My Dad & all the grandkids

[Dana Grant]

We had a surprise birthday party for my dad's 80th birthday -- he had no clue we were even in town!! So, before he arrived, all of us kids and all of the grandkids hid in a room away from the other 50-plus guests. To make a very long story short, my dad walked in, and everyone yelled SURPRISE!!

After a few minutes, the music started, and I appeared -- singing "What's new? How is the world treating you? You haven't changed a bit. Handsome as ever, I'm sure you'll admit...." (while holding a picture of him as a 21-year-old in my hand) -- I changed the words of the song to fit the occasion.....LOL

After the first verse of the song, ALLLLLL of the grandkids and the other two kids appeared........

Well, needless to say, my dad was overwhelmed!!! He started HUGGING me and hugging everyone else.......Well, Bert captured this picture while I was singing to him and he basically strangled me with love.....LOL

The other picture is all SIX of my dad's grandkids....

[Dana Grant]

OK, so Jonathan, I have a question about the picture with all the grandkids. I had wanted to take this one outdoors, but time got away from us, so I had to do it indoors.

Here's the scenario -- I was lying on the floor and the kids formed a huddle around me. Now, if I had had a light on the floor with me, shining up into the kids (maybe with an umbrella to diffuse the light), would the following two things have happened? A: Not so much shadow on the background (the ceiling). B: No glare on the glasses, or at least minimal glare. I had to use my flash, which I hate, you know. But that was the only way I could get any light into the picture. When they formed a huddle, I realized how dark it was going to be. I didn't have any small light that I could put down there with me. Just curious. We're all going to be together again in January, and I LOVE this picture.....but I want to do it right when we do this again!!! LOL So, coach, what do you say?

[Dana Grant]

I wonder if someone could actually photoshop a SKY in the background of that picture!!! That would be COOL.

[Lorie Hatcliff]

After a few minutes, the music started, and I appeared -- singing "What's new? How is the world treating you? You haven't changed a bit. Handsome as ever, I'm sure you'll admit...." (while holding a picture of him as a 21-year-old in my hand) -- I changed the words of the song to fit the occasion.....LOL

I LOVE that song! Sounds like you all made him feel very special!

[Dana Grant]

Yes, Lori -- he cried. My mother cried. Everyone cried. Here I am trying to sing this lovely song and everyone is crying......LOL It really did turn out kind of funny. He goes around hugging everyone, and I squeeze in between him and whoever he is hugging and keep singing right in his face -- everyone is crying and laughing at the same time......it was really a fun time.

[Jonathan Long]

Dana,

You're asking to do a near impossible picture especially without glare on glasses... I'd guess that the space you had was tight, making an umbrella and the photograper inside the circle impossible. Plus two faces with glasses would mean that you'd need to control the angle of reflection from multiple angles... not an easy task!

1. I'd have the kids wearing glasses tip them on their face until I didn't see any reflection (or minimal reflection at least).
2. I'd set my flash to give a fill amount 1/2 stop less than the sky or ceiling (that will eliminate most shadow areas).
3. I would diffuse my flash so the light didn't seem so direct ( place a white napkin - 1 layer over the flash).
4. Pray! and shoot lots of frames. Try to vary the output of the flash until you like the result.

That's about the only advice I can give. It's a cute shot. I used to do something similar when I shot weddings, only I was above the subjects (they were laying down on a piece of black fabric). That allowed me to have enough room to diffuse the lighting....

Jon

[Dana Grant]

Thanks, Jonathan!! Yes, I've done the lying down in a circle shots, too, and they are a bit easier to get a good result from than this one. But I love this shot, and I want to do it again. SO....I'm going to have to get some volunteers around here to practice on. I'm printing out this post and keeping your suggestions in mind. Thanks very much!!!