Most weeks, I try to find some natural-looking way to get SteelyKid and Appa in the picture together. Sometimes, though, there’s just no way to get it done, and we have to resort to Kate holding Appa near her:
She’s hugging her jacket because it got kind of cold this afternoon, but she’s in a phase where she refuses to put her jacket on, and also refuses to go inside. Life’s tough with a willful toddler.
To compensate for the lack of elegance in this week’s Appa picture, here are two much better shots taken by Matt Milless of Mahi Matt Photo at last night’s charity basketball game. First, a shot of the two of us during the halftime mini-game for small kids:
And then a shot not long after:
The look on her face very clearly says that she was none too happy at having to relinquish her ball for a shot, and isn’t going to let that happen again…
This also shows the difference between pictures taken by a rank amateur, and those taken by someone who knows what he’s doing with a camera… Which is why I put them here, below the fold.
I actually think the expression on her face says “Mommy forgot it would be infernally hot in here and didn’t dress me in something cooler, it’s loud, and Daddy keeps going where I can see him but he won’t pick me up.”
But then, I suppose those would all be reasons why she wouldn’t be happy relinquishing her ball.
Love the basketball pictures, and the fact that you’ve found non-pink clothes to dress her in. So cute!!
I bet that eventually she’ll grok the concept of “Reference Bison”. Then she’ll either be more cooperative — perhaps holding Appa, herself — or else much less so.
As for the difference between the photographers, remember that they have different purposes in taking the picture. The pro isn’t trying to include a reference bison!
I see three main differences between your pictures and the pro’s: 1. Close-up. 2. Framing (including cropping some of the main subject (Sorry, Kate), e.g. Steelykid’s shoe and Chad’s elbow in the first shot, and Steelykid’s feet and right hand and the back of Chad’s head in the second shot. Don’t be afraid to let some of the picture’s story continue outside the frame. 3. Soft-focus backbround. This is an f-stop thing, and learning to do it on purpose, while not difficult, is more advanced.
I enjoyed all the pictures, as always.
Everything she’s wearing in those pictures except the shoes and coat are from the boys’ section. Because we disapprove of stiff, flimsy, frilly, girls’ toddler clothing, which appears to be the majority of it.
Because we disapprove of stiff, flimsy, frilly, girls’ toddler clothing
I’ve never had a toddler of my own, so I’ve never been forced to deal with this. But if clothing manages to be stiff and flimsy at the same time, I’d say that’s sufficient cause to avoid it, regardless of how frilly it is. I get the picture of something that won’t survive a normal toddler play session.