Dressing Up!

Dressing Up!

To quote the Tom Baker incarnation of Doctor Who, there's no point being grown up if you can't be childish once in a while. Finding the inner child is another way of looking at it, but perhaps it goes some way towards explaing why even as adults we just love to dress up. Dressing up to go out for the evening, dressing up as part of a re-enactment, dressing up as an actor, dressing up just to have fun. And of course wherever there is someone dressing up, there is likely to be a photographer waiting to record it.

Favoured kit for me is the standard DSLR with a standard zoom, these days either the 18-135mm (APS-C) or the 24-90mm or 28-105mm (Full frame) depending on the format chosen. I would select a modest aperture, probably f/8 on full frame and f/5.6 on APS-C, and use aperture priority auto exposure. No need to change settings very often, yes, I know, f/8 and be there, but when the light levels fall then the ISO can be racked up as required. Modern cameras can take it and I would use up to ISO 1600 without even thinking and even further than that if the need arises. As I often suggest, better a sharp and noisy image than a blurred one with no noise at all. It is a tribute to modern technology that Shake Reduction muddies the waters further and makes the impossible sometimes possible. However, it does not help with subject movement.

Here's some examples of people enjoying dressing up and escaping the mundane grind of reality......

Cold but happy



The Surgeon, actually a real doctor who proudly told us that he went four days without needing the toilet



Cooking rough



Not so happy?



Monochrome soldier



War photographer



Not a real robot!



Proud to serve



Two girls and a dog



Woodbine heaven



A priceless expression



Cosy at home



Demure Haddon girl



Artist and Musician



Tudor lady