The top hat series
heatherfeather
Registered Users Posts: 2,738 Major grins
I met with Billy and Angela a couple weeks ago to do this set. They are going to have me do a ton of design work for their wedding so a good percentage of the photos were taken with that in mind: lots of room or blurred space to one side, that sort of thing. We started out at her house on the Anchorage Hillside with regular clothes and then they changed to the more formal attire about halfway through the shoot.
It was about 15 degrees outside when we took these. We scheduled it for the slow sunset time. And the sky did not disappoint us in the slightest.
1. The flair + the sunset light catching on their breath really makes this photo for me.. I just love the dreamy feel. (And I love guys that can pick up their girls... so cute!)
2. Another flair... I just loved the flair ones in this set. I don't usually get to shoot in the sunset, so the light is just plain beautiful to me. Plus his expression is sooo romantic.
3.
4. This one hit the garbage bin several times, but it just keeps on popping out! The "not perfect focus" is what makes... and breaks.... this one for me. But the expressions saved it in the end. (Especially thinking back to Angie's favorite wedding photo of herself.)
So, would you have saved it? or would it have ended up on your cutting room floor?
5. Aaaaah, love this one. I think her beautiful hair is about my favorite part.
6. Body language.
7. When shooting a top hat it is almost like another head that you have to be constantly aware of. Several times I would come in for a close up like I normally would and then would have to take another step back after looking in my viewfinder....
8. The ring shot. I am still back and forth about the texture... It works, and then I miss the clarity of not having it. But it did take an otherwise fairly boring pose and turn it into something not as boring. The other thing I noticed is that if you crop the top hat it seems like it never ends... Perhaps it is 3 feet tall! You just can't tell and it seems to stretch on forever in my mind when it is cropped.
9. We were driving to our next location when we came up a hill and around a corner.... and I had to pull over. The sunset was just amazing from that spot. And did you see that I caught a BIF in the photo? That is a first for me. (I wish there weren't a guard rail there, but oh well.)
10. This is my favorite! He worked really hard to get this shot for me. He must have jumped 15 times. I had him hold the umbrella point where he thought his head would be and I pre focused there. It worked pretty well, but it did take some trial and error. He was bound and determined to be looking at the camera while in mid air. Not an easy task in tuxedo shoes while your toes are numb.
11. This was our destination: the covered bridge that I had noticed on my way up the hillside. All of the cars that drove by got a big kick out of our zany fun- being outside after dark with a photographer, gown, tails and tophat.
12.
13. When we got back to the house, her dad had a fire roaring in the firepit. And there was still the last little bit of color on the sky.
14. And the city lights made a nice glow.
It was a fun shoot. A really fun shoot.
I do have to share a hilarious story about this client. Shortly after having meet with this couple, I recieved a certified letter notice from the post office. I went and picked up the large official looking manilla envelope and was surprised to see it was from a funeral home in Anchorage. And then when I slid the long packet of papers out out, to the top was stapled a check for a couple thousand dollars from the funeral home. For a few moments I started to panick wondering who I knew that had died and left me money. But after I looked closer I saw that it was the contract and booking fee from these guys.
Her dad is apparently a mortician. They all had the hugest laugh about it when I told them the story.:rofl
C & C are always welcomed and appreciated!:lust
It was about 15 degrees outside when we took these. We scheduled it for the slow sunset time. And the sky did not disappoint us in the slightest.
1. The flair + the sunset light catching on their breath really makes this photo for me.. I just love the dreamy feel. (And I love guys that can pick up their girls... so cute!)
2. Another flair... I just loved the flair ones in this set. I don't usually get to shoot in the sunset, so the light is just plain beautiful to me. Plus his expression is sooo romantic.
3.
4. This one hit the garbage bin several times, but it just keeps on popping out! The "not perfect focus" is what makes... and breaks.... this one for me. But the expressions saved it in the end. (Especially thinking back to Angie's favorite wedding photo of herself.)
So, would you have saved it? or would it have ended up on your cutting room floor?
5. Aaaaah, love this one. I think her beautiful hair is about my favorite part.
6. Body language.
7. When shooting a top hat it is almost like another head that you have to be constantly aware of. Several times I would come in for a close up like I normally would and then would have to take another step back after looking in my viewfinder....
8. The ring shot. I am still back and forth about the texture... It works, and then I miss the clarity of not having it. But it did take an otherwise fairly boring pose and turn it into something not as boring. The other thing I noticed is that if you crop the top hat it seems like it never ends... Perhaps it is 3 feet tall! You just can't tell and it seems to stretch on forever in my mind when it is cropped.
