce one if the walls and ceiling are white, or hang a white sheet in front to diffuse (not too close, they hot).
If you're desaturating, how much does colour temperature matter?
You can adjust the strength of your on board flash. I've used reflective card to bounce and/or tissue to diffuse too.
Then, having said all that, I think natural light from a window is a lovely light for cherubs. I also think peace and tranquillity for baby is worth more than pictures. Don't forget that in grandmother's eyes, a blurred mobile phone upload will look like the Sistine chapel.
And I tend to go on and on.
:-)
Enjoy |
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