Does Joe shoot Program?

[Arnie1]

I must have watched the Masters of Wedding Photography DVD so many times now, trying to extract as much from it as possible. One thing troubles me, how the hell does Joe Buissink shoot so fast! In one sequence as the bride and her father are walking down the isle Joe shoots a long lens, then switches to another body with a wide lens then flips up his flash on a bracket and shoots without doing any more than turning the flash on.

Long lense shot, wide available light shot and wide with flash in no more than 10 seconds.

So to the crux of my question...you experienced guys, how do you deal with these situations where you have virtually no time for thinking/creative control? Those key moments that happen so fast you just cannot afford to miss them.

Do you just use program???

Simon

[jj1987]

I think its safe to say that most of us meter for the church before hand. 30 min before the ceremony myself and the main photographer meter and take greycard pictures to ensure you get the best exposure, and also to fix white balance later. Then you just keep a little sheet of paper with a map of the church, and settings written down for each location.

So I never meter, I just switch to predetermined settings. Plus, one camera body is set to one setting, the others are set to a different one. If you plan it out well, you have nothing to worrie about time wise.

[Arnie1]

Hey, we get clouds here in the UK!

Sounds like a good idea if everything stays constant and you have an assistant.

[Phil V]

Why Program? AV or TV mode also meter on the fly, So long as you understand how your meter works and when it will be fooled, there's no reason to over-analyse what modes to use.
Personally I use AV mode almost exclusively for my photography, as my primary concern is the depth of field in a picture. For sports photography I use mostly TV as the primary aim is the capture of movement.
Using AV, I watch for unusable shutter speeds and adjust ISO accordingly. Though to be fair, experience will tell me when to switch ISO without even having to check the shutter speed.
You're right Arnie, on a typical summers day here the EV can change 3 stops in a minute (and back again).

[newgenphoto]

Maybe Jamie Wexler will chime in here.... he shoots program a lot. I'm not to familiar with it as I shoot mostly manual.

[Arnie1]

Maybe Janie Wexler will chime in here.... he shoots program a lot. I'm not to familiar with it as I shoot mostly manual.

Janie? he didn't tell us about the sex change:cool:

[tim]

I meter beforehand and have the camreas preset, but I usually only use one camera/lens while they walk up the aisle. I must watch some of that DVD tonight, I have a wedding tomorrow, my first in a few weeks.

[Arnie1]

Cheers Tim, sounds like a good plan IF the light is staying constant....just a case of learning to think ahead more, and maybe switching to Program when your caught out!

That DVD was money well spent, I've learn't a hell of a lot from it. The Aussie's are my prefered mentors style wise, particularly Martin Schembri...that guy has an amazing eye for setting up groups.

Jamie, if your keen on using program please enlighten us a little.

[PhotoJourno]

I shoot Program when I can't make up my mind. Most other times, you wanna practice and condition yourself to always be multitasking (just like the old days of K1000 and film). I generally scan Focus Center Point (select according to composition), then Tv or Av (P for www.dontgiveadarn.com, or M for experimental or still photo at will). And then the focus lock button.

With those three, and some thumb scrolling with the knobs, you can get quite proficient and switch, adjust on the move as if you were manually focusing. Metering prior to a wedding will surely do the trick. This DVD guru, was probably too busy trying to look good himself, rather than worrying whether to give priority to his aperture or shutter. As it often happens...

[tim]

Cheers Tim, sounds like a good plan IF the light is staying constant....just a case of learning to think ahead more, and maybe switching to Program when your caught out!

Churches don't vary, and outside doesn't vary much usually. Just watch the histogram. My results are more consistent using manual even when the light is changing than using Av when the light remains constant.

[Arnie1]

Churches don't vary, and outside doesn't vary much usually. Just watch the histogram. My results are more consistent using manual even when the light is changing than using Av when the light remains constant.

Have to disagree here Tim. Most churches in the UK have huge amounts of stained glass windows, the ambient inside is directly effected by whats going on outside, if the sun keeps popping behind small clouds (as is common in a UK Summer) then the exposure will be jumping all over the place. I totally agree with your thinking if things remain constant.

Pre metering and using manual exposure sounds reliable if a: lighting conditions remain constant b: you have the time to pre-meter!

[tim]

Meter the bright area, meter the dark area, watch the histogram. I really don't like auto modes, the exposures I get really are all over the place if you're not paying close attention to it, and i'd rather have my attention elsewhere. Each to their own.

[jamiewexler]

I shoot M inside with a flash (counting on the flash to add the missing light), usually taking a few shots before the ceremony to sus out my settings. When I turn the flash off, I tend to shoot AV in a church. The reason I don't shoot in P in a church, is because P tends to select 1/60 at f4 in P mode when the flash is your main light. I like a little more DOF for the processional and recessional (which are the only times I try to use the flash). It's very possible that Joe (one of my personal heros) shoots P. Joe shoots Nikon, and I've heard that on a Nikon, P is often the most accurate of the program modes.

[cmM]

Yes, Joe B. shoots in "P" mode. He talks about it on his DVD. Gotta keep in mind though, it's not the same "P" as on your DRebel XT. I think Nikons are a bit different, at least the F5 (that's what he uses I think).

[Scott B]

Unless he's made a switch, Joe shoots the vast majority of his work on film as well. Another reason not to compare it with the Rebel.

[tim]

I saw that last night, 20% digital 80% film he said, more digital for celebrity weddings. I didn't hear anything about camera modes. His photos are incredible.