Tuesday, 22 December 2009

Photos from Lympne Castle Wedding

My website: Wedding Photographers in Kent

A selection of images from Emma and Al's wedding, photographed on Saturday at Blean Church, near Canterbury, and then Lympne Castle. Please check out their wedding gallery.

1/1600, f/4, ISO 200, +1/3 EV, 16 mm, 16-35mm f/2.8L II

A brief break in the cloud cover side-lit them.

1/2000, f/1.2, ISO 50, 0 EV, 85 mm, 85mm f/1.2L II

Al definitely has a future in modelling for catalogues!

1/640, f/4, ISO 400, +1/3 EV, 23 mm, 16-35mm f/2.8L II

The ladies very sensibly arrived in moon boots.

1/250, f/1.4, ISO 800, 0 EV, 35 mm, 35mm f/1.4L

The vicar at Blean Church was absolutely charming and very relaxed about where I stood. He just asked that I not use flash.

1/160, f/1.4, ISO 800, 0 EV, 35 mm, 35mm f/1.4L

Unfortunately there was scaffolding at the back of the church, but at least a good attempt had been made at disguising it.

1/125, f/2.8, ISO 1600, -1/3 EV, 35 mm, 35mm f/1.4L

There was a real mixed bag of light sources in the church. Fortunately there was some window light falling on the couple.

1/125, f/2.8, ISO 1000, 0 EV, 35 mm, 16-35mm f/2.8L II

I held the camera just above the floor for this one.

1/125, f/2.8, ISO 1600, 0 EV, 35 mm, 16-35mm f/2.8L II

1/1000, f/4, ISO 200, +2/3 EV, 16 mm, 16-35mm f/2.8L II

Another shot from a low perspective for a bit more drama. Positive exposure compensation (EC) took care of all the light tones in the image.

HDR (-2, 0, +2), f/4, ISO 50, 16 mm, 16-35mm f/2.8L II

I took a few single exposures but was pretty sure I would not be able to capture the full range of tones in the shot. I therefore went for an HDR shot and instructed the couple to keep very still!

HDR (-2, 0, +2), f/4, ISO 400, 16 mm, 16-35mm f/2.8L II

Another HDR shot to prevent the sky being completely blown out.

1/800, f/1.4, ISO 100, -2/3 EV, 35 mm, 35mm f/1.4L

1/640, f/1.4, ISO 100, -2/3 EV, 35 mm, 35mm f/1.4L

Negative exposure compensation prevented highlights from being blown.

1/500, f/2.8, ISO 50, -2 EV, +1 FEC, 35 mm, 35mm f/1.4L

We had a lovely sunset on Saturday and I took a range of shots using both on- and off-camera flash to capture both the couple and the sky.

Comments and queries welcome as ever.

My website: Kent wedding photographers

2 comments:

George Bain said...

Hi David,

You seem to be making a move into more off camera flash use? For outdoors would you use an umbrella bounced or shoot through? I assume bounced means you can keep it further away from the subject - in my experience, shooting through an umbrella outdoors wastes a heap of light behind it.
The best option is then a softbox - but bulky.
What about using bare flash with a grid?
Would you ever use a silver umbrella?

Thank you

David said...

Hi George,

My most frequent set-up for flash photography involves a 580EX II Speedlite, softened with a Lastolite micro Apollo, and mounted on a digital pro-M Custom Bracket. So, on-camera flash, but with an off-camera flash look. It gives very reliable and consistent results.

I also use this set-up for off-camera flash work (triggering with an ST-E2), when I have sufficient time and somebody willing to act as a light stand.

The disadvantage is the weight. I struggle after 4 hours at a winter wedding when I need flash for many of my shots.

I've therefore started taking the flash off-camera and triggering it with an ST-E2, in combination with a StoFen diffuser, but for indoor work only. It's not as reliable but it does give good results.

For outdoor work I either use a softbox (Lastolite micro Apollo or EzyBox, both are easy to handle) close-up, or no diffusion at all, for a hard-light look.

I wouldn't use umbrellas, either for bouncing or shooting through, outside with Speedlites - just too much light is lost.

All the best,

David