Input? Rings...

[Sebastian]

Would love any input on this...

[Janie]

Great photo - I love the concept, but being a woman, she may feel her arm looks huge - is she rocked her arm slightly, it would give a slimmer line. It might show off the rings better if the had their hands a little more downward - great nails though!

[opus]

It's a very creative, original pose!


But I'm not sure I like it. I think maybe it looks too unnatural/uncomfortable. JMO. Just my gut reaction.

[jar_e]

Personally,

For the first male to speak(), I love it. Concept is great, the DOF is so strong, and everything works.

Nice shot,

Jared

[gahspidy]

I like the concept alot, but I'm with Kelly on this in that my first feeling is that it looks a bit unatural the way their arms are extended. Seems awkward ( however, I would guess that this couple likes the shot very much)

[mjs1973]

I'm with Janie on this one, great nails! Ok, I too love the concept of the image, but something about it just doesn't feel right... I love the originality of it.

[Speed]

Would love any input on this...

Great concept, and I love the shallow DOF.

I'm with the others that the arms look unnatural and awkward. Try positioning them different next time. Maybe have her hand on his shoulder and his hand holding hers.

Also, have them curve the hands more when shooting the rings. It's a more flattering look for the hands. Her hand on his shoulder will do this naturally. I'll try to get a sample of what I'm talking about for you.

In the meantime, here's a shot I took at my brother's wedding. And yes, their hands should have been curved more.

[natatbeach]

I've tried shots like this and I'm still trying to find a more natural approach to the arm placement. I think your DOF was perfect and the concept was great but they look a little stiff and unnatural...

maybe if he had been holding her fingers with his...both rings would have been visible but looked less planned. Glad to see your creativity at work at again...the second shot might work with the bride's back to the groom's chest and the hands in that placement extended(did that make sense)---thought it might help for additional ideas...

[Speed]

I've tried shots like this and I'm still trying to find a more natural approach to the arm placement. I think your DOF was perfect and the concept was great but they look a little stiff and unnatural...

maybe if he had been holding her fingers with his...both rings would have been visible but looked less planned. Glad to see your creativity at work at again...the second shot might work with the bride's back to the groom's chest and the hands in that placement extended(did that make sense)---thought it might help for additional ideas...

That second image is a GREAT example! I took one similar to that at my uncles wedding (but their fingers weren't intertwined like that), but I don't have those shots on this computer.

[another view]

Seb, I've done a variation of that shot but agree that the pose of the arms/hands looks a little stiff. Not really sure what to suggest though...

[Asylum Steve]

I hate most wedding photography. And with that in mind, at first I felt that I should pass on this thread because the chances of me adding any constructive criticism were pretty slim.

But after taking another look at the shot, I feel the concept is a pretty good one. I just think it could be carried out a little better...

It's cool that your focusing (and forcing the viewer to focus) on the rings, and all the symbolism that entails. I think, though, that the arms strectched out l and intertwined like that seems a bit awkward and unnatural. I think the hands closer to the kissing faces would be better.

This is the kind of shot that you probably should experiment with by shooting variations at different angles. That then would give you a better chance of capturing that "perfect moment".

I like that it's different than the usual wedding fluff (said in a jaded, cynical, curmudgeonly like way)... ;)

[Sebastian]

Thanks for commenting everyone. The unnatural, posed look was intentional, I wanted it to be stylized and illustrative, not natural or candid looking. More symbolic, the hands and rings being supported by the out of focus elements. Judging by your comments I have succeeded, but due to it being a photo that might be degrading to the image. They saw the first image and loved it, though I catered it to them because they take symbolism to an extreme. I have slightly reworked it into something that I will give them instead. I am also considering doing a painting of this image as a gift to them, though that will depends on wether I will have time before I next see them.

Below is the revised version, as well as an alternate shot, and a photo of them at the base of a lighthouse, he bride's favorite place. The lighthouse one is a work in progress, they had a sort of fairy tale theme going on and I'm trying to make it look kinda surreal.

[opus]

I think the new crop makes all the difference!!!!!! It emphasizes the symbolism, and doesn't look like it's even trying to be a natural shot anymore.


Speaking of "fairy tale" weddings, when my boss's daughter got married, I gave her a gift with a "homemade" card, which was actually a little book I wrote, describing the bride and groom's history as a fairy tale. ("Once upon a time there was a good and kind princess named Nicole...") I used little rubber stamps to illustrate it. It was a hit!

[Sebastian]

Kelly,

I think I agree about the crop. The original looked like it was meant to be a candid shot, the second has a more refined, more deliberate look to it, like I MEANT it to be that way, which I did. I am much happier with the second one and I think I'll keep it the way it is.

The groom had the couple's story printed as a hardcover book entitled "Fairy Tale" and left it in her dressing room surrounded by dozens of white roses. She cried for something like ten minutes after seeing it...

[Speed]

Thanks for commenting everyone. The unnatural, posed look was intentional, I wanted it to be stylized and illustrative, not natural or candid looking. More symbolic, the hands and rings being supported by the out of focus elements. Judging by your comments I have succeeded, but due to it being a photo that might be degrading to the image. They saw the first image and loved it, though I catered it to them because they take symbolism to an extreme. I have slightly reworked it into something that I will give them instead. I am also considering doing a painting of this image as a gift to them, though that will depends on wether I will have time before I next see them.

Below is the revised version, as well as an alternate shot, and a photo of them at the base of a lighthouse, he bride's favorite place. The lighthouse one is a work in progress, they had a sort of fairy tale theme going on and I'm trying to make it look kinda surreal.

Sebastian,

That second shot is the epitome of a "classic" wedding ring shot! Glad to see you got that one. Also, I LOVE the shot at the base of the lighthouse! That is a great shot. (Yeah, I've got a soft spot for lighthouses.)

;-)