Ndbrown07's Blog

Back Light

Drawing inspiration from baby photos created by photographer Anne Geddes, I tried using many different kinds of props. The baby was a perfect model and it was amazing to get this opportunity. Using a sheer curtain as a copy of the babies prenatal home and a backlight to illuminate and cast a dramatic shadow of the subject gave me a strong feeling. When I processed this film, this photo really stood out. It had many elements that we have been talking about the past weeks, but it also just felt right. The whole experience of this shoot was very emotional. The newborn can be seen through the sheer material and the back lighting casts a dramatic shadow that follows the contours and shapes of the infant. The shadow creates contrast, curves, and interest. The lines from the curtain and the lines created from the shadow of the porch railing, create beautiful lines that bring your eye to the center of the photo, where the baby is. The baby is held in a beautiful curve that one’s eye can follow and this gives the photo more visual appeal. I chose a high key and low fill light to create this photo. The backlight was an important tool to give this photo such a strong feel.

Side Light

Since light from the side can create dramatic shadows I chose a picture that was also very dramatic. When my baby cousin began to fuss, I was able to catch his small cry in a big way. He naturally turned away from the light and the produced side lighting caught and emphasized the wrinkles, the expression, and the shapes in this photo. The side lighting also created depth in the photo. If the lighting had been from the front, the shadows that define the face would have been blown out. The hard lines of shadow and the soft blanket and skin create a contrast of hard and soft. This photo also displays motion and emotion. Motion through the movement of his hand, and emotion through the intense expression on the baby’s face.

Front Light

More direct in composition and in lighting is having one’s photo lit from the front. The photo of the baby’s feet held by Mom creates a unique photo with front light. The Mom’s hand was directed straight to the light source. However, shadows and depth are still present as this photo has many angles of interest. The blanket folds will catch some front light shadows as well as the unique way the child’s feet fit into his mother’s hand. I had to decide which picture to display for this aspect and I decided that this photo was unique in its qualities of light. It might not fit any category perfectly, so that’s why I liked it so much. My goal was to show the tiny feet in comparison to something that would give their size meaning and perspective. Mom directed the feet squarely towards the light source and this was the resulting photo. It was not what I expected and I really like the beauty of this photo. The surrounding curves of the blanket create a frame for the feet. It is a part of a whole, gestalt, and it has meaning. I can almost feel the baby’s softness and the mother’s care within this photo.  My goal was to show a relationship of size but I also got a relationship of love and caring.