Another wedding with Canon's finest

[cwphoto]

Just finished this one a few hours ago. Great weather today - beautiful overcast conditions make lighting a breeze. EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM @ 60mm. 1/125s @ f/2.8, ISO 400.

[cwphoto]

EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM @ 85mm. 1/125s @ f/3.5, ISO 400.

[cwphoto]

EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM @ 120mm. 1/100s @ f/5, ISO 100.

Just to keep you happy Jamie, I added some fill-flash: around -2 stops FEC with the 580EX.

[cwphoto]

EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM @ 115mm. 1/125s @ f/5, ISO 400.

Sorry Jamie, couldn't force myself to use the 580 for this one.:p

[cwphoto]

EF 70-200mm blah blah blah (boring bloody lens I know) @ 135mm. 1/125s @ f/4, ISO 400. Around -2 stops of FEC via the 580EX (just for Jamie).

A little cheesy but I think they will like it.:rolleyes:

[cwphoto]

EF 14mm f/2.8 L USM. 1/40s @ f/3.2, ISO 1000.

[cwphoto]

EF 85mm f/1.2 L USM. 1/160s @ f/1.6, ISO 500.

[24Peter]

Christian - I love the color shots. Great job! You're right - the lighting was terrific. Also, I'm starting to think a 70-200 2.8 IS should be on my list. :)

[sherlock]

Wow great job again Christian! I agree the lighting was just perfect...glad you got an easy wedding after the last one so tough:D

[cdifoto]

Excellent stuff. I actually like that smooch by the car.

[aparmley]

1 & 2 are tops for me - 2 being my favorite of those two. Very nice.

[jamison55]

At last, fill flash! Just enough to put a little sparkle in their eyes. And I like the car shot too!

[sherlock]

Hey Christian,

I'm just a little curious why you're so against using fill-flash? Like Jamie said it gives that great catchlight in the subjects eyes. I mean if it works, why not use it? It seems wedding photogs are split on this "issue". Neil van Niekerk (http://www.planetneil.com/faq/flash-techniques.html)is a big proponent of [fill] flash and does some great work with it. Just wondering what your feelings are :)


Andrew

[cwphoto]

I just like to stir up Jamie!

Seriously, it's not like I'm really that against fill. Let me clarify: what I really am against is too much fill-flash. You know those shots that are taken into the sun where you need a full belt of flash to balance the lighting between fore and aft (example below) - to me it's too manufactured and it's not what my wedding photography is all about (my style is very much capture the day, not create it).

However, I do have a place for artificial light if it is applied so as not to be obvious to the casual viewer. Some shots (like when you're photographing in quite dull conditions) just need a little lift to take away the shadows in the eye-sockets or (quite rightly as you point out) to add a catchlight etc. My technique for this is to usually dial in minus 1-3 stops of FEC so it's there but only subtle.

Another thing which just dawned on me: I think the wedding photography market here in Aus is different from the USA from what I've seen. Our stuff tends to be very raw and moody, and much of the American stuff I've seen is more clinical and precise - and it's just not lighting; it's posing too. Each is obviously right for the intended market so maybe geography has something to do with it too?

BTW, there also plenty of times where I need to use flash - the normal event-type photography stuff, eg; table shots at reception, the standard poses at the brides home using bouce off the ceiling etc. For the creative stuff, I only use it occasionally for the reasons outlined above.

[24Peter]

Alright Christian - got the kids mixing cement now, huh! Send the little buggers off to school all neat and tidy - 'cause when they get home it's time for some hard labor! ;) Builds character, no?

[sherlock]

Seriously, it's not like I'm really that against fill. Let me clarify: what I really am against is too much fill-flash. You know those shots that are taken into the sun where you need a full belt of flash to balance the lighting between fore and aft (example below) - to me it's too manufactured and it's not what my wedding photography is all about (my style is very much capture the day, not create it).

Another thing which just dawned on me: I think the wedding photography market here in Aus is different from the USA from what I've seen. Our stuff tends to be very raw and moody, and much of the American stuff I've seen is more clinical and precise - and it's just not lighting; it's posing too. Each is obviously right for the intended market so maybe geography has something to do with it too?

So I guess it's all about the photographers approach to their photographing. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't bashing your work at all because I really, really enjoy everything you show us here. I was just curious as to what your feelings were.

You might be right that the American wedding photography market is different than in Aus. and other parts of the world. I don't think I can really explain why it is that way but I think that its a possibility.

Well thanks again for sharing your great work!

[cwphoto]

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't bashing your work at all because I really, really enjoy everything you show us here. I was just curious as to what your feelings were.

I didn't take it that you were bashing my work so don't worry about that. It's up here for any comment/critique, good or bad.

[cwphoto]

Alright Christian - got the kids mixing cement now, huh! Send the little buggers off to school all neat and tidy - 'cause when they get home it's time for some hard labor! ;) Builds character, no?

Just out of shot: ball & chain, stockman's whip, etc - now you guys know why I've got five kids, cheap labour!:D

He's actually quite good help. I was laying bricks on top of a 6-foot retaining wall that I built recently. If any of you guys have ever laid bricks before you'll know it makes the job a lot easier when someone hands you the bricks.

My Dad taught me to mix/poor concrete and handyman stuff which has meant I've tackled a lot of projects around the home that would otherwise be expensive to get specialists in - so I'm just continuing the legacy. I don't have any money left after my appetite for L-glass...

[24Peter]

Hey Christian, I hope you know I was just fooling around. I'm sorry - couldn't resist when I saw that photo. You seem like a wonderful and very proud dad and I'm sure your kids are lucky to have someone like you to watch over them. :)

[cwphoto]

Hey Christian, I hope you know I was just fooling around. I'm sorry - couldn't resist when I saw that photo. You seem like a wonderful and very proud dad and I'm sure your kids are lucky to have someone like you to watch over them. :)

Of course Pete, I'm Australian remember?;) That's only gentle ribbing - you should hear the sort of shit that my Mates hang on me:eek: - all good.:p