Critique Welcomed A few wedding shots from this weekend

[Chris Dodkin]

It's always nice attending a wedding as a guest, you can mooch about and shoot away, without being on the hook for the formal shots

This wedding was up in the hills south of San Francisco - a nice location in the redwoods, with a converted barn for the reception.

I took the X-Pro1, and also the Blad - quite a contrast to use the two different systems/formats.

The pro photogs were both shooting 5DIIIs - with a variety of lenses - and I spoke with them for a while, once they'd spotted the Blad.

They reckon to do 2,400 frames per wedding on average - and provide 800+ to the client in digital format - that's a lot of shots!

I, on the other hand, just grabbed a few moments when I could - and tried not to desert swmbo for too long during the reception

A few shots from the day on the X-Pro1:

Reserved

Redwood Cathedral - Used the 14mm for this to get the perspective

Happy Couple

Megan & Mark

Reception

First Dance

Mother & Son

Handing Over

 

[Pete Askew]

Very, very nice Chris - I hope the pros can compete! I especially like the first dance and Handing Over. Superb. Will be very interested to see the shots from the C/M.

 

[Dave Green]

Great stuff - No3 is a real gem!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Very, very nice Chris - I hope the pros can compete! I especially like the first dance and Handing Over. Superb. Will be very interested to see the shots from the C/M.

Thanks Pete - The Blad was challenging to use in a fast paced environment - especially with only a few days practice - so we'll see...

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Great shots. The Handing Over looks sad. I'm imagining the bride dancing with the son, while the mother looks on wistfully. Great shot either way.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Great stuff - No3 is a real gem!

Thanks Dave - I tried not to get in the way of the video crew or the stills guys, so I was rather limited to shooting from my seat (carefully chosen at the end of a row however!)

Managed to grab a couple as the came back down the aisle - X-Pro1 isn;t the fastest AF for this sort of thing - but actually nailed every frame in this case, just by 'mashing' the go button and letting the AF do it's thing

 

[Kev Pugh]

Rather good these Chris. Like them all but 'Handing Over' stands out for me, great stuff..

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Yes, I've just discovered the joy of mashing

 

[Beth Carter]

wow! amazing scope and sense of scale in the second, i think that one is my favorite just for that.

the third one is beautiful. and the first dance shot too, love the dof and the focus on the p&s for that one. the last one also stood out in my mind, that's a different view of the mother/son dance, love it.

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Yes, I've just discovered the joy of mashing

works best when somethings moving towards you.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Like the future? Wow

 

[Beth Carter]

Like the future? Wow

it's relative.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Well, here are a few from the Blad - 1st proper outing - Shot with Fuji Neopan 100
80mm f/2.8 CF and 150mm f/4 CF Lenses

Father & Bride

Arriving at the Reception

Greeting the Guests

Time for some Bubbly!

Partners

Megan & Mark (1:1)


I'm amazed anything came out at all as it was a lot of pressure to try and remember how to use the bloody camera, let alone get the exposure right and attempt some sort of composition!

The Neopan grain is lovely and fine - but came up a little contrasty with the Zeiss lenses (Which I note from my test rolls are very contrasty lenses).

Focus was a little hit and miss wide open on moving targets - but zone focus was possible (Father & Bride), and when people stood still for a while the flip-down focus assist was easy to use, and got good results.

Shutter speed was definitely an issue with lower light and only 100 ASA - I would pack some 400 next time and ideally have a second film back to swap to 400 as needed to keep shutter speeds up in the 'non-movent blur' range - although it can be effective (as in Arriving at the Reception)

I had a handful of static shots where there was camera shake and/or people movement, so I need to think about this more for hand held field work.

All of the 'flare' and edge effects on the images were added in NIK SilverFX - the Blad negs are solid edge to edge, so 'atmosphere' needs to be added to taste - or lack of taste as appropriate!

 

[Brian Moore]

Have you ever thought of wedding photography as a profession Chris? You have some wonderful shots in here.

 

[Pete Askew]

Very nicely done Chris. I especially like 'Partners'. A damned fine set of results for a first outing.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Have you ever thought of wedding photography as a profession Chris? You have some wonderful shots in here.

Thanks Brian, much appreciated - I'll leave the wedding photography gig to the pros - I can't imagine how they do that every weekend - dealing with the bridezillas, the mother-in-laws etc etc

So much pressure to deliver, yet take no time doing it

I love it when I get the chance to shoot one - but I don't think I'd enjoy it so much if it was a job

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Very nicely done Chris. I especially like 'Partners'. A damned fine set of results for a first outing.

Thanks Pete - and thanks for the tips on the Blad selection

 

[Ralph Thornton]

Love the barn! Nice shots Chris! Do you do weddings regularly?

 

[Nihat Iyriboz]

Chris, I must say that I agree with you on the facts of pressure, and stress involved. But all of these beautiful images are equal or better than any other I've seen in weeding business. I do not check this field much. However, your work here is natural, without any pretension on either side.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Love the barn! Nice shots Chris! Do you do weddings regularly?

Thank Ralph - I do a wedding every 3 or 4 years it seems, good job I don't depend on them to pay the bills!

I've been to two already this year - one more coming up in April, then I'm actually officially shooting one in June

That barn is a bit special - apparently Nicholas Cage got married there - who knew!

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Chris, I must say that I agree with you on the facts of pressure, and stress involved. But all of these beautiful images are equal or better than any other I've seen in weeding business. I do not check this field much. However, your work here is natural, without any pretension on either side.

Thanks Nihat - I strive to shoot images that I'd be happy sharing with the Bride and groom - knowing that they will be comparing them to their official photographer's output.

It's cheating really - I get to do what I like, while they have to work

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Well, I think they are stunning. There is a beautiful quality to them, hard to describe. More depth, more real. Film. Wonderful.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Well, I think they are stunning. There is a beautiful quality to them, hard to describe. More depth, more real. Film. Wonderful.

Thanks Rob - They do a a different look don't they.

Definitely the film type has a very definitive style - but I'm seeing that the Zeiss lenses have a look as well - in fact any camera I come across with Zeiss optics seems to really shine.

So I guess there really is something in the lens brand - and there's definitely something about film that makes it 'timeless'.