Daily Photo Phix: Just JUMP!

What do you do when you have 12 young people on a beach, late in the day, who want to have a group picture taken, and are up for just about anything?

Simple: you just tell them to JUMP!

Click image for a larger view

If you saw yesterday’s Featured Photog post with Janet McQueen, then you were probably as taken as I was, with the image of her granddaughter jumping in mid-air, holding an umbrella, against a gorgeous blue sky.  I really enjoyed that photo, (although as many of you noted, all of Janet’s work is very good!).

That photo reminded me of several “jumping” photos I’ve taken in the past year or so.  I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about seeing people in mid-air, with their arms and legs and heads all going in different directions, enjoying themselves, without a care in the world. Maybe it’s a refreshing counter to the dim realities of the world we are living in today.  Maybe it’s just that seeing people happy and feeling good is infectious.  Whatever it is – I like it, and in the immortal words of someone, “if it feels good, do it”.

To make this shot work, we needed:

1. A group of willing subjects.  We were spending the day at the house of a family member.  In addition to my family, there were nieces, friends, and friends of friends. Ages ranged from 11 to 26, all great kids, all in a fun mood.    Check.
2. Good lighting and a lot of space.  This is the beach at Wells, Maine, on an early evening in July, when the sun was just above the horizon, providing some nice, long shadows on the sand.  Check.
3. The right camera settings.  Nikon D90, 18mm focal length, 1/100 sec, f/10.  Wide enough to get everyone in, fast enough to freeze the action.  Check.
4. Patience to keep trying until we got it right.  This capture was made on about the 5th try.  The trick is to get everyone airborne at the same time.  Sounds simple with a little 3-2-1 countdown… right?  Not exactly, since some people, like track runners who listen for the starter’s pistol, can react a smidge faster, others a smidge slower.   That results in a mixed bag of ups and downs and in-betweens.  But after a little practice, and a steady cadence on the countdown: Lift-off!  Check.

I’ll be bringing you some of my other “jumpers” in the future.  Feel free to share with us your similar human aeronautical endeavors!  And thanks for visiting 2 guys Photo.               Posted by Ed

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