Of all the shots I took of the bride and groom during our walk through Venice, I think that this is one of my favourites – aesthetically, because it captures a moment that I think was definitely worth recording, and technically, because it was shot in circumstances that I would normally avoid, i.e. the dynamic range of the original scene was quite high. As such I was going to lose either some shadow detail, or highlight detail, or both. In this case, as you can see from the original image (linked below), I lost the shadow detail:
At this point I'd love to be able to say that this was intentional, i.e. that I deliberately exposed the shot in this way, but I was rushing to catch up with the bride and groom at this point so snapped a few frames as they walked down the alley. Fortunately, it worked out.
In terms of the post-production: this one was relatively straightforward, i.e. I cropped the image, cloned out a few distracting elements, converted the image to black and white using the channel mixer (as described in this tutorial), added a fairly strong Curve that clipped the highlights (resulting in the loss of detail in the stonework in front of the bride and groom), and then toned the image using a second Curve (as described here).
captured camera lens focal length aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter cropped?
comment bykeith at 06:59 AM (GMT) on 9 October, 2009
very nice, didn't know you were a wedding wizard too
comment by Alexis at 07:15 AM (GMT) on 9 October, 2009
David,
Congratulations for a really excellent final result, for being brave enough to show the raw capture (nobody ever does), for discussing it openly and for explaining what kind of processing you used. You are a true inspiration!
comment byJacques B at 08:37 AM (GMT) on 9 October, 2009
Great shot. Congrats!
comment byGarry at 09:50 AM (GMT) on 9 October, 2009
beautiful lighting :)
comment byDREAMS OF LIGHT at 11:19 AM (GMT) on 9 October, 2009
oh my god david.. it's so elegant and soft.. i like it so much!!! superb bw
comment byApoChromatic at 11:35 AM (GMT) on 9 October, 2009
Very nice b&w picture. The cropping is well chosen. Loosing a bit of dynamic is not bad sometime!
comment byCarlos Garcia at 01:04 PM (GMT) on 9 October, 2009
Dave,
The way she is holding her dress with her right hand, the slight downward right turn of his head to capture what she just whispered... he paused, she is still in stride... for me, your processing has brought those elements out. Just beautiful.
C.
comment byKrista at 12:44 AM (GMT) on 10 October, 2009
This is an amazing moment!
comment bysilfver at 01:59 PM (GMT) on 10 October, 2009
Ah, this is beautiful. I like the original shots you've taken of this couple. Usually wedding photos are very predictable. These... they're just very nice. Shots anyone would want on their wall even! I think it's called ART. ;)
comment bynjr at 08:55 AM (GMT) on 11 October, 2009
You did it again. This is wonderful.
comment byXavier Rey at 04:21 PM (GMT) on 11 October, 2009
Excellent shot !
comment bySamar at 09:58 AM (GMT) on 12 October, 2009
A lovely and delicate moment!
comment byXavier at 10:15 PM (GMT) on 14 October, 2009
Aside from you have caught a wonderful instant and it was technically very well shooted, I think the real value of the picture comes from the outstanding post-process you have done.
Caogratulations
comment byremixoverdrive at 06:32 PM (GMT) on 22 October, 2009
I really like this version more than #7. They both work well, and #7 has more shadow detail, but I feel this one is evocative of a classic high-contrast look that is both iconic and visually appealing/moving. The unusually high angle of this shot also lends it a very strong sense of perspective, of leading lines, and of a moment which is not ordinary, but rather extraordinary. Great work, as always.
Of all the shots I took of the bride and groom during our walk through Venice, I think that this is one of my favourites – aesthetically, because it captures a moment that I think was definitely worth recording, and technically, because it was shot in circumstances that I would normally avoid, i.e. the dynamic range of the original scene was quite high. As such I was going to lose either some shadow detail, or highlight detail, or both. In this case, as you can see from the original image (linked below), I lost the shadow detail:
.../archives/venezia_3.php
At this point I'd love to be able to say that this was intentional, i.e. that I deliberately exposed the shot in this way, but I was rushing to catch up with the bride and groom at this point so snapped a few frames as they walked down the alley. Fortunately, it worked out.
In terms of the post-production: this one was relatively straightforward, i.e. I cropped the image, cloned out a few distracting elements, converted the image to black and white using the channel mixer (as described in this tutorial), added a fairly strong Curve that clipped the highlights (resulting in the loss of detail in the stonework in front of the bride and groom), and then toned the image using a second Curve (as described here).
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
Canon 5D Mark II
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
73mm
f/4.0
1/500
aperture priority
0.0
evaluative
400
no
RAW
ACR
1x1
I checked the original and luckily you didnt miss the dress´s details. I like it, you capture "the moment" (also I love B&W).
Beautifull wedding scene .
Superb! just a perfect photograph!
very nice, didn't know you were a wedding wizard too
David,
Congratulations for a really excellent final result, for being brave enough to show the raw capture (nobody ever does), for discussing it openly and for explaining what kind of processing you used. You are a true inspiration!
Great shot. Congrats!
beautiful lighting :)
oh my god david.. it's so elegant and soft.. i like it so much!!! superb bw
Very nice b&w picture. The cropping is well chosen. Loosing a bit of dynamic is not bad sometime!
Dave,
The way she is holding her dress with her right hand, the slight downward right turn of his head to capture what she just whispered... he paused, she is still in stride... for me, your processing has brought those elements out. Just beautiful.
C.
This is an amazing moment!
Ah, this is beautiful. I like the original shots you've taken of this couple. Usually wedding photos are very predictable. These... they're just very nice. Shots anyone would want on their wall even! I think it's called ART. ;)
You did it again. This is wonderful.
Excellent shot !
A lovely and delicate moment!
Aside from you have caught a wonderful instant and it was technically very well shooted, I think the real value of the picture comes from the outstanding post-process you have done.
Caogratulations
I really like this version more than #7. They both work well, and #7 has more shadow detail, but I feel this one is evocative of a classic high-contrast look that is both iconic and visually appealing/moving. The unusually high angle of this shot also lends it a very strong sense of perspective, of leading lines, and of a moment which is not ordinary, but rather extraordinary. Great work, as always.