|
|
|
May 15, 2003
Snapshots that seem to speak
Taking meaningful photographs of babies is a challenging experience but eventually very rewarding, writes B.A. Jeddy
When a new baby comes into the family the first thing an eager, dedicated photographer, whether parent or grandparent, wants is to take snaps to record for posterity. But photographing a baby lying motionless in its crib is one thing, taking photos that seem to say something is another.
Taking such pictures can be an exasperating, time consuming and fascinating experience. It also requires patience and ingenuity. However, when successfully achieved it can be satisfying and rewarding, for it will record forever the day-to-day development and progress that will occur in a child — physically as well as mentally.
How do you get a baby, who cannot understand what you want it to do and is not even capable of sitting up by herself, to pose before the camera? Also how can she be made to express feelings of curiosity, joy or satisfaction, which will interest and amuse the adult viewer of the pictures?
First of all, the baby must be placed against a soft back rest and supported with cushions on her sides. No extra pair of hands supporting her must come into the photo. But they must be close by just in case she manages to slip, slide or fall over because of her lack of a sense of balance.
You will need an automatic camera that can gauge the light value, set the lens aperture, shutter timing and focus itself because the baby’s expressions will be so fleeting that you will not have the time to do it yourself. Also preferably the camera must be fixed on a tripod at just the right height and distance.
Having got everything ready your finger must be so close to the button so that you are “quick on the trigger” so to speak, when the right expression comes on her little face, for it will not remain there for more than a split second.
Now you will need a shiny or bright coloured object that can be held before her to fix her interest. In the present case the gleaming body of the camera somehow seemed to have attracted her attention. Take care that her Mummy does not stand too close nor is it time for her feed, for to a baby her mother and her food, not photography, are all important.
All this trouble will seem worthwhile because you will be able to capture the most charming characteristics of a child, its naturalness or spontaneity which is the aim of all good photographers.
A child does not have the ability to understand and do as directed by an adult. Instead the glimmerings of intelligence stirring within her constantly monitors her feeling and changes her expressions. And when she is amused she smiles not only with her lips but with her whole face. Moments like these can make a wonderful, never-to-be-repeated record for her album.
Sometimes it will be possible to take three or four such snaps, each with a different expression, and link them together into a story. They can be displayed as a sort of mosaic, with appropriate captions as though a more mature mind is working behind the baby face.
As an example, the five-month-old child in this series had begun to smile occasionally. So she was coaxed to pose in the following manner. As the gleaming camera was being set up and the photographer bent down to look at her through the view finder a puzzled look came on her face, she seemed to say: “I wonder what he’s upto?”
In the next shot as the photographer again bent down to frame her she seemed to ask: “Is he playing peek-a-boo with me?”
Then a smile of satisfaction lit up her face as though she seemed to understand that her picture was being taken. “I see, he wants to take a picture of me,” she seemed to say. But a moment later this was followed by a look of hesitation as though she had just become aware of the fact that she was not properly dressed nor was her hair brushed. “Mummy please dress me and brush my hair” she seemed to say while looking up at her mother. Finally when she is dressed she poses as though to say: “Ok, now I look cute. Shoot.”
|
|
|
|
