Family Fun

[Graham Serretta]

My eldest Daughter, Venetia, attended a Rudolph Steiner Waldorf school in Cape Town, where the pupils have the same teacher throughout their school career - junior and senior years.  Venetia graduated from high school more than twenty years ago, and recently traced her teacher to a village school in Ireland, and invited her to spend the Easter break in London with our family.

Her name is Gail, and I shot a portrait of her and Venetia yesterday afternoon.  I also shot a group portrait of them with my two grandsons and Charlie, who insisted on being part of the group.  Formality went out the window, and in the ensuing hilarity, I caught this moment in time, which aptly demonstrates the personalities of each of my subjects.  I have tried to introduce a 1960's Kodachrome efffect to the group shot, which reminds me of a Norman Rockwell scene.

First, the portrait of Venetia & Gail


Now the group - L-R Venetia with Charlie, a Bischon Friese who thinks he is a people, Carl (, Gail & Ross(6).


Images taken with a Pentax K10D with Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4.5 DC, iso 100, single Elinchrom D-Lite flash with white diffuse umbrella high at camera left.

[Julio1fer]

That group shot is priceless! There is indeed a Norman Rockwell flavor, although I can't place where it comes from.

Nice of Venetia to have tracked and found her old teacher. I bet that both of them were happy with the reunion. It shows in the portraits.

[Dennis Gallus]

Graham,

Well done, Sir, and fun too!  I think the Norman Rockwell flavor is due to the play within the play:  Carl obviously trying to encourage Charlie, and Ross keeping an eye on the photographer's reaction while Venetia tries to play the willing subject (despite distractions).  It all comes together beautifully.  The lighting is outstanding.

How did your subjects like the results?

Dennis

[Graham Serretta]

Thanks for the comps, guys.  Dennis, my subjects were delighted, especially with the 12x16 mounted prints, which is the only way to go with a shot like this.

[P C Headland]

Nice natural looking lighting, and nice relaxed looking subjects - must have been due in no small part to the photographer.