Evening star., 1952-09-07
Camera Angles:


tions which cross our desk are
related to child photography.
Todays' space will be given over
to answering those most fire.
quently asked. The principal
query these days seems to be:
els it as easy to photograph
children in color as it is in
black and white?" Practically
Speaking-yeS.
OF course. it should be real
lied that color film is a good
deal slower than monochrome
but fast lenses make up for
much Of this and an exposure
made at 1/50th Of a second Is,
often as not. fast enough to
stop ordinary movements Of q
child. You may have one or
two blurred shots in a roll. but
the good ones, glowing with
the natural color of healthy
childhood, make the loss well
worth while.
MY little one assumes a
dead-pan expression every time
I pick up my camera, or so it
seems. ! try all the usual tricks
with her toys and do everything
but stand on my head but all
this produces is a glum look.
Any Suggestion?"
This seems to be q tough
problem but before giving up try
the old trick of spooning a few
drops of orange juice or a
pinch of sugar into her mouth.
This may seem too easy to be
effective but it works in many
cases. Also try giving the child
q nap before the shooting ses-
sion. A tired child will naturally
be apathetic and cross and
cranky as rule. Parents often ,
make picture taking such an
ordeal that the child is re-
pulsed by the idea. Only make a
few shots at a time and make
them as quickly as possible. At
the slightest sign of rebellion,
put off any further shots for
another time. The best policy
is that Of shooting your pictures
on the sly while the youngster
Is playing-totally unaware Of
what you are up to. This is
the sure way to get those un-
inhibited "happy child" express
Sions.
Getting the Best Light
"What is the best lighting
for pictures of babies? Older
children?"
It is difficult to say that any
one type of lighting is better
than another. Daylight is ex-
cellent for pictures Of babies or
older children provided you
make your exposures early in
the morning or late in the
afternoon. At those times the
light is soft and pleasing for
child portraits. It is not as dis
tracing as floods or flash lamps
& are apt to be. When the sun
I is high, as at noon. daylight Is
la poor medium for harsh
shadows will rob the picture Of
that natural softness that
should go with youth. On rainy
days, and in the winter you
may find it expedient to work
indoors with flash or floods. Il
i the child is fidgety and out Of
spatience, flash shots will help
you record the few fleeting mo-
ments when you spot a good
expression. Use flood lamps
when working with a child who
enjoys having his picture taken.
EYou have greater control over
your lightings than with flash
|, unless you are an expert with
The latter. Do not attempt to
mix natural light with that
from a floodlamp when shoot
ing indoors. Daylight is so
much more powerful than 1t
looks that it is apt to ruin ex-
posure when combined with
that from a floodlamp. Flash.
/ however, can often be used out
doors as a f1ll-in or shadow
chaser. Be sure to use blue
hashbulbs when outdoor color
Aim is in the camera.
Governing Shutter Speeds
what is the best shutter
. speed to use for pictures Of
& children?"
81 If We had to be pinned down
lon this we would say 1/100th Of
"a second because this speed will
stop action no matter what
they happen to be doing. But
The fact remains that majority
of the cameras in use today do
mot have a shutter speed of 100.
An exposure of 1/50th will work
sin most situations. If the child
ltgsis motionleSs a sfot at 1/25th is