A 500 mile road trip plus a 3 hour ferry crossing to capture Laura & Sam's wedding on Guernsey.
The evening was a blast with the couple playing a duet accompanied by an 18 piece big band.
I was seriously hacked off when we arrived to do some B+G portraits up in a pine forest armed with my Elinchrom Quadra, it then decided to malfunction and wouldn't fire. I actually had a spare Quadra pack and 3 speedlites, but left them all at the hotel. Self kick up the arse, always always always check gear before leaving for an off-site location shoot. I still managed to get some natural light stuff but didn't let on to the couple my own frustrations, just carried on as normal, but I was seething inside!
Doug: yeah, I always check and recheck gear before heading out, seems not enough on this occasion, got complacent and lost some shots, some of which I was envisioning to be the cover shot or some rather cool double spreads. Lesson learned!
Mmm. Some tastiness going on in this set. Diggin' your colors.
3 weirds me out a bit. I love the angle/perspective/framing, but that part where you're supposed to show people's faces in photos?... I would've waited for a slightly better moment.
4 is great, but with funky lighting. A flash bounced over your shoulder off the wall to your right would've helped out the window light tremendously.
7 + 8. Eff. This is the kind of stuff I need you to teach me how to shoot. Well done with the details.
14 is awesome. Great perspective, great moment.
17 is also very good. Lose the tilt and you have me sold.
24 is great. Maybe a slightly tighter crop? Dig it.
27. Duh. You nailed this and you know it. I wish there was just a LITTLE less distortion, but dang. Well done. I'm interested to know how much you helped out the sky in fading to black.
29 is too much everything. Too much crazy color/HDR going on. Too much hard light. Too much distortion. I like where you were going with it, just wish it was a bit more sorted out.
Looks like you don't quite have flash dialed in on the reception shots. They're close, but not there yet.
It seems like your getting ready/ceremony/detail shots were great, your portraits were good, and your reception coverage just ok. And your color processing is stellar, while your BWs are good - just not to the same level.
mikethevilla wrote:
Mmm. Some tastiness going on in this set. Diggin' your colors.
3 weirds me out a bit. I love the angle/perspective/framing, but that part where you're supposed to show people's faces in photos?... I would've waited for a slightly better moment.
4 is great, but with funky lighting. A flash bounced over your shoulder off the wall to your right would've helped out the window light tremendously.
7 + 8. Eff. This is the kind of stuff I need you to teach me how to shoot. Well done with the details.
14 is awesome. Great perspective, great moment.
17 is also very good. Lose the tilt and you have me sold.
24 is great. Maybe a slightly tighter crop? Dig it.
27. Duh. You nailed this and you know it. I wish there was just a LITTLE less distortion, but dang. Well done. I'm interested to know how much you helped out the sky in fading to black.
29 is too much everything. Too much crazy color/HDR going on. Too much hard light. Too much distortion. I like where you were going with it, just wish it was a bit more sorted out.
Looks like you don't quite have flash dialed in on the reception shots. They're close, but not there yet.
It seems like your getting ready/ceremony/detail shots were great, your portraits were good, and your reception coverage just ok. And your color processing is stellar, while your BWs are good - just not to the same level.
Thank very much for the detailed reply, much appreciated.
I agree with everything you mentioned. The reception lighting was experimental to be honest. The room was like 20' x 20' and low ceilings, I was using 2 gelled cross speedlites and a hand held OCF for the main light which had a small 9" softbox on it. Difficult to get the right ETTL reading on it.
My B&W's are still WIP. Funnily enough this was the first blog where I tried Nik Silver effects for LR rather than my own B&W pre-set.
Some of the tilting was intentional, the groom was like 15" taller than the bride. but agree on #17 should be straightened.
Jon, great set there. Like'em all really, 27-28-29 are awesome, but as said above, a little too much on 29 for the average, but as a stylised shot I still like it
Great use of colour in many of them. I think the key is not letting any equipment failings, or any frustrations show on the day, that's where your composure, experiences pays - so not a completely worthless experience having your equipment let you down .
Thanks guys. I think #29 will be toned down for client delivery, or a few options as it is a little crazy, think I had a double espresso prior to editing this one!
mikethevilla wrote:
27. Duh. You nailed this and you know it. I wish there was just a LITTLE less distortion, but dang. Well done. I'm interested to know how much you helped out the sky in fading to black.
Hey Mike
Thought I'd upload this to show you the OG and 2 different versions I have for this that I will deliver to client.
