Little Girl in Bus

[Robert Watcher]

I took this photo yesterday. There are always ample opportunities to photograph little children and babies on the chicken buses (old school buses) that everyone travels around in. Generally children are standing up on the seat close to the window or looking back over top of the seat. I've gotten some really good shots with the nice lighting provided.

I was fortunate yesterday because this little girl eventually sat down near the edge of the seat and peeked around the corner. When I was in Costa Rica, I had taken a couple of photos with children doing this - and so I knew it worked.

I just had to be patient as typical of children - their attention span is short and so she moved very quickly in and put of view or looking forward. I managed a few shots with her face partially blocked and then patience paid off with this image.

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Rob,

I took this photo yesterday.

That is just wondrous.

Thanks so much.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[James Lemon]

Really nice capture Robert!

 

[Asher Kelman]

I took this photo yesterday. There are always ample opportunities to photograph little children and babies on the chicken buses (old school buses) that everyone travels around in. Generally children are standing up on the seat close to the window or looking back over top of the seat. I've gotten some really good shots with the nice lighting provided.

I was fortunate yesterday because this little girl eventually sat down near the edge of the seat and peeked around the corner. When I was in Costa Rica, I had taken a couple of photos with children doing this - and so I knew it worked.

I just had to be patient as typical of children - their attention span is short and so she moved very quickly in and put of view or looking forward. I managed a few shots with her face partially blocked and then patience paid off with this image.

Of course, she's a delight! You've done so well! The inquisitiveness is perfectly captured. I hope there's a connection to give this to her family. They would really appreciate this fleeting moment of her life.

Now were her parents or older siblings present? Did you have the chance to signal that you wished to do that and get a nod of consent? In some places, like Nigeria, one could get dragged to the police or the local chief for doing just that!

Another question here. Was her face in shadow or is he change in color seen in her cheeks her natural complexion?

Anyway, thanks for sharing such a delightful picture.

Asher

Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

Of course, she's a delight! You've done so well! The inquisitiveness is perfectly captured. I hope there's a connection to give this to her family. They would really appreciate this fleeting moment of her life.

Now were her parents or older siblings present? Did you have the chance to signal that you wished to do that and get a nod of consent? In some places, like Nigeria, one could get dragged to the police or the local chief for doing just that!

Another question here. Was her face in shadow or is he change in color seen in her cheeks her natural complexion?

Anyway, thanks for sharing such a delightful picture.

Asher

Asher

This is shot taken on a bus. I have no idea who she or her mother are. There was no interaction and just a few minutes after I took this they exited the bus.

As for her face - she wasn't in shadow --- buses provide beautiful lighting that comes from a nice low angle. It creates gorgeous brightness in the eyes and tonaiity on the skin. The one downfall is the need for a high ISO. The only thing that would have altered the skin tonality is my Nica Processing technique that affect the colouring and texture of the whole image ---- but there is no dodging or specific alterations of any kind on the girl.

 

[Robert Watcher]

Just for you - because you like the process (and the odd time I like supporting the educational process) - - - here is the image from camera with just the normal sharpening and noise reduction and contrast pump added (I turn sharpening, noise reduction off and lower the contrast in the camera so that I can control those things in post). You will notice the natural lighting and skin tonality. But please don't say you like this better, because it does't matter - the final image above is the final result LOL. This is a picture from a camera that is composed the way I want and contains the content I want, ready to be turned into the final image representing my creativity and reflecting my style.

This shot was taken with my Olympus E-PL5 with the 14-42mm (28-84mm 35mm equivalent) kit lens set to 37mm (74mm equivalent). exposure was f5.2 @ 1/60'th @ 3200 ISO

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Robert,

Your final result is lovely and it is just that - the final product of the artist.

But it is interesting to see this earlier stage. Thanks.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Asher Kelman]

Robert,

Thanks so much for the insight to your "Nica" workflow. I don't know the Olympus files, but would I be correct in assuming that you are preparing for JPEG output for subsequent processing or are these in camera "RAW Processing" that I've seen mentioned with some cameras, but never experienced.

I do like your result. Interestingly, it looks wonderful on my iPhone 6+, however on my MacBook Pro it seemed posterized, hence my question!

As a side note, I have taken to checking that my own TIFF files processed from RAW are indeed better than out of camera jogs in my Sony A7R. Interestingly, I sometimes revise my TIFF based on nuances the auto processing algorithm of the camera achieved, with none of my "creative" input. It only happens rarely, but it is nice to be so humbled, once in a while!

Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

Robert,

Thanks so much for the insight to your "Nica" workflow. I don't know the Olympus files, but would I be correct in assuming that you are preparing for JPEG output for subsequent processing or are these in camera "RAW Processing" that I've seen mentioned with some cameras, but never experienced.

I do like your result. Interestingly, it looks wonderful on my iPhone 6+, however on my MacBook Pro it seemed posterized, hence my question!

As a side note, I have taken to checking that my own TIFF files processed from RAW are indeed better than out of camera jogs in my Sony A7R. Interestingly, I sometimes revise my TIFF based on nuances the auto processing algorithm of the camera achieved, with none of my "creative" input. It only happens rarely, but it is nice to be so humbled, once in a while!

Asher

I don't spend too much time processing my images (tops a minute or less) - and am not really concerned that they look may perfect on different devices. There are too many variances of colour and contrast and pixelation in different computers, graphics cards, operating systems and monitors. Get an image looking good on one, the same image will be terrible on many others.

In general I tend to use my iPad as a reference knowing that is how most people are likely to view my images. If I decide to print them, I would process for that and spend time getting them exact to my liking.

I use a relatively recent Macbook Air for my processing and the files are very slightly different from the iPad - but mostly that I lighten them a bit when outputting to Dropbox for use online. I don't see any posterizing on my Macbook - but my eye may not be trained to recognize that.

I have never used RAW files and have no intention of doing so at this point. I have played with them to see if I could notice a difference on a few occasions. There is no advantage for my work.

 

[Asher Kelman]

I have never used RAW files and have no intention of doing so at this point. I have played with them to see if I could notice a difference on a few occasions. There is no advantage for my work.

Chances are that had the corrections been made on the RAW files, then no posterization would have appeared on my 2011 Macbook Pro

But, still, you've hit the nail on the head, Robert! A lot of other experienced wedding photographers don't use RAW either. There is such a discipline, experience and close understanding between the photographer and the print house, (that makes the prints and books for the birds), that the techs even correct skin without any grey card references, for pictures taken under all variations of indoor and outdoor light. The main thing is to get the detail on the veil and the grooms lapel and skin and everything else floor into place.

However, where one is using intense colors found on the edges of the Adobe RGB colorspace and other colors printable beyond that with modern inject printers, then RAW really has a great advantage. Also when one is using lots of manipulations, the file structure is more robust and amenable to bending according to one's will, without posterization and other obvious artifacts.

Asher

 

[Charlotte Thompson]

Outstanding Capture!

Charlotte-