For the past couple of posts, we've been talking about getting closer. For our lesson today, we are going to talk about getting close and being bold and creative in our cropping (specifically with portraits). Today's lesson comes with an assignment too but we'll get to that a little bit later.

Getting closer can be a challenge, especially when you are photographing people. I think it makes both parties a little nervous if the photographer is right up in the subject's face clicking away. I want you to fight through that anxiety, though, because getting close can make such a radical difference in your photography. This is why I have been focusing on it so intently for the last few weeks. If you feel nervous getting really close to your subject, a zoom lens can be a life saver. Feel free to back up but make sure you zoom back in, way in. Zooming in is also flattering for the face. When I say I want you to be close, I mean I want you to be this close...

As you can see in the copyright stamp, this amazing image was taken by Abby Braman. I saw this on Abby's Flickr stream and asked her if she would mind sharing it with all of you. What this image perfectly illustrates is how wonderful it can look when you get close and crop creatively. What makes this image work is how irreverently it was cropped. It allows you to really see that amazing eye! I also think the crop shows off her expression too (kind of a sweet smirk). You can even see the photographer in the reflection of her eye. I want you to see this example and feel confident that it's absolutely okay to crop off the side of someone's face or the top of their head or whatever. Just be experimental and try it out. You may surprise yourself and end up with a jewel like this!

This next image was taken by Betty Schueter. I found this amazing image example on Betty's Flickr stream. The best part? This image was taken with an iPhone! People always ask me about cameras and which one is best or which one should they buy. The real trick is knowing how to use the camera that you have to its fullest potential. Always remember, the camera isn't taking the picture, you are.

Not to digress too much but, speaking of iphones, you might check this site out. I love how he says that "the best camera is the one that's with you". 

So, back to the images and on to your assignment! I want you to try and emulate these crops. Here's my opinion, copying is not always bad. In fact, when you are learning something new, copying (for lack of a better word) can be incredibly helpful. It's the first step. When I used to teach photography at The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and Episcopal High School (both in Houston, Texas), one of the assignments that I gave my intro class was to pick a photographer whose work you love and emulate it. Once you have experimented with replicating what someone else has done (tried it on for size so to speak) you can then personalize it and make it your own. It's a liberating way to try some new techniques. Enjoy!

Please post links to your images in the comments section below or in the Monday Lesson Flickr pool. I'd love to see what you come up with!

This little chunky boy is just too sweet! This is 4 month old Anderson leaning up against his Daddy's boots. The boots are kind of appropriate because Houston is buzzing with rodeo news. The trail riders are coming in, the cook-off is about to begin and the livestock show and rodeo opens March 2nd. We're not the biggest rodeo folks but the kids do love the livestock show. The first year we went, Sayer spent about an hour mesmerized by the chickens hatching out of their eggs.

How about you guys, any favorite shots this Friday? Post links to your images in the comments section below and/or post them to the Favorite Shot Friday Flickr Pool. Happy weekend everyone!

Tip: to add something to the Flickr pool, you must first upload the image to your own Flickr account. Then go to the group page and click the link that reads "Add something". Flickr is free to join and a great place to find inspiration. Come join us!

I will admit it freely...I have serious working Mom guilt. In my mind, whether or not it's rational, I imagine that my kids would be happier, better rested and generally more well balanced if I stayed home with them. I can't shake that ridiculous idea despite the fact that I know it's wrong. Their Montessori teachers work really hard everyday to show me how false my notion is. Even when they come home (at age 4) with little drawings of the sun and all its layers, pin-pricked renderings of dinosaurs and a working knowledge of the main organs of the body, I still feel like I shouldn't be working. By the way, even after 2 kids going through Ms. Amy's room 8 and doing diagrams of the sun, I still couldn't tell you the various layers. So why the guilt? It's obvious how much school benefits them. Why punish myself? To be honest, I don't know. All I know is that every Mom that I know feels it regardless whether they work in or out of the home.

For the last 3 days, Sayer has been home sick with strep throat. He actually got sent home from school on Monday for a different reason and then had a fever, which turned out to be strep throat. Sick days are a blessing and a curse for me. I love the one-on-one time with my guys but, because it comes without notice, I hate the stress that comes from missing work. I feel like I'm instantly behind. I did try to stay caught up. I brought my laptop home and it sat beside me while I snuggled with Sayer watching the Olympics and Tivo'd episodes of Crashbox and I Spy. Instead of working, we browsed YouTube for funny videos of pets. It's just too impossible for me to sit beside him and focus on work.

For a moment, I imagine that this is what it would be like if I stayed home. He'd sleep late and be well rested. We'd just hang out all the time and love every minute of it. In fact, he wouldn't have even gotten sick in the first place because we'd be at home! If I stayed home, he'd only eat homemade, organic food and...This is where it starts to fall apart because he's about to be 7 and is in first grade so it's not like he can just stay home all day anyway and I'm not a very good cook and he'd be bored to tears. So, Moms, why do we do this to ourselves? When I did stay at home (right after Sayer was born) I worried equally but about different things. It's a guilt-worry that I want to shake. I don't want to rob my work time of its joy and pleasure by thinking that my kids are paying the price for it and I don't want to be at home with my guys worrying that work will pay the price. So where is the middle?

