Masquerade

"Shower" cries Callum the moment he wakes up, hearing the sound of the water warming up in the bathroom beside him.

I'm just about to step in when, in a mad dash, along comes Callum, heading straight for the shower mat and, scraping it off the bathtub, he proceeds to join me in the shower with the corner in tow. I'm taken by how, even in the midst of such great excitement "shower!" to join me, he stops himself in his tracks for the shower mat. It seems to mark a new stage in his self regulation of behaviour. Ah behaviour...

Today it's my first double school run: racing along the freeway in the carpool lane, I first drop Reuben off and, back in the car, Callum for his first day back since June. The role of role model doesn't quite suit him today though: he screams through the first hour through separation anxiety and teacher Belinda, stern, but measured, showers patience on him til he calms down.

So with such a crazy day behind us, I'm not prepared for the shoot, but, finding a delicious new spot at home, bathed in glorious natural light, the sumptuous dress and mask, I begin something new, I've entitled "The Masquerade Collection". Natural light photography: I feel I never want to move away with it. Learn to understand its nuances and temperament and it will reward you with huge hugs and kisses, as did Callum tonight when, leaning over to me he whispered "More kisses". I had fun with a number of the images but the light was so good I could have left them RAW (Note: Never happy with the grain on FB. Or link to my Smugmug). I'm comparing the results from my naturally lit studio with competitor's high end studio flash photography and I just don't like seeing softboxes so obtrusively in the eyes, nor do I think lights can accurately capture the luminosity of skin. With previous sessions, in retrospect, I end up just enjoying the fact that someone else had to expend the energy to capture the boys at the time in those studio shots I've had done, or that I actually appeared in the shots myself, rather than thinking complimentary thoughts of the photographer's talent. And I'm talking very high end family photographers. So I urge you if you've never tried creating a home studio, find yourself a space at home with good northern light or diffuse a S, E or W light, throw up some muslin (personal preference as I love the way it filters light) as a backdrop and just give it a go!

I hope you enjoy the link and the delicious laughs at the end are from when the boys were in cahoots downstairs and made their way up to the room they all came running in with Callum butt naked. They make great outtakes. I'm very happy.