Holly Sisson Photography

February 10, 2010

Pets, Dessert & New Canon EOS 1D MKIV: Toronto Family Photographer

I was very excited, the other week, to get the call from Henry’s Camera that my new Canon EOS-1D MarkIV body had arrived. They have been in short supply as priority was given to Olympic photographers. This is one amazing machine! I did a family shoot with it last Friday, and am extremely pleased with the results—watch for the sneak peek of that session soon! (See “My Camera Equipment” in footer section for links/more information on camera equipment used.)

The first weekend, with the camera, was dedicated to testing it, seeing the results I could achieve and the type of focusing it could nail. It definitely focuses in lower light/lower contrast situations better then my old Canon EOS-1D MarkIII did. Is it perfect, no, but I am very pleased!

That Saturday the kids and I went to my mother’s for dinner. Here’s a shot of Milo (Canon EOS-1D MarkIV and Canon 85 f1.2L lens):

Simon (shot with the Canon EOS-1D MarkIV, Canon 85 f1.2L lens and Canon 580EX II Speedlite):

Milo (shot with the Canon EOS-1D MarkIV, Canon 85 f1.2L lens and Canon 580EX II Speedlite):

Kids and I brought dessert, do you remember this one? Usually prepared as a log, but I mixed it up a bit (shot with the Canon EOS-1D MarkIV, Canon 24–70 mm f2.8L lens and Canon 580EX II Speedlite):

Yum!

Of course I have to post some new shots of Alice, as she is great to practice on! Is it any wonder I can get any work done with such cutness? She loves hanging out with me while I work (she is sleeping on my lap as I type this!), the printer spot is fine, but she blocks my screen in the other position! (Shot with the Canon EOS-1D MarkIV, Canon 85 f1.2L lens and Canon 580EX II Speedlite):

I pulled out the macro lens for some shots, look at those amazing blue eyes! (Following three images shot with the Canon EOS-1D MarkIV, Canon 100 mm f2.8 macro lens and Canon 580EX II Speedlite):

The next two were shot with the Canon EOS-1D MarkIV and Canon 85 f1.2L lens, the first one at 1/100, f1.2, ISO 1600. Very impressed with the high ISO capabilities of this camera, no issues with an image shot at 1600:

This is a spot that Alice loves in the dining room, at the floor by the rad, nice and cozy. Shooting wide open completely blurs the legs of the chairs/table in front of her, giving this cool effect to the floor in front of her. Shot at 1/125, f1.4 (s/b 1.2!), ISO 2500. Definitely getting more noise/grain in the image at ISO 2500, it’s useable, but could be pushing it depending on final use of the image:

Finally just a couple of Alice on my bed, shot with the Canon EOS-1D MarkIV, Canon 85 f1.2L lens and Canon 580EX II Speedlite:

Stay tuned for the sneak peek of the adorable toddler I photographed last week!

P.S. Regular visitors may have noticed that I’ve changed my site/blog. There is no longer a ‘website’, per say, but my redesigned ‘blog’ is now my website. It still contains all the information as was previously contained on both the website and the blog. I hope you like it! 🙂

January 5, 2010

Disney, Christmas & Alice the Cat

As I did last year, I took a break from the computer over the holidays, so here’s a massive photo update!

The kids and I got an extra long holiday break this year as we traveled to Disney World in mid-December. I didn’t want to be weighted down with camera equipment on the trip so just brought the lighter Canon 5D, Canon 50 f1.4 lens and the Lensbaby Composer for the trip. (See “My Camera Equipment” in footer section for links/more information on camera equipment used.)

On our second day we visited Animal Kingdom, we all enjoyed the Kali River Rapids, and then the kids went again (I decided that I had gotten wet enough the first go-around!):
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One of the things we very much enjoyed was the different wildlife around us, instead of pigeons we had birds like this visiting us during our outside lunch:
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On the way out of the park we stopped so I could photograph these beautiful parrots:
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On day four we visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park, Noah and I went back that night for a show and then visited the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights on the Streets of America. You can’t tell in these photos but there was actual snow flakes falling down on us (which freaked Noah out to no end, go figure!). (Shots were taken with the Lensbaby Composer with Lensbaby Fisheye Optic (first two) and the star shaped Lensbaby Creative Aperture Kit installed.)
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The next day we went back to Magic Kingdom, after riding the Pirates of the Caribbean the kids tried on Nightmare Before Christmas top hats, and then goofed around outside on the way to the next ride:
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This was the best photo I managed to capture of Rebecca and Noah in front of the castle. We had planned to attend Magic Kingdom one more day but unfortunately Rebecca came down with the stomach flu, so it ended up being a hotel/by the pool day instead.
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Even though they are not great photos, I regret that I didn’t make better use of the Disney Photo Pass, where they have photographers throughout the parks to take photos of you. But here are two of me with the kids at Magic Kingdom:
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Finally, as the last photos from the trip, a few quick shots I took of the hotel grounds of Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter where we stayed:
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(Equipment Used: Unless otherwise noted, the following were all shot with the Canon EOS-1D MarkIII, Canon 24–70 mm f2.8L lens and Canon 580EX II Speedlite)

