Lifestyle portraits in Düsseldorf, Kerstin & Josie

A few weeks ago my neighbour contacted me because she wanted a few portraits of her and her daughter taken. She wanted to make a photobook for her husband's birthday, which is today. She wanted something natural not too posed and a few close ups so we arranged to meet at the park close to our house.

A few days later the light was perfect and I called her to see if she had time. I like my pictures to convey the emotions of the subject. My idea was to let them play together and have fun. I wanted to capture the moments as they happened.

I needed them to relax and we started the session with some silly pictures, them jumping together, walking along the path... Josie even helped me to take some photos of her mother. After 10-15 minutes they were totally comfortable with the camera and I had already a couple of keepers. Then I was able to come closer and focus on the faces. Once the mandatory portraits were taken we just strolled around, they played, sat together on the grass... I just kept shooting directing them just minorly to make them look towards the light or move to a better background.

We had all a good time and enjoyed the shooting and they were as happy with the photos as I was. The father has seen them today when he got his present and loved them. A satisfied customer and a happy photographer.

Here are a few images from the shooting. Enjoy!

Fireworks

Yesterday it was time again for the big fireworks at the Rhein. Until now I had never managed to capture them properly, so this time I dedided to prepare properly. Which meant that the iPod battery was charged to entertain me during the hour I had to wait since I took position until the fireworks started.

I had scouted the place a while ago and found where the view was best but that meant I needed to be there early enough to secure the position. Well, you tell me if it was worth. (Click on the pictures to see them bigger)


P.S: I am experimenting a bit with the frames. Please leave a comment and tell me what you think. Do they improve the picture?

Beeeee

Today somehow I have managed to put some time into cleaning up the hard drive. Eventhough I am just focusing on 2010 I already have way too many pics. I have found this one from the last visit to the Rhein. It is nothing special, but I like it.




Spring is finally here and the weather is getting warmer. So it is time to start the outdoor photo season. Stay tuned.

City sheep

Today I managed to get out and shoot some pictures. The weather forecast was very good an I was expecting a nice sunset. But it got cloudy and the colours were not really interesting. The sheep are back again by the river, and they have babies, so they make a nice foreground.

Layers

I was reading an eBook from David duChemin today and one of his tips to make an interesting picture is to put an interesting foreground in front of an interesting background. It really matches well with one of the composition techniques from the course I am doing in Cologne. Structure your picture in layers to provide depth.

Cleaning up the archive from 2010 I have found this one that I like and could meet both cases.




P.S: I really recomend the books, ebooks and blog from David. He has a total different focus from what you normally read.

Kirmes

In Düsseldorf the "Kirmes" are one of the most important events of the year and the most important of the summer. Yesterday I went with Maria, Sven and Thomas on a photographic tour.

The weather forecast was good, according to our own weatherman. But just when we arrived the clouds started to look a bit darker than desired and a few drops fell.



Then the sky really got dark and started to RAIN. But in a small break I managed to get a couple of nice images.






After the storm we managed to walk for a while and capture the light and spirit of the "Kirmes".




Then, the sky started to darken again and we decided it was time to go home. Of course, on the way I kept shooting. Luckily the storm just passed north of us and we didn't get wet.



I just made a quick edit and I have not edited much the pictures because I am short of time today. It is late and I have to prepare the bag for a shooting with Anna tomorrow.

Slowing down

A while ago I bought a 10 stops ND filter. I hadn't have a chance to use it until recently. It is a good way to slow down: take your time to compose, focus, measure the light, check the composition again, put the filter on, look what has moved into the frame, check what will come in, shoot manual compensating the 10 stops loss, check the picture and start all over again.

In this digital era of machingegun shooting it allows you to relax a bit and think more all the picture details. Just like when shooting film.

The following picture is the first result of the experiment. There are some lines caused by a couple of ships coming into the frame during the 20 second exposure at mid day.



I will need to practice with some waves at the coast during the next weeks. Which also will explain why the blogging will slow down. I am going on vacations for 2 weeks. I will try to post something along the way but I don't know if I will manage to process any new photos. What I am sure is that I will bring lots of new material to show.

Jazz Rally II

So here is the promised second part. After yesterdays Rock & Roll it is time for a bit of more relaxed Jazz.

She had a great voice and a beautiful face.



Closing in:



I have always loved to take photos of musical instruments:



And, of course, when you go out shooting in group you always have to shoot the others. So, here they are:

Thomas, hiding behind Sven's camera:


Sven, not hiding at all:


Sandra and Sven, I guess I need to see the picture that Sandra made.



Sven has put also some pictures in his blog. Check out how cool my sunglases are.

And tomorrow.... roller blades & roller skates.

Jazz Rally I

Yesterday I went out shooting with a couple of friends to the Jazz Rally in Düsseldorf. It was lots of fun to shoot. Here is a first drop of the outcome.








More to come, so stay tuned.