A10 Loc: Southern Indiana

Photographed a wedding for a girl I work with this last Saturday. The temp was 53F and the wind was blowing 15 knots and did I mention it was outside. I don't know why the girls didn't all have hypothermia by the end of the day with sleeveless dresses.

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Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

Hopefully I can give you some observations that can help you improve on future shoots.

The only one of the three images that is even remotely in sharp focus is the close up of the bride, and on that one I would have used a shorter lens to get a little more D
OF. Shallow DOF is good, but this one could use a bit more.

The image of the B&G by the tree . . . love your composition, but if you look closely, you are focused perfectly on the reeds sticking out of the water behind them. The B&G are badly out of focus. This is the only one of the three that you did not use flash. Did it just not go off? It could use a bit of flash sparkle on such a dull day.

The group image at the barn entrance is well arranged, but again, not really sharp. This is the kind of image that gets lots of orders, and often even some quite large prints. Sharpness is imperative and this will not print well. Also, assuming that you have posted one of the better ones, you are in trouble with the both the bride and grooms' eyes being closed. It is an easy fix to take eyes from another shot taken at the same time and place and replace the closed ones in this image.

You seem to have a good eye for composition and posing, but focusing is an acquired skill that has to be learned and understood. "Auto focus" is not really "auto' as it implies. If you are planning on shooting weddings professionally I might also suggest getting rid of the Pentax that has far too many limitations for wedding photography (example the max sync speed of 1/180th second and the lowest ISO of 180). Even the lowest model in the Canon or Nikon lines will far out perform the Pentax for wedding situations.

Hope that helps.

A10 Loc: Southern Indiana

Thanks for your thoughts. I use auto focus with spot focusing so I can focus on my subject and then compose the scene. I will be checking my equipment to see if my auto-focus is working properly.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

First, sorry that I'm not able to get to these as quickly as I used to. Since the "improvements to UHH", I can't seem to access it from my work computer, even though I have permission to do so. I have to do this one my phone, trying to use speech to text, so forgive me if these come out stupider than usual. (had to type stupider, stupid computer doesn't speak "Hoosierbilly", had to type that too)

Unfortunately, yes, there are some focus issues, but I really do like the composition. I'm fairly certain that the barn shot can be saved with "shake reduction" in photoshop CC. If you don't have CC, let me know, and I can give you my email address, and I'd be happy to apply it for you and send it back. (just to see if it helps) I kind of doubt that it will save the first one, but depending on the final crop and what is sold, if it is going in an album, it is probably going to be OK. I would like to see a little dodging and burning, or something to make the couple "pop" a bit more like in the others. It seems to be just a little underexposed. Looks great on the background, but the couple just blend in a little. (did I mention that speech to text is a pain?)

I really like the set up for the barn shot. My daughter purchased a house that has a barn that was once a reception hall. It has a beautiful upstairs dance floor, all hardwood, but currently covered in bird crap. I would love to show her this photo if you don't mind. Because of the second floor, they couldn't have that nice chandelier, but it does give a good look on how nice it can look.

They are getting a $15,000 roof put on the barn in the next few weeks, so I certainly hope it works out for them!

Lastly, as I know NOTHING about Pentax, I can't comment on any hints or anything to help with focus. If it helps any, I think we've all ended up with focus on something wrong once in a while. I focus and recompose as well, what helps me (I'm a Nikon guy) is that I zoom in to focus, then zoom out to take the shot. It makes my "target" bigger.

I hope you figure it out. You definitely have the skills for composition, and the focus thing will be something that you can figure out if you just go out and spend a day doing nothing but shooting and checking focus, and working on technique.

Thanks for sharing, hopefully I had at least a little "nugget" buried in there somewhere that helped.
bk

A10 Loc: Southern Indiana

Thanks bkyser, There is some focus issues I need to look at. I may take you up on sending you the file. I may rework and repost. My main problem seems to be my eyesight and not being able to pick up on the details anymore. Need surgery but can't get it approved yet. Meanwhile I will be doing resting to see if my equipment is at fault.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

I hear you on the eyesight thing. That's why I really like the zoom in, lock focus with a 1/2 press of the shutter, zoom back out and recompose. It literally can be done in just a second or two. If I have to rely on tiny subjects, it's a crap shoot on if I get my focus locked where I want it to.

Remember, back in the day, we did all that manually...

A10 Loc: Southern Indiana

Things have not been the same since I lost all my Bronica equipment in a 2008 flood. The viewfinder was large and bright and I could focus down to a gnat's behind. I will be researching different ways to deal with the focus issue. I think my camera has facial recognition mode, and if so I will try that. I'll try your method too and see what works best for me. Thanks for the comments.

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

Not all camera models hold the focus after being zoomed,so don't depend on that method without checking it very carefully.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Good to know. I've never had one that didn't, but that's a good point. Once again, I only have experience with Canon film, and Nikon digital, other brands and even different models may vary.

Is it more a function of the lens, or the inability to lock focus and recompose? I've been suggesting this for quite a while, and I don't want to be leading people astray.

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

All auto focus digital cameras have the ability to lock the focus while holding the shutter release button half way down, so "focus/lock/re-compose/fire" is a standard system . . . but . . . NOT all makes and models will maintain the focus point when changing the focal length of the zoom lens.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Double checked, I guess the differences are in the lenses, not the camera bodies, or manufacturers. Most kit lenses won't maintain focus. I've been doing it this way, since the old days at the TV station. (if you focus at 5', and zoom, you are still focused at the 5' mark) intro "kit" lenses don't do that, because of something to do with moving elements, and aperture not staying constant. I still don't understand all the math stuff, so..... The best bet is to try it with the equipment you have, and keep practicing until whatever you are doing is so second nature, that you never have to think, or take your eye away from the viewfinder.

See, I learn something new every day here. Frankly, I'm glad that I don't have lenses that shift focus. Or if I do, the field of focus is large enough that it doesn't hurt.

bk

greg vescuso Loc: Ozark,Mo.

Everyone has already given you some great advice but I just wanted to chime in, your composition and arrangement of the group is top notch, so working out the other issues should make you a very sought after for wedding photographer.

A10 Loc: Southern Indiana

Thanks for all the help bkyser, I still need to try this with my lenses to see if they maintain focus.

A10 Loc: Southern Indiana

Thanks Greg, I may have more time for weddings and photography in general in the near future.