Slide Show Sunday: Portraits

I'm currently taking a portrait class. The first assignment was to do a session using outdoor natural light. On Friday before the Sunday class, I finally got the ballerinas to agree to going out for a "photo shoot."

They were willing to dress up for the session. 

We found a cool old turquoise phone at a yard sale to bring along.

 

The lighting was going to be perfect for a whole hour. 

 

I was going to knock this assignment out of the park.

No more than 15 minutes into the shoot, the Little Ballerina tried to climb a jagged tree stump. Her skirt got caught. She wailed. She screamed. And by the time I got to her, she had a gash down her leg a good two feet long. For real. It was big. It was bad. It was bleeding. Needless to say, she was done. 

Photo Shoot Take 2: Saturday afternoon

The Little Ballerina wanted nothing to do with trying again. She wanted to stay home. She is six. Umm...that would be a no-go. Luckily, the Big Ballerina was willing to help me out. She put on another outfit and walked over to the dunes behind our house with me. 

She was patient.

She was a ham.

And she was serious.

She let me blind her in the sunlight.

She tried to figure out how to dial a rotary phone.

And she danced in the setting sun.

When we were done, I was pleased with the portraits. I felt they captured the ballerinas' spirits. I played around with sun flare. Something I've wanted to try. 

Did I knock the assignment out of the park? Not. even. close. I had a good share of criticism from the teacher. Hopefully, I'll remember it all the next time.