Now booking 2024 outdoor and studio sessions!

Before & After – Toledo Zoo Splash Pad

Cynthia is an on location lifestyle and storytelling photographer serving the Toledo, Sylvania, Maumee, Holland, Perrysburg, Oregon and Northwest Ohio areas. She is available for maternity, newborn, baby, children and family portraits and documentary photo sessions.


Toledo Zoo Splash Pad

One thing that I missed so much about living in Texas was the abundance of splash pads. When you have more than one kid to look after, a pool can be a scary place but a splash pad is the perfect compromise. I was super happy to hear that the Toledo Zoo was opening one last year. Finally, we could run and splash to our hearts content! Earlier this summer, I took my little man and his cousin for some refreshing fun while big sis was at art camp. I though the water features were fun but man was that cement slippery! If you decide to let your kids play, water shoes are a good idea. Luckily on this day, we had his rain boots so that helped him from keeping the falls away.

Settings

f 2.8; iso 80; ss 1/2000

Toledo Zoo Splash Pad boy in water photo by Cynthia Dawson Photography

Before & After

I shot this image during mid afternoon. The sun kept going in and out behind clouds, which actually made it a bit easier for me. A cloudy day will usually have more even light and you won’t have to battle with harsh shadows or squinty eyes. This image didn’t need much to make it pop. I followed my usual steps of adjusting exposure, contrast and shadows. Then I increased the warmth just a bit and finished it with a radial vignette. When you can get a good straight out of camera, there isn’t usually much that you will need to do to polish it up.

Want to learn more about photography? Cynthia would love to hold a photography class for you and your friends.  Use the contact tab for more details.

what would you like to do next?

On the blog

Read More

find us on instagram @Cynthia_Dawson_Photography