Shooting in Low Light!

Shooting in low light situations is a challenge for almost any photographer.  I happen to be one who loves to experiment with low lighting.  I love to get out and do night shots… capturing just the ambient light from streetlights, skyscrapers, automobiles, etc.  Ambient light… or available light is light that is not supplied by the photographer.  It is basically the light that is already there… and the light you have to work with in any given situations. 

In most cases for shooting low light situations you should use a tri-pod and a remote or cable release (if you have one) so you don’t cause any unnecessary movement of your camera.  By using a tri-pod you stabilize your equipment resulting in better photo quality, by reducing blur or shake that is very prominent in low light situations.  With a tri-pod you will also eliminate any grain from higher ISO’s (film speed).  Now that’s not to say you cant do it without these extra items, but you should be very sure you become stable before you take your shot, and you will probably still experience some shake or movement. 

In really low light situations a flash isn’t going to do you any good either.  In most instances the flash wont even reach your subject, or you will have nothing to bounce off of.  The sky is too far up when you are shooting outdoors, and even in a theater the ceilings are high and the walls are generally dark.  If you can use a flash you will probably end up with those ugly harsh shadows behind your subject anyway.  So best not to even attempt the flash. 

Speaking of theaters… now you not only have low light, but also moving objects.  A tri-pod is not going to work well in this environment.  Your subjects are moving… you will have a hard time focusing on them, and they will be blurred… however, blurring is ok sometimes if that is what you are looking for, and can make some really cool captures.  When working in a theater or event hall however you need to learn to use your camera settings.  By bumping your ISO (or using faster film) and using a larger aperture you can begin to capture ambient light.  Even though technology is a wonderful thing, remember by bumping your ISO you take the chance of getting a lot of grain in your images, so play with your settings and use the lowest ISO possible and the largest aperture possible.  A large aperture is the lowest setting on your lens… if you can take it down to 1.8 then your shutter speed will be pretty fast.  If you don’t have that low of an aperture then just get as low as you can.  It can take some practice, and every lighting situation will be different so if you are going to shoot an event… get there early and work on camera settings as quickly as possible so you don’t miss any of the action.

Another good idea is to set your camera to continuous focus.  That way when the lights go down your camera will continually refocus on your moving subject.  Once you have all these things in order it should be pretty easy to photograph a play, a dance, or a concert.  Also if you get a lot of grain from a higher ISO you can use a noise reduction process in post editing.  There are a lot of good programs out there for this. 

Every camera is different, so read your manual to find your custom settings.  Take the challenge…go out doors and do some night shooting, or go to a local event where the lights are low or ever changing.  If you’re strange like me… you might just enjoy the experiment and the outcome. 

The image above was shot at 1/30^th of a second with an F-stop of 3.0, and my ISO speed was at 400… pretty cool huh?

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,

Wendy

 

Photographing Another Wonderful Couple!

Tatiana and Gene chose the courthouse for a small wedding with a few good friends.  The courthouse has in it, a tiny chapel, and I’m talking tiny.  Squeezing 10 friends into this box of a room was a chore, but we pulled it off nicely with the help of my wide angle/zoom.  The ceremony was short and sweet (as most are), with the exchange of vows and rings.  Tatiana was beautiful, and Gene handsome.  When we finished up in the chapel, we headed outside for a few shots in front of the courthouse, and along side of the courthouse, which boasts some beautiful pillars. 

We had planned on hitting the beach for some fun formals, but they wanted to do some shots on the staircase of the beautiful work of architecture across the street.  The Super Power building that is adjacent to the Fort Harrison Hotel… just refinished and a spectacular work of art.  I try very hard to accommodate my clients so I said, “sure… we can do anything you want to do!”   We headed across to what seems to be a public building in downtown Clearwater, got off a few shots, only to have security personnel come out and tell us it was private property and we would have to leave.  I would like to know why we have to be so paranoid in our own city?  That’s another story… not for this blog.

After that disturbing and aggravating encounter the bride and groom shuffled their friends off to the reception and the three of us headed for the North end of Clearwater beach.  We spent about 45 minutes doing some very cool shots.  Other than the encounter with several sand spurs in the dunes (not sure where they came from), Gene and Tatiana weren’t shy, and we had a great time getting some awesomely different shots!  They were the kind of people that I always hope to get during a wedding shoot; especially on the beach… they didn’t mind getting a little sandy, sweaty, or wet.  As you can see we had a great time!

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,

Wendy

Sharing a Little Insight on Wedding Photography

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

First of all, Photographing weddings can be fun, and rewarding.  Not only do you get to share in the excitement of someone’s special day, you also get to do a bit of networking and meet some new clients.  What's more important is you get to present your clients with the memories of their special occasion that will last a lifetime!  Every click of the shutter is an important moment frozen in time.  Wedding photography can also grueling; long hours, no breaks, constant moving (in and out, around, and through people), relentless lighting situations, and dealing with all sorts of people.