As much as we enjoyed Disney World, and the much nicer weather in Florida, we were very happy to get back to the comforts of home, and Alice. Here she hangs out with Noah as he does some drawing on my bed:
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Didn’t capture that many photos of Christmas morning, but here are Rebecca and Noah both enjoying presents from their stockings:
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Alice very much enjoyed one of her gifts too!
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(Equipment Used: Unless otherwise noted, the following were all shot with the Canon EOS-1D MarkIII, Canon 100 mm f2.8 macro lens and Canon 580EX II Speedlite.)

One of my goals, for the holiday break, was to capture some updated photos of Alice, she is now four months old and she has changed so much since the last time I did this:
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Her facial markings are really coming in:
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So happy that our little girl has blue eyes!
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Another nose shot, as I just love her nose and whiskers!:
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The next three were taken with the Lensbaby Composer:
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I was enjoying getting in close and filling the frame with the Canon 100 mm f2.8 macro lens:
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She is the sweetest cat. While we were away she stayed at my sister’s, and she so fell in love with her that she has placed her order for her own little ‘Alice’ from the breeder! I can’t wait to meet her, and take photos of her too!
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Hope everyone reading this had a wonderful holiday break too!

December 10, 2009

Holiday Baking 2009

The kids and I managed to fit in some holiday baking this year, which is great because I love giving that personalized gift of holiday baking!

(See “My Camera Equipment” in footer section for links/more information on camera equipment used.)

One day we made gingerbread cookies (shot with the Canon 24–70 mm f2.8L lens), and you can find the recipe on the SavvyMom EatSavvy Blog, where I participated in the Great Savvy Bake-Off:
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(Shot with the Canon 24–70 mm f2.8L lens)
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(Shot with the Lensbaby Composer, with the Lensbaby Creative Aperture Kit star shaped aperture disc installed)
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(Shot with the Canon 24–70 mm f2.8L lens)
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On another day we made some yummy sugar cookies (shot with the Canon 85 f1.2L lens):
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The kids had fun decorating these ones (shot with the Canon 24–70 mm f2.8L lens):
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Throughout all the baking activity, Alice just ‘chillaxed‘ (as my daughter Rebecca would say), which was a very good thing! Except when she disappeared from hanging out with us on the evening of the gingerbread cookie baking, Noah found her snacking on a gingerbread cookie in the dining room! They were set out to let the icing completely dry…have to get used to having a cat that can get into food in the house! lol (Shot with the Canon 85 f1.2L lens):
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May 9, 2009

Project Love: Toronto Family Photographer Launches Project to Celebrate Love

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The winner of the local photography session for Project Love has been announced! Click here to see the blog post announcing the winner!

****Entries for Project Love have been extended (see below) due to an event to be held on July 23rd promoting Project Love. Please click here to view the blog posting about this event, and to see details of who will be helping me to judge the Project Love entries!****

Project Love is officially launched! This project was inspired by the love that I witnessed between Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi in their wedding video.

Part of the dream is to travel to L.A. to photograph Ellen and Portia for their upcoming wedding anniversary on August 16th. (If you are on twitter, please send an @ message to theellenshow to let them know about this project! twitter.com/theellenshow)

Noah, Rebecca and I are fans of both The Ellen Show and Portia’s new show, ‘Better Off Ted’. Noah is especially enthusiastic, and created a wonderful poster for Project Love, which you can see in the following youtube video:

The local dream is to celebrate Love in Toronto by holding a contest in which the winner will have a complimentary photography session with me.

Here’s how to enter: email me a jpg photograph of who you love and why you would love to win the photography session. See below for further details/requirements*. If I can get Ellen’s attention, perhaps she will help with the judging! Otherwise I will be announcing local judges soon.

So, whether you are a family:

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A couple:

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Or have a pet that you love:

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I would love to hear from you! Please enter the contest and help me get the word out about Project Love!

Thank you!!!

* Contest closes at midnight July 31, 2009. Winner to be announced by August 9th. Photography session must take place before September 30, 2009. Jpg image must be no larger then 400x600px, 72 dpi, or 300 kb showing who you love and why you would love to win the photography session (no more then 300 words). You must consent to the image/words being used on my blog. You must agree to sign a model release so that your photography session can be shown on this blog. You must be over 18 and live within Toronto. Please provide name, address and phone number with entry. This session may not be used in combination with any other offer (i.e. donated gift certificate). Standard terms and conditions apply as seen on my website. The session will be a standard 1–2 hour weekday shoot, if weekend session is required additional cost will be due. Judges decision is final.

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