Ken & Colleen

[cdifoto]

Here are some quick cherry picks from the ones that stood out to me. I haven't even converted the rest, let alone processed them. I'm going to try to rest up and get over this sickness before I try to edit them.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26-047.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26-076.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26-104.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26-107.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26-132.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26-155.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26-159.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26-232.jpg

[Vich]

Wow, nice stuff Don!

Don't be shy about cloning the chair from her butt, lol, but seriously; the exposure, captures, lighting, color, and especially the obvious "L Look" really stands out. Love the first shot - happiness.

Ummm, if you crop though, just don't let Ed Greene know! :p

Shucks Don, you're one of our own, grown up into a big time wedding photographer (visual proud teary eyed look).

[cdifoto]

Wow, nice stuff Don!

Don't be shy about cloning the chair from her butt, lol, but seriously; the exposure, captures, lighting, color, and especially the obvious "L Look" really stands out.

Ummm, if you crop though, just don't let Ed Greene know! :p

Shucks Don, you're one of our own, grown up into a big time wedding photographer (visual proud teary eyed look).

Gah I totally missed that chair! There's a fat man in it though so I wonder if I can clone it out convincingly enough. I'll give it a go later when I'm feeling a little sportier.

I think I cropped three of these! :eek: :rolleyes: :D What can I say....I'm unprofessional.

Thanks for the comments Vich. I had my doubts since I was battling a fever the whole time and had to shoot at ISO1600 and still barely got shutter speeds. I had to play the shutter-drag game and flash every shot. It made me thankful for having the CP-E3 battery pack handy. I'm no Jamison for sure but I think this is a far cry from the you-know-what wedding (the pay was better too!)

[boog]

Nice shots Don. I like one the best as well. In number three and I'm no critic, but the first thing my eyes are is Abe and other statue. I was trying so hard to decide if other statue was real or not, I about missed the couple in background. Although I am working graveyard and eyes aren't quite right. Nice shots at 1600. Straight out of camera or ran through neat image? Looks like you nailed your white balance as well. Let's see some more.

[cdifoto]

Nice shots Don. I like one the best as well. In number three and I'm no critic, but the first thing my eyes are is Abe and other statue. I was trying so hard to decide if other statue was real or not, I about missed the couple in background. Although I am working graveyard and eyes aren't quite right. Nice shots at 1600. Straight out of camera or ran through neat image? Looks like you nailed your white balance as well. Let's see some more.

Hey thanks for looking Boog. That was actually my intent in number 3. Originally I was going to have a shot from behind Abe's head off to one side, with the couple at right/center in the background (so it looked as if Abe is spying on a couple making out)...but then I saw that there were no benches in the proper direction, so I improvised.

I didn't clean any of these up with Neatimage this time. I've done very little to these. Crop to size, vintage/barely vintage action (on the 2 outside shots), USM 10/50/0, then the border and save for web.

I'll try to get some more up in a bit.

[cdifoto]

These are no longer going to be in chronological order, but here are a couple more. I'm just looking through quickly and seeing what catches my eye enough to play with for now.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26-045.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26-122.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26-126.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26-135.jpg

And I couldn't even see the garter for this shot. I was lucky it made it into the frame at all! The bouquet toss didn't go as well...she overthrew it the first time and they did it over. Then a guest got in front of me and wouldn't move.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26-238.jpg

[rawpaw18]

They really look nice Don. I think your client will be pleased.
The violin dude, the signing, the kiss and her in the chair (she looks like she is enjoying it) among my favs

Here comes the critic part, the hand shot is odd to me like her hand is broken and she is showing it to a doctor. Who is holding her arm, another woman? Maybe have the husband hold it instead and more under her hand instead of at the wrist.
All in my humble non wedding shooting nikon using opinion.

Job well done.

[jamison55]

Great job, Don! I really like the Abe one (very creatve idea), and the one following of them on the bench. The rest of them are great too. You capture some excellent expressions.