Some of you may think I’m crazy, but for the most part I photograph a wedding by myself.  That means I normally do it without the help of an assistant.  And because I’m sometimes a one man band… I try to work with as little equipment as feasibly possible.  Lets face it, trying to drag around a bunch of gear would only get in the way and make it impossible to capture every detail of the event.  Other photographers might argue that by doing so I’m not capturing the affair under the best conditions, with the best light (off camera).  I would like to share my thoughts on that… I do get my lighting off camera as much as possible.  I have a bracket for my flash unit that brings it out to the side, or… I simply bounce off walls, ceilings, or someone’s white shirt/dress.  A little trick I learned from David Ziser (a great wedding photographer in my opinion).  When photographing a beach wedding, I simply use a lot of fill flash for those nasty shadows.  Because for some reason people always want to get married in the midst of the brightest sunlight of the day. :/

While we are on the subject of lighting, let’s talk about how quickly it changes and how fast you have to think about adjusting your camera settings to accommodate those changes.  When photographing beach weddings there is the issue of sun and clouds (they can change rapidly here in Florida and you have to think quick to make the changes in your camera).  Lighting also changes from the outdoor ceremony to the indoor reception, or even from daylight, to dusk, to night.  Lighting also changes during an inside reception… lights are normally up to start the introductions of the bridal party, turned down for the first dances, and then up again for dinner, and down again for the remainder of the reception while everyone is dancing and having a grand time.  The only advice I can give you here is; be aware of all these changes and make your adjustments accordingly before it’s too late.

Weddings also require a lot of group shots, the couple, the bridal party, families, and extended families.  Sometimes small groups will request a shot because they are all there, and dressed nicely.  Take their photo… it will almost always give you another sale.  However, don’t spend too much time on these, as you are there to capture the day for two special people.  I usually set up “a go to person” on my first meeting with the bride and groom.  Someone who knows the families, and can help gather them after the ceremony for the group shots.  Try to make sure it’s not someone that is in the wedding party, as they will already be busy enough, and in a lot of your shots. 

If your bride and groom already have children, be sure to include them in your shots, especially if they are not part of the wedding party.  These will not only be treasured memories for the parents, but also the children in years to come.  I usually try to capture them during the getting ready shots, and the formals, then again during the reception, making sure they know that they play an important role in what may seem a bunch of chaos to them.  Kids aren’t really as enthused as the adults about this whole hullabaloo with dressing up, and the duties they may have to perform for the day, and sometimes they just seem to get lost in the crowd or pushed aside.  I try to make sure they feel like it’s their day too!

A little more on the getting ready… sometimes this is a first time event for everyone, and getting ready turns out to be a nightmare.  I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve done this so many times, or it’s just the kind of person I am, but I have been known to put down my camera and help with a veil, a necklace, a boutonniere (cause guys always have a hard time with those), or the buckling of shoes.  Even though it is not your job, and you can just stand there and watch them suffer… in the end (if you lend a hand), it can make your images much better.  Who wants to photograph a bride whose veil is a mess, or a groom whose boutonniere is hanging off his jacket like someone just mugged him in the parking lot?  You get the idea…

Post editing wedding photographs will also take some time.  Don’t promise them their photos will be done in a few days, take your time to go through each and everyone and clean them up before presenting them to anyone.  Make them wait for a nicely finished product, no matter how much they push you.  My biggest problem when editing weddings is always the bride’s room.  There is always so much stuff scattered in that room!  Discarded towels, shoes, bras, hair accessories, etc… You get the picture!  As much as you try to remove these things before you take the shot, someone else comes back to drop something there, and it ends up back in your frame.  You could spend all day just picking up the stuff that others lay down.  So in the end, no matter how much I physically try to remove clutter, I always end up having to clone out something in the getting ready shots!  Sometimes I can’t get rid of everything, but if it’s a shot worthy of an oooo or an ahhhh, I take the time to clone away clutter.

Those are my thoughts for now on photographing weddings… I hope in some little way they help you think about what goes on in the mind of a wedding photographer, and help’s you prepare for your next event. 

 Love, Laughs, and Photographs,

Wendy

Capturing a Beautiful New York Wedding!

Things have been so backed up here… between school, kids, traveling, working, and volunteering, I haven’t found much time to blog.  I did however get caught up on some slide shows before I took off for my last trip to DC.  With all that said and out of the way… In August I photographed my own daughters wedding in upstate NY.  She started planning her wedding two years in advance, and it turned out to be her dream come true. 

