Canon 1DsMKII, Canon 35 f/1.4 L, Canon 580EX

f/3.2 @ 1/800, ISO 100

I put the 35L on the 1D body and the 24-70 on the 5D and headed over to the duck pond in Land Park to meet the family. The late winter light was divine, had there been a few more leaves on the trees it would have been perfect.  Luckily the kids were a joy to shoot and as always, my job is to just stay out of the way and let the action happen.  I twiddle the settings here and there but mostly I just watch the light, wait for the expression and try to nail the decisive moment.  While it would be nice to have an assistant handle a reflector or set up strobes, I work best light, fast and solo.  Mostly I like to try to make the babies laugh : )

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Canon 1DsMKII, Canon 35 f/1.4 L

f/3.2 @ 1/80, ISO 1000

All the kids came to class in their pajamas, as did Ms. Rachael and Ms. Maddy.  Kim and I were instructed to dress the part if we wanted to stay so of course we wore our best flannel.  Much to my happiness, Ava chose the candy cane stripes all on her own.  We watched the kids play, do crafts, read stories and sing songs.  Makes you wish you had a time machine to go back to 3 years old when it was all so wonderful and simple : )

All the parents brought breakfast food for the snack and the kids ate as much bacon and donut holes as they could : )

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Leica M3, Canon 50 f/1.5 LTM Sonnar, Kodak T400CN

f/8 @ 1/50

The tule fog enveloped us last week, making for moody and atmospheric mornings.  I flashed back to a series from two years ago I shot and wound up a roll of B&W in the Leica M3 hoping for a little of the same magic.  Ava seemed to match the somber mood of the morning and wore only her most petulant expression, but at least she was moderately still.  The Canon Sonnar resolved the light beautifully and gathered a few comments on its own.  People just aren’t used to seeing film cameras, even less ones from the 1950s.  It is a particularly pretty combo, the M3 and the chrome Canon, and makes me feel special just holding it.  But they’re no shelf queens and the two make images just as well today as they did 50 years ago.

walking meditation …

little napoleon …

portrait with slide …

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that would make him really pop off the background …

Canon 1DsMKII, Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L

f/11 @ 1/125, ISO 200

Considering my fumbling around with the equipment, the time constraints and this being the first time Chris and I have worked together, I’m reasonably happy.  There were a couple of shots where he hit his mark but the light just didn’t work out, maybe we’ll get the chance to revisit those shots over break.  I think I’d take the 17-35 and work it a little closer too, for these to really jump I should have been right in his face.  We also needed a big old boombox with some Rage Against the Machine and Black Flag, but you can’t always get what you want, etc …

Canon 5D, Canon EF 35 f/1.4 L

1/50 @ f/1.8, ISO 1600

The 5D makes such nice files, even at high ISO.  Add the 35L into the mix and it’s hard to go wrong.  I can complain a little about the off center focusing with the 5D and large apertures but it’s really a studio and landscape camera.  I press it into service like a sports/news shooter and it keeps up as well as it can.  Not everything can have the 1D series features.  The new mirrorless cameras look like a lot of fun to shoot, but I’m going to keep waiting and see if I can wear out my current bodies.  For the next round though, I expect to be looking for something smaller but with just as much capability.  If the mirrorless cameras aren’t there, then I guess I’ll be forced to get an M9.  Now that will be slumming in style : )

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Much to my happiness, Ava still fits in her candy cane striped pajamas …

Canon 5D, Canon EF 35 f/1.4 L

1/50 @ f/1.8, ISO 1600

Naomi received these pj’s as hand me downs and wore them first.  Now Ava’s had her turn and I fear this is the last season they’ll accompany a little Piper-Pell girl to bed.  A bittersweet thought but that’s how it goes.  She gets bigger in size but she’ll always be three in my heart : )

Ava loves her duckie …

You can still see a little of her chubby hands and feet …

Big Bear, ready for bed …

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Canon 5D, Canon EF 35 f/1.4 L

f/5.0 @ 1/200, ISO 100

It’s fun to make sunstars, love the control the 35L shows …

And that was without the polarizer, which I just got in mail.  Expect a lot of turning leaf shots shortly : )

Ava is a nut on the playground, making friends and getting in the middle of the action.

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Canon 1DsMKII, Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8 L

1/60 @ f/4, ISO 400

After class we stayed for a little playtime in the Tots park.  The leaves are just starting to change and the light was lovely; I had a feeling these might look nice.   The 1Ds did it’s part, no surprises there, and the 24-70 came through with it’s trademark rich, creamy color.  As much as I’d like to carry around something a little smaller than a miniature Airstream, you just can’t do action, portraiture and pj-style with filters, fast autofocus and wide open apertures like this with a compact.  I’d love to see Fuji refine the X100 into something serious or I’m resigned to scheming a way to afford a Leica M9 …

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Canon 1DsMKII, Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L

1/80 @ f/8, ISO 100

Ava joined her Tiny Tots class on their first field trip to the pumpkin patch.  Running, jumping, sliding, corn, hayrides and pumpkins were the order of the day.  Ava picked out a pumpkin for herself, one for mom and, under special order, an extra large one for her big sister.  As expected, after an explosion of energy in the morning she crashed hard in her car seat on the way home.  She woke up asking about her pumpkins and hasn’t stopped yet.  We’re also finding stray corn kernels in every corner of the house : )

 
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A Leica, a 50 and a couple of rolls of Tri-X are all you ever need …

Leica M6, Canon 50 f/1.5 LTM Sonnar, Arista Premium 400 (Tri-X 400)

After the big day was done, Leon and Cindie treated everyone to a backyard BBQ.  Maggie and Alex opened up their pile

of loot and we even had a little cake for the kids.  We did some patio sitting, cold beer drinking and had a good old time.

Very happy to get a shot of all the kids together; we don’t get many opportunities like this very often.

Waiting patiently for the cupcake cake …

Who are those old folks ; )  If I’m lucky, that might be me someday …

Love that Sonnar signature, makes for a lovely profile shot of Lauren here …

I’ll be Leon couldn’t have imagined this some 20+ years ago when these two were in diapers.  I’m steeling myself for the future

and hoping it turns out as well for Naomi and Ava as it has for Lauren and Maggie …

I got the crazy weave lamp!  I think Maggie would have given up everything for just the lamp.

Another Sonnar moment, it’s just lovely how it draws the light …

Thanks to all back in the heartland, until we see you again.

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