Dora the Explorer: Image of the Week #12
Back Story:
This is a personal image, of my daughter Rosa. It was a snapshot I took a couple of weeks back on the Fuji X100. The camera is pretty much always around, and I’ve got hundreds of shots of the kids doing their thing. There was something that attracted me to this image though. In fact, there were a few things; The fact that she was playing with her toy iPad (Leap Pad) struck me a little as she is very proficient with my “proper” iPad. The concentration level at what turned out to be a successful attempt at getting Dora the Explorer across the pond, the framing of the image with the curtains and the nonchalant way she was sat on the windowsill with her feet up on the radiator. This image pretty much sums up my gorgeous little daughter in one frame.
Camera: FujiFilm FinePix X100
Shutter: 1/60th Second
Aperture: f/2.0
ISO: 320
Flash: Did not fire
Focal Length: 23mm
Processing:
The image of course is not technically perfect. The pixel peepers would have a field day. The background is blown out and I had to use a positive exposure compensation of 1.5 stops to get Rosa into the scene accurately. I played with a couple of different crops but settled on having Rosa pretty much central to the scene. The photo has been tweaked in Lightroom and the black and white adjustment done manually in Photoshop CS5. I’ve added some grain and a vignette too. A little burning has been done in the curtain area.
The Finished Photograph:
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Posted in: Photography Inspiration
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It doesn’t matter a jot if this image is ‘technically perfect’ or not, I absolutely love this shot Kevin.
Fabulous image, so much concentration, I think the central crop works really well with the dark curtains framing your daughter.
Great shot Kevin – immense concentration!! My niece wants an ipad for her birthday (she is 4!) the Leap Pad might be the way forward!
As ever Kevin a great shot, can’t wait to use the X100 myself
I saw this the other day I think Kevin. Who cares what the PPs say any way? Very honest capture of a real moment, and that’s what counts.
A lovely moment, beautifully caught. Always better to have a ‘technically imperfect’ shot rather than nothing at all.
Lovely shot Kevin, and when it comes to ones own daughter it doesn’t really matter what the critics think! Do you ever find yourself limited with your X100 at all – or does the fact that it’s easy to wield and compact mean you end up taking photos that you wouldn’t get with your SLR – either because of yourself or the lack of resistance of your subject? I wonder if I might get a better reaction from my own 1 year old if I didn’t have a huge SLR in front of my head – which often causes a frown!
Thanks Steve – I use the X100 a lot. I rarely shoot personal work with the DSLRs any more. If you shoot in manual mode with manual focus on the X100 the exposure is instant without any lag. The AF is tiny bit slow – but not too much of an issue. The shot above wouldn’t have happened if I’d been using my DSLR.
Thanks for the reply. I can see that it must be a real bonus to be able to have a capable camera handy at all times. A dSLR is of course very capable but quite a hassle to keep handy – especially on family trips out and about! Think my wife would be pleased if I left it behind in favour of something more portable!
I struggle with lens flare on the X100 even with the relatively enormous lens hood on. I tried shooting with/without a UV filter. Are you finding this an issue Kevin?
I don’t really experience any flare of not Graham. Presume you have the latest firmware? In extreme backlit environments I get some flare but its not bothered me as such.