Wide Angle Piano Keyboard

Wedding Photos June 2011

I'm finally able to post some of the photos from wedding that I did last weekend:

Wedding Update

I did it!  My first paid gig.  It was a great experience!  I'll break it down in short form

• 500 pictures taken
• I ended up with about 150 keepers, all said and done
• After editing and sorting through all those photos, I'm getting pretty proficient in Adobe Lightroom.  At least I think I am!
• I learned to work around really unexpected variables (like the preacher that told us we couldn't use flash during the ceremony...plan b, I guess...whatever that was!)
• I should have met the couple prior to the wedding, it would have broken the ice and made sticking a camera in their face for 3 hours less awkward
• Speaking of sticking a camera in someone's face, I learned that this style of photography is 50% technical and 50% personal/interactive skills
• Having the technical skills to a point that they are second nature (not the point that I'm at yet) would help a lot in the interactive department.  It's hard to be conversational with people when you're trying to focus on your camera settings
• The weather was great
• The mosquitoes were not!
• On each outdoor photo, I edited at least 10 mosquitoes from each picture!
• There was slight cloud cover so it was a nice, diffused light
• It started to rain just as we finished
• Scott and I are handing over the photos tomorrow so I'm waiting on the bride and groom's approval to post some online
• I look forward to sharing some of them with you all!
• Speaking of Scott, he rules.  He rented us a couple of lenses from Lethbridge Lens Rentals.  I'll do another post on the lens I used for most of the day.  I loved it and want to buy it.  Too bad it's wayyyy out of my purchasing-power-league right now!
• That being said, getting paid for doing something you love is pretty cool

First Paid Gig

I'd mentioned a while back that I had been asked by my friend Scott to be the second photographer on a wedding shoot.  Well, that wedding shoot is this weekend and I can't wait!  My first paid gig!  Hopefully all goes well and this is the first of many.  I'll be posting some photos soon from the shoot.

In the meantime, check out this link.  This guy powers massive flashes from the inside of a plane and then shoots pics of other planes or helicopters flying close by.  What a job! 

Wood Grain Macro

Photography links and Articles

Here's an article by Adobe for my fellow photogs, specifically those who use Adobe Lightroom.  The article deals with optimizing performance in when using Lightroom.


Also, if Lightroom presets are your thing, check out this page.  Most of them are paid for presets but they have a couple of free samplers.  I also subscribe to this site.  This guy has a ton of free presets that are great and he posts new ones all the time.  His newest is "The Hangover" app.  It replicates the feel of the cinematography of the Hangover movies.

Picture Giveaway!

Are you a public follower of this blog yet?  If not, become one!  I am going to be giving away a print of one of the pictures below.  To enter the contest to win, all you have to do is sign up to become a public follower and then comment on which of the pictures from this post is your favorite.  The contest closes on June 14 at noon.  I will enter every one that comments (that are public followers) into a random draw tool and the winner will get an 8" x 10" print of the picture (watermark removed) that they commented on as their favorite. You may only enter once, so just choose one favorite and comment on it.

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Aberlour Light Painting

Inspired by some of the photography in my last post link, I took this one:

Light Painting

Who knew that what I was doing here actually had a name?  Apparently it's called Light Painting and is pretty popular.  I actually had no idea!  Check out this article.  It showcases some pretty amazing images.  Gives me ideas for new techniques too.

Gallery No.3

I completely forgot to post that some of my work is being featured on another blog.  Check it out here: Gallery No.3 .  These guys feature all sorts of different artists (photographers, poets, filmakers, etc...).  Head over and check them out!

Sidewalk Chalk