Senior Portrait Session

Back in the beginning of March, I had an opportunity to do Senior Portraits for a friend's son.  Normally I prefer to do Senior Portraits in the Spring or Summer before the student's senior year.  Sometimes the Fall season works as well for last minute portraits.  March was a bit cold to be taking pictures outside.  Given it was a last minute request, I couldn't turn it down.

We met up at the local train station.  I could tell my friend's son was a bit unsure of the portrait session.  I immediately took charge and started to take pictures of him.  After the first ten shots, my friend's son started to relax in front of the lens and started posing for me.

Here's a sample from the photo shoot:

Her son is not an early morning person, so we agreed to meet in the late afternoon.  I spent two hours with my friend and her son taking his portraits at two different local locations.  I used both my 85mm/f1.8 and 24-120mm/f4 lens.  I used my 85mm for the first hour and literally had to "zoom with my feet" to get the right shot.  I used the 24-120mm lens for the second hour and at the second location.  It was a sunny day and I still used my flash for fill-in shots.

He really got into posing for me.  He was a natural at this and made my job easy and fun.  Moments like this is why I enjoy photography.

Spring Colors!

I'm so glad that it's Spring!  Looking forward to the many Spring blooms that should be appearing in our gardens over the next few weeks.  Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating.  I'm still wearing my winter coat most of the day.

So while it's chilly outside, I'm inside comfy and cozy and testing out my Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 lens.  I'm shooting everything at f/4...zoomed in or zoomed out and everything in between.  I really like what I'm seeing.  While this lens is no match for my Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 prime lens (and it shouldn't be), I'm enjoying the center sharpness and even the lovely bokeh it produces.

Spring colors!

This 24-120mm f/4 lens is a monster.  Okay, it's the biggest lens I have.  It's the heaviest.  Probably uses the largest filter I have ever owned...77mm.  It feels hefty in my hands.  When I have it on my camera, D600, it's beautiful to hold and to handle.  Now, I do notice the extra weight around my neck and I'm using the well padded Crumpler's Industry Disgrace strap.  I have to hold my camera by the lens.  It feels that heavy.

I read a review where the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is heavier than this one.  I can't imagine.

I've put my camera and my monster lens through some tests.  The first thing I noticed is how fast the lens focuses.  It's quick.  At first, it took me by surprise.  Now, I'm happily getting used to it.  The above picture called 'Spring Colors' was taken indoors in natural light.  More like not much light.  I set my camera to aperture of 4 and zoomed all the way out.  Auto ISO came out at 1600.  The focus was fast!  Not like my 24-85mm lens which would have spent seconds "hunting" for some better light.


Here are a few more pictures taken with my monster lens:

I'm a Nikon Nerd!

It's after 5pm and so bright outside!

The heavy limbs reminds me of fingers

In a hurry to get to the other side...as the commuter train is leaving....

In my head, I've decided to stop comparing lenses and use each one to it's fullest potential.  Each of my Nikkor lens has it's own personality.  Gosh darn, I hope I don't start giving each of them nicknames....

Another Civil War Commemorative Event...150 years Second Battle of Manassas

Demonstration on how to prepare, load, and fire a civil war cannon

Discussions and talk about civil war life

Taking a break and playing cards

Chatting with the young ladies about their garments

I spied a Nikon camera!  Way cool!

The men slept here at night while the ladies slept at a lodge nearby

Getting ready to fire...plug your ears!

Kabooooom!  It was so loud that it shook my camera!

A Chris-Myth Busters Musical...A Picture Taking Event

I am so behind in my photography posts.  It appears I won't be doing my technical posts until closer to Christmas weekend...which is coming up soon!  I'll have a few days off from work and can spend some quality time taking pictures and examples.

In the meantime, I do have pictures from a Christmas musical/play from our church last Saturday.  I was the "designated" photographer and had my space up and front and center.  Picture this...center aisle bull-pen.  The director, the videographer, and I were holed up in the bull-pen.  I thought I would be able to "walk up and down" the bull-pen to get some close-ups and some further back wide-angle shots.  Well...I was able to get a lot of close-ups.  I somehow got stuck in the front as the videographer and the director moved their seats and equipment closer to the center aisle.  I was blocked in.  Not a bad thing.  I had to make do with the 2'x2' area and the tiny kindergarten chair as my seat (so my head wasn't blocking the video camera).  It was all in fun.

I only had time to attend the last quick dress rehearsal they had for that week and took practice pictures (lights and settings).  I didn't have the whole program in my head and ended up being surprised during the actual program.