Have you ever tried to photograph an event while crying, or fighting back tears?  She cried… then she cried… then they cried… then I cried!  Actually I cried right after she cried, but you couldn’t tell with my face behind the camera. 

The day was perfect… perfect weather, perfect ceremony, perfect kids, perfect reception, perfect family… that can only mean a perfect relationship right?

Congrats to Nikki and Chris, my beautiful daughter, an awesome son in law, and a Great Couple!

Love each other honestly, and with no conditions.

Love each other strongly, openly, and faithfully.

Love each other respectfully, completely, and endlessly.

Enjoy your lives together!

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,

Wendy

More thoughts on photographing weddings coming soon!

Photographing Our Nations Capital! Part 5

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

The last day of my trip was spent at Great Falls, and Falls Church, Virginia. 

Great Falls is a beautiful National Park that has 3 over looks to the Falls of the Potomac River.  With it’s jagged rocks, and gushing water that flows into the narrow Mather gorge; this park has a lot of natural history.  At only 15 miles from the capital, this is a must see if you’re in the area.  This is definitely not a swimming hole; it’s more about the beauty of nature, and the history of a trading site, or a lover’s stroll.  There used to be a trolley to the falls, and an Inn where people would gather to enjoy dinner before viewing the falls at night.  Imagine how many people fell in love at Great Falls.  In the early 1900’s Great Falls even had an amusement park with a carousel, which sadly did not survive Mother Nature.  As far up as the 1700’s Great Falls was a meeting place for the Paleo Indians, and was eventually claimed as a National historic landmark in 1983.  This park is home to birds, wild life, and rare species of plant life.  The park also features a junior ranger two-day camp for children at certain times of the year.  So if you’re in the area, make time to check out Great Falls and this awesome piece of history!

Next stop… the city of Falls Church.  As with everything I’ve seen so far, this is another historic place close to DC.  One of the 2 smallest cities in Virginia, at 2.2 miles, this village community was beautiful, with it’s red brick architecture, and fall foliage.  Falls Church had the best color of my entire trip.  I even stopped to gather a few leaves to bring home to my kids, since they have never actually enjoyed the Autumn season.  Florida has its benefits, but also its downfalls… not having the change of seasons is one of them.  My partner and friend stumbled upon “The Falls Church” (identified as the one near the falls) in the city of Falls Church before I arrived, and thought it worthy of photographing.  He was right!  It was beautiful, and historic all at the same time.  Falls Church is of the Anglican Communion, and for which the city was named.  Previously an Episcopalian Church, President George Washington, and William Fairfax were both appointed church wardens in 1763, and it was their responsibility to contract for a new building.  This church survived the Revolutionary war and the civil war; it is in its original condition with the exception of the brick below the windows, the bottom of the brick doorway and the chancel addition.  The pipe organ was added in 1967 built by the Schantz Organ Company.  The churchyard holds grave markers from as early as 1805 but earlier burials occurred here.  Records show payments from 1778 to the sexton for mending graves.  Indentations from bullets, and broken headstones are the result of fired bullets during the Civil War.  Union troops used Falls Church as a hospital, and later as a stable during the Civil War… afterwards it was repaired and again actively used as a place for worship.

I wouldn’t limit yourself to just seeing DC… as you can see here, there is also a lot of history and beauty in it’s surrounding area.

I’ve enjoyed sharing my journey with you… I hope you have found a bit of the past interesting enough to take your own excursion.  Don’t forget your camera!!

Love, Laughs, & Photographs,

Wendy

 

Photographing Our Nations Capital! Part 4

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

"I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.'"

President John F. Kennedy

The fourth day of our journey was spent seeing the things that we had missed and tried to visit on the day’s prior, but we either ran out of time, or they were closed.  

First stop… The Navy Memorial.  This one was important to me, and nostalgic, since I have several family members who did serve in the US Navy.  Most Importantly my Dad, who served in WWII, aboard the USS West Virginia.  I grew up with the most patriotic man that ever lived, and can’t help but reflect on the things he taught me throughout my life. 

While browsing the Memorial I searched the Presidents room for JFK’s painting and the PT109.  If you’ve never seen the movie “PT109”… it’s a good watch for anyone with interest in our former president, and/or the United States Navy.  I tried to search the log for my dad, but alas their internet was down.  While walking down the stairs from the entrance to the museum (located on the basement level), the glass wall was filled with etchings of Naval vessels… battle ships, destroyers, and submarines… simply beautiful with a plaque to describe each one.  We waited to watch the 30 minute movie in the theater, and browsed the wall of plaques donated by Navy personnel and loved ones. I found the USS West Virginia plaque donated by the Reunion Organization.  The plaza outside of the museum is just as awesome with a world “sea map” made of granite, towering masts with signal flags, fountains and waterfalls, and a statue of the Lone Sailor.  I captured this shot of the National Archive building with the plaza in the foreground and a beautiful sky above.

