Fireworks started before the honeymoon

[Lin-z]

This is a picture from the wedding I did this weekend. I have not had time to do any processing to it other than a little cropping. C&C please!

http://Lindsi.smugmug.com/photos/114338279-M.jpg

[jamiepeter]

Gorgeous. perfect shot. what kind of lighting did you use? just bounce flash?

[Lin-z]

It was the most amazing moment. What had been a somewhat dull, and very rushed wedding. (They were not willing to give much time for photography) This was the reception. It was at a very small venue, very cramped for space, right after we walked into the reception hall we heard these explosions. I looked out noticed it was fireworks, grabbed bride and groom by the arm and said get out here now and kiss eachother and hold it. We thought the fireworks had stopped so they started pulling away, then this one burst happened.

I used 430ex pointed right at them. I probably would have gotten a little better result if I had bounced it, but there was not really anything to bounce off of.

[DMZLSK]

Can't wait to see this with PP completed.

[DocFrankenstein]

Interesting window design! Jail or zoo?

I love the capture though. I wouldn't be able to think if a moment like that was happening.

[jamiepeter]

Thanks for the response; neat shot again! It looked like a direct flash to me so I was just wondering if that was true. I have a 420EX and I always hear of 430EX's--do you know the difference between the two? Is it significant?

[Lin-z]

Interesting window design! Jail or zoo?

I love the capture though. I wouldn't be able to think if a moment like that was happening.


It was like an iron fence, that if fireworks in the BG. I wish that fence was not there, but there was no other place, and no time to find another place. The idea, the poseing and the shot happened in about a minute.



I don't know much about the 420ex, but I am sure some of the others here can tell you more about it.

[MagicallyDelicious]

What a gorgeous shot!

[Lin-z]

Can't wait to see this with PP completed.


If any of you are interested in taking a stab at it please do. I am not good with PP all I plan to do it get the skin tones a little better looking and maybe try a black and white version.

[MALI]

The moment captured is great. Background fireworks adds to it. Skins tones not natural. Too much flash on the faces. A bigger or original picture may be needed for any pp attempts.

MALI

[Lin-z]

Here is a link to the larger version of the photo

http://Lindsi.smugmug.com/photos/114338279-L.jpg


I know the flash it too much. It was a cramped space so I had to be pretty close to them, and there was nothing to bounce off of.

[MALI]

I keep getting this error message whenever I try to upload pictures. I wrote several times to the web administrators but got no reply so far. Any ideas? Mods?

"Invalid Post specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator" (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/sendmessage.php)

MALI

[Skrim17]

where are you linking from?

[MALI]

where are you linking from?

I am not sure what that means. I hit post a reply as usual and try to upload images, which takes for ever and ends up with that error message.

MALI

[Skrim17]

You need to host your images at a place like flicker, or photobucket and upload them there to link them here. Take a look HERE (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=160897)

[MALI]

You need to host your images at a place like flicker, or photobucket and upload them there to link them here.

What happened to embedding the pictures?

MALI

[Skrim17]

follow the link above

[MALI]

follow the link above

I know I started to sound like I am thick but hey guys, I already know this 101 attach a picture stuff. So stop referring me back to the basics. I have been around here for a little while and this is not my first time.

The thing is this error happens only sometimes and I am trying to figure out what it is that I am doing differently.

Obviously, web administrators do not think much of this problem; so I will figure out myself.

MALI

[ironbelle]

That's a different shot lindsi. i like it. Was it a grab shot and the "lights" just happen to be there?

[Lin-z]

Its fireworks

[Lin-z]

Is this better than before? Do the skin tones look natural?
http://Lindsi.smugmug.com/photos/114842331-M.jpg

[monter]

the skin looks better. not quite so yellow, but I think they still need a bit of toning down. Great shot though. If I was the bride I'd LOVE it!

[Lin-z]

I am using adobe lightroom.
what changes would you suggest?

[Lin-z]

If I was the bride I'd LOVE it!

I hope they love it. This is probably one of the best moments I have had at a wedding.

[MALI]

Here before and after.

MALI

[Lin-z]

Here before and after.

MALI

I love how the backgroud pops. What actions did you take here?