9. We were driving to our next location when we came up a hill and around a corner.... and I had to pull over. The sunset was just amazing from that spot. And did you see that I caught a BIF in the photo? That is a first for me. (I wish there weren't a guard rail there, but oh well.)
10. This is my favorite! He worked really hard to get this shot for me. He must have jumped 15 times. I had him hold the umbrella point where he thought his head would be and I pre focused there. It worked pretty well, but it did take some trial and error. He was bound and determined to be looking at the camera while in mid air. Not an easy task in tuxedo shoes while your toes are numb.
11. This was our destination: the covered bridge that I had noticed on my way up the hillside. All of the cars that drove by got a big kick out of our zany fun- being outside after dark with a photographer, gown, tails and tophat.
12.
13. When we got back to the house, her dad had a fire roaring in the firepit. And there was still the last little bit of color on the sky.
14. And the city lights made a nice glow.
It was a fun shoot. A really fun shoot.
I do have to share a hilarious story about this client. Shortly after having meet with this couple, I recieved a certified letter notice from the post office. I went and picked up the large official looking manilla envelope and was surprised to see it was from a funeral home in Anchorage. And then when I slid the long packet of papers out out, to the top was stapled a check for a couple thousand dollars from the funeral home. For a few moments I started to panick wondering who I knew that had died and left me money. But after I looked closer I saw that it was the contract and booking fee from these guys.
Her dad is apparently a mortician. They all had the hugest laugh about it when I told them the story.:roflC & C are always welcomed and appreciated!:lust
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Comments
I'm also totally digging the one with the texture. Perhaps bring out the ring just a teensy bit more, but I do like it.
I really like #12 as well.
Seems that overall he had more "camera personality" than she does, but you have caught some GREAT shots of them both. And what a fun shoot! (and I have to ask - why does he have a tophat and tails - dancer? Musician?)
Any particular reason you don't want to clone out the guard rail? Seems where it's up against the trees in that click-heel shot it wouldn't be impossible to get rid of it in the irregular line of the shadows....
Awesome stuff. More please!!
When I met with them, I suggested they go all out. Either totally casual, or totally formal. And he got really excited and ran with the thought of formal. But, they are both really big into theater. And the wedding will be at a theater as well. And that is going to be fun! To think that there are more of them and to have them all in the same place is going to be a blast!
BTW..that is a very funny story!
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Oh thanks Steve! I had a really fun time with this one. It was all I could do to not process this set first even though I had others in line ahead of it. It was a bit stretching shooting in pretty much pitch black, but it all seemed to work out in the end with the high ISO's on the 5D. And the subjects couldn't have been more fun!
Next time I'll just plan on warmer temps! Shooting after dark in February isn't always the best idea.
Thanks for the nice comment!
Thanks Joyce!
4 - This is a keeper, by any standard. You know as well (or better) than most, it's not about the critical focus .... but the emotions. You got 'em here!
8 - Texture is too much. Maybe dial it down a bit?
14 - For me, no question, this is the best of the group. There's the technical merit of the shot (excepting the naked branches along the left edge) and the wonderful use of flash. But that flash, in combination with the lights from the city - WOW
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Absolutely LOVING 4 and 5. I just keep going back to 5, there is so much going on here, with the yummy warm light, the tension in the pose, her slight "hard to get" expression, awesome hair texture like you said...it's one for the portfolio, for sure!
In the top hat series, 7, 8 and 14 really stand out! I love the DOF and lighting in 7...wow, he's really handsome!
Way to go!
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That vanilla sky in #5 is incredibly beautiful.
Thanks for sharing.
Jeff
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7 is probably my absolute favorite from the set.
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Thanks Scott. You know the funny thing is that I killed myself keeping that darn tree in #14 in there. There was an awful piece of some kind of machinery there and I cloned it out from the branches. Just wish it would have occurred to me how simple it would be to just get rid of the tree AND machinery all together. It should be such an easy fix I might go back in and take it out. (Now that you have screwed my head on right, lol!):D
I AM surprised you liked #4. I would have thought Mr. Technical would not go for that sort of thing.
Thanks so much!
Thanks Jeff!
It was fun! I just love dramatic people. And these guys were a kick!
#7 is one of my favs too! Oh those eyes.
Here's a link to one of my favorites. A link - so as not to hi-jack this thread too much.
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That little guy in your photo looks like he is having FUN! I love the light and the slight glow-y look that you gave the processing. Very nice! And I think it IS artistic! Well done! We both have to stretch ourselves, and you did a fantastic job!
Looove the sun light you got here! (1, 2, 5, 7) AWESOME!!!
Other favorites are:
3 - very pretty & nice shot of him
6 (haha! Good catch!)
7 WOW
10
Haha, and I am GLAD you kept #4!!
Comments and constructive critique always welcome!
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