Here is a small selection of the pictures that Julie and I shot at this weeks shooting weddings workshop. I’ve selected this set for their interesting lighting or the shooting techniques we used to make them.
A classic Lovegrove shot taken with a zoomed in Speedlight on a stand. The details of how I took this shot and many others are in the rest of the post.
I shot this first picture with a Speedlight on a stand high and to the left at an angle of about about 70 degrees to the camera. My 5D is hand held above my head to give the picture it’s elevated viewpoint. ISO 400, 1/60th sec @ f/6.3, on a 16mm lens. I used the camera in manual mode. The sister picture to this is at the end of the post.
This ring picture was taken with a +4 and a +3 dioptre attached to the front of my 24-70mm lens. The light was provided by a small desk lamp and a window. ISO 800, 1/40th sec @ f/3.5
Once we'd done the close upsit was time to get creative with the stair well. There was very little light and it was raining outside. This shot was taken on a monopod with just the ambient light. ISO 800, 1/13th sec @ f/3.2 with a 25mm lens setting.
This was shot hand held with the light on the groom coming from a zoomed in speedlight in the left hand while I held my Canon 5D in my right hand. 16mm lens, ISO 1250, 1/40th sec @ f/3.5
Then it was off to the church. It was dark, very dark but I wanted to show just what could be done with very little light. Even my trusty old 5D coped well with just a monopod for support. A D700 or a 5Dmk2 could easily be used hand held. ISO 1250, 1/10th sec @ f/2.8 using natural light.
Taken with exactly the same settings as the shot above. A favourite style of mine.
From the outside looking in is the only way to shoot this image. Those of you who know my style for using tree canopies will know I like to look out from within. However on this occasion the radiant colour of the beech tree was far better shot conventionally. ISO 400, 1/100th sec @ f/4
This gorgeous picture by Julie utilises window light to great effect. She chose to use a monopod because the shutter speed was down to just 1/8th second. ISO 800, @ f/4
It was soon time to get back indoors and I used the opportunity to demonstrate the use of my Arri 300 Fresnel spotlight. A slash of tungsten light was all that this shot needed. I show how to shoot this on my forthcoming DVD on 'Lighting Winter Weddings'. ISO 800, 1/60th @ f/4
Here's another picture lit with my Arri light. Taken with the same settings as the picture above. Earlier in the day this picture would have looked great with just the daylight from the French doors behind me.
I can't help transforming cold wet winter skies into ultramarine canvases. Its in my blood I guess. I show how to shoot this too on my forthcoming DVD. Lit with a Speedlight on a stand triggered with my STE2 transmitter.
If you were on this workshop and would like to leave a comment please feel free to do so. If you are just passing please leave a comment too.
Hi Damien,
Thanks for another great days tuition by Julie and yourself, your skills of teaching match those of your work and the enthusiasm from both of you is infectious.
Many many thanks
Pete
Damien,
Thank you for answering my question, and everyone else’s too – it is very useful information.
I really am impressed with the way that you get back to people with their questions. If there was an award for helping to improve the wealth of photographic knowledge – then you’d get a vote from me!!
Dave.
Dave
Hi Rosie,
These Church shots were a challenge for sure. Let’s hope your church has some light ;-) Remember to use my magic formula with your flash if you have a particularly dark wedding. Don’t panic!
I hope it goes well.
Damien.
Hi Bob,
Yes you can use the zoom function on Nikon SB800 and SB900 units when used with the pop up or SU800 commanders.
I zoom the flash, take a picture and adjust to taste in a test and measure way.
Damien.
Hi James,
I focus on my subjects feet and then hoist the monopod nearly 6 ft into the air so that it is in balance above my head. It is then focused on their eyes :)
Damien.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your kind words. Shooting stills at slow shutter speeds is like target shooting with rifles. It’s a combination of technique and practice. I use a monopod too for good measure.
A tip: Gently squeeze the shutter button in such a way as to have as much up pressure from your little finger as down pressure from your index finger.
Damien.
Sorry about the delay in my replies, I’ve been busy shooting :)
Dave – All my pictures are further enhanced. As Ansel Adams once said “You don’t take a photograph, you make it”.
The Winter Weddings DVD is now edited and at the replication house having a glass master made. It won’t have any post production at all. However the ‘Big Day’ DVD due out in the next couple of weeks does have a full hour on a bonus disc dedicated to post production.
The 2 pictures shown in this post taken in the green room were shot with the 16-35mm Mk2 lens.
A great day….can’t believe a week’s gone by already! Love your courses and always leave wanting to learn more! Probably need a term, rather than a day!
Bit disappointed in my church shots ….. and I’ve got a late afternoon wedding next week…….panic!
Hope your flu’ bug disappeared and that the birthday celebrations went well! – Very best wishes, Rosie
Superb blog Damien,
I’ve read several of your articles where you have used ‘zoomed in speedlight’,
How do you know what to zoom to? and can this be done on nikon when using the on-board flash as commander?
Keep up the fantastic blog….very informative.
regards,
Bob.
Ion
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Hope that helps
Martin
James
When I do this I use a 17-40 stopped down to give plenty of depth of field and pre focus manually (switch lens off auto). If in bright conditions I’ll be on manual exposure too because light entering the viewfinder messes up the exposure. Unless you have a camera with a viewfinder shutter, in which case close that instead.
Martin
Hi Damien
You shoot a lot of images with the camera above your head or with it attached to a monopod for additional height to great effect.
I have tried this technique in the past but have struggled to achieve sharp focus of the subject. What technique do you use to ensure the focus point is where you want it to be and is correctly focused and sharp?
Thanks
James
I found a good technique here from Joe Mcnally which may help?
http://uk.youtube.com/joemcnallyphoto
Your ability to shoot hand held at quite slow shutter speeds is testament to your skill as one of the best social photographers in this country. Any tips on that technique? Is there a process you have found works best? Is there a ratio to length of lens to lowest shutter speed hand held?
Fabulous lighting technique.
Looking through the images have raised a number of questions for me.
1. Have the images been further enhanced by post digital processing? If so, are they as per the techniques shown on your understanding lighting DVD?
2. And, on this topic, will the up coming Winter Wedding DVD also have the post processing techniques included?
3. For the interior shots, with the bride in the green room. Are they shot with the 16-35 Mk II lens?
Thanks Dave.