Topic: Camera Geeks (Read 22156 times)

Rob Wood · « **Reply #75 on:** July 26, 2013, 09:09:26 am »

I recently shot a group of young folks all dressed up for Senior Prom night. I got lucky that when we met in the park, the sky was overcast. This was not a wedding, but it shared one important characteristic: There was no way to do it over if something went wrong. A wedding is around a thousand times more stressful. In my case, my Canon 60D did the job beautifully, but suppose it hadn't? The entire photo op hinged on one camera and cloudy skies. If something had gone wrong, everyone would have gotten over it.

A wedding, on the other hand, is fraught with emotional peril. There is absolutely no way I would shoot a wedding except to take candid shots to supplement the professional. Those candid shots can be really interesting, and provide some opportunities to grab some drama, humor, and fun. But you have nothing whatsoever to gain by agreeing to shoot this wedding, and everything to lose - including your friendship.

All that said, I did grab a few decent shots of the prom-goers:

tigertiger · « **Reply #76 on:** July 26, 2013, 02:08:13 pm »

Are light field cameras going to be the new latest thing?
This camera does away with all the fancy software rendering in light field photography.

Review here [size=78%]http://tech.uk.msn.com/cameras/lytro-light-field-camera-hands-on-review[/size]

Rob Wood · « **Reply #77 on:** July 26, 2013, 02:47:29 pm »

I've been following the development of this camera for some time. Whether this particular make and model - or manufacturer - succeeds is anybody's guess. The technology is certainly fascinating, and I've played with the editing software, but it's going to have to evolve light years beyond where it is currently before it is anything more than a clever toy, played with for a short while and then put up on a shelf.

Here's a decent video review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aWU1j94fEAU

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #78 on:** July 26, 2013, 03:30:48 pm »

Me too Rob, fascinating but a long way to go yet...

Martin

tourerjim · « **Reply #79 on:** July 26, 2013, 09:15:30 pm »

Is this the sort of camera that our eyes see or what the camera eye sees.???

Rob Wood · « **Reply #80 on:** July 27, 2013, 01:46:30 am »

It's hard to answer that question. The camera collects reflected light off every surface in its angle of view. Unlike human eyes or the lens of a traditional camera, which both focus on a particular subject in a whole field of images, automatically blurring those objects not in focus, this camera literally focuses on every object, and records all of that data. You can decide after you get home exactly what you want to be in focus, and what you want to be soft or blurred.

Why this is revolutionary - especially for event photos - is that it's very common with a traditional camera to focus on the wrong object - especially in a busy background, such as a crowd, field of flowers, etc. This is especially true on a very bright day in direct sunlight, when it's really difficult to tell if the subject you're after is what you're focused on. With this type of a camera, you simply aim it in the desired direction and take the shot. Back home, you review the shots, and then move the focal point exactly where you want it. It's even possible to focus on two objects simultaneously, which seems a bit strange when you look at it.

You can play with this technology and actually move the focus around on some sample images, here: http://www.lytro.com/learn/

Rob

tigertiger · « **Reply #81 on:** July 27, 2013, 02:36:39 am »

Quote from: Rob Wood on July 27, 2013, 01:46:30 am

... blurring those objects not in focus,...
...It's even possible to focus on two objects simultaneously...

This blurring is a real problem for macro or zoom photos.

A common subject seen for the two objects composition might be a close up of a person (perhaps next to the corner of a building), and another object, building, or person, in the distance behind them. I have seen this used a lot of CD album covers. In the past (long time ago) there were special lenses with a split field of vision.

Rob Wood · « **Reply #82 on:** July 27, 2013, 03:31:01 am »

The key to fully enjoying the hobby of photography, at least for me, is to have the knowledge to know what is possible in a given shot, how to set my camera to get that result, and a camera that will cooperate with my grandiose plans.

Sometimes, I want the background to be blurred - especially when it's ugly, too busy, or just uninteresting. In this example, I want the focus primarily on the bee, and only secondarily on the flower. The background, cluttered with leaves, would only detract from the principle subject:

In contrast, this photo is a wide angle view of an event, in an effort to capture the entire view as the subject. By pulling back, the very clutter puts the viewer into the extremely busy scene. Even though there's a helicopter in the foreground, the sailboats in the mid-range, and the fort and the bridge in the background, are all in focus. If the helicopter in the foreground had been the subject, I would have zoomed in on it, and deliberately blurred the background:

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #83 on:** August 05, 2013, 08:23:42 pm »

Re: The wedding I've been asked to take photos at....

I've got the 'couple' coming round for dinner tomorrow night, ( we are long time family friends ), I'm going to see if I can talk them out of using me. Pity, I would love to do it but only if they arrange a safety backup photographer.

