April 12, 2011

• Accolade of Excellence Part II | An Award-Milestone-Affirmation Hard Work And Knowledge Are Required

   

   

  So here is part two of my previous post.  In the time between a little package came in the mail with my award ribbon.  Nice ribbon but definitely it is what it stands for that makes it more valuable than what it is constructed with.  People ask if I am proud of this image.  And you know I am, but mostly because this image was shot in real time in the real world.  This image was produced on one of the worst stormy days that we had this winter.  It was gloomy and raining hard.  The couple asked “Can we still shoot something outside?”  My answer, “Of course we can!”  Of course they did not know this was one of those ducks paddling in water moments, you know the duck looks calm on top but is paddling like crazy under the water. That is one of the truths about wedding photography you can’t tell them to wait for another day, since that is the day.  That is why it is so important to find a good photographer for your wedding because you don’t want excuses; you want them to still be able to produce.  Obviously there are some constraints but really folks you need someone that can adjust and that means knowing how to use lighting.  I know it is hip to say you only use natural lighting but as Joe McNally (a famous photographer) says, “If you are going to be a professional photographer there are times you must use a flash.”  I am paraphrasing a bit here as I don’t know exactly where in his book he says that and I am too lazy to go look for it but that is the jest of it.  If your photographer does not know how to make the best use of flash lighting then your images are going to suffer somewhere.  Well back to the story, we got to the Legion of Honor and it is gloomy…..it is dark….it is depressing and the light there is awful.  I suppose I could have packed it in and the couple probably would have not been too mad but is it fair to them?  One might say it is not fair to expect a photographer to come up with something and maybe not but that is what we are getting paid for and so you dig in your little bag of knowledge and tricks, and hopefully you have more than just a sun bonnet in there. 

   

  So yes, I am proud of this image because it was considered by a very distinguished panel of my peers to be worthy of an accolade but more so because it was produced in hard conditions in the spur of the moment with a couple who are just ordinary people.  Can I produce an award winning image every time out?  I don’t think anyone really can but for my clients and for myself I am always going to be out there trying to produce one every time!  I find myself always driving and walking around trying how to make an image better or something else I can learn and master so I can bring that to the table. 
  

   

  I want to thank Luisa & Allen for trusting me to record their special day.  They really hung in there and gave me a few moments to set up and shoot this image.  Thanks also to their bridal party and friends who volunteered to be mobile lightstands and for helping to spread a tarp and hold umbrellas to keep L & A dry and looking marvelous.  Kudos to Brian who assisted me, you know what I want and how I want it. Hummm…that being strictly in a photographic sense.  Ha ha ha…  Again thanks to Scott Robert and Brian Ng for being my mentors.  Then last but not least thanks also, to all of you out there that follow and support me I appreciate more than you know. 

  • 2:18 am
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