Max's Baptism

When Kodak introduced Tri-X film back in 1954, photographers - especially journalists and documentarians - were thrilled. "If you can see it, you can photograph it!" they said of the new high-speed film's sensitivity to light. Well, not quite. But this past fall photography took a similar leap with the introduction of a digital camera that works great in bad light - dim, funny colored, ugly light.

The Nikon D3 has been a great boost for those of us who must often work indoors in places where flash is undesirable, or prohibited. It was also darn useful for taking available-light photos of the baptism of our newest nephew, Maxwell, in a dark chapel in a Baltimore.

Actually, flash did play an indirect role in this picture. As Max leaned over his Dad's shoulder his Aunt Farah was taking flash photos of his adorable face. Following each flash he would have this amazed expression at the bright light. That's the expression that was captured here, just after Farah's flash went off.