This made my blood run cold!
http://www.rocknrollbride.com/2012/01/should-i-book-a-professional-wedding-photographer-or-get-a-friend-to-do-it-for-free-a-cautionary-tale/

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #84 on:** August 05, 2013, 08:46:07 pm »

Martin,
YOU should be the backup and will probably capture spontaneous images that the official photographer might miss and which will be greatly valued. But don't take on the burden of the official photos, it isn't fair on either yourself or the happy couple. If the official photographer slips up then you will be the hero of the day with your own shots. If YOU slip up as 'official' photographer then you will all feel rotten about it for the rest of your lives.
Remember, if you do the job you will be constantly nervous and that is when mistakes are made, the pros do it all the time and while they can come unstuck it is much less likely.
Put these arguments to your friends tomorrow and stress the advice you have received on this. It is not fair for them to put you on the spot as if things do go wrong they will still blame you.
Colin

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #85 on:** August 05, 2013, 08:54:55 pm »

Sage words Colin... but I expect no less!

Rob Wood · « **Reply #86 on:** August 05, 2013, 10:21:51 pm »

I absolutely agree with Colin, except I would completely remove "backup photographer" from your vocabulary. There is no such thing. If you're skilled and equipped enough to be the backup photographer, you don't need the pro, because you are a pro. The thing that is really of paramount importance to keep in mind is that wedding photographs - the kind suitable for high-res print and framing - are products. Because the expectations are extremely high, the photographer has to be able to produce top-drawer products on demand, in every type of situation, every lighting condition, and every mood, from high stress to excitement to hellish "bridezilla" circumstances that a friend could walk away from, but that a hired pro cannot. The pro can afford to be despised or treated like a slave, because he has no emotional attachment. He only needs to produce the product, and he's used to this.

My advice is to insist that your skills and equipment qualify you to capture some candid moments (SNAPSHOTS) that the pro might miss, and especially those that the pro - not having the level of friendship you share with the bride and groom - would not even see. Let me give you an example.

My friend's parents paid a huge amount of money for her wedding, including a lavish budget for the photographer. While the photographer was inside the reception hall, shooting formal pics of family, friends, bridesmaids, cake, etc., the happy couple sneaked outside for a bit of quiet time. I happened upon them and snapped this, and if I hadn't, this moment would not have been captured. Purely candid, and not posed:

Here's another. The couple is walking across the grass with the minister, prior to the ceremony. She has a long train, and to protect it the groom is holding it off the ground. These are moments - not products - captured by roving around without a bunch of lighting equipment.

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #87 on:** August 05, 2013, 10:37:56 pm »

Rob is quite right. Anything you take is supplementary and no less valuable because of that.

Colin

grasshopper · « **Reply #88 on:** August 05, 2013, 11:44:06 pm »

I strongly agree with Rob. Go to the wedding and take lots of reportage photo's, let the pro do the formal shots.

Our middle child's wedding last year had a professional photographer who managed to take hundreds of photo's - and although we were footing the bill there were only three pictures of me escorting her down the aisle, and two of the mother of the bride.....okay, there were no 'formal' shots requested except of the bride and groom, that was how my daughter wanted it....but to miss the father and mother of the bride out of most of the reportage shots?

Fortunately the father of the groom is a keen amateur photographer and got some fantastic shots that saved the day as far as my wife and I were concerned, he had a whole book of photo's printed up as a thank gift for us and we would have been happier giving him the £1500 rather than the comedian who was paid. When we talk of the wedding we always get that album out rather than the one we paid so much for.

Rob Wood · « **Reply #89 on:** August 05, 2013, 11:58:59 pm »

So, bottom line is that by offering to capture candid moments, each shot you take that "works" is a gift - not a product. By removing yourself from the vendor for-hire end of your friends' wedding, you are free to be relaxed, creative and a joyful participant - the exact opposite of a wedding photographer.

Rob

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #90 on:** August 06, 2013, 06:16:53 pm »

Quote from: Rob Wood on August 05, 2013, 11:58:59 pm

So, bottom line is that by offering to capture candid moments, each shot you take that "works" is a gift - not a product. By removing yourself from the vendor for-hire end of your friends' wedding, you are free to be relaxed, creative and a joyful participant - the exact opposite of a wedding photographer.

Rob

Excellent thought Rob, very succinct!

