RE: [Leica] 6 p.m. wedding eve to ceremony conclusion...

[Allen Graves <ahgraves@prodigy.net>]

B.D.

I don't really understand some of the criticism of this set of 
photos.Since there was an "official" photographer to record all the 
"official" moments, the project should involve recording the 
atmosphere of the time around the wedding, as well as something of 
the personalities of the participants. I have tried to do similar 
projects for family and close friends and it's damned hard work. I 
have never been nearly as successful as you in recording such an 
event. it took me a long time to learn that the quirky photos that 
would never have been placed in a "wedding photographer's" proof book 
often wind up being the most prominently displayed 8x10's in the 
bride's home-because they evoke the events so clearly.

Thanks for sharing these with us- they are a wonderful set, and I 
learned a lot from looking at them- I wish i could get that "same 
angle" down.


Allen






>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Phong
>Sent: Monday, September 08, 2003 11:36 AM
>To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>Subject: RE: [Leica] 6 p.m. wedding eve to ceremony conclusion...
>
>Re. http://home.earthlink.net/~bdcolen/WED/:
>Steve LeHuray wrote:
>>  B.D. -- while each individual photo is excellent, they are essentially
>
>>  all the same picture, same composition, same angle, same look. Would
>>  like to see more variety.
>
>While some photos are indeed, "all the same picture,
>same composition, same angle,  same look":
>http://home.earthlink.net/~bdcolen/WED/images/357.7.jpg
>http://home.earthlink.net/~bdcolen/WED/images/357.7.jpg
>http://home.earthlink.net/~bdcolen/WED/images/357.9.jpg
>presumably only one will make it into the final selection/
>portfolio/album (unless you want to do a sequence).
>------
>Nope....all three of those will make it in...while you can't see from
>the screen, apparently, it's moving in, moving in closer - KISS!!
>----
>
>While I am at this, here are my opinions on the set, which
>I view as proofs to be presented to a client, which may not
>be the case, for all I know.  That said:
>
>The scan (or post processing) is better than most of
>your previous ones, though I think the highlights are still
>a bit too high in some cases.  I think it is important to be able to see
>at least the texture in the bride's dress (also flowers, and if
>appropriate, also the table cloth), if not the details.
>
>
>I would be curious on how the bride and also the subject react to
>http://home.earthlink.net/~bdcolen/WED/images/351.15.jpg
>with the closed eyes.  I fail to see a point of this photo. Perhaps it
>is the best individual photo of someone that must be included in the
>portfolio ?
>
>-----
>Yup - and bride loves it...
>-----
>
>I am also curious on how the client react on the selective focus with a
>narrow depth of field.  Some subjects, presumably more important than
>the hairdresser, are left out-of-focus whereas the hairdresser is in
>reasonably focus.  Compare for example:
>http://home.earthlink.net/~bdcolen/WED/images/351.24.jpg
>http://home.earthlink.net/~bdcolen/WED/images/357.34a.jpg
>
>-----
>"hairdresser" in first photo is the bride's aunt - she slightly out of
>focus, bride's maid is in focus...
>
>----
>(As an aside: in this last one, you lose the highlights on
>the bride, and yet the details are on the hairdresser's shirt. Not good)
>---
>
>Second one, bride is in focus in original...
>----
>
>As to questions about highlights, lack of detail, etc....in the indoor
>photos you're talking about nothing but available light...no fill...no
>nothing...and there is detail in the prints in everything...
>
>As to outdoors in the bright sun and the bride's dress...there is a bit
>of detail in the dress...I wasn't however, shooting for the dress...I
>was shooting for the kiss....and the bride and groom and beside
>themselves they are so happy that they have photos taken during the
>ceremony that show not only their faces, but the faces of the
>guests...the "wedding photographer" was behind and to the side...;-)
>
>The story is indeed incomplete.....and indeed the photos are of the
>preparations - because that's what I was hired to shoot...I only stayed
>through the ceremony for my own amusement...the "wedding photographer"
>came shortly before the ceremony and I was finished at that point...I
>shot the party the evening before, the groom's breakfast with his
>family, and the bride and her bride's maides getting ready....That's
>it...they'll have an albumn from me and then the "official album....
>
>And, believe it or not...no proofs...no choices...I'll give them an
>album of 40-50 prints of the 24 hours before, covering what they wanted
>covered.
>
>Best
>
>B. D.
>
>
>
>
>
>The (incomplete as yet, I realize) set on a whole somehow
>tells an incomplete story.  Of course, it is very subjective, and it
>could be in fact the story you and your client want to tell.  For one
>thing the majority of the photos presented
>are more of the preparations leading to the main event, but
>not of the main event itself.
>
>BTW, I realize I am not consistent in my reviews.  An "Excellent!" or
>"Wow !" in one case may not earn the same in another review. Also, I
>view these photos as proofs to be presented to a client; 
>therefore the issues are somewhat different, and also the
>standards are somewhat higher than usual.  Of course,
>by no means do I imply could do a better job, or even know
>any better.
>
>Hope that helps,
>
>- Phong
>
>NO ARCHIVE
>
>
>
>
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