[forno]

Beautiful exposure Don!, very nioce composition too.

Like the "all eyes on the garter belt" shot and the violin player.

hows the cold?

[cdifoto]

Thanks for looking Rich, Jamie, Forno. Rich I agree on the hand. It looks like they're saying "Does this look infected to you?" :rolleyes: It was one of those quick "here take a pic of the ring!" moments. I should have staged it but didn't. I wish I had....and gotten the groom's hand in there. I was passing by to get more groom candids and they sorta came at me. I never looked at who was holding her hand. Coulda been Don King in a white dress for all I noticed. :eek: :D

Thanks Jamie. I felt like crap the whole time but I also knew this one was gonna be better. Not every shot is a piece of art but it's nice when the wedding party are into it...and each other. It makes things easier. They're probably the most animated wedding couple I've ever met in my life. I didn't do a lot of the experimental stuff though...just those few. They weren't keen on being away from everyone else for long. I got what I wanted to try though, and I thanked them for playing along.

Thanks forno. The cold...eh...still draggin' me down. I'm currently waiting for the latest round of OTC meds to kick in. Bleh. Oh well. I'll live.

[boog]

See, I told you I'm no critic. The one picture I comment about, Jamie really likes. Who you gonna believe? I like the other shots as well. Clients will be pleased. You ought to send these to the old HO! HO! HO!:D

[cwphoto]

Way to go Mate - good to see you triumph in the face of adversity (your cold).:)

[cdifoto]

Thanks CW. I feel physically shitty but I'm really happy with what I was able to get. I can improve, of course, but I don't feel incompetent anymore. :D

[forno]

Thanks CW. I feel physically shitty but I'm really happy with what I was able to get. I can improve, of course, but I don't feel incompetent anymore. :D


LMAO @ incompetent:D

ill settle for incompetent then:p

Just using the 580 for flash?

[cdifoto]

LMAO @ incompetent:D

ill settle for incompetent then:p

Just using the 580 for flash?

lol. Yeah I had the 580EX + CP-E3 (for extra juice and faster recycles) on a Stroboframe Cameraflip bracket. I used the built-in bounce card on the flash most of the time to get a little forward throw. Sometimes it was a little too much but eh I can live with it this time.

[timmciglobal]

The only one I don't like is the register book with the picture on the table, reminds me too much of a funeral not a wedding (The picture just seems morbid in some odd way)

Oh and I'd also clone out the exist sign from the first one.

Otherwise nice stuff.

Tim

[cdifoto]

The only one I don't like is the register book with the picture on the table, reminds me too much of a funeral not a wedding (The picture just seems morbid in some odd way)

Yeah now that I think about it, it does sorta look like a memorial. But since it was her day, her photo, her idea... I don't feel it's my job to arrange the details...just capture. Besides, I bet if I skipped that photo she'd be disappointed.

Oh and I'd also clone out the exist sign from the first one.

Otherwise nice stuff.

Tim

Thanks Tim. Not sure I agree about cloning out exit signs. I did take the fire alarm out of the table shot you hate but I don't know that I wanna go removing exit signs. I'll see how peachy I feel later on. I might do it anyway.

[24Peter]

Great job Don! I'm sure they'll be very pleased with your work.

I'm curious if you did any formal shots with the wedding party and how they turned out. Did you bring in your strobes for the formals? How many shots overall did you take? Did you use two bodies?

[cdifoto]

Great job Don! I'm sure they'll be very pleased with your work.

I'm curious if you did any formal shots with the wedding party and how they turned out. Did you bring in your strobes for the formals? How many shots overall did you take? Did you use two bodies?

I did take a bunch of posed formals. Being as sick as I was and without a voice to direct people with, I just grabbed someone to assist me and had them line up, rather than trying to get too creative. I had a checklist that I handed to him to get everyone together for me so all I had to do was shoot. I would walk up to them and adjust flowers, arms, etc if needed but I didn't get into it too much.

