Theme: Into the light

[Kerry Perkins]

I've been very busy lately with my photography, thank goodness for that! Since I've been doing some family photography I thought I would dip into that pool for this theme. It's tempting to go to the chiaroscuro collection, but that's a different theme. I also like the contrast between the girl's bright blue costume (it was after a fairy shoot and she was playing in the playground) and the dark wood of the play area structure.

I'm always looking for dramatic lighting, and it can be different styles of light and/or dark that help create drama. This one is the "pool of light" version, where the subject is nicely lit but is surrounded by or backed by darkness. It is fun to look for these situations regardless of the subject or project.

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

Kerry,

Greetings. I like the spotlight effect... nails the eyes. Would rather the hand be less blurred and without the green around it. Thanks for posting.

Cheers,

-Michael-

[Kerry Perkins]

Thanks Michael, I can easily remove the blur from the hand but the green is what's in the background. I guess I could paint it out, will give it a go.

[Hazel Grant]

Great effect. I like the blurred hand. Otherwise, my eye might go to that bright spot on the left instead of her beautiful eyes. (Just a thought: maybe a theme might be childen?)

[Nancy Bell]

Kerry, you really captured an adorable moment here! I like your description as "a pool of light". It is perfect to highlight just the girl, bringing out her lovely blue eyes and brilliant blue dress. Good that the surrounding wood is nice and simple so it does not distract at all from the girl, and actually becomes a sort of frame. The parents must be thrilled with your images.

[Diane Miller]

Perfect dress for those eyes! I think it might work with the hand less blurred but darker. Or maybe cloned out -- my eye keeps jumping from it to her face.

[Paul Lagasi]

Nice work Kerry, sharp , nicely composed.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Hi, Kerry, lovely shot - I love the kind of mischievous pose and look on her face. The oof hand doesn't bother me but I'd probably get rid of the green around it. I'm glad you're getting time to photograph

[Jackie Schuknecht]

The lighting and the colours are really nice Kerry. I might just get rid of the hand altogether. Was this flash?

[Kerry Perkins]

Thanks everyone! Jackie, I did use flash on this one. I was using a Sto-Fen diffuser.

[Arthur Morris]

Love her expression, and the light against dark motif. I like the blurring of the hands and the legs but would surely lose that sickly green color :)....

[Kerry Perkins]

Ding! Survey says - green must go! Ok, I performed a pixel exorcism on the offending halo around the hand. I also dodged the midtones of the hand to make it less prominent. I do like having it there though, firstly because it would be alarming to see little Penelope with no hand on the end of her virtual arm, and secondly because it forms a nice rounded triangle with her head and knees. Thanks for the suggestions!

[Arthur Morris]

Much, much better. I should have mentioned her heavenly blue eyes.