Photographing children – action can be an important style element

A side glance

Photographing children need not result in an endless stack of children posing somewhat awkwardly for snapshot quality photos.  With just a few elements you can transform the ordinary photograph into something worthy of mounting and then hanging on your family’s picture wall.

I’m not guaranteeing that all your photos will become masterpieces. But you can be well on your way to taking better photographs.

The natural unposed pose

• Instead of posing the child or children, photograph them while they are playing.  You will end up with natural looking shots.  Doesn’t matter what they are doing.  In this series of photos, these six year old girls were doing what comes naturally on the beach, walking around looking for seashells, hermit crabs and somesuch.  In their play, they didn’t pose for these photos.  In fact, they paid me no mind.   Do this and you end up with natural looking shots.
• Consider taking photographs from different perspectives.  Maybe a profile from a low-angle, maybe a 3/4 frontal.  You will end up with a wider range of photos and maximize the chance that some of them will be very good.  Remember, different perspectives can be accomplished by the child climbing or sitting or any dynamic movement.
• Consider the use of props or accessories (toys etc)  for activity.   Props allow the child to extend limbs, turn their heads, reach up/down.  These movements can make for graceful or photogenic “unposed” poses.  In some of these photos, one girl is wearing a hat.  Not only did the hat cover her head from the tropical sun, it also added an additional point of interest to the photograph, making the girl to appear a bit stylish in some photos.
• Pay attention to the background.  Consider the background an important part of the photo. It shouldn’t distract from your subject.
• Look for nature to help.  Wind, sun, shade or any natural occurrence doesn’t have to be distraction.  Use nature to your advantage.  Look at the photos where the breeze added a different dynamic to the child walking.

There are other things that one can do but these are a good start.  Give them a try.  You won’t be disappointed.

These photographs were taken with a Nikon D700 and Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lens and Nikkor 135mm f/2 lens.  The photos were shot in Hua Hin, Thailand.

On the move

Tip-toeing

Good unposed stylish photo

Sand in her hands

Children playing on Hua Hin beach while parents dig for mussels

Three girls and baby

While I was on my daily photowalk a couple of weeks ago in Hua Hin, Thailand, I happened upon a small group of children playing on the beach.  Playing is not the right term as they were basically passing the time while there parents were nearby prying mussels from the exposed rocks at low tide.  I was immediately struck by how needy these children and their parents looked amongst the high end hotels and condominiums.  The parents looked to be making a living looking for meager amounts of mussels.  Really there were very few.  So along with the wealthier visitors are the needy.

Photos taken with a Nikon D700 and Nikkor 135mm f/2 lens.

Taking brother to bathe

Feet first

Two plus one

Baby boy

My brother

Sailboats used by 11-year olds racing in Hua Hin, Thailand

All laid out

Lined up and ready to go

As I posted a few days ago, I spent a long weekend in Hua Hin,Thailand, a laidback beach resort about three hours south by car from Bangkok.  Although Hua Hin’s development is dizzying in the last five years, it still retains a small town charm.  While there, I happened upon a sailing event that involved several classes of sailboats, from large craft to the small dinghies you see in these photos.

These boats were sailed single-handed by 11 year olds and one had to be impressed with the capabilities of these children with these very tiny craft on open seas.

Photos captured with a Nikon D700 and Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lens.

Reflection of a few dinghies

Eleven dinghies

See-saw

Getting ready

Sailboats getting ready to race in Hua Hin – D700 with 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lens

Hobie Cats going out to race in Hua Hin

I didn’t go to Hua Hin to shoot a sailboat regatta.  In fact I had never shot or even thought to shoot sailboats.    But once I got to the beach and noticed that preparations were being made to launch a number of sailboats, I just had to give it a try.  I only had my Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lens which doesn’t give me much range when trying to capture the race itself.  Nor did I have a boat to get me closer to the action.  All I had was my two feet on the beach and in the water.  I knew I had to fill the frame to make it more interesting.

The photos turned out very colorful, what with the color of the sails on many of the boats.  To make things just a little different I decided to to go retro and convert to black and white.  All photos are uncropped and with minimal post-processing (beyond conversion to b&w).

Photos were taken with a Nikon D700 and Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lens.  All images are uncropped.

Same as above in black and white

Two boats launching

Two boats launching

Ready to go

Ready to go

Push

Push

Roaming around the night market in Hua Hin, round three

There are many reasons for someone to holiday in Hua Hin, Thailand.  It could the wide quiet beaches, or the small town atmosphere with loads of restaurants of all cuisines, or it could be the night market.  Seriously the night market in downtown Hua Hin is loads of fun.  Lots of food to eat, people to watch and things to buy.  It’s hard to visit without buying something.

Check out my other Hua Hin postings for more information.

Roaming Thailand – Hua Hin night market

Hua Hin is my favorite beach destination in Thailand.  Much more so than Phuket or Koh Samui.  Although it has been “discovered” as a tourist mecca, it still retains a small town atmosphere.  Because it is compact in size, it is easy to walk around the downtown area.  There are literally hundreds of places to eat and drink in central Hua Hin, with cuisines from the four corners of the world.

For example, one of Thailand’s finest Italian restaurants, Da Mario, is located just down the street from excellent Thai seafood restaurants, a Mexican restaurant, a couple of Irish pubs and so on.  All in a space of approximately one square kilometer.

I am partial to the night market, a two block long row of vendors selling food, souvenirs, clothing and just about everything else.   The following photos were all taken from the night market.

Roaming Hua Hin Thailand

I’ve been going to Hua Hin for 13 years.  It is one of my favorite spots in Thailand because it is a laidback town compact enough to allow one to walk to one’s delight in the downtown market area.  There are dozens of sidewalk cafes and restaurants offering cuisine from the four corners of the globe.

There are hotels that cater from the high end tourist to backpackers.  Three hotels that I like are the Hilton, the Sofitel and the Marriott.  The Hilton is smack downtown so it is a convenient spot to say.  The Sofitel is adjacent and has  old world charm that is difficult to match.  It is about 100 years old and a real beauty. The rooms are exceptional.  Only 300 meters down the road is the Marriott.  It’s beach is very beautiful.  And the steakhouse is one of the best in Thailand.

Enjoy! Check it out at:  http://www.hua-hin.com/

Also added the Hua Hin hotels to Platial map in left sidebar.

Dawn on the beach

Marriott pool area

A horse's tale