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Laura & Graham
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Just a random selection from a wedding I covered a little while back.
All and any comments welcomed. Positive or negative… sure it can only make me better.
You’ve got one or two nice expressions but they all look a little soft or else the focus was off. The first one is very underexposed as well. What equipment were you using?
Probably look a little soft as these were just low res versions I uploaded.
The one of the young lad with the exasperated expression was a quick snap and probably didn’t get time to ‘compose’ it and the same said for the bridesmade (mum and daughter) at the piano, so probably a little softer than if I’d had more time to think about it….!!
Fairly basic equipment, Canon 400D…. Canon 18-55, Canon 70-300…. oh I hope Santa brings me an upgrade. :-)
My two cents worth on your shots Macman.
Image 1. Poor exposure. Ideally these shots should be taken on manual mode (having metered the brides face for correct exposure). Working on P mode is very hit and miss….and unfortunately a miss in this instance. Could possibly be improved with a much tighter crop also. It’s also a very muddy b/w conversion for my liking.
Image 2. A grand documentary shot. I use spot coloring on occasion as well but I think it’s better used when you have the dynamics of people included.
Image 3. Lovely expressions from the two flowergirls….image could be a lot stronger in portrait format an again cropped tighter.
Image 4. Spot color saves this image to an extent….but poor composition. There’s no reason why a photographer shouldn’t have created a stronger image when the subject is an object that he can place where ever and whatever way he/she wants.
Image 5. Out of focus….I wouldn’t let a client see this.
Image 6. Would have liked to have seen more of the bride and grooms face in this. If the shot is staged (no one in the seats behind so it looks like it may have been), there’s no reason again for not spending more time ensuring better composition and maybe showing the ring also.
Image 7. Very poor composition….you’ve cropped right through the hands and the bouquet on the bottom with plenty of fresh air on top. Expressions are good so would definitely crop tighter.
Image 8. Nice attention paid to the bride’s dress, although she’s facing the camera almost straight on with a weak pose.
Image 9. Out of focus….I wouldn’t be showing this to clients.
Image 10. Poor pose….grooms nose squashed agains the bride’s forehead. The best moment for capturing these types of images is just as they are about to be intimate….faces no more than a couple of inches apart.
Image 11. Grand documentary shot.
In general, I think the b/w processing is very muddy (looks like your just hitting the desaturate button). Using channels will give you greater contrast and more pleasant coloring. A lot of the images that you’ve showed look like snapshots that a lot of guests could capture …….this isn’t meant to offend, it’s my honest observation.
Spend a couple of mili-seconds longer looking at what’s in front of you before your press the button….and don’t be afraid to be vocal in asking couples something different to give more unique results.
Best of luck,
John
johnnymc wrote:
My two cents worth on your shots Macman.
Image 1. Poor exposure. Ideally these shots should be taken on manual mode (having metered the brides face for correct exposure). Working on P mode is very hit and miss….and unfortunately a miss in this instance. Could possibly be improved with a much tighter crop also. It’s also a very muddy b/w conversion for my liking.
I never shoot on P mode…..!!! Point taken re exposure…. to a degree. The attic was quite dark and in this particular shot I didn’t want to burn out the natural lighting just to allow brides face feature be lightened. It was simply an ‘overall shot’. I also took tighter shots of the facial area which allowed more focus and detail… (as in the image below)
Image 2. A grand documentary shot. I use spot coloring on occasion as well but I think it’s better used when you have the dynamics of people included.
I treated the ‘greetings’ in this manner as the walls were a striking yellow/ochre colour and detracted from what I was trying to bring attention to, that being the greetings. Although I did indulge a little by leaving the fireplace inserts remain in their original colours, as I thought they complimented the remaining colouring.Image 3. Lovely expressions from the two flowergirls….image could be a lot stronger in portrait format an again cropped tighter.
I actually played around with the cropping on this and indeed also looked at tighter and in portrait format. I simply kept coming back to this version as I liked how the two girls squeezed themselves into the overall context of the surroundings and felt that tighter cropping simply didn’t get this across.
Image 4. Spot color saves this image to an extent….but poor composition. There’s no reason why a photographer shouldn’t have created a stronger image when the subject is an object that he can place where ever and whatever way he/she wants.
Point taken. Like my old school teacher used to say…. must try harder. :-)
Image 5. Out of focus….I wouldn’t let a client see this.Random shot and like I explained in my initial post, prob not as sharp as maybe it could have been but it was just a momentary expression and one not to miss. This actually wen’t into their album. Everyone is different eh.
Image 6. Would have liked to have seen more of the bride and grooms face in this. If the shot is staged (no one in the seats behind so it looks like it may have been), there’s no reason again for not spending more time ensuring better composition and maybe showing the ring also.
