12/20/09 Engagement party

lizzard_nyc · December 21, 2009

When I used to attend these functions 99% of my shots consisted of "posed" and "say cheese" shots.

I still wound up taking a few of those, especially when people saw me point the camera, they stopped what they were doing and assumed "the pose", but now the majority are photos that document the event. I have this forum to thank for that.

1.

2.

3.

4.

something a little different (2 color shots:dunno )
5.

6.

Comments appreciated.

bdcolen · December 21, 2009

lizzard_nyc wrote:

When I used to attend these functions 99% of my shots consisted of "posed" and "say cheese" shots.

I still wound up taking a few of those, especially when people saw me point the camera, they stopped what they were doing and assumed "the pose", but now the majority are photos that document the event. I have this forum to thank for that.

Lose the color!

These are really terrific, Liz. And if Santa doesn't bring you some sort of editing software he's going to have to answer to me!

Really, you have made such enormous strides this year it's fantastic. And don't worry about taking the occasional "smile" shot - once you've taken it, people will ignore you and you can take the 'real' photos.

lizzard_nyc · December 21, 2009

Thank you B.D.:D
I like to compare my shots from now to just a year ago (much like Rutt's exercise) and it's pretty hysterical.

The bride-to-be loved them--so that made me very happy too.

I'll borrow some brass knuckles and we'll go after Santa if I don't get some editing software. Not much of an example for my kids--but I HAVE been very good and patient this year.

MissB · December 22, 2009

I love the processing on the first few.. and the PJ approach really suits you.. I agree whole heartedly.. you've grown leaps and bounds since i've joined dgrin... nice work I cant WAIT to see more!

divamum · December 22, 2009

lizzard_nyc wrote:

Thank you B.D.:D
I like to compare my shots from now to just a year ago (much like Rutt's exercise) and it's pretty hysterical.

The bride-to-be loved them--so that made me very happy too.

I'll borrow some brass knuckles and we'll go after Santa if I don't get some editing software. Not much of an example for my kids--but I HAVE been very good and patient this year.

Santa's working on it, but got snowed up for three days....

And BD, you're going to shoot me but... er... I really like the colour ones :hide

dychui · December 23, 2009

Hey Liz!

Great work! Number 2 and 5 are my favorites

I actually like the soft-focus color for that shot, it came out very natural looking. Though members of F-64 will frown upon me for saying so

michswiss · December 23, 2009

Very honest portrayals of the event. I'm not surprised the Bride loved them. I was struck by #1 immediately.

I'm not against the colour versions per se, but the shots themselves have no direction or overriding sense of theme or setting. Fwiw, I don't think they would work in B&W either. In my view, if you stay with a colour shot for doco or street shooting, the colour needs to have a role in the image. Be a part of telling the story. Alternatively, it should absolutely not detract or distract from the subject or theme.

michswiss · December 23, 2009

divamum wrote:

Santa's working on it, but got snowed up for three days....

And BD, you're going to shoot me but... er... I really like the colour ones :hide

Am I to understand that Santa enjoys Opera?:D

lizzard_nyc · December 23, 2009

MissB wrote:

I love the processing on the first few.. and the PJ approach really suits you.. I agree whole heartedly.. you've grown leaps and bounds since i've joined dgrin... nice work I cant WAIT to see more!

Hey MissB,
Love the new Avatar (whewhewwww, that's me whistling).

Thank you about the PJ approach--I'm hooked.

lizzard_nyc · December 23, 2009

divamum wrote:

Santa's working on it, but got snowed up for three days....

And BD, you're going to shoot me but... er... I really like the colour ones :hide

hee hee,
You are the best Divamum--
I was more talking about a new computer though---but alas that is not going to happen. My son dropped a spoon into the toilet and flushed it AND he jumped off the bed landed on an ancient outlet (which is huge and square) and knocked the power out to my bedroom--it's a very old house, over 100 years old--We had to have emergency plumber and an electrician come out yesterday. Which puts off the computer for a bit.

BUT you have saved me with your very generous offer.

My ancient laptop eagerly awaits your package:)

lizzard_nyc · December 23, 2009

dychui wrote:

Hey Liz!

Great work! Number 2 and 5 are my favorites I actually like the soft-focus color for that shot, it came out very natural looking. Though members of F-64 will frown upon me for saying so

Thank you Dychui,
Glad you like the soft-focus shots--I like that affect too for that particular shot. Color AND soft-focus, I was pushing buttons that day

.

lizzard_nyc · December 23, 2009

michswiss wrote:

Very honest portrayals of the event. I'm not surprised the Bride loved them. I was struck by #1 immediately.

