Asked to shoot an informal wedding - Page 2

*graphicgr8s* · 07-31-2009, 02:29 PM

Peter, can you get me that driftwood for my fishtank?

For flash I use a pentax af400 handle mount. Get really good recycle times on it.

MJB DIGITAL · 07-31-2009, 02:58 PM

my $.02

People gripe sometimes that Pentax exposes a little bit.

Just let it be a bit underexposed. You'll be keeping your colors richer and you wont be clipping any highlights. It'll be much easier to simply bring the exposure up a bit, than trying to recover clipped highlights.

I shoot all day a bit underexposed (just a bit) and my photos are better for it.

**Peter Zack** · 07-31-2009, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by graphicgr8s

Peter, can you get me that driftwood for my fishtank?

For flash I use a pentax af400 handle mount. Get really good recycle times on it.

That would have to be some biggggg fish tank. That log was huge. I agree the AF400T is a great flash and well worth looking for. Shooting manual flash is fairly easy with some experience as well. You just get used to the settings after awhile needed for any scene. Plus power to spare in any large space.

Originally Posted by MJB DIGITAL

my $.02

People gripe sometimes that Pentax exposes a little bit.

Just let it be a bit underexposed. You'll be keeping your colors richer and you wont be clipping any highlights. It'll be much easier to simply bring the exposure up a bit, than trying to recover clipped highlights.

I shoot all day a bit underexposed (just a bit) and my photos are better for it.

That's great (and I do it as well) except indoors at higher ISO's. Then you're going to have noise and loss of detail. So then I'm usually shooting 1/2 to 1 ev over. That works for my stuff much better.

MJB DIGITAL · 07-31-2009, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by MJB DIGITAL

my $.02

People gripe sometimes that Pentax exposes a little bit.

Just let it be a bit underexposed. You'll be keeping your colors richer and you wont be clipping any highlights. It'll be much easier to simply bring the exposure up a bit, than trying to recover clipped highlights.

I shoot all day a bit underexposed (just a bit) and my photos are better for it.

Originally Posted by Peter Zack

That's great (and I do it as well) except indoors at higher ISO's. Then you're going to have noise and loss of detail. So then I'm usually shooting 1/2 to 1 ev over. That works for my stuff much better.

Wow Peter, I'm glad you piped up. That is so true and absolutely a great way to get rid of nasty shadow noise....

phew....

*graphicgr8s* · 07-31-2009, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by Peter Zack

That would have to be some biggggg fish tank. That log was huge. I agree the AF400T is a great flash and well worth looking for. Shooting manual flash is fairly easy with some experience as well. You just get used to the settings after awhile needed for any scene. Plus power to spare in any large space.
.

Is 40,000 gallons enough?

The only thing with the AF400T I have found is I really like shooting primes with it. With zooms you tend to forget changing your settings in a rushed situation. But it takes 6 aa batteries and doing a wedding I change them about 3 or 4 times. It's cheaper for me in the long run.

K-9 · 07-31-2009, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by bdery

It is fully possible to take photographs at such a wedding since you laid the basics clearly with them. Since sunlight will be bright, use your flash for fill for most shots. Also spot surfaces on which you can bounce your flash if needed (will there be a tent, for instance?).

In daylight, your Sigma can pull it off very well. Even in low light, with a flash, it will do the trick. The one thing I think is missing from your arsenal is a fast tele prime (or equivalent). Something like the 50-135 would be perfect but expensive. I personally have a 135 mm f2,8 that I used at a wedding recently for candids and it served me extremely well.

The 50 will be perfect for group shots, but of limited use afterwards. It's a bit wide for candids, a little narrow for general use, although it's excellent for planned portraits (but these often look staged). In low light it will serve you well, though, and if the bride-groom want "official" photos of them the 50 and the Sigma will be your best friends.

Fully plan with the couple what they want you to photograph. Go over the classic checklist with them to see what they want. Then keep some time for candids of the people there, they will treasure these pictures.

I'm new to P-TTL, so this might be a stupid question to some, but do you have to switch to manual flash mode if you want daylight flash fill because P-TTL won't allow the flash to fire if it's too bright?

**Peter Zack** · 08-01-2009, 05:14 AM

Originally Posted by graphicgr8s

Is 40,000 gallons enough?

The only thing with the AF400T I have found is I really like shooting primes with it. With zooms you tend to forget changing your settings in a rushed situation. But it takes 6 aa batteries and doing a wedding I change them about 3 or 4 times. It's cheaper for me in the long run.