I brought every bit of gear I own, but I didn't use anything but the 580EX on camera. There wasn't enough time to set anything up because the ceremony area was taking up about 1/3 of the ballroom...which had to be torn down to get the reception tables placed there. I had about 10 minutes at most to get the shots.

One thing I do regret though is not centering them better, especially with the entire party shot:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26_035.jpg

It's not a problem with the smaller groups and singles though, since I can crop and they still fit in the background fine.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26_040.jpg

I made a mistake in using the XT for the groups (didn't really have time to fumble around changing lenses...but should have made time). It seems to have more noise at ISO1600 than the 30D does....it also doesn't seem to work as well with the flash in E-TTL as the 30D. Kind of an odd realization for me.

[Mark_48]

What time do you get up in the mornin' ?
...or did you just stay up all night sortin' through the pics?:eek:

Nicely done !!!

[cdifoto]

What time do you get up in the mornin' ?
...or did you just stay up all night sortin' through the pics?:eek:

Nicely done !!!

I got home around 12:30AM and slept for about 3 hours. For some reason I couldn't get anymore than that, despite feeling like crap.

And thanks! :)

[woffles]

Nice work. Need work on the WB though. I'm sure these are the rough drafts though. You said you used the BG-E3 with your camera on the CameraFlip? I thought it wouldn't fit. That is the one where the flash doesn't move and the camera flips on its side? Did you modify it?

[cdifoto]

Nice work. Need work on the WB though. I'm sure these are the rough drafts though. You said you used the BG-E3 with your camera on the CameraFlip? I thought it wouldn't fit. That is the one where the flash doesn't move and the camera flips on its side? Did you modify it?

Which one(s) look off to you? The dress is white in all the photos as far as I can tell. I used the 30D without a grip with the bracket, so it fit and worked fine. It's when you introduce a grip that it doesn't rotate (the off-camera cord hits the bracket's arm and doesn't let it flip completely to vertical). In my opinion, the 30D doesn't really need the grip to be comfortable like the XT does...although I'm considering ordering one for shooting with the longer glass and/or extensive portraits without the bracket (for the buttons).

[noyjimi]

Looks great CDI. The B&G will love them. Good job.

[Mark_48]

Don, I think I've gotta agree a bit with woffles on the color being slightly warmish appearing only on the indoor shots where you used flash possibly. I'm wondering if what flash did get bounced may have picked up a slight color cast from the walls or ceiling. The outside shots look OK to my eye.

[cdifoto]

Looks great CDI. The B&G will love them. Good job.

Thanks. I hope you're right. :)

[cdifoto]

Don, I think I've gotta agree a bit with woffles on the color being slightly warmish appearing only on the indoor shots where you used flash possibly. I'm wondering if what flash did get bounced may have picked up a slight color cast from the walls or ceiling. The outside shots look OK to my eye.

I dunno Mark. I see ambience but I don't see a white balance issue. To my eyes it looks natural. I sampled her dress in a couple shots and it looked sterile to me...killed the atmosphere. It was truer white...ie technically correct...but it didn't look aesthetically pleasing.

EDIT: I think I found a pleasing middle ground. I'll toss a couple edits up shortly.

[cdifoto]

Here are 2 edits from the above shots. I also ran 'em through Neatimage this time.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26-191b.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26_040b.jpg

[forno]

Cleaned up nicely Don, guy an the right in the last shot looks a bit like Lyeton Hewitt:p

[cdifoto]

Thanks. The first two, white balance adjusted and cleaned up with NI:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26-108b.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/ashlin/2006-08-26-179b.jpg

[forno]

I think you have also struck a happy middle ground in terms of her skin tone and his. Very different in terms of lighting

[cdifoto]

I think you have also struck a happy middle ground in terms of her skin tone and his. Very different in terms of lighting

So you think that'll work then? I'll probably batch 'em with neatimage too since they're all at ISO1600. It'll smooth her skin a bit too as a nice bonus.

