Bill Jennings's Photoblog
Toto at Andale
Posted by Bill Jennings ((Bay Area Northern Calif), United States) on 31 May 2009 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
As have shown photos of two of my kids this week, obligated to show a recent photo of Toto. Here he was on the back patio of a local mexican restaurant we frequently enjoy after equestrian vaulting on saturdays.
Just made it home after a month of travel - posted a few photos from my journey to within 48 miles of the antartica circle: at nearly the longest day of the year: hence, there was 21 hours a day of sunlight...
Thank you for your patience while I was out of touch.
I do hope you followed Bob Kelly's blog (my roommate) while he is still traveling - he is now on Easter Island - and will be updating his blog for some time to come - please check it out!
@rem_la: Merci
Dulcie from Danville, United States
Lovely soft expressive portrait! I enjoy seeing the children. :-)
31 May 2009 7:31am
@Dulcie: Thank you Dulcie. I try not to intermix photos of the kids with other shots when I can - as I also enjoy taking other times of photos, and really learning how to take portraits on subjects (my kids) that are nearby often.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
I had no idea there was an angel out there named Toto, brilliant photo, the expression is Divine
31 May 2009 11:38am
@Lorraine: You're so kind, we love our Toto - he's a great son.
Judy from Brooksville, Florida, United States
Hair combed into place for his portrait ... and then he got to EAT! Good shot.
31 May 2009 11:42am
@Judy: Yeah - and he loves to eat after working out so hard on his horseback riding.
Ajay from Pune, India
What a wonderful portrait shot, Bill. You should really keep it safe to show him later and make him proud of himself.
31 May 2009 12:01pm
@Ajay: thank you Ajay, I will keep it safe -
dkc from Xanthi, Greece
This portrait is just wonderful...The look of the little guy is awesome...and neat hairstyle too....
31 May 2009 3:05pm
@dkc: Thank you DKC - it was fortunate that the light lined up with the part in his hair. He was moving around so fast, this wasn't posed - I can assure you of that !! He's a great kid, we love our toto.
@Hidalgo: Thank you Hidalgo - I'll not try to keep putting child photos up - I'll mix it up with some other stuff now that I've got a few portraits posted !!
Susan from Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
Just saw Judy's comment about "hair combed..." makes me laugh...when I first glanced at the shot, I thought he was in the barber's chair!!!
Great catch of your guy!!! I like the way the sun shines on his head, but doesn't wash out his face!!
31 May 2009 3:35pm
@Susan: Fortuitous shot. I could never be a paid portrait photographer : my shots are too hit or miss (but I have so many, ultimately one or two of my kids shines through.
Vert Pomme from France
Superbe tête à Toto (lol). Il est très mignon ce petit garçon et tu le mets bien en valeur.
31 May 2009 4:03pm
@Vert Pomme: Vous êtes aimable. Merci. Nous aimons notre Toto - il est un gentil garçon
@john4jack: Thank you
@zOOm: He is indeed a cracker - how did you learn such a term from Paris?
@Lambspun: Yes, but he can be impish at times - he's like that: quiet until just the unexpected moment.
@Onlymehdi: Thanks for the kind words on the shot; however, my son only looks innocent. He's a sweetheard 99.9% of the time, but has an impish streak in him that will surprise you... He's a class clown in Kindergarten already.
@Marie-Hélène Ammor: Thank you Marie-Helene
Helen from Melbourne, Australia
This is a stunner of a portrait Bill .... really captivating. I like the way the light trickles down Toto's right side and just catches his eyebrow. The DOF really works and the background colour and texture really enhances an already fabulous shot. Nice work ... 5 stars!
31 May 2009 8:53pm
@Helen: Thank you Helen - I did like all the characteristics you talk about in this photo - I think we like similar styles.
@Steve Rice: Thank you Steve
jamesy from christchurch, New Zealand
great shot Your children are very photogenic
31 May 2009 10:55pm
@jamesy: Debbie - that's so kind to say about my kids. They are photogenic, as my wife is so lovely... Plus we tend to dress them in clothes that don't distract from their natural looks. We do love our Toto when I catch him still enough to get a photo.
@Didier DE ZAN: Merci Didier
Mandy Provan from Johannesburg, South Africa
he's going to be a heartbreaker!! :) lovely shot Bill
1 Jun 2009 8:16am
@Mandy Provan: He already is a heartbreaker. I've had three parents from kindergarten tell me that their daughter adores toto. Fortunately, he's a perfect gentleman: and they are just sad they have to share his good nature with others.
@Magda: Thank you Magda - we love our Toto!!! Glad you like his hair and how handsome he is.
mats from Texas, United States
The softness was a great effect for that focus on his eyes, Lovely! I like his hair too. Wonderful light.
And yes, gorgeous lad.
7 Jun 2009 5:40am
@mats: I absolutely love the effect of the portrait lens at the very shallow DOF (when it works) - and this time, the light, and the composition worked out... thanks for the kind words on eldest son, we do think he's handsome as well.
dj.tigersprout from New York City, United States
wow -- this must have been a weekend post!! AMAZING light!! AMAZING!!! and the expression is so timeless -- so lost to the millennia of ages! we are all this kid at some early point in our lives -- yes all of us!! an intrinsic search within all of us -- a call of duty; that beautiful spark of imagination that drives all life and the essence of life itself. a priceless moment of clarity and depth experienced by you, caught by the camera!! as a plus the mellow but magical colors just complement this shot so handsomely. and the magnificent lines and shapes behind his head are simply intriguing!! EXTRAORDINARY!!
18 Jun 2009 4:28am
@dj.tigersprout: DJ, thanks a bunch. Hope we meet someday soon. It would be my honor to see you in NYC someday
Canon EOS-1D Mark III
1/4000 second
F/1.6
ISO 250
85 mm