Get a Quantum battery (2) for yours. You won't have to change any batteries and it's a bit faster to recycle. I use a DIY diffuser on the head and rarely have to worry about the settings regardless of the lens. Just fire away and adjust the camera to suit the situation.

*Scottnorwo* · 08-01-2009, 07:28 AM

palmor congrats on your great shots of the wedding.

aleonx3 · 08-01-2009, 07:53 AM

palmor, well done on your assignment. I will have a few wedding parties to shoot (not the official photographer) and practice before the summer is over. Hope to land a few nice shots.

MikePerham · 08-01-2009, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by K-9

I'm new to P-TTL, so this might be a stupid question to some, but do you have to switch to manual flash mode if you want daylight flash fill because P-TTL won't allow the flash to fire if it's too bright?

No you do not have to be in manual ...although I often shoot flash that way so I can drag the shutter. Your camera has a slow speed sync for draging the shutter, but I find I have better control of the shutter speed in manual. However, hyper program and PTTL works great for fill flash, you can set the flash to -.5 or -1 so it does not over power the shot ...experiment some with this to see what you like.

You can also go +1 EV and underexpose the background (ambient light exposure) to focus on your subject. Something else with which you may want to experiment.

I have three AF540 flashes and one AF360 ...I use the 360 a lot for fill flash but always carry one of the 540 flashes along in my basic kit. You will be surprised how often that second flash can be useful. Either to fill on the far end of a group shot or as a back/rim light. I do not usually pack light stands unless I know I will be using them, so you may need a carbon based voice activated light stand (another person - to use a Strobist coined phrase)

One other point, you may want to scout some near by location for some shots of the bridal group rather than do the shoot in their back yard. I have used a near by park that offers a good location. Weddings can be taxing on your stamina, so don't party the night before! Enjoy the event.

Gimbal · 08-02-2009, 03:24 AM

Originally Posted by palmor

Well the wedding is over (YEAH!) Everything gear wise was just fine, I used my K20 and Sigma 17-70 for 90% of the shots. The only thing I was disappointed about was the recharge time it took for my Sigma EF-500 ST flash. If I ever did this again (and I don't plan on it) I'd by a faster flash.

Here is a test (in swedish though) where someone tests different batteries for use in a flash. To sum it up Alkaline is useless giving long recharge times (close to 10sec) and few flashes while the winner was the Varta Ready2Use 2100 mAh NiMH (1sec recharge) (or the Energizer Ultimate Lithium but it’s not rechargeable and got very hot during use).

link:
NikonForum Sverige - Debattforum: * TESTRESULTAT *: Vilka batterier skall jag välja?

**Peter Zack** · 08-02-2009, 04:17 AM

As for batteries in an AF540 or many similar flashes, it's Sanyo Eneloops or nothing for me. Although I hear the Rayovac Hybrids are the same. Not only will they recycle quickly, I've fired literally hundreds of flash shots at a single event without changing batteries. I'm still astonished at how much power these things will hold.

I agree wil Mike on the use of fill flash. I do it all the time.

audiobomber · 08-02-2009, 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by Gimbal

or the Energizer Ultimate Lithium but it’s not rechargeable and got very hot during use).

Good to know, that answers my question.

jgredline · 08-02-2009, 08:17 PM

Peter, You amaze me...Those images are brilliant! BUT the image with the two rings in the bible is now my favorite Peter Zack image...And who's idea was it to place them in 1 cor 13? How much more perfect can it get than that??? I have never seen or heard of that. Wonderful idea and it would hold the key to a marriage that would last a lifetime.

aCIDfire · 08-20-2009, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Peter Zack

As for batteries in an AF540 or many similar flashes, it's Sanyo Eneloops or nothing for me. Although I hear the Rayovac Hybrids are the same. Not only will they recycle quickly, I've fired literally hundreds of flash shots at a single event without changing batteries. I'm still astonished at how much power these things will hold.

I agree wil Mike on the use of fill flash. I do it all the time.

Hi, this sunday I´am going to shoot one wedding, talking about "fill flash" do you
mean using HSS or what? I´am using Metz AF-58 so what setting should I use?
The wedding will be in the garden at 11 am so direct sunlight

Use HSS and higher ISO (200-320) to get larger flash distances?
What about using circular polarizers? when shooting on direct sunlight. I know that about 12am when sun is not from the side is maybe using CPL useless or not?

I will use these lenses: 16-45, 50/1.4 and K 135/2.5 for some portrait shot, don´t
know if this 135 or macro 105/2.5 for those portraits.