focal length: 48 mm
shutter speed: 1/60
aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 200
flash: none

When I saw this onesie, I knew I wanted to take a picture of it.  It’s nothing too special but the dictionary definition printed in white on the dark pink is so “adorable”.  If I zoomed in too much, you wouldn’t have been able to tell that it was an article of clothing.  Plus, I liked the shadows formed by the creases as it hung on its hanger.  Soft shadows are pleasing, even on a person’s face.  Sometimes we get preoccupied with trying to remove all the dark areas but I think shadows give more depth and perhaps more character when used to its advantage.  Photography is about lights and darks and each plays a role in creating the type of image you want.  So today, here’s to the shadows!

I madly tried to shoot this before the munchkin came along but she’s quick!  After about 2 minutes of this…

… I was able to wrestle it away from her in time for a couple snaps!  Mommy’s little helper, just trying to do her part.

Laura is a Vancouver wedding and portrait photographer. Visit laurahana.com.

focal length: 48 mm
shutter speed: 1/100
aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 400
flash: none

Bedhead in da house!  Yes, this was why she was wearing a hoodie in the house in yesterday’s daily pic.  I know, not very astonishing is it?  Just trying to keep you hopping!  Sorry Karen, if you were hoping for something more interesting.  It’s just our little munchkin on one of her chronic bad hair days.  As with the other photo, I also used something to distract her and make her look up so that she would get highlights in her eyes from the window’s reflection.   I like how she is framed and is looking into the photo rather than right off of it.  If I had framed her more to the left side, the fact that she is looking to the left would make the photo unbalanced.

I’m going to try to post photos of other subjects to give poor Sophie a break.  It’ll be a challenge for me since I specialize in Sophie photography.

Laura is a Vancouver wedding and portrait photographer. Visit laurahana.com.

focal length: 50 mm
shutter speed: 1/100
aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 400
flash: none

I don’t think I’ve been shooting “point blank” much these days. So, here are a few up-close-and-personal shots that I love. Especially since they are of my kid who frequently gets bombarded with mommy kisses at this close range! Poor thing. As you may know, I love to shoot in front of our north-facing window because of the nice reflected light we get there. I particularly like the catchlights in her eyes from the window’s reflection that really lighten up those cavernous, dark brown eyes.

Normally, they look like this:

focal length: 50 mm
shutter speed: 1/100
aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 400
flash: none

For a child of this age, trying to convince her to look up by using words doesn’t work too well. I could very well just be saying “Your momma has a photography addiction and needs help,” which would elicit the same response. Nothing. I just grab anything that is near me (so I don’t have to get up) and shake it vigorously at a 45 degree angle from her eye level and shoot like mad. Voila! Eyes that don’t look empty and lifeless.

My catchlights are a bit on the large side due of the size of the window.  But because her eyes are so dark to begin with, I don’t mind it so much.  Generally, people prefer to see catchlights at the 10 o’clock or 2 o’clock position within the iris of the eye.  It seems to be more pleasing than highlights caught in a lower position or more central, which then competes with the pupil.  There are also many different types of catchlights.  For example, ring lights, single or multiple highlights.  Do you have any thoughts on catchlights?  Or perhaps some tips you would like to share on getting the catchlights you find most pleasing?

Why is she wearing a hoodie inside the house you might ask? I’ll show you tomorrow.

Laura is a Vancouver wedding and portrait photographer. Visit laurahana.com.

*click image to download large size (1024×819)

Special thanks to Jonni of Journey to Sofia & Samantha for submitting this beautiful image. I love the flowing robe and setting. Jonni tells us this photo was taken at the Six Banyan Temple in Guangzhou, China. Thanks for sharing!

Today’s WYP image is just beckoning for your magical processing, so go ahead, download the file above and show us your stuff!

Remember to link to your version by leaving a comment below. You are welcome to add any specifics about what you did in your processing (software used, adjusted values, cropping etc) to help us learn. Click here to get the complete details for What’s Your Play. Remember, all readers are invited to submit their own photos for manipulation by emailing a high res photo (preferably SOOC) to play [at] dolcepics [dot] com.

Here are all your plays from WYP no. 4. Enjoy!

Laura is a Vancouver wedding and portrait photographer. Visit laurahana.com.

focal length: 26 mm
shutter speed: 1/640
aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 200
flash: none

Shooting in full sun is challenging, no doubt. I seek the shade whether I’m shooting pictures or just relaxing. Shooting in the shade really helps avoid those harsh noonday shadows and strong highlights. But it’s not all fun and games though. Shooting manual forces me to change my settings every time my subject runs in and out of shade. After a couple hours of this, I finally switched to Aperture Priority mode. My fingers just weren’t fast enough to change the shutter speed every few seconds under those conditions.

Another thing to watch out for while shooting in the shade of those glorious trees, are the spotty bits of shade mixed with pockets of lights due openings in the leaves above. You might get something like this:

focal length: 70 mm
shutter speed: 1/4000
aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 200
flash: none

It’s what I call “the marble effect”. Okay, I just made that up, but really, it can give your subject unflattering skin tones. So try to look for 100% shade, instead of the spotty variety.

What are your greatest challenges while shooting in full sun? Do you have any tips to share?

Laura is a Vancouver wedding and portrait photographer. Visit laurahana.com.