Tag: Nilima

Photographing families

Photographing groups of people -- families -- is challenging. Invariably one person will blink or move. Kids can't help but move. The trick is to be patient and catch them at the right moment. But often I'll end up with the kids just right but with the adults are out-of-place usually trying to get the kids to smile.

Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 55 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100

I took these photos during Father's Day. Bhavna's aunt organised a fete to honour the fathers. I thought it might be interesting to take some pictures with the fathers and their kids and grandkids.

Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 48 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100

I used a Paul C. Buff AlienBees™ B800 Flash Unit inside an Extreme Silver PLM™ Umbrella covered with PLM™ White Front Diffusion Fabric. I positioned the light on a 10-foot General Purpose Light Stands about foot away and directly in front of the subjects but for some of the shots, I placed the light off to one side.

Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 48 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100

I used a Sekonic L-358 FlashMaster light meter to set the camera shutter speed based on the aperture I chose for these portraits. This is my first light meter, and I'm still getting the hang of things. The light meter certainly makes adjusting the camera settings and flash unit power much easier. I set my camera in manual mode set the light-meter to the D5100s fastest flash sync speed take a reading from near my subjects and voilà! I know what aperture setting to use on my camera for the shot.

Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 42 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100

I don't have an extensive collection of lenses. For this shoot, I started with my AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G ( the images are in reverse chronological order ) with an aperture of f/8 but later changed to my 18-55mm at f/5.6 for the larger group shots. I sold the 50mm f/1.8 earlier this month. I didn't use it much, and I think a lens with a longer focal lens will be more flattering for portraiture.

The D5100 has an APS-C sensor so the 50mm with the crop factor produces the same view as a 75mm on a 35mm full-frame sensor. I think 75mm is just to short for portraiture. I prefer prime lenses so I plan to buy a AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G soon. With the APS-C sensor, the 85mm will offer the same view as a 127mm on a 35mm full-frame sensor.

Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 36 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100

I started shooting in the late afternoon just before sunset. I had to adjust the power of the AB800s and adjust my camera settings accordingly. This light-meter made this process quick and painless, but I have a better understanding of the hard work a professional wedding photographer must have to do.

Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 46 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 46 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 42 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 40 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 32 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6@ 28 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8@ 50 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8@ 50 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8@ 50 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100
Nikon D5100 | AF-S Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8@ 50 mm | f/8.0 | ISO100

Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail Walk with Montgomery Friends of Open Space

Last weekend I went for a walk along the Delaware and Raritan Canal Park Trail towpath with my family. The walk was organised by the Montgomery Friends of Open Space and The D& R Canal Watch. It snowed the night before, so it was cold that morning, but we bundled up and drove to the Kington Lock. The plan was to walk from the Griggstown Lock to the Kingston Lock.

Mary M. Penney, President of Montgomery Friends of Open Space, handed out maps and other information. Our walk guide and board member of the D&R Canal Watch, Bob Barth, explained the logistics of the walk. Some of us would carpool to Griggstown and walk back to Kingston, while the rest started at Rocky Hill.

My sister-in-law, Nilima, my niece Maya, and my other sister-in-law's father-in-law, joined us to walk from Griggstown in Franklin Township. With me were my wife and daughter. My son decided he was too tired for a walk.

As we walked, Bob Barth told us about the history of the canal and towpath and how it was used to transport goods between Bordentown and New Brunswick. Construction of the canal started in 1830 and was completed four later with an estimated cost of $2,830,000. The canal was built by hand by mostly Irish immigrants.

For nearly a century after it opened, the D&R Canal was one of America's busiest navigation canals. Its peak years were the 1860s and 1870s, when Pennsylvania coal was transported through the D&R Canal to feed the city of New York's industrial boom. During this period, 80% of the total cargo carried on the canal was coal.~ Delaware & Raritan Canal History

We walked quickly, occasionally stopping to listen to Bob explain more of the history of the canal and the surrounding towns. We encountered a few large trees that had fallen across the path. It's incredible how much damage Hurricane Sandy did to the forests of New Jersey.

My family and I had a good time and plan on attending other MFOS events.

Mary Penny hands out maps and information about Montgomery Friends of Open Space.—Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8
Nikon D40 + 35 mm f/1.8 @ 35 mm, f/2.8