I'm not against the colour versions per se, but the shots themselves have no direction or overriding sense of theme or setting. Fwiw, I don't think they would work in B&W either. In my view, if you stay with a colour shot for doco or street shooting, the colour needs to have a role in the image. Be a part of telling the story. Alternatively, it should absolutely not detract or distract from the subject or theme.

#1 is my favorite of the bunch too.
That was the bride's best friend inquiring of the mother of the groom "if there was more like him at home?". That's the bride-to-be in the background doing the greeting.

I like the color shot of the kitchen scene, I thought maybe that one told a story and might work in b&w

.

But I do agree on the other shot--it was one of the only ones I liked of the couple together, and since it was an engagement post, I felt I had to include it--but yes totally in agreement on that one--

Thanks for looking and commenting

.

lizzard_nyc · December 23, 2009

michswiss wrote:

Am I to understand that Santa enjoys Opera?:D

Divamum is Santa:D .

bdcolen · December 23, 2009

divamum wrote:

Santa's working on it, but got snowed up for three days....

And BD, you're going to shoot me but... er... I really like the colour ones :hide

Well, color's fine in principle - but to be perfectly frank...the color in those shots is truly crappy. (I give Liz a pass as she doesn't have processing software, but it is still crappy color.

)

divamum · December 23, 2009

Mischswiss wrote:

Am I to understand that Santa enjoys Opera?:D

Feels gooooood to be able to pay it forward!

(for those that don't know, Jen did me an incredible act of kindness back in the summer, sending me a tripod head she no longer used

)

lizzard_nyc wrote:

Divamum is Santa:D .

Mr Diva is acting as elf because he's going to the post office today - it's on its way! Doubt you'll get it before the weekend given the holiday, but it's finally en route....I hope it runs on your computer (release date on it was 2003, so I think you're in with a good chance

) It's plenty powerful software despite being the "poor relation" to Photoshop - not as many tutorials as PS, but the principles are the same and there are actually quite a few plugins knocking around the internet, so you should have fun with figuring that out. Not sure how it copes with raw, but Picasa and other programs will let you open those and convert, so I think you should be good to go :ivar (I hope :hide)

Happy Happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Flyinggina · December 23, 2009

All I can do is agree with the others. I really look forward to seeing your work and have enjoyed watching your progress on this forum. You have a really good eye.

I am with Diva on the color shots, especially #5. It gives the photos a vintage, timeless (or timeworn?) quality that I like. Ditto for the softness.

As an aside, a huge thank you to Rutt, BD and Richard for making this forum happen and offering a dGrin home to so many.

clap

Virginia

lizzard_nyc · December 23, 2009

Flyinggina wrote:

All I can do is agree with the others. I really look forward to seeing your work and have enjoyed watching your progress on this forum. You have a really good eye.

I am with Diva on the color shots, especially #5. It gives the photos a vintage, timeless (or timeworn?) quality that I like. Ditto for the softness.

As an aside, a huge thank you to Rutt, BD and Richard for making this forum happen and offering a dGrin home to so many. clap

Virginia

Thank you ma'am.
I will add a huge thanks to B.D., Richard and Rutt as well but also to the rest of the frequent flyers here, this particular forum has taught me so much in such a short time.

Makes me walk with a little skip in my step when I get posts like this. Thank you. Then if my head gets too big to fit through the door, I can count on B.D. for a reality check

.

lizzard_nyc · December 23, 2009

divamum wrote:

Mr Diva is acting as elf because he's going to the post office today - it's on its way! Doubt you'll get it before the weekend given the holiday, but it's finally en route....I hope it runs on your computer (release date on it was 2003, so I think you're in with a good chance ) It's plenty powerful software despite being the "poor relation" to Photoshop - not as many tutorials as PS, but the principles are the same and there are actually quite a few plugins knocking around the internet, so you should have fun with figuring that out. Not sure how it copes with raw, but Picasa and other programs will let you open those and convert, so I think you should be good to go :ivar (I hope :hide)
Happy Happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll be here--not going anywhere anytime soon--so I'll be happy whenever it gets here

Thank you and Mr. Elf (Mr. Divamum) for me too please.