When the lights were dimmed, my trusty D7k and my gut instincts took over.


To my immediate right, the kids popped up and stood in their chairs and sang:

These cute kids were standing on their tiny chairs: angels, wise men and women, & shepherds
32mm, f4.0, 1/125, ISO 2200

Getting closer...
44mm, f4.5, 1/125, ISO 2200

...and closer
120mm, f5.3, 1/80, ISO 3200

The actual play took place over towards the center and to my right:

26mm, f3.8, 1/125, ISO 3200

This was a very cute moment during the musical:

18mm, f3.5, 1/50, ISO 3200

Check out the shadow in the background:

22mm, f3.8, 1/60, ISO 3200

Of course, the kids enjoyed the spotlight:

18mm, f3.5, 1/100, ISO 3200

I took a picture of the poster the night before:

24mm, f3.8, 1/80, ISO 3200

And after the musical/play, the cast members posed for me:  

18mm, f3.5, 1/125, ISO 2800

The director with his flashlight (rehearsals):

Lights out!
40mm, f4.5, 1/125, ISO 560

A beautiful performance during rehearsals:

18mm, f3.5, 1/40, ISO 3200

I didn't have too much difficulty with the lighting and getting the shots I wanted.  I left my camera on P-mode.  My exposure was set to 0 (zero).  Normally I would bump the exposure up or down slightly, but the spotlights were bright enough to leave it at 0.  The metering mode I use mostly is center-weighted average.  I also primarily use single focus point which allows me to move the focus point around before taking a picture.

I've tried using the multiple focus points (e.g. d9, d21, d39, and auto) and had frustrating results.  I stick with single (e.g. s) point  and I can control where the lens should focus.

Even though I had my external SB-600 flash with me, I did not have to use it at all.

I took 200+ pictures during the musical/play and had only a handful that were not useable.  Not bad, huh?

A Quiet Evening in Old Town

Hubby and I decided to spend a quiet evening in Old Town.  Naturally, my camera came along.

I finally took a fantastic shot of the train station with the perfect sky:  

The Train Station in Old Town:  20mm, f3.5, 1/15, ISO 3200

Day After Thanksgiving with a P&S

We headed out to do some window shopping that turned into a light shopping trip.  We started out in Fairfax...a trip to an art shop and then to a computer store.  The crowds weren't too bad.  We stopped at a wonderful Indian restaurant and enjoyed a fabulous buffet.  It was definitely a gorgeous day to be out and about.

We ended up in Old Town in the afternoon and saw the ice rink was open.  I took out my handy Canon S90 and caught these shots:

Zamboni in action

A short quiet time...

...and they're off!

Around and around they went

Inside the cute Marketplace shops...ready for the holidays

A wonderful Indian lunch at Jaipur in Fairfax

Tomorrow is suppose to be another beautiful day.  Not sure where we are headed, but I'm definitely bringing my D7k with me.  

The Annual Fall Gallery Walk - Old Town Manassas

After work, hubby and I headed into Old Town Manassas for their annual Fall Gallery Walk.  The shops along the main road, Center Street, were open from 6-9:30pm and each hosted local artists and musicians.

One of our stops included the Creative Brush Studio.  Mary Reilly (owner) and Christine Raymond are the featured artists.

Creative Brush Studio inspired me to try oil painting.  My favorite painting is the colorful masks in the background

Michael Francis Haley performing

We stopped in the Opera House Gourmet shop to see what was happening.  They had a local artist who was setting up to paint real time.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance for a photo opportunity as there was limited space with lots of folks milling around.  

I did get a wonderful opportunity to sample this fabulous red wine.  

We arrived at the Center for the Arts at the old Candy Factory to see a showing of Jinchul Kim's exhibit.  Several of his paintings were so realistic (oil on canvas), I thought I was looking at photos.  This one is my favorites.  I love the glow of the painting and plus the scene is from our local Manassas train station.  

History of the Candy Factory

No wonder I'm drawn to this building, it has something to do with making chocolates

We had a wonderful evening strolling in and out of the various shops and museums.  I'm looking forward to the Spring Gallery Walk next year.

A Baptism, Baby Dedication, and Renewal of Vows

I had a busy day today.  I spent several hours at my church taking over 300 pictures.  I tried to avoid using the flash inside the sanctuary.  I ended up switching between my 18-200mm and my reliable 50mm lens.

Can you tell?  I just love taking pictures of flowers.