Bill Jennings's Photoblog
Tios at Sweetpea's Birthday Party
Posted by Bill Jennings ((Bay Area Northern Calif), United States) on 22 June 2009 in Lifestyle & Culture and Portfolio.
A backyard birthday celebration for our daughter Sweetpea
I just loved the bubbles in the background (with their chromatic variation), the Abuelo sitting on the bench in soft focus at the very back of the frame, and the Tios in the foreground enjoying getting together as a family.
The natural light was like this, I didn't use flash or process this in anyway in PS - other than convert raw to jpg.
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!
Scott Schilling from San Martin, United States
This is a great capture Bill, especially with the Bubbles - Nice work! I need to invite you to photograph my daughter's birthday party!! Nice work and Happy Birthday to Sweetpea!
22 Jun 2009 6:03am
@Scott Schilling: Scott, I would be honored to photograph your daughter's birthday party: but be aware, I'm not a professional, and I can't guarantee results: I'm still learning :).
jamesy from christchurch, New Zealand
fantastic shot Bill I love those bubbles too
22 Jun 2009 6:39am
@jamesy: aren't they great. A $50 bubble machine really amps up the volume for a kid's birthday: and we use it throughout the year... Makes for excellent photos as well.
Sarito from Basingstoke, United Kingdom
Nice shot Bill. I am sure your daughter enjoyed it very much. Happy Birthday to Sweetpea!!
22 Jun 2009 7:58am
@Sarito: Thank you Sarito - she always enjoys being the center of attention !!!
Srujan Chennupati from Hyderabad, India
Beautiful shot, Bill. The bubbles in the background add a lot of flavor to the shot.
22 Jun 2009 8:12am
@Srujan Chennupati: Thank you Srujan
@Karthik: Thank you Karthik
Judy from Brooksville, Florida, United States
What fun and you're bringing back some of my HS Spanish as well.
I hope Sweatpea had a wonderful time at her birthday party!
22 Jun 2009 11:40am
@Judy: Glad we're stretching some of your school spanish. Sweetpea had a great time at the party - a beautiful day with friends and family.
Marie-Hélène Ammor from Casablanca/Paris, Morocco
Superb ambiance for this birthday !
22 Jun 2009 11:53am
@Marie-Hélène Ammor: Yes, that's the word I was looking for: ambiance !!
Sarah from Suisse, Switzerland
Lovely sentiment caught in a click and I love the bubbles! Will now have to google bubble machine - I've never even heard of one but now realise I need one if only for taking photos!
22 Jun 2009 12:55pm
@Sarah: They make great photos: look at party supply stores, not toy stores: to make sure it is built pretty well. The full plastic ones aren't that great.
dj.tigersprout from New York City, United States
wow -- love those bubbles in the background!!!
22 Jun 2009 2:23pm
@dj.tigersprout: Thanks DJ - that's why I like this photo, thought it added so much to the image.
Sugata from Newark, United States
The bubbles really make the atmosphere magical!
22 Jun 2009 2:35pm
@Sugata: Thanks Sugata - glad you picked up on the magical spirit of this image and party.
MARIANA from waterloo, Canada
Like how you captured bubbles around these people . Nice shot !
22 Jun 2009 2:39pm
@MARIANA: Thanks Mariana - glad you liked the bubbles !!
Steve Rice from Olympia, United States
I think I see the ghost of Lawrence Welk there. Great shot.
22 Jun 2009 4:53pm
@Steve Rice: Never knew Lawrence Welk, but from what I've heard : I think you're right !! Thank you.
Ajay from Pune, India
Oh yes. I notice them little late but when I saw them the whole meaning to this simple shot changed. Suddenly the whole scene looked very beautiful.
22 Jun 2009 5:04pm
@Ajay: thank you Ajay - I thought it added a nice dimension to the photo.
NADINE DERUYCK from KLUISBERGEN, Belgium
quite a lot of bubbles there (hihi °°°°°
22 Jun 2009 5:35pm
@NADINE DERUYCK: bubbles made the day fun... more is definitely better.
@Veronelle: Merci Veronelle -
Dulcie from Danville, United States
Yes, you've caught it all ...and I like that--the bubbly in the glass and in the background. Good one!
22 Jun 2009 6:53pm
@Dulcie: Nice seeing - yes, the bubbly in the front - with bubbles in the back: gives a festive feel. Thank you.
dkc from Xanthi, Greece
Hey...all these bubbles are awesome...if they were totally out of focus they might look like bokeh circles...
22 Jun 2009 7:05pm
@dkc: Thanks dkc - you're right, if the bubbles were out of focus, it would either look like bokeh circles, or even lens flare.
Lambspun from Madison, Maine, United States
Sweat Pea had a nice party! Love those bubbles :) It makes your shot very whimsical along with the balloon and child's toy in the back ground.
23 Jun 2009 12:40am
@Lambspun: thanks Lambspun. I do love the bubbles as well !! Made the party - your chef sons should buy a bubble machine, will make their jobs so much more fun.
Barbara from Florida, United States
First of all, Happy Birthday to Sweetpea. Friends together talking, bubbles in the air, I can almost hear the playful giggles in the background.
No doubt it was a happy event.
I've had bubbles on my list of subjects for images, this is a good reminder.
Very nice image, Bill.
23 Jun 2009 5:40am
@Barbara: She's happy whenever there are friends and family celebrating her - she loves the sincere and loving attention... We had a great time, and she will remember it a long time, I'm sure. Thanks for the comments on the bubbles - I think they added the right touch in the photo !!
Canon EOS-1D Mark III
1/1000 second
F/4.0
ISO 500
73 mm