[Cookster]

June 27, 2013 at 9:48 am

Hi jenny.

really nice image. I find this processing gives the people a plasticy/watery look. while it works well on the train and the clouds can it be pulled back on the crew?

look forward to trying this technique myself

C

[Cookster]

July 22, 2012 at 12:27 am

I have 2 Western Digital drives and the newest one has me worried. Its a 2TB mybook essential,there are a lot of people on the web who have lost data as there is encryption drivers built into the enclosure so if the enclosure fails you lose everything. This seems bizarre to me that a company that has done so well for their customers could be so short sighted.
I would love someone to tell me that I have the wrong end of the stick. Unfortunately i have already used this drive so I can’t exchange it. I am seriously considering buying something else and having this as a spare spare. I have no confidence in it now.

it is worth considering the speed of the drive (5400 is the baseline, 7200 is better, 10,000 is expensive) and watch out for USB3 forward compatibility

C

[Cookster]

May 6, 2012 at 10:16 pm

As steve said Black and white conversion can help,
try some edge vignetting to bring the focus more onto the subject of the image
Shoot some clouds and skies on days when they look interesting and keep them on file for overlaying with the dull sky

Adding colour I find works better by getting out on days when the light is good. There’s no point spending hours in front of a computer trying to put something into an image that’s just not there. You can change it but I would only do this if I have no chance to revisit the location and the shot is really worth keeping.
The light can be more dramatic early and late in the day so worth trying then

Hope this helps

[Cookster]

October 8, 2011 at 4:05 am

Hi John,

try posting this request in the beginners section, or the digital photography thread.

[Cookster]

September 24, 2011 at 3:09 pm

Hi Patrick,

Not a genre that I have tried to capture myself.

I feel a lot of tension looking at this image. I can’t tell if the model is seductive or not, her pose isn’t natural.? Her top looks like its been pulled down by someone else and she doesn’t seem too bothered by it. I see one hand disappear behind the curtain and the other appear from behind her back and I wonder, is this intentional? I think the crop adds to the tension too.
How was the background image softened?

Sean

[Cookster]

September 24, 2011 at 2:58 pm

Hey

I’m curious to hear what you have to say about this image. Sometimes it is difficult to see what the story is in an image like this – or should I say the point of interest to make me want to look longer and comment.

Anyway, here goes. Crop the image to the photographers back to cut out the lady looking over her shoulder and to the models back to cut out the bin. The shutter speed and the few people between the model and photog give enough street feel.
I’d like to know what she’s holding, and I’d also like her to be interested in the photographer – though maybe thats a stereotypical expectation.
The image is a bit overexposed, though I like the grain

My 5c, hope this helps in some way.

Sean

[Cookster]

September 24, 2011 at 2:49 pm

Hi Philip,

63 views and no comments yet – is that posetive or are people just nosey.

My comments are less about the technical and more about how I would percieve them if they were my wedding photos and I was selecting them for my album.

#1: People in background windows could be blown out – why are they not watching me walk up the aisle she says?

#2: Crop feels a bit tight to me – I’d like to see their feet and some of the alter – Also they’re not all looking at you, or even in your direction. I was at a wedding in the UK where the photographer had a rubber duck on a stick that he held up when he wanted the group to look at him.

#3:Pity she’s not looking at you too cos he’s giving you the money shot. You seem to be a bit off centre for this one and #1 which loses a bit of impact for me. Your text at the bottom of the image is a different size and the web address is missing a “W” (picky, I know)

#4: Nice shotof the couple but to crop or dodge out the Muso in background and the man on right are prob too much hassle – Nice moment but not an album shot

#5: Well it is her day – of course she should indulge. This is a nice moment, well caught.

Hope I’m not too critical here and that my observations help. Am I right to presume you were not the official photographer on the day, hence the hangover….

All the best

Sean

[Cookster]

September 23, 2011 at 1:30 am

#2 is my favourite. 1 + 4 are a bit hot for my liking.

[Cookster]

September 23, 2011 at 1:25 am

Nice image . Like the strong arm lifting the child towards her point of interest. Could do with a bit of dodging to the right of the arm imo.

[Cookster]

September 23, 2011 at 1:16 am

Nice shots, good light balance.

I think the people suggesting you should “crop” is a bit corny…

The title “Sally O’Brien and the way she might look at ya…” springs to mind. Or “6 months time and I’ll have enough Weetabix to build my new house”. What’s the title for the 2nd shot?

[Cookster]

September 23, 2011 at 1:04 am

Hey, Nice shots. I know what you are talking about. A friend asked me to do a wedding and I hadn’t used my camera for around a year. I can’t remember now but I had some issue with my flash which meant that I had to use the ambient light. It took me over a year to show them the contacts, I was so embarrassed. They were happy enough with the results, probably just glad to see them at all!
I think it is important to remember that confidence says a lot about your work. If you are critical of it to your client then they will notice however if you say nothing they will probably just see that the grooms tie was crooked or that the bride is fat or has wrinkles. They aren’t looking for blown highlights in the sky or anything that you might feel you could have done better.
I like the shot of the two kids with the juice, I dodn’t even look at the image, I just thought Ribena+kids+white clothes=DISASTER.

Best of Luck

Sean

[Cookster]

September 22, 2011 at 1:58 am

Cool. I prefer the colour image. Glad I can’t smell this place

[Cookster]

September 20, 2011 at 12:50 am

Hi,
If you are doing this professionally then the answer to all your questions:- When does this stop being profitable for this client fee, or to put it another way, is this a sensible investment of time into my business

1. Twice – first to acknowledge that both parties are agreeable, second to meet at church/reception and discuss photo locations.

2. The locations should be something you have scouted yourself unless the Bride/groom are looking for a specific shot at a specific location. If they are looking for something specific they will generally have seen an image that they may be able to show you as a reference point.

3. This depends on how formal the family are. She may not want you in the shower with her!! Talk to your client keeping in mind how long you are going to be working for and how many images they want in their album

4. Discuss this with your client. Are they going to feed you?? or do they want you to take pictures of people?

If you haven’t done something yet, offer it as a freebie to your next client. Say”I would like to stay for the meal/1st dance to get some portfolio shots in this location, would you have any objection”, or “can I accompany you to the hairdresser/beautician as I think your transformation into the most beautiful bride will be something you will treasure in the future” (can you smell the b-s yet?). Being a good wedding photographer is as much about being a good communicator as it is about being a good photographer. You need to listen to what your clients are asking of you and interpret how you will best deliver that. Dealing directly with the client is the one area that an assistant won’t get experience. Your website images look good and define you as a good photographer , use that as a confidence building tool. This should put your client at ease to accept the suggestions that you make. Remember, it will be there first time doing this (generally). Most brides will have a very defined idea of what they want, listen to them not their mothers!!

Hope this helps

[Cookster]

September 20, 2011 at 12:17 am

Wow, what a cool little fella. Amazing colours. I’m guessing by the shadow that you are not using a ring-flash, a polariser might also help to reduce some of the reflections specific to this image?
Where did you find this guy?

[Cookster]

September 20, 2011 at 12:04 am

Do you have this in colour?