Hot Air Balloons & Portraits - DPChallenge Forums

Sony SAL-50F14 Normal 50mm f/1.4 Autofocus Lens for the Sony

06/14/2005 12:31:54 AM · #1

I just returned from vacation and took these hot air balloon pics in Statesville, NC. The rest can be found here: HOT AIR BALLOONS

I also took these portraits of my nieces. I've only attempted portraits about 3 times and I seem to be getting better but there is still A LOT of room for improvement. Here are a few of my faves. More can be found here: PORTRAITS

** Note: All images (but 2-3) in the two galleries are uncropped. Most have had "Auto Levels" and/or "Auto Contrast" adjustments to get rid of the casts, and also a light dose of USM. On-camera flash was used for most of the portraits.

I would love all opinions, suggestions, and advice especially on the portraits. Feel free to paw through the rest in the gallery as well. I see things wrong with most all of them, but I'd like to hear what everyone else sees. Just wondering if I'm noticing the same things you are. I will happily leave comments for those who do so for me.

Don't be afraid to be honest! I won't run off crying. :-)

Thank you!

Jen

Edit: Oh yes, and I just uploaded this one from Chincoteague

More to come from Chincoteague and DC in the coming days!

Message edited by author 2005-06-14 00:34:00.

ladyhawk22

Sony DSLR-A700

06/14/2005 12:52:47 AM · #2

The hot air balloons look incredible!! That must have been a fun time :-)

of the pics of your niece, I think I like the B&W one the best. The others are nice too, but that one speaks to me for some reason.....I don't know her, but I feel like it's the best capture of her personality. Lots of smiles on those adorable girls!

Thanks for sharing your pics with us!

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

06/14/2005 05:20:56 PM · #3

Thank you Elizabeth! The balloon fest. (my first) was a lot of fun. They were beautiful. I also met up with a few net friends/photographers from another site so we shot the event together which made it even better.

If interested, I just found this site the other day. You can search for balloon fests by region in the US. //launch.net/events/index.html

Thanks for the comment on the b&w pic. They are good girls. :-)

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

06/14/2005 05:59:17 PM · #4

Those portraits are better I think than a "professional" could do with those girls. You can tell they were comfortable with you and I love the angles and editing you've done. I just think they are wonderful!

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/15/2005 06:16:44 PM · #5

Judy, thank you so much! They were very comfortable and excited for me to take their pictures. Nothing better than a willing model or two! :-)

Anyone else have comments, good or bad?

AutumnCat

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

06/15/2005 06:19:21 PM · #6

Great shots. I am hoping weather cooperates for a trip to a balloon fest this weekend in York, PA.

I hope I can capture some photos close to the quality you did - but not sure I am skilled enough.

Well done!

Message edited by author 2005-06-15 18:25:25.

Mochrie99

Nikon D40

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6G

06/16/2005 05:45:12 PM · #7

I enjoyed all of those pictures, I really couldn't choose a favourite. Well done!

papa

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

06/16/2005 05:49:29 PM · #8

For those in the Idaho area, there is a great hot air balloon event coming up next weekend...

Spirit of Boise

Wish I could go, would be great to photograph.

dickwilhelm

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM

06/16/2005 05:58:30 PM · #9

Speaking of Boise...

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/17/2005 07:40:49 PM · #10

Janice - Have fun at the festival! I know you'll get some great shots. You shouldn't have any trouble.

Emile - Thank you very much!

Dick - Great shot. What a view!

AutumnCat

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

06/19/2005 07:06:35 PM · #11

Originally posted by ButterflySis:

Janice - Have fun at the festival! I know you'll get some great shots. You shouldn't have any trouble.

Thanks - we had tons of fun. I plan on going next year - armed with more equipment (tripod, lenses...etc).

luckykg862000

06/19/2005 07:45:02 PM · #12

The balloons are great,just great,I would like to go there next time(if you want to take me to the trip :))) about the portraits...my opinion is that this girl on top has a very interesting face and because of that the pictures on the first row are the best!her face just asks for big catch,for the whole pic!that pictures in main row are standard,like postcards,but that in a bottom row are just for the family albums,nothing special!the front row is excellent,all of them are super,about the balloons...I was in Venice a couple years ago and there were some organization for the children rights and they threw millions of balloons in the air,it was beautiful to see and I had some BAAAD camera then but the momment is there so I want to share it with you!in second plan is the church of St.Marco

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

06/19/2005 08:29:36 PM · #13

Great shots Jen!

With the balloons, you might try a few shots where a single balloon fills a large portion of the frame--perhaps with some more distant balloons various sizes in the background. Your shot "IMG_7586 640px copy.jpg" is similar to what I'm thinking of, only with the foreground balloon larger, and perhaps some nice green hills in the background too. I've never shot balloons myself, but if I did, I'd probably try to get something along those lines. You could also try to get some shots with a balloon silhouetted against the sun. I've seen shots here like that and they look pretty neat.

Your portraits are very nice. The girls look nice and relaxed and the poses look very natural.

Good work!