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Photo Tutorial for Ski Lessons Photos
ISO 100–Since the snow reflects light at such intense brightness I’m able to keep my ISO low for richer color saturation.
Aperture–I used f/2.8 when the kids weren’t moving and f/4.0 when they were in motion. I liked the low f/2.8 aperture because it does a beautiful job at blurring all the trees, lodge and mountains behind the kids. But when the kids were in motion, I had to bump my Aperture up to a f/4.0 to give me a better chance at getting a focused image.
Shutter Speed–1000 (1/1000 of a second) when the aperture was f/2.8. The lower you go in your f-stop, the bigger your opening is for light to come through. When I have my aperture wide open at a f/2.8, I need a faster shutter speed so the image isn’t overexposed. When I up’d my aperture to a f/4.0 the hole got smaller so I needed to keep my shutter speed open longer (1/500 of a second) to let more light in so I wouldn’t get an underexposed image.
Your Turn!
Try playing around with your Aperture. Take a photo of your kids holding still at f/2.8 (or as low as you can go) and notice how blurred the background is. You may have to put it on your computer to see the blurred background. Now try to take a photo of your kids running, skipping, playing at a f/4.0. What happens if you forfeit some of your blurred background and go up in your aperture to a 4.0.
Reflect on the questions below?
Q: How does going up in your aperture to a f/4.0 or f/5.6 effect the image in sharpness and exposure (overexposed or underexposed)?
Q: How does going up in aperture effect the focus of your kids?
There isn’t one right answer to these questions. This exercise is to provide a way for you to play with light and the degrees of light. Remember, the best part of photography is trial and error and learning from our mistakes. Tell me what you learn from this on my Me Ra Koh-The Photo Mom Facebook page! I always love hearing!
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:23 am
Me Ra, I absolutely love how honest and open you are. I think this is why we all love you and feel like we have known you for years. I am hoping for snow in DC soon, so I can try some of this out. Thank you, Thank you!
MeRa, I am sorry to post the next thing here, but I would love to contact some of the people going to Napa. I know she asked in one of her latest posts.–
Now, for Michelle who was a finalist in the last contest and is going to Napa, please email me: wzippwald@yahoo.com. I saw that you were looking for others going to Napa in one of your lasts posts. I would love to connect to make the time between now and April go faster.
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:27 am
You are such a good mom! When your child cries, of course you want to comfort them……..mine are all grown up and I still want to do that! It looks like you have a wise friend in Shannon. Hang on to her. It’s great to see you and your family having a wonderful time…..you deserve it. Thanks for sharing!
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:58 am
Me Ra, you are so brave! Love you!
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:17 am
hahah! that was a really great story…and i love how lil blaze just looks so tiny in that helmet & lil skis….wow, i can’t imagine….i hope he learns to enjoy it!!!! itz a great life experience!!!!
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:39 am
Those pictures are great. I have to echo the previous post and say that Blaze looks so tiny. How cute that the kids are the “mini-mice”. That last shot made me tear up – what parent hasn’t thought about what happens when they leave the kids for a bit. Now to know – ugh! Hope today is a little easier.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 am
I hope Brian is feeling better. That will drain you.
Love the pictures and the recipe. What lens where you using?
Way to be brave.
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
No one can ever really prepare you for those “brave and strong” mother moments. Thank heavens for the good friends who help talk you through them! What wonderful photos out of the crisis, though! Can’t wait to try these tips out, as we have been getting snow on and off since we got home from the Seattle Workshop.
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:43 pm
I just posted some ski lessons pictures on my blog too! Your weather looks like it was much better than mine, though. Thanks for the recipe for the pictures. It gets way easier for the kids the more they do it. My three year old loves to ski but we haven’t tried leaving her with an instructor (not only enough for them around here). It’s hard to turn off those mother bear instincts but what you did was good for them!
Have fun tomorrow!
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
I don’t even know you and have fallen in love with your blog. I love the way you tell stories. Poor you, leaving them!!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:32 am
Boy, it’s hard getting started. Want to take my 4 1/2 year old skiing this winter for the first time. Have the same fear about ski school, just being bundled up in all that stuff is enough to drive anyone nuts, never mind strapping on skis (I forgot, the little ones don’t have to deal with poles, so that’s good). What they say they want or don’t want and what they do is often 2 different things! I was debating taking him myself for the first time to get him used to it, but school is often the best option. Thanks for sharing the trails and tribulations of mom and kids, and glad you got some good pics!
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:24 am
I think we turned a corner in skiing with the kids! I can’t wait to get these new photos up and posted for all of you! And yes, i totally need to post the Rocky Mountain Pizza Dough recipe, what a great idea! I’ll totally do that!
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:25 am
Wendy, I almost forgot about your question. When we get back, I’ll send an email to all the current women coming to Sonoma, so you can connect with eachother. Fantastic idea!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Me Ra, Thank you so much. That would be fun to connect. I am so glad the Rocky Mountain Dough Recipe is coming. Thank you, thank you!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Hi Me! Just had to take a minute and write to tell you how much I love your images and instructional materials. Each one teach one has always been my motto and it seems you feel the same way. Thanks for helping to keep the standards high in our industry to sharing so much valuable info 🙂
January 24th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Your kids will be the king and Queen of the mountain in no time! I love how tough kids are when the fall and I love how fast they learn! Good job getting them started early! The worst is learning how to ski as an adult! Just think you are saving them from that embarrassment!
May 14th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
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December 29th, 2009 at 5:04 am
[…] Ski Lessons for Kids and Photo Tips for Parents! […]
December 30th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Great post and tips as usual!
This month I head up to Winter Park, CO to document my family at the resort and I am totally stoked!