  Our next point of interest was Fords Theater where President Lincoln was shot.  Again the lower level was a museum with a lot of information about Lincoln as president, and of course upstairs was the awesome theater.  The light was low, which made it hard for a hand held shot, but I didn’t take my tri-pod along on this day.  The whole building was creepy, yet cool, with a lot of energy. 

We rode the yellow line on the “open top” bus this day, and it took us through the Arlington Cemetery parking lot, through George Town, and around the Pentagon.  The leaves in Arlington have started to change but still weren’t as vibrant as I had hoped for.  The sky over the Pentagon was still amazing!

We finally made our way to the Lincoln Memorial, which is a good walk if you’re on foot.  Thankfully it was one of the buses drop off points and we only had to make our way back to the metro at the end of the evening.  The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most visited memorials in DC, and rightly so… it is probably the most appealing pieces of architecture and sculpture combination in the city.

There you have it!  Day four in a nutshell!  And you didn’t even have to do all the walking! :)

Stay tuned for my last day…

Love, Laughs, & Photographs,

Wendy

Photographing Our Nations Capital! Part 3

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

We caught the metro into DC the next morning… we took the elevator to the main floor that opened our eyes to an amazing treat!  Union Station, the center of anyone who’s going anywhere, is another awe-inspiring architectural delight!  Although not complete until 1908, Union Station officially opened on October 27^th, 1907 when the Baltimore, and the Ohio Pittsburgh Express rolled into the station.  With the triumphal arch of Rome symbolizing a main gateway, solid mahogany woodwork, 10-ton marble planters, egg and dart molding, and 70 pounds of gold leafing on the coffers, all we could say was WOW!  If you enjoy a great piece of architecture this building will literally take your breath away inside and out!

Everywhere I looked the flowers were vibrant, and I was really amazed at how many gardens were still in bloom.  I couldn’t help but grab a shot of the roses outside of Union Station, but I noticed all the roses in the yards throughout Arlington and DC.

We rode every available “open top” tour bus in and around DC.  DC stands for District of Columbia; according to the tour bus audio, DC was given the name because of Christopher Columbus.  After doing some research, I’m not sure this is true, but here is the statue of Columbus standing on the bow of his ship looking towards the Capital building, outside of Union Station.

Speaking of the Capital, another inspiring work of architecture, with its neoclassical design, is the center of attention in Washington.  I got to visit the inside of the Capital Building when I was a little girl, but because of time restraints, we only got to view it from the outside on this trip.  With it’s huge rotunda (there is actually another in the senate wing), colonnades, vaulted ceilings, and government style pediments, the Capital Building is a must see whether you’re inside or out. I would love to go back when those cherry trees are in bloom!

Being the tallest monument in DC, the Washington Monument can be seen from everywhere.  It’s an in your face reminder of this grand city!

The Smithsonian Castle is not only a beautiful work of art, it is the center of 16 museums, and holds millions of artifacts, paintings, and other items, as well as the Hope Diamond.  Built in the late Romanesque and early Gothic style, this is the first Smithsonian, built in 1855.

After our bus tour we decided to explore on foot, and stayed in DC until well after dark.  Our feet and legs were screaming stop, but my camera was saying don't!  I captured the Treasury Building, the White House, and the Jefferson Memorial after dark.  I love to do night shooting, and take the opportunity whenever I can.

That’s it for part 3

Until next time

Love, Laughs, & Photographs,

Wendy

Photographing Our Nations Capital! Part 2

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

I believe in God, only I spell it Nature. ~Frank Lloyd Wright~

Shenandoah National Park was in our initial plans while visiting Virginia; it came sooner than we had planned.  Since our bodies ached from the prior days jaunt around downtown DC, we decided a nice drive might give us time to recover from sore muscles.  While that turned out to me a mistake, the mountains were turned out to be breathtaking!

There wasn’t as much color as I had hoped for in mid October, but just being in the mountains among all the natural wonders, and beautiful scenery made it worth the trip!  We stayed late into the night, and walked away with some awesome shots!

I love to drag the shutter when I photograph moving water… it gives it that misty surreal look… and who doesn’t like the dream world?  I found a few very interesting little brooks in Shenandoah National Park, some where off the beaten trail, but I’m glad we searched them out.  I also found it fascinating that some of the mountain rocks cried, nature is a wondrous thing, and should always be looked upon with an open heart and compassionate soul.  I get back to myself when I wander through nature; it’s so much more peaceful than the hustle and bustle of daily life… which makes me appreciate it even more.

I’m going to keep this post short, and let you enjoy one of the amazing pieces of earth left to take pleasure in.

Love, Laughs, & Photographs,

Wendy