[MALI]

I love how the backgroud pops. What actions did you take here?

I know I am starting to sound like one of those commercials but really, I have been having a lot of fun since I bought Corel's Paint Shop Pro Photo XI.

I am getting a lot of things done in much less time.

I am trying to spread the word because number one, I want others to make use of the power of the program and number two, I want to convert a lot of people from Adobe's Elements so that Adobe will have to take things more seriously for their next update. I was using Elements for years now and I was really disappointed by their last update.

Here, I did a lot of things like Levels, Clarify, Saturation, Glamour, Skin Smoothing, many of which come as actions with the program; all you ned to do is hit a button.

MALI

[monter]

no offense, but I don't care for MALI's version at all! Way too purple/red to me.

[Lin-z]

How do you feel about the original one?

[monter]

I already said I liked the edited version better....


the skin looks better. not quite so yellow, but I think they still need a bit of toning down. Great shot though. If I was the bride I'd LOVE it!

[Lin-z]

I already said I liked the edited version better....


Oh yeah sorry, thanks for the responce

[karensimmons]

I'll be the voice of dissent. I don't like it for the following reasons:

1 - overflashed. I really don't like the stark light on their faces and the harsh shadow thrown by her cheek on her own face and her nose on his face is unattractive.

2 - The angle - I *rarely* shoot people from below. I realize that you wanted to get the fireworks in the frame, but the angle is unflattering to them - it makes them both look heavy. It also means that the largest and most visible part of his face is the heaviest part of his cheek/jaw/neck.

3 - the "almost kissing" pose doesn't do it for me. This looks like it was a random catch in the middle of a moment - their eyes are closed, they're smiling too much to be almost kissing, and there's enough nose overlap that it looks awkward. I'd rather have seen the kiss, or the moment a few seconds before when their faces weren't overlapping so much.

4 - finally, it's not obvious that the flashes of light in the back are fireworks. The grate in front of them combined with the large spots of light seem out of place to me.

Karen

[TeeJay]

Hmm.. I wouldn't be quite as "harsh" as Karen, but I would say that a) I prefer the original and b) their faces are a little too "hot" from the flash for my liking.

I think the "grill" in the background is a tad distracting - (Doc asked whether it was a zoo or prison), I think it's just that I can't decide what it's supposed to be either. Sorry.

[BJ Pulsipher]

There are technical issues here, however, getting the shot was inspired.
You could use a flash diffuser. I love my Canon flashes but they have been a bit too much in my experience. I have folded a hanky over the flash to soften it. You also could step back a foot or so and make use of the light fall off. I think the eyes closed/big smile helps emphasize the spontaneity of the moment. That is a great 'mood' to catch at a wedding. Kissing mid-laugh because of the joyous occasion.

[karensimmons]

Why was my post "harsh"? Someone posted an image and asked for opinions and I offered mine, clearly expressed as why *I* don't like it. Thre's nothing harsh about that.

If people think that's "harsh" then I'd advise them never to submit a portfolio for professional critique or take a college level class that requires them to submit work for review. Given that this is an image shown to a client, I would expect that people would critique it from the perspective of someone wanting to provide professional quality. Of course if a love-fest is what's wanted, just let me know, and I'll refrain from honest input in the future. :)

Karen

[DocFrankenstein]

Of course if a love-fest is what's wanted, just let me know, and I'll refrain from honest input in the future. :)

Karen
Yeah. The general consensus is not to reply if you don't like the picture in every which way. The ego might be too fragile...

[Lin-z]

I don't think it was harsh... it was honest

[forkball]

Ok, well maybe the shot won't win any awards, but while technically imperfect, I'm betting the couple will LOVE it! I think first and foremost, a photo should tell a story, and this photo does.

Sure, it's a bit overflashed. The shot would have been benefitted from a more difuse light source and less of it. A softbox would have worked well I think... or the Pro-max system with the frost cover over it. Maybe even if you have the flash on a bracket it wouldn't be AS flat. That close I think you'd have a bit of a paramount shadow pattern... I tend to like the look of off camera flash from the side a bit though.

You had a tough situation where you had to get the shot now so setup was probably not possible anyway. You did well to get the shot you got.