Bridal Portrait

[scootermcq]

I have been trying to tweak an almost impossible image that was taken in too harsh of sunlight. I have come up with these two, and was looking for people's preference.



Camera Nikon D300
Exposure 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture f/5.0 (8 stop ND Filter)
Focal Length 35 mm
ISO Speed 200
Lighting: 320 w/s strobe no modifier & sb 900 on camera

[hotchilidamo]

The first one for me. Its much warmer

The second is actually a nice shot but probably not the best mood for the client

[zona5101]

first one.

might want to try taking it all B&W and tone it. There's a lot of nice texture that is well suited to B&W....

[High_Speed]

I like the second one...but the mood just isn't for a wedding. LoL So having said that, the first one. And btw...weren't they previously on the top steps? Maybe I'm losing my mind....

Also, and this is just my opinion, so probably doesn't mean much...but I think you might as well crop off a little of the left side of the frame. It looks like there is more of the left flower pot than there is the right, which just seems to look odd to me.

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by High_Speed

And btw...weren't they previously on the top steps? Maybe I'm losing my mind....

Nope.... your mind is fine... took a few (all I need is one to turn out well). I preferred the composition in the other one, as I had them centered in the windows, but the lighting is cooperating better in this one. Just playing to see which one will be presented to them (or both)

[High_Speed]

Originally Posted by scootermcq

Nope.... your mind is fine... took a few (all I need is one to turn out well). I preferred the composition in the other one, as I had them centered in the windows, but the lighting is cooperating better in this one. Just playing to see which one will be presented to them (or both)

I see! Well the lighting is definitely better on this shot. Speaking of lighting, not trying to critique at this point but hopefully learn a thing or two myself....but did you have fill light at all on these shots?

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by High_Speed

I see! Well the lighting is definitely better on this shot. Speaking of lighting, not trying to critique at this point but hopefully learn a thing or two myself....but did you have fill light at all on these shots?

Yup. I knew I was in trouble before I took the shot. I would not have even tried if it was not for the fact that the B&G wanted a portrait on those steps (and ok, I wanted one too). I have lots that I have taken in open shade that are beautiful & I am quite happy with, and I am sure they will be too.

This was taken at 2:00pm in direct sunlight, no clouds in sight.

I had an 8 stop ND filter on the lens.
I had an SB900 on the camera pretending to be as useful as a fart in a windstorm
I had 320 w/s studio strobe running on a battery pack running at full power camera right to try and lift the shadows on the left side of the subjects.

You can see that the strobe has had some effect, because there is a shadow on the brides dress made by her arm, which is on the opposite side from the sun. The SB900 did reach them, (You can't see it in this resolution) because there is a catch light dead center of the pupil.

Bottom line.... it is just an ugly situation without shade at that time of day.

[sarahle]

Just a quick thought...jumping in...the first one in color needs to be cropped to be more symetrical...it has no balance..but all the aspects are there to give the balance it needs..find a crop that works for it..make sure you leave all the stuff...the urns, the ornate concrete, the windows..etc..everything that makes it romantic.
Second one...I, also, like the black and white for this scene..find a way to use it...make it more personal, crop out the extras but leave in the important stuff, the people and the dress...if you look at the photo, you can do what I call a "pop and crop"..enlarge it one time(maybe) and you need the shine of the glass window behind them...adds a little glamour, but crop(in the concrete wall-evenly) but do it that the dress train is not cropped and has a touch of ground for relief in behind it...be even w/your crop and you could get a nice personal touch on this photo to use as part your presentation.