Rick’s Rants and Raves

Over the holiday break, our family went to see the Huntington Holiday Train display at the main library. The best part about visiting the display was that the whole family was engaged in taking photographs. I spent much of the time as the voice-activated light stand while Anne and Emily shot pictures with the D60 and told me how they wanted the light to appear.

On-lookers, taken by Anne

I was standing camera right with the flash, with a CTO gel, at about camera height. After Anne made the shot, I suggested that she wait until the folks moved. She replied that she had wanted them in the frame to add scale. Wow, did it ever turn out well.

The details in the buildings were just astonishing. I really love Anne’s capture of this poulterer’s sign.

Taken by Anne

It was hard to get back grounds to blur out in some circumstances… some buildings were against a stark white library wall. When I started to take a shot of this steeple top, I noticed the bokeh in the lights behind it, and am really pleased with the result.

Of course there were some trains, but in all honesty, they were ho-hum in comparison to the buildings that surrounded them.

Taken by Nathan

The kids really had a great time shooting various details of the scene. I had a good time lending my experience and holding the flash, while Anne and Emily would shoot then chimp at the LCD, letting out several “ooh! awesome!”