I’m not really an impulsive person. I have a tendency to plan and prepare. I like to get the lay of the land before jumping into a situation. And I’ve noticed that I usually approach photography the same way. I’ll check out locations, do a little recon, before I haul my dollies to a new picture spot.
I walk around the yard in the mornings in my nightgown, cup of coffee in hand, scouting areas for future photo shoots. [Sometimes I wonder if my neighbors think I’m a ghost (especially on gloomy, misty mornings) or that I’m a lost soul or just a bit soft in the head with all my wanderings. LOL] Afterwards, I check the weather forecast, find a doll and dress her up. Eventually, I set her up in the area of choice with whatever props I’ve chosen and snap away.
It’s a rarer instance where a shoot is either “timing entailed” or a complete “grab and go”. But some situations call for a quick response because the moment simply won’t last. A few examples that I can think of off the top of my head are: rainbows, sunrises and sunsets, the breaking of a wave on the ocean’s shore, catching the results of breezes and anything concerning wildlife. It’s like, “wow-*poof*-gone”…know what I mean? And those are the shots that I love the most, if I’m fast enough to catch them , that is. 🙂
Rini and the Butterfly
When I was skulking around the yard today, I happened upon a butterfly slowly flexing his wings in the shade. I ran back inside and grabbed my camera, hoping he hadn’t already flown away. I got lucky and took a couple quick snaps…and then I thought maybe I could get a dollie photo, too. So I ran back indoors, scanned the doll cabinet for a doll, rushed to find her a pair of shoes *hurry, hurry* and started posing her as I was hustling back out the door. Oh, he was still there. Yay! Carefully, I set my model down next to Mr. Butterfly and my luck held for a few shots before he flew away. And in the editing process, I found I had actually managed to catch the moment – without mishap and in focus. Thank heavens, as there are no “do overs” with this one. 😉
My model is a frankendollie consisting of a bargain bin rescue head: Sailor Moon, Mini Moon Rini, Wicked Lady on a Hollywood Nails Barbie body. (I had to add rubber bands under the neck knob to make it thick enough for the neck hole in the head to fit without wobbling.) She’s wearing Fashion Fever Barbie separates, recent Barbie playline shoes and Fashion Royalty earrings. Rini is posing (please excuse the less-than-stellar pose, I really was rushing) in my front yard in the shade on a sunny morning. I did use the flash on the camera, since the scene was a bit on the dark side and I wanted to illuminate the detail in dear butterfly’s wings. Isn’t he handsome? LOL, Mr. Butterfly steals the scene.
A Photograph Is …Proof Of A Moment.
Every Day A Dollie 