JayDee · « **Reply #91 on:** August 06, 2013, 07:36:56 pm »

Hello,
Long, long time ago, I used to do wedding photos for a local Studio when they were very busy.
Went along to the Church, in plenty of time for the service.
The Very Rev saw me and asked what I was doing.
"I am here to do the wedding at 1 o/clock", - - - you have missed it was his reply !!!.
I asked what time was the wedding?, "At 11 o/clock" was his reply!.
The Bride and Groom and all the guests had left for the Reception hours ago.
I rushed to a phone box and phoned the studio, the owner and his wife started the mad dash to the reception, along with myself.
We all arrived to cries of "Here are the photographers !!".
Lots of cars and Taxis were amassed and we took them all back to the church.
Amid lots of giggling and falling over, we got all of the photos done, then back to the reception for more photos.
By this time nearly all of the wedding party were rather tipsy!, and surprisingly, enjoying all the dashing about.
So how did this happen ??.
The wedding arrangements were made on the phone to the studio office.
The secretary wrote all the details into a very large Ledger.
On the left hand side of each page in the ledger was a blue line running top to bottom.
The secretary had wrote the time with a blue ink pen onto the line and the 11o/clock looked just like 1 o/clock!!.
The 11o/clock entry was only visible when you knew it was there.
The studio got paid in full and I got a Bonus !!
John.

GAZOU · « **Reply #92 on:** August 06, 2013, 08:02:12 pm »

I may be happy flap

I find it odd to spend £ 1,000 of pictures for an important event: the wedding
I find it odd not to spend £ 1 pictures for an important event: the divorce

Yet there is an important market

spearfish99 · « **Reply #93 on:** August 06, 2013, 08:04:42 pm »

Quote from: GAZOU on August 06, 2013, 08:02:12 pm

I may be happy flap

I find it odd to spend £ 1,000 of pictures for an important event: the wedding
I find it odd not to spend £ 1 pictures for an important event: the divorce

Yet there is an important market

A man who believes in living dangerously ( but perhaps not too long if the wife catches him!)

tourerjim · « **Reply #94 on:** August 06, 2013, 09:09:25 pm »

I've done weddings & events the first thing ive done is to get to know who's who for the photo shoots but many of them have said the best pictures are the ones they never knew I took of them, also ive often got told" I don't like myself in that picture.!!! I think a good photographer can see the camera shy's & focus away from them & still get the perfect capture.

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #95 on:** August 06, 2013, 10:34:31 pm »

Quote from: JayDee on August 06, 2013, 07:36:56 pm

"I am here to do the wedding at 1 o/clock", - - - you have missed it was his reply !!!.
I asked what time was the wedding?, "At 11 o/clock" was his reply!.

The studio got paid in full and I got a Bonus !!

Brilliant!

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #96 on:** September 27, 2013, 02:07:10 am »

Well I am taking the photos at the wedding today... against all your better advice!

Honest, I had them round for dinner twice and couldn't take them out of it!
I only finally agreed when his dad gave the 'go-ahead' and I was sure that he wouldn't.

.... and I am absolutely certain he can easily get me 'eliminated' if it all goes wrong!

Better get to bed i guess.
Photos later

JayDee · « **Reply #97 on:** September 27, 2013, 10:03:30 am »

Hello Martin,
No need to worry, you CAN do it.
We have all seen you photos on here, a Wedding will be no different !!!!.
John.

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #98 on:** September 28, 2013, 10:05:04 am »

Well, put us out of our misery Martin. How did they turn out? I guess that the fact that there isn't a new post on the 'Funny Photos' topic is an encouraging sign....

Colin

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #99 on:** September 28, 2013, 02:20:30 pm »

Quote from: Colin Bishop on September 28, 2013, 10:05:04 am

Well, put us out of our misery Martin. How did they turn out? I guess that the fact that there isn't a new post on the 'Funny Photos' topic is an encouraging sign....
Colin

Good one Colin!
-----------------------

Well it was a long day, very long day, started at 9:30, got home about 02:30 so slept in a bit this morning! Not looked at the photos get, still uploading them to this PC.

First thoughts:

1.   Get the bride and groom on your side at the outset.

2.   ( See point one! )

3.   Make sure the brides mother knows, 'she IS the the most important person of the day'.

4.   Get involved with the organization of the bride and brides family, even if they don't want
you too as it seems the photographer is the only one that is aware of the time.

5.   Carry drinking water, chocolate and bay type wet wipes in one of your camera cases.
Use industrial strength deodorant... fortunately I did.

6. If you think you know you camera gear intimately, you won't / don't in a panic!

7. Get a good manual flash gun, resell it 3 days later on fleabay, buy a highly recommend
'TTL' flashgun, then buy a better one!

8.   Keep cleaning your lens front element through the day.

9.   Be a calming influence when the bride starts to panic,
(even if you are panicking even more than she is on the inside!).

10.   Be prepared to do a LOT more than gust take the photos.

11.   Everyone thinks you know what you're doing just because you say;
"I know what I'm doing!"

12.   If you ask someone to do something for you, give VERY PRECISE instructions and then
check they've actually done it... then do it yourself anyway.

13. Don't drink the Champagne when offered in the bridal suite no matter how thirsty you are!

14.   Don't loose a major tooth filing the night before!!!

Still smiling. Photos later.

News:

Author Topic: Camera Geeks (Read 22156 times)