Point taken. Wasn’t staged at all or otherwise I’d have ensured having the ring visible. It was an early wedding shoot in my ventures and perhaps I was overly cautious about being too interfering around the altar. Have lots of wider shots but I get your point regarding seeing the ring. Opportunity lost in the context of the moment agreed, but did take individual shots of hands and rings too. Still learning.
Image 7. Very poor composition….you’ve cropped right through the hands and the bouquet on the bottom with plenty of fresh air on top. Expressions are good so would definitely crop tighter.
Random shooting once again and it was just the expression I was after. The hands, bouquet, etc weren’t a consideration as neither was ‘composition’. I take your point about cropping tighter though.
Image 8. Nice attention paid to the bride’s dress, although she’s facing the camera almost straight on with a weak pose.
You wouldn’t believe me if I told you how difficult it was to even get this pose…!!! With the exception of the earlier shot of her with her mum and mum in-law she just didn’t smile… all day. Quite odd really….!
Image 9. Out of focus….I wouldn’t be showing this to clients.
Once again a random shot and like I explained in my initial post, prob not as sharp as maybe it could have been but it was just momentary and once again – one not to be missed. Mum and daughter pretending to play piano in hotel foyer as I walked through. I generally put all the shots from the day onto a CD asd allow the couple choose. Yes I help them consider their album selection but like I’ve said before, all couples are different and have their own reasons for the importance of individual shots and therefore I never edit before handing over the CD. Yes I’ll weed out any which need removing, but as far as ‘one offs’ such as this or the groom’s young brother at the rail with the exasperated expression, although a little soft I still include them.
Image 10. Poor pose….grooms nose squashed agains the bride’s forehead. The best moment for capturing these types of images is just as they are about to be intimate….faces no more than a couple of inches apart.
Think I’ll have to differ on this one. I like this…. I like the connection and indeed the intimacy. As did the couple, and of all the shots this is one they chose to have framed and hung in their home.
Image 11. Grand documentary shot.
In general, I think the b/w processing is very muddy (looks like your just hitting the desaturate button). Using channels will give you greater contrast and more pleasant coloring. A lot of the images that you’ve showed look like snapshots that a lot of guests could capture …….this isn’t meant to offend, it’s my honest observation.
Spend a couple of mili-seconds longer looking at what’s in front of you before your press the button….and don’t be afraid to be vocal in asking couples something different to give more unique results.
Point(s) taken… and generally appreciated too. And indeed I thank you for even taking the time to do so.
Best of luck,John
I never shoot on P mode…..!!!
Your camera meta-data says otherwise…..eight of your shots are on “P” mode.
Well done with the additional posted image of the bride getting prepared…infinitely better in my opinion!
Regards,
John
That’s very odd….!!!
And thanks again for the comment. I do try to shoot every situation and cover every ‘angle’.
I suppose the more I hone my skills, the less hard I’ll have to ‘try’…! :-)Really do appreciate your comments.
Thanks.
Ok here goes,
Regarding the “exasperated brother”
Photographing a family event such as this, people will sometime favour a nice/interesting facial expression in a bad photo, but you will only get away with it when your dealing that family. As perfect strangers to this series of shots, we’re looking as these in technical terms. You shouldn’t show bad pictures to potential clients or US and expect praise. I know you said it was a spur of the moment thing but at the end of the day, its out of focus.
Better gear will help to some extent. Center focus for a start, if your not already using it.
I couldn’t believe the focusing speed on the first L-series lens I got.Keep going, and you’re a braver man than I for posting for C&C.
IanThanks for the comments.
I have to clarify though – I never post and ‘expect praise’ as there are certainly far better photographers than I here on the site.
I open myself to critique as hopefully it can only improve me… I mean, isn’t that what it’s all about…?As for being brave… I think not. Just being practical in a learning capacity… maybe you should try it, as we ALL never stop learning…..
If shots are good they’ll justify positive comments, if they’re not they’ll obviously attract critical yet hopefully constructive comments…. so, be brave.And yes… I dream of better gear….. and it’s nearly Christmas so I’d better behave….!!
Someday I will be brave. Just not today. I’ve got a lot to learn yet. Never 100% happy with my work.
Take what I say with a pinch of salt. I was trying to be constructive.
I hate conversations through forums or email as its very hard to get the proper tone of the conversation across. I should do some sort of creative writing course.
I didn’t really mean ” expect praise” I meant getting good remarks versus bad remarks.
I would much rather someone point out the flaws in my work than the dreaded, “nice shot” remark that gets thrown around so much.
As you say, thats how we learn.
what gear is next on your list?I took your comments as constructive, no other way and indeed we all have a lot to learn…!
Be brave sir… as the worst thing posting work here will bring is constructive critisism/ I have never seen a ‘that’s shit, try another career’ sort of response to anyones work, so it’s not going to happen to you. Like I suggest, it’s a learning cirve and best of all…. it’s free.
As to gear ‘wish list’… god knows.
Getting a job is priority number one…. gear can wait….!!damn recession. :-)
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