Category: Picture This

After purchasing a silver reflective umbrella as recommended by David Hobby of www.strobist.com fame, I found that I wasn’t very good at getting the light I wanted for portraits. I guess I’m not as good as visualizing how light will reflect off the umbrella and light my subjects. I began to have second thoughts about which type of umbrella I should have ve bought.

Then I read a post on the strobist web site about how David now uses shoot-through umbrellas exclusively, so I had to get yet another umbrella. But I’m glad I did. The shoot-through umbrella is much more intuitive to use for me.

I’ve often been fascinated by how photographers get pictures of oceans and waterfalls where the water is soft and stream-like. I eventually learned that letting the camera shutter lag will produce the effect and I was able to reproduce it when the opportunity arose.

Then I wondered how people got really soft effects and found out that there was a lens filter that that reduced the amount of light going into the camera. Normally, most photographers are trying to get more light in, but this was an exception.

After a few paid photography jobs, I had some money to spend on new stuff. In addition to a flash, umbrella, and light stand, I picked up a neutral density filter. Jenni’s favorite place is Lucia Falls, and the filter would calm the waters (at least photographically) for a peaceful setting.

Ever since Kadie was born, and we took portrait shots of her, my interest in photography has shifted from journalistic to portrait (mainly babies) photography.

Jenni and I creatively used what we had to get the best lighting, usually diffusing our dining room fan light with white cloth and draping a black cloth as a background. We got some great shots, but it never felt like enough light.

So now, we’re experimenting with off-camera flash (much ado after reading the strobist web site and the lighting book I received for my birthday, Light: Science & Magic. I picked up a second flash last month and now we have our first umbrella and light stand setup.

Is it strange that a umbrella makes me feel more “official?” Maybe I can fly with this thing…

See more portraits using our new umbrella »

We received the bear outfit from our friends Jake and Linda, and Kadie is now big enough to fit. We arranged her with many of the stuffed animals we’ve received.

I’m not a Star Trek fan, but I know a Klingon when I see one. Or perhaps the lack of sleep has me seeing and doing things unnaturally 😉

It isn’t easy to get babies posed for portraits. But it does make for funny faces.

Jenni’s cousin Kari and two kids, Piper and Owen, visited with Kari’s mom, Kathy for the morning and we were able to do an impromptu photo session with her kids. See photos from the session »

I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise that one of the first things people ask for are pictures of our new baby. She is now 5 days old and changing quite a bit. When we were at our postpartum appointment yesterday, the doctor showed us how much the baby’s stomach changes in the first 10 days. It nearly doubles in size!

We’ve been taking lots of photos (over 300 so far), and I got some time between feedings to fix a few up and get them posted. There are currently two galleries, one for Kadence and her family and one for Kadence’s portraits.

I’m currently working on a blog post about the whole fatherhood experience and will post photos related to that soon. Until then, enjoy how adorable our little girl is.

• Kadence and Family »
• Kadence’s Portraits »

We spent Labor Day with the Rommels, which always means there were a ton of kids around. Kids are fun to photograph as they’re usually not shy from the camera if you befriend them—and you’re their favorite swing pusher.