Beach Wedding
Apr 16, 2015 14:02:04 #
I thought I'd post a few photos taken at a beach wedding a while back. The wedding was far from traditional in that there were only a very few close family members present, the bride wore a gown but no shoes, the groom was in a basic coat and tie - no tux, and the ceremony itself took place in the dunes and not on the beach itself. The photos are also non traditional, in that there were very few posed shots. The day was mostly overcast, which was a good thing because I could avoid the mid-day sun.
Regardless of how they match up with the more accepted format, the bride and the bride's mother loved them. And if you're going to please anyone, I think it would be these two. :)
Regardless of how they match up with the more accepted format, the bride and the bride's mother loved them. And if you're going to please anyone, I think it would be these two. :)
Apr 16, 2015 16:00:26 #
Apr 16, 2015 16:29:11 #
Beercat wrote:
No critique ......... #3 is my favorite
Thanks Beercat,
She's a lovely young lady, and - of course - a bit of a rebel. :)
Apr 16, 2015 18:27:07 #
Apr 16, 2015 20:50:42 #
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Love the third one. I'm thinking it may be a very well done PS blur. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Apr 16, 2015 21:02:59 #
fotodon wrote:
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Love the third one. I'm thinking it may be a very well done PS blur. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Thank you, Don. the net result was a light blur, but it was done thorough subtle manipulation of highlights, contrast and shadow. I also used NIK software - Color efex pro - to finish it off.
Apr 17, 2015 08:37:23 #
No issues at all with being non-traditional. Seems now that most couples want non-traditional, so technically, non-traditional is now more traditional, and traditional is becoming non-traditional. Whew, I'm dizzy now.
I love the first 2, and sorry to disagree with the others, but I still have yet to see PP shallow depth of field that is convincing to me, and looks good to my eye. I say that, but take it with a grain of salt. I also know that my tastes differ from other's tastes, so Kudos to you for some lovely photos of a beautiful beach wedding. I'm sure they are impressed, as they should be. They will have some wonderful images to remember the day, and that's why we do this.
I love the first 2, and sorry to disagree with the others, but I still have yet to see PP shallow depth of field that is convincing to me, and looks good to my eye. I say that, but take it with a grain of salt. I also know that my tastes differ from other's tastes, so Kudos to you for some lovely photos of a beautiful beach wedding. I'm sure they are impressed, as they should be. They will have some wonderful images to remember the day, and that's why we do this.
Apr 17, 2015 09:37:48 #
bkyser wrote:
No issues at all with being non-traditional. Seem... (show quote)
Yes...that is the great thing about photography. We all put our artistic brand on our work. That is why it is called "branding". At least those of us that can, do. Hopefully, the B&G book us because of it.
Apr 17, 2015 09:48:44 #
I didn't know we were on 'auto' critique mode :roll:
I usually don't critique unless asked for or told it's Ok after my initial post.
I usually don't critique unless asked for or told it's Ok after my initial post.
Apr 17, 2015 10:23:28 #
Beercat wrote:
I didn't know we were on 'auto' critique mode :roll:
I usually don't critique unless asked for or told it's Ok after my initial post.
I usually don't critique unless asked for or told it's Ok after my initial post.
I do appreciate your thoughts and knowing your preferences I will certainly try to not critique anything you post unless asked. I also realize that we don't want this board to digress to the level of the General Photography Discussion board. However, I don't see how a thread where pictures are posted can have constructive discussion without some comments about the pictures.
In this thread there are several comments concerning the picture. I did not view any of them as critiques, just personal opinions, mostly likes. I also greatly appreciated gym's response to my post in his sharing of his PP technique.
I truly love this board. It is way better than the General board. And, you beercat, have been a valuable contributer, so please keep up the good work. If I am out of line with this post I trust Bob will push me back in line.
Apr 17, 2015 10:39:30 #
Beercat wrote:
I didn't know we were on 'auto' critique mode :roll:
I usually don't critique unless asked for or told it's Ok after my initial post.
I usually don't critique unless asked for or told it's Ok after my initial post.
I apologize for not openly requesting a critique of my work. I thought it was a given that posting photos here would generate comments and opinions about improvement as well as to document some things that were done well.
I greatly appreciate all that have offered opinions and suggestions.
Apr 17, 2015 10:43:28 #
bkyser wrote:
No issues at all with being non-traditional. Seem... (show quote)
Thanks bkyser. I always put great value in your opinions. As for the third photo, I resorted to such 'blur' because in the original, the background was filled with a LOT of 'crap'. LOL I loved the softness of the pose and have worked overboard to get something out of it. I finally gave up and decided that this was the best I could get. I was one of the unfortunates who got pulled into doing a wedding with no training or experience and I had to 'wing it', using a Canon 40D and a kit lens. Of course, in the hands of an experienced wedding photographer, such equipment would have generated some outstanding images. Alas, I am not one of those. :)
Several years and a plethora of class work behind me, I have at least learned (most of the time) to take great care with backgrounds. This one was a very good lesson for me.
Apr 17, 2015 11:35:19 #
gym wrote:
I apologize for not openly requesting a critique of my work. I thought it was a given that posting photos here would generate comments and opinions about improvement as well as to document some things that were done well.
I greatly appreciate all that have offered opinions and suggestions.
I greatly appreciate all that have offered opinions and suggestions.
Actually I did have a critique but in my opening line I made mention of no critique, I thought you would of bit on the statement if you wanted us to.
So, with your request I'll give my thoughts. As this wedding was primarily shot candid it's hard to find fault in composition. The one thing I'll say is all 3 seem to have the skin tones a bit on the red side.
As you mentioned the background on #3 was a bit messy, I caught that from what I could see that was done during PP. Glad it was a learning experience, so many pros still manage to snap pictures with branches growing out of a couples heads. I learned early to find safe back grounds, contrasting backgrounds.
Other than the red skin tones I think they are fine for a candid situation :wink:
Apr 17, 2015 11:39:50 #
Thanks for the compliment. Like I said, I have seen posts where people just love fake DOF, it just isn't for me. I still get requests like you wouldn't believe for spot color. Yes, when a bride and groom ask for it, I give it to them. In my neck of the woods, we are "behind the times" even if I try to keep up with current trends, the customer still wants what they want. I surely wasn't getting that the blur was wrong, just that I didn't care for it personally. If I had to figure a way to save an otherwise beautiful shot, I may have done the same thing.
In that same line of thinking, some of my VERY favorite photos aren't technically very good, but the emotion makes up for soft focus or some other thing that would normally drive me nuts. I really do agree that the look on her face and the overall pose, makes it a beautiful photo.
In that same line of thinking, some of my VERY favorite photos aren't technically very good, but the emotion makes up for soft focus or some other thing that would normally drive me nuts. I really do agree that the look on her face and the overall pose, makes it a beautiful photo.
Apr 17, 2015 11:46:23 #
Beercat wrote:
Actually I did have a critique but in my opening l... (show quote)
Thanks for the comments, beercat. There was one other thing I learned: Don't do weddings. LOL
Because of "word of mouth advertising" by work I've done for others, I get requests to do event work, and earlier this week, I agreed to do some engagement photos. BUT the couple also wanted me to do their wedding as well and I politely told them no. Also, because engagement photos are sometimes included with wedding contracts, I suggested that they may want to find someone who will give them a 'package deal'. If not, then I'd be happy to do the engagement photos as a separate shoot.
I have great admiration for those professionals who have wedding photography as a major part of their business. Some of the people on this board are incredibly talented in this area, and I would never presume to be able to compete with the quality of their work.
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