All I know is that being a Mom has brought out the very best parts of me. I speak only for myself when I say that I couldn't do the work that I do without my experience of being a Mom. The Mom part of me is vital to my work behind the camera. So, unexpected sick days, as much as I dread you, I also thank you. You pop up out of nowhere and remind me what matters the most and why I do everything that I do. Someday my little guys will be able to administer their own Ibuprofen, pick out their own clothes, feed themselves (and so much more) and not need me quite as much as they do now. The thought just makes me want to hold on tighter...

On this Love Thursday, my heart goes out to all the Moms and Dads out there in the trenches trying to find, reconcile and celebrate their place. We're all in this together.

I'm very excited to share today's lesson with you guys! Today we have a guest photographer named Corey. I found Corey while browsing galleries on Flickr. I had wanted to include an image of hers for the last lesson on getting close. The more I looked through her images on Flickr, the more that I felt like she had a lot of great images to choose from and, in particular, a lot of close up images that really illustrate the point of the lesson. So, today I'm going to share some of Corey's images with you and address a few questions that I received after posting the last lesson. Corey has also answered a few interview questions for you guys.

The first image that I want to share is the one that originally caught me eye. I love how you can look at this image and know exactly what that nose feels like! I always talk about the idea of telling a story with your images. The story doesn't need to be long or complex and can be as simple as a soft, fuzzy nose.

I love, love, LOVE this little series. This is a great example of how getting close can add impact, draw your eyes right to your subject and remove distracting background elements. I also love how she framed these up a little crooked (for lack of a better term). I think it adds some energy to an already spirited series.

I asked Corey a few questions about getting close:

You have a real knack for getting up close and personal with your images, do you have any advice for new photographers on training yourself to get closer?

Thank you! One of the first things I discovered early on in my personal photography journey is to GET CLOSER. GET A LOT CLOSER. I find that most people stand a good distance from their subject, lift the camera to their face and start snapping. In my opinion, these photos capture the scene, but fail to really capture the moment. I like to move in close, get down at their level, and step right into their world. It's up to you whether you want to move with your feet, or with your zoom, but just move in closer. Fill your frame with the subject of your desire. 

When I was starting out, I'd snap a few shots the way I normally would, then I'd walk my feet closer. A whole lot closer....and then snap a few from that distance. It took some time, but as soon as I started to notice that the ones I had taken up close were my favorites it became easier and easier to  remember to move in close.

Do you use any special equipment for your close up images? 

Nope. Which ever lens I have on my camera at the time works just fine for the close up. I either zoom with my feet or the lens. Really doesn't matter how I do it...I just do. I do have a 100mm macro lens I like to use, but I don't tend to use it anymore than the others for my close up shots.

What kind of camera do you shoot and what is your favorite lens?

From June 2007- January 2010 I used my Canon XTi. Just recently, I purchased the Canon T1i, because I have worn my poor little Xti out. :) 

As for lenses, I love love love prime lenses. My favorite would be a toss up between the Canon 100mm 2.8 macro, and the Canon 50mm 1.4. They both give me the sharp focus in low light that I really enjoy.

Do you have any tips and tricks regarding keeping your focus sharp when you get up close?

First, I always select my focal point, rather than leave it up to the camera to decide which part of the photo I want in focus. This is very important. I typically set my focus on one of the subjects eyes. Also be careful of your Aperture setting when you move in close. You have to practice a lot with apertures to understand what you can get away with regarding the different sized focal plains. 

Corey brings up some really key points. Here's my hit list for things you need to know when getting close:

1. One of the first things to keep in mind and determine is how close up your particular lens can focus. To test this out, just grab an object (anything will do) and see how close up you can get while maintaining focus.

2. In Corey's last response, she talks about knowing how to set your focus point. This is HUGE. Take a moment and figure out how your camera is set to auto focus. Most cameras take readings from multiple places within your frame and make a decision about the focus. If you are having a hard time getting your camera to focus on what you want you may look into manually setting the auto focus point. To find the setting for this, grab your manual and look up AF points or AF area mode.

3. If you are having trouble getting up close and being in focus, you might also try backing up and then zooming in on your subject. Zooming in has the added benefit of helping blur out your background a little. Like Corey said, you can come in closer with your feet or your zoom lens.

4. In Corey's last answer she talks about experimenting with your f-stop or aperture to know how much of your image will be in focus. This concept is called depth of field. This is a definite photography fundamental but it can be confusing at first.

Many thanks to Corey for sharing herr images and your insights! To see more of Corey's work, you can visit her Flickr page or her blog.

As always, I would love to see your experiments! Please post links in the comments section or in the new Monday Lesson Flickr pool. Now, go have fun and GET CLOSE!

Recently, my Mom gave me my original birth certificate so I brought it out and showed it to Finnian. He got a kick out of my tiny footprints and we compared our feet now to the prints. I told him the story about the day he was born (a personal favorite thing of both boys actually). He showed me how his legs were so much longer now. His hands, feet and brain are also all bigger too in case you were wondering.