Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

[cjnicolai]

I haven't shared any images in a while, so I thought I'd post some from my most recent Arkansas shoot. I fly to Fayetteville every three months or so to photograph these girls. They're junior equestrians competing at the national level, and I am commissioned to do their PR and promo work. We have a lot of fun, as I'm generally turned loose to do whatever sounds like a good idea at the time. ;) These were taken on the family's 10,000 acre ranch -- talk about photo ops!

The girls are all related (two sets of sisters who are cousins, if that makes sense) so I shoot a lot of straight-up portraits of them as well. I could share fifty favorites from this session, but I'll limit it to these.

Should mention that these are all medium format film, Tri-X 320 developed in Tmax.

- CJ


This little girl is unquestionably the most confident and self-possessed seven-year-old I've ever met.
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/3183/erin1webcq5.jpg


Good thing Buddy is such a good-natured dog!
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/8318/girlsuptopwebin5.jpg

Shot in an empty barn.
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/3306/pendweb2af0.jpg

Hard to believe she's not fifteen yet.
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/8518/pend3pl5.jpg

The four girls.
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/5087/pendweb2wj4.jpg

[CT]

Very nice - I really love that barn shot! :)

[Cobra]

:agree:
Cracking barn shot!

[Jozza]

I like the last one!! :clap:

[HIMUPNORTH]

#2 shows the best control of (or lack of fear of) light. Great set! :thumbs:

[BALDYMAN]

I like the last one!! :clap:

so do i:clap:

[cjnicolai]

Thanks! I always have fun with these girls.

Gary, I definitely have no fear of light. LOL. I work 100% on location with only available light, so it's absolutely necessary to know how to deal with every lighting scenario. Backlight and low light are facts of life for me.

- CJ

[cwinhall]

What great control of lighting! Exposures are perfect!

Love #2, the backlight is fantastic! :)

[InaGlo]

Always enjoy seeing your work, CJ.

I like the last-but-one (girl & dog) love the composition & light ... oh! I soo could do with a class with you, lol!!!

My fave has to be #1 though ... what a compelling face for a 7 yr old, she's strangely haunting, beautiful bone structure and a lovely pic to boot!

[cjnicolai]

Colin, thanks. I'm a big believer in getting things right in-camera, particularly when it comes to lighting and exposure. I learned to shoot on a medium format film camera with no autothingies and previews to rely on, and I'm still working that way.

InaGlo, thanks as well! Yes, Erin is almost intimidating. It's fun to bring out these expressions in someone so young.

- CJ