At 06:17 3/7/01, John Hudson wrote:
Are there any comments as to what other list members have shot at family
weddings? I am not the official photog but nevertheless I would like to
capture some worthwhile shots. How does one hide a fanny pack under a
tuxedo on a 155 pound frame .......... any special cummerbunds for
photographers?
KISS = Keep It Simple!
I did my cousin's wedding last November. Of 300 frames total I put 60 of
them that "tell the story" on my site for them; there are numerous others
in their final book:
http://johnlind.tripod.com/donnaruss/
I did it using three bodies and three lenses, although it could have been
done with one or two bodies and two lenses:
OM-4 with 50/1.2
OM-1n with 85/2
Mamiya M645j with 80/2.8
If I hadn't used the M645/80mm I would have used the OM-4/50mm. The only
reason for the OM-1n and 85mm was to shoot the available light stuff from
the back of the church during the ceremony . . . it eliminated switching
lenses and tripoding the OM-4 . . . I just set down the OM-4 and put the
OM-1n on the tripod, and then picked up the OM-4 again.
The church was short front-to-back. Depending on the depth an 85mm, 100mm
or 135mm might work best, but really any of them would do in almost any
church. I used a 135mm in another deeper church.
Lenses:
Be very cautious using anything less than a 50mm when shooting a lot of
people, especially as short as 24mm. It's very easy to have perspective
problems with walls and other background objects . . . or create a "dog
nose" on a person's face getting in too close with one. In groupings it
can wreak havoc in the upper corners if someone's head gets too close to
the corner . . . the wider the WA, the worse the problem. I'd recommend
packing the 50mm and 85mm instead.
Flash power:
The F280 should work, but will be minimalist at filling a church or
reception hall at slightly longer distances than most of us would normally
use a flash. You will need to use ISO 400 film to get away with it. Don't
know how much you intend to shoot . . . take *lots* of film and *lots* of
AA's for the flash. The height of the F280 should keep you out of general
red-eye trouble. If you turn the camera vertical recognize you will get
shadows falling to the right or left depending on which way you do
it. Avoid situations with large objects immediately behind people such as
walls. Pulling them away by three to eight feet can make a difference in
the shadowing.
Just some very quick thoughts on it . . . and glad you're not trying to be
the "official" photog as you are also the groom's father. The "official"
photog cannot be a major player in the wedding party or have some other
major role. Make certain you take time to have fun, get what you can, and
let the "official" photog worry about being certain he/she makes all the
shots on the "Must Have" list.
-- John
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