Comments on: Monday Baby Blogging: Playing In The Park http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/ Feminist, anti-racist, pro-fat, plus whatever else we feel like talking about. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:45:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Olive http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291589 Olive Tue, 01 May 2007 03:59:17 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291589 I've always thought Sydney looked strapping for her age. They're both really charming in your photos; I like the resemblance between their foreheads. I’ve always thought Sydney looked strapping for her age. They’re both really charming in your photos; I like the resemblance between their foreheads.

]]> By: pinkmohair http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291587 pinkmohair Tue, 01 May 2007 03:41:34 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291587 Adorable - wish we had a park near us! Adorable - wish we had a park near us!

]]> By: Angiportus http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291576 Angiportus Tue, 01 May 2007 01:01:10 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291576 When they get a little older you'll have to show 'emthat little teeny teeny park that's just a concrete thing no bigger'n a big pizza--Mills Ends I think it was called--is it still there? Someone with more recent experience of your [nice] city can enlighten us... When they get a little older you’ll have to show ‘emthat little teeny teeny park that’s just a concrete thing no bigger’n a big pizza–Mills Ends I think it was called–is it still there? Someone with more recent experience of your [nice] city can enlighten us…

]]> By: Julie, Herder of Cats http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291575 Julie, Herder of Cats Tue, 01 May 2007 00:30:19 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291575 In bright daylight, the key is to get rid of the automatic program (and then drive yourself crazy manually setting everything ...) Big f-stops (the "f" number) will alleviate a lot of the need for focusing since the depth of focus becomes deeper, so being out of focus isn't as critical. Since it's broad daylight you might wind up with a slightly longer exposure, but not something so long she turns into a blur. Which could be a cool effect if done right. What I noticed is that you're not tracking her at all -- the wall is in near perfect focus and there's no blurring of the leaves on the ground. She should be clearer and the leaves and wall should be blurrier. It also looks like the camera selected a small aperture as it is on account of everything but Sydney looks to be well focused. Based on that, I wouldn't stress too much about the slow focus response. Since it's a digital, go someplace where you have a constant supply of moving objects. Practice shooting until you can track one of them perfectly, then you'll be ready to take pics of kids at play. In bright daylight, the key is to get rid of the automatic program (and then drive yourself crazy manually setting everything …)

Big f-stops (the “f” number) will alleviate a lot of the need for focusing since the depth of focus becomes deeper, so being out of focus isn’t as critical. Since it’s broad daylight you might wind up with a slightly longer exposure, but not something so long she turns into a blur. Which could be a cool effect if done right.

What I noticed is that you’re not tracking her at all — the wall is in near perfect focus and there’s no blurring of the leaves on the ground. She should be clearer and the leaves and wall should be blurrier. It also looks like the camera selected a small aperture as it is on account of everything but Sydney looks to be well focused. Based on that, I wouldn’t stress too much about the slow focus response.

Since it’s a digital, go someplace where you have a constant supply of moving objects. Practice shooting until you can track one of them perfectly, then you’ll be ready to take pics of kids at play.

]]> By: Sailorman http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291559 Sailorman Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:06:12 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291559 the smaller P&Ss are trickier. Usually there's significant lag for focusing. The actual shutter lag is still quite small--it's the focus time that'll kill you. One way to get around that is to prefocus. you aim somewhere at equivalent distance and brightness, push the shutter down halfway. then the actual shoot (which can be aimed somewhere else) is superfast. However, focus is only half the problem. The other thing to remember is shutter speed. If you're shooting a child running sideways you have to use a fast speed to freeze the action; that's the fastest apparent. "tracking" the kid with the camera helps but the feet will still blur. your camera (I scanned the manual online) has a "kids and pets" shooting mode. Have you tried it? the smaller P&Ss are trickier. Usually there’s significant lag for focusing. The actual shutter lag is still quite small–it’s the focus time that’ll kill you.

One way to get around that is to prefocus. you aim somewhere at equivalent distance and brightness, push the shutter down halfway. then the actual shoot (which can be aimed somewhere else) is superfast.

However, focus is only half the problem. The other thing to remember is shutter speed. If you’re shooting a child running sideways you have to use a fast speed to freeze the action; that’s the fastest apparent. “tracking” the kid with the camera helps but the feet will still blur.

your camera (I scanned the manual online) has a “kids and pets” shooting mode. Have you tried it?

]]> By: Myca http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291531 Myca Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:39:07 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291531 Not to turn this into a photography tips thread, but I'd sure like to hear it, Sailorman. I'm using a Canon PowerShot SD400 DIGITAL ELPH. Make it work! Make it work! ;-) ---Myca Not to turn this into a photography tips thread, but I’d sure like to hear it, Sailorman.

I’m using a Canon PowerShot SD400 DIGITAL ELPH.

Make it work! Make it work!

;-)

—Myca

]]> By: Sailorman http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291528 Sailorman Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:12:49 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291528 What type of camera are you using? There are some photo tricks to getting pics of running kids that I would be happy to pass one if you don't know them already. cute pic, BTW. :) What type of camera are you using? There are some photo tricks to getting pics of running kids that I would be happy to pass one if you don’t know them already.

cute pic, BTW. :)

]]> By: Kate L. http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291523 Kate L. Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:25:27 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291523 Man, Sydney is really tall! And she most definitely looks like a little girl - no more baby, no more toddler. And I agree with Myca - the world in general is much better through a child's eyes :) Man, Sydney is really tall! And she most definitely looks like a little girl - no more baby, no more toddler.

And I agree with Myca - the world in general is much better through a child’s eyes :)

]]> By: Myca http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291522 Myca Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:21:18 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/04/30/monday-baby-blogging-playing-in-the-park/#comment-291522 I love that for Maddox it's not about success or failure, it's just about fun. Climbing up a slide is fun! Losing your grip, slipping and sliding down the slide on your tummy is fun! Man, wouldn't it be great if we could hold on to that perspective. I love that for Maddox it’s not about success or failure, it’s just about fun.

Climbing up a slide is fun! Losing your grip, slipping and sliding down the slide on your tummy is fun!

Man, wouldn’t it be great if we could hold on to that perspective.

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