[24Peter]

Dude - lose the "Exit" sign. ;) Everything else looks great. :)

[cdifoto]

Dude - lose the "Exit" sign. ;) Everything else looks great. :)

Yeah yeah yeah. I'll get there eventually. These are just some playing around attempts. I'll do some cloning and noise reduction and all that other good junk in a bit. I'm still filtering out the dunskies and renaming for continuity (only cuz it makes batch uploading to my site faster and easier).

I don't have to rush because they'll be in Aruba (I think) for about 2 weeks.

[cdifoto]

Not sure if anyone cares about this old wedding ( :rolleyes: ) but I finally got everything up on my website.

http://www.cdifoto.com/index.php?cPath=5&sort=2a&page=4

I'm starting y'all out on page 4 since the first 40 images are just boring prep shots at the salon. She wanted me to get everyone...so I did. Even though it was the absolute most boring hour and a half of my life. :rolleyes:

Lemme know what you all think. And yes, Pete...I got rid of the EXIT signs! ;)

[noyjimi]

CDI I checked it out -- I liked the B&G dancing shots, especially. #163 has an interesting PPed look to it -- kinda like floating. :) BTW did they get married inside a vault or something -- just curious on what appeared to me as a huge metallic door.

[rawpaw18]

I looked at the thumbs (dial up still), and they look like a nice collection of shots. I like your site layout too. Photo 173 has a poorly placed shadow, she kind of looks like a rooster. Figured I would point it out before Peter does:D

I hate to always point out little things, when I can't even get the whole picture right. I'm insecure and need help.

[24Peter]

I'm insecure and need help.
That never stopped me from telling someone else how to edit their work! :D
As for the exit signs, 1) I'm not the only one who said they should go and 2) there's something about including "a way out" in wedding photos that seems to run contrary to the spirit of the day (boy - now that was deep... :rolleyes: )

[Vich]

Great job CDI. Is that finished or more editing still?

Love the B&W conversions, alter line-up, etc. More amazing still with a 102 fever. Bad timing can be a real bummer for WP. I guess the contract needs some sort of substitution clause in case you were 100% disabled somehow. You're like some olympic athlete where nothing short of a compound fracture will keep you away, and even then... (Yeah, and you need to put a big "S" on your backpack)

[cdifoto]

CDI I checked it out -- I liked the B&G dancing shots, especially. #163 has an interesting PPed look to it -- kinda like floating. :) BTW did they get married inside a vault or something -- just curious on what appeared to me as a huge metallic door.

Thanks. I don't know if I like how I did that one or not, but I presented it anyway. They got married in the Gettysburg Hotel. It burned about 8(?) years ago and was recently rebuilt to it's original Civil War conditions...so apparently that vault had been there before and they replaced it. The vault is where the gift table was located (I had to use my 12mm and angles to get the shots).

[cdifoto]

I looked at the thumbs (dial up still), and they look like a nice collection of shots. I like your site layout too. Photo 173 has a poorly placed shadow, she kind of looks like a rooster. Figured I would point it out before Peter does:D

I hate to always point out little things, when I can't even get the whole picture right. I'm insecure and need help.

I was gonna clone that out then decided not to. I dunno how these people shoot and edit 1000 photos. It's absurd. I only had 385 to filter through, then 244 to edit! :eek:

[cdifoto]

Great job CDI. Is that finished or more editing still?

