The bride and ......

[pam]

Horse?

Hmm...it's been so long since I've posted anything on this site. Things have changed. ... a whole lot. Actually, it's been a long time since I've done anything worth posting or anything more than snapshots. I'm trying to get back in the swing of things...bought a new camera--Nikon D70. Still getting used to it. Anyhow, here's a bride who wanted her portraits done with her horse. Let me know what you think...what I could have done better...I have the wedding in less than two weeks. The first I've done in two years, so I'm starting to get nervous! Thanks everyone!

C:\Documents and Settings\Waters\My Documents\My Pictures\Krisann\kris.JPG

[mjm]

colors look dull. a little PS work can clear that right up.

[natatbeach]

hi there
Wondering if it might be possible to use that wonderful warm light in the background and her arm to really add to what's a nice shot. Maybe position both of them so more of the sunlight is cast on them rather than the flash...

and maybe try a few where she is more forehead to head with her horse so you can actually see the veil... right now although her look and the composition are nice...nothing about it says bride to me except fro the wisp of veil behind the horse...I would love to see any others you may have taken during this session...

[pam]

Hey...thanks a lot for the suggestions. I actually think I have some where I used the natural light instead of the flash...I took about 70 photos just on my digital that day...not to mention a roll of 36 exposures in my 35mm...When I get home and the kids are asleep, I will look through and see if I have a different version of this shot. I usually try the same pose over in different ways. I also have full length shots of her with the horse and some by herself ...but thanks again for your comments. I will post some more photos later.
Pam

[Elysian]

Nice image, but a little too flat. Partly because the image is too dark and partly because of lack of depth in the face caused by using a flash light on the camera, something that should be avoided, especially when you shoot faces.

Thanks for sharing

[pam]

Ok...if I should avoid using a flash on the camera for faces ( and I can see, during the time of day that I shot this, I could have gotten away without a flash)...but say it was earlier in the day, how would I avoid the shadows on the face? I would rather have a lack of depth than shadows. Is this the wrong way to think? Please help because her wedding happens to be less than two weeks from now! Thanks!!

[mjm]

pam, you can liven this shot up with some post processing (ie. photoshop). adjust the levels & saturation a bit and this photo greatly improve.

[natatbeach]

a touch up wondered if the bouquet is showing a little more in this shot...hope you don't mind...here's what i would do with the post editing.hope it helps a little...you'll do fine. I'd suggest going down with someone to the location where the wedding is taking place and do a test run so you have some of the lighting down and fell more comfy with the location.

[Elysian]

I would rather have a lack of depth than shadows.

Maybe you understood me wrong Pam. There is absolutely nothing wrong with brightening up shadows during the day to decrease the contrast, but you most defintely need some shadows to avoid that your images look flat.

Go to google, select "images" at the top and type in "bride" as your search argument and you'll find a few examples that explain why shadows (or different luminousity if you will) are so important. I'm not talking about the intensity of shadows, just about shadows in general and what their purpose is.

I found two example:

Flat lighting: http://www.ekelerphoto.com/bride-with-boquet.jpg

More balanced: http://www.jewellharrison.co.uk/newi...mall/bride.jpg

[Elysian]

But there's still a lot you can do with the original image. I took it in Photoshop and made some 5 corrections. If you like to know more details, just let me know.

This is the result:

[pam]

Nat and Elysian, I don't mind at all if you mess around with the picture, I really appreciate that you both would take the time to do that. I can definitely see where the image really just pops after being tinkered with. I would love to know exactly what was done. And Elysian, I will check out those links tomorrow (when I'm at work--it's sad that I have more free time there than I do at home) . Thanks again. I was going to post more from that day, but actually this session was the first time I had used the Nikon D70, and a lot of the images didn't turn out. Luckily I took the N90 along and got some really good shots with that, but don't have a scanner hooked up so that I can post them. By the way....I'm thinking there is a focusing problem with the lens on that D70...backfocusing or something...it does some strange stuff. I'll probably post something on the help files about it, though. Have a good night.

[Lava Lamp]

Nat and Elysian, I don't mind at all if you mess around with the picture, I really appreciate that you both would take the time to do that. I can definitely see where the image really just pops after being tinkered with. I would love to know exactly what was done. And Elysian, I will check out those links tomorrow (when I'm at work--it's sad that I have more free time there than I do at home) . Thanks again. I was going to post more from that day, but actually this session was the first time I had used the Nikon D70, and a lot of the images didn't turn out. Luckily I took the N90 along and got some really good shots with that, but don't have a scanner hooked up so that I can post them. By the way....I'm thinking there is a focusing problem with the lens on that D70...backfocusing or something...it does some strange stuff. I'll probably post something on the help files about it, though. Have a good night.

It's getting better technically, but I'd try to leave a little more room for them in the frame next time and see if you can catch them looking at one another. You want to show the relationhsip, I think. Also, if you take several, you may find the bride looking more relaxed. She sort of has that "cheese" smaile right now.