Love the B&W conversions, alter line-up, etc. More amazing still with a 102 fever. Bad timing can be a real bummer for WP. I guess the contract needs some sort of substitution clause in case you were 100% disabled somehow. You're like some olympic athlete where nothing short of a compound fracture will keep you away, and even then... (Yeah, and you need to put a big "S" on your backpack)

Thanks Vich. It's not "wow" like Jamie and CW but this is really only my 3rd wedding where I even owned a camera. 1st...we all know where that went :P 2nd...only a gew grabs for my cousin :rolleyes: Now this one... A friend from my elementary school days who had been waiting to see these to decide whether to hire me for next year told me she loved them, and if her boyfriend agrees then I'll be it. It's not till next year but hey...at least that means I didn't totally blow it. :eek: :D

[rawpaw18]

I was gonna clone that out then decided not to. I dunno how these people shoot and edit 1000 photos. It's absurd. I only had 385 to filter through, then 244 to edit! :eek:

I could not imagine the work load after the wedding. Quite time consuming, if you try to make every one perfect. The shadow may be just the ticket to make it a fav, for lighthearted fare. How many solo weddings does this make for you?

A friend of mine got married on the 5th, she paid $3500 for the wp. She just sent me some she liked. Ouch.
Gotta love the road, power lines and that thing in the bottom right hand corner, but she is happy and now pregnant too. though I don't think that had anything to do with the wp, which was female.

If I should not post this please tell me, and I will yank it down.
14837

[cwphoto]

Hmmmm; soft, underexposed, uninspiring composition, poor cropping/framing.

...and this was her favourite? The mind boggles at the quality of the rest.:eek:

[rawpaw18]

One of her favorites, this is one of the worst of her favorites imo.
paid good money too.

[cdifoto]

$3500 eh? I should move to the shore :D.

[Bluedog]

Nice going Don _ the edits look really good to me.

[cdifoto]

Nice going Don _ the edits look really good to me.

Thanks Toney. :)

[cwphoto]

$3500 eh? I should move to the shore :D.

You got no problems Donato.:)

[24Peter]

$3500 eh? I should move to the shore :D.
For that kind of coin, maybe I need to try my hand at the whole wedding thing too... ;) I've videotaped 5 of them. How hard could shooting one be? :eek:

[cwphoto]

How hard could shooting one be? :eek:

Not that hard if the above image is anything to go by.:rolleyes:

[cdifoto]

Not that hard if the above image is anything to go by.:rolleyes:

No doubt. I don't claim to be great but...uhh...yeah. I didn't think the kind of people who got married next to the lawn mower had such big WP budgets...even over there on the shore.

What WOULD be nice though is one of those bayside weddings near one of those huge waterfront mansions. :D

[24Peter]

What WOULD be nice though is one of those bayside weddings near one of those huge waterfront mansions. :D
I have a brick courtyard. ;)

[Vich]

For that kind of coin, maybe I need to try my hand at the whole wedding thing too... ;) I've videotaped 5 of them. How hard could shooting one be? :eek:
Whaaaat? You don't get paid $3500 per shoot? Hey, but look at all the perks!

RE: The lawn shot ... That photo doesn't look snapshot bad, quite. Nice moment, dress arrangement, body positioning. Does seem to show a complete lack of concern (or awareness) of how the background and shadows will play out in print - or maybe the result of a lack of choices. Although for $3500, you'de hope they could give the photog 1 hour in a setting of her choice, and standing in the shadows with bright, powerline filled background wouldn't be most photog's 1st choice. I'm hoping for the day I'd know just what to do in such a situation.

[cwphoto]

Whaaaat? You don't get paid $3500 per shoot? Hey, but look at all the perks!

RE: The lawn shot ... That photo doesn't look snapshot bad, quite. Nice moment, dress arrangement, body positioning. Does seem to show a complete lack of concern (or awareness) of how the background and shadows will play out in print - or maybe the result of a lack of choices. Although for $3500, you'de hope they could give the photog 1 hour in a setting of her choice, and standing in the shadows with bright, powerline filled background wouldn't be most photog's 1st choice. I'm hoping for the day I'd know just what to do in such a situation.

Fair comments. Hey - the jokes on us, he's the one who got the three-and-a-half large and your friend seems happy so who the hell cares?!:confused: :D

[cdifoto]

Whaaaat? You don't get paid $3500 per shoot? Hey, but look at all the perks!

RE: The lawn shot ... That photo doesn't look snapshot bad, quite. Nice moment, dress arrangement, body positioning. Does seem to show a complete lack of concern (or awareness) of how the background and shadows will play out in print - or maybe the result of a lack of choices. Although for $3500, you'de hope they could give the photog 1 hour in a setting of her choice, and standing in the shadows with bright, powerline filled background wouldn't be most photog's 1st choice. I'm hoping for the day I'd know just what to do in such a situation.

I agree that it's not snapshot bad. It's just not $3500 good either. :D


And I thought I was getting a lot for Saturday...

[rawpaw18]

No doubt. I don't claim to be great but...uhh...yeah. I didn't think the kind of people who got married next to the lawn mower had such big WP budgets...even over there on the shore.

What WOULD be nice though is one of those bayside weddings near one of those huge waterfront mansions. :D

It was actually 6.5 hours away from home, near Lake Gaston VA, beautiful scenery to be had all over, but this is the shot she gets. I feel for the couple but who knows if they are even aware. My wife paid no attention to the background when she saw the picture, so who knows.


Back on topic: nice work Don, they should be really pleased.

[jamison55]

I could not imagine the work load after the wedding. Quite time consuming, if you try to make every one perfect. The shadow may be just the ticket to make it a fav, for lighthearted fare. How many solo weddings does this make for you?

A friend of mine got married on the 5th, she paid $3500 for the wp. She just sent me some she liked. Ouch.
Gotta love the road, power lines and that thing in the bottom right hand corner, but she is happy and now pregnant too. though I don't think that had anything to do with the wp, which was female.

If I should not post this please tell me, and I will yank it down.
14837


I think even CW would have used a little fill flash on this one, the photographer was certainly equipped with them (you can see a bit Metz and a Canon speedlight in the lower right of the frame).

[jamison55]

Don, the rest of your edits look great. I have one quick question: was the ceremony really short or boring? Maybe I missed a page, but it looks like you only got about 20 images of the actual ceremony?

Also - just to help you for the next wedding - your formal crops are a little tight if you plan to offer an 8x10.

Just nit-picky stuff - you really did a great job!

[cdifoto]

Don, the rest of your edits look great. I have one quick question: was the ceremony really short or boring? Maybe I missed a page, but it looks like you only got about 20 images of the actual ceremony?

Also - just to help you for the next wedding - your formal crops are a little tight if you plan to offer an 8x10.

Just nit-picky stuff - you really did a great job!

Yeah it was a short, uneventful ceremony. Walk up, exchange maybe 5-10 minutes of vows, walk down. Not a lot to get and the area designated for the ceremony was kinda small...no real good angles to be had elsewhere (I tried).

The formals are actually cropped tight for the web. I have them pretty wide for 8x10s. :)

And thanks. It was REALLY dark in there though. High ceilings too. ISO1600 and still nearly full powered flashes. :o

[cwphoto]

Yeah it was a short, uneventful ceremony. Walk up, exchange maybe 5-10 minutes of vows, walk down. Not a lot to get and the area designated for the ceremony was kinda small...no real good angles to be had elsewhere (I tried).

The formals are actually cropped tight for the web. I have them pretty wide for 8x10s. :)

And thanks. It was REALLY dark in there though. High ceilings too. ISO1600 and still nearly full powered flashes. :o

No doubt about it, you've had a tough apprenticeship mate. They do get easier (I'm told).

[cdifoto]

No doubt about it, you've had a tough apprenticeship mate. They do get easier (I'm told).

lol I hope so. Every time I shoot something it's crap I'd need a 1D and all f/1.2 primes to really produce stunners. Like wtf! :eek: :rolleyes:

(Kinda forgot about this thread for awhile)