Honorable Mentions for the 2010 Best Wedding Photo Contest

<p>The judging was difficult, with the number of excellent images entered. Here are six images we just had to ‘mention’.</p>

<p><strong>Under 3 Years of Experience</strong><br>

<strong> </strong><br>

<strong>Matthew Kuehl–Lisa & Mat</strong><br>

<strong> </strong><br>

<em>William W.</em><br>

A Passionate Moment and Well Timed and Well Placed Execution.<br>

A compelling story, with impact.<br>

Judging Technical Perfection vs. the Power of The Moment: is a thin line.<br>

Very Honourably Mentioned.</p>

<p><em>Nadine Ohara</em><br>

Good handling of a candid moment. What choices can be made for such a moment were handled expertly.</p><div></div>

<p><strong>David Williams–The Groom’s Speech</strong><br>

<strong> </strong><br>

<em>William W.</em><br>

Quirky and Emotive.<br>

Certainly brave work making the decapitation – it worked for me: – I "heard" the Bride.<br>

Another Highly compelling Story – with Impact.<br>

Highly Honourably Mentioned.</p>

<p><em>Nadine Ohara</em><br>

What a wonderful moment captured wonderfully. I am particularly amused by the pattern on the groom’s vest, but of course, duly impressed by the timing and control of a fleeting candid moment.</p><div></div>

<p><strong>Maira Sharron–Sunset at Huntington Beach</strong><br>

<strong> </strong><br>

<em>William W.</em><br>

Scored very highly as an Artistic Capture.<br>

Style and Sense of Balance and Cohesion almost a Perfect Score.<br>

Use of Colour Tone and Contrast enhanced that.<br>

Honourably Mentioned</p>

<p><em>Nadine Ohara</em><br>

The light and the lighting that was created are both handled extremely well, adding up to a powerful and pleasing image.</p><div></div>

<p><strong>3 Plus Years of Experience</strong><br>

<strong> </strong><br>

<strong>Marc Williams–:-)</strong><br>

<strong> </strong><br>

<em>William W.</em><br>

Technically Precise and Artistically Well Sculpted Available Light Bridal Portrait<br>

Juxtaposed to: "life still goes on in MY world"<br>

This image brought joy (and some jolly laughing) to judge.<br>

Very Honourably Mentioned.</p>

<p><em>Nadine Ohara</em><br>

I love the classical bridal pose but with the canine accent! Of note is the attention to detail, such as the squaring of lines and bride’s reflection in the mirror.</p><div></div>

<p><strong>Cliff Evans–Just Married</strong><br>

<strong> </strong><br>

<em>William W.</em><br>

The capture of the multiplicity of Communications between the Four Subjects is Excellent.<br>

The Timing and Composition and sub-compositions defining several "moments" for all the Subjects were noted.<br>

Highly Honourably Mentioned.</p>

<p><em>Nadine Ohara</em><br>

Masterful press of the shutter to convey subtle story lines. Great expressions and everything else, too.</p><div></div>

<p><strong>Victoria Sprung–Time Stops</strong><br>

<strong> </strong><br>

<em>William W.</em><br>

Highly Evocative and Emotive Capture.<br>

Well executed Technical Skills.<br>

Great sense of Story and Story Told.<br>

Highly Honourably Mentioned.</p>

<p><em>Nadine Ohara</em><br>

I have seen a number of slow shutter images taken at weddings, but this one manages to convey timelessness as well as time stopping. Classic and classy at once.</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks for the HM! I didn't realize the results were posted until just now. Congrats to the winners and other HM's. Great shots. <br>

This one was shot with a D700 and a Sigma 50mm 1.4. 1/50 at f2.0. I have a pair of SB-800's stage left and right triggered by Pocket Wizards to light up a very dark restaurant. It was sort of a happy accident in that I wouldn't normally shoot such fast moving action up close with a fixed focal length and wide aperture. I was set up for another shot and this happened so fast I just had to go with what I had in hand. Luckily everything came together.<br>

Credit here goes to the b&g for making the moment happen. This could have easily been a snapshot of a couple staring blankly at the camera with a more reserved couple. That's the hard part about being a primarily candid shooter - you have to rely partly on the charisma of your subject, which you have little control over.</p>

<p>Wow -- thank you for the honorable mention! There were so many wonderful entries - I feel surprised and happy to have been recognized! I was asked to provide some background on the photo and circumstances. First of all, I love that little jutting of rocks at this particular beach, and have taken engagement photos there, but never a wedding photo -- so I was really happy that the bride and groom wanted to have their photos taken there. The tricky part, for me, was that we had only 30 minutes to get all the "between wedding and reception" photos taken. </p>

<p>The sun was already setting by the time we arrived at the beach. I knew this wouldn't give me a whole lot of set up time. That said, I didn't want me or them to feel rushed, so I explained to them that we were going to focus on quality rather than quantity. I think actually saying this to them helped me as well to remain focused. </p>

<p>The sun had already set and was just below the horizon on this shot -- we were battling a lot of wind, so rather than fight it, I asked her to hold a part of her dress so that the wind would carry it. I was standing on the beach and they were elevated on the rocks. Technical stuff: Canon 7D, 24-70L lens, F4/SS125 with an ISO of 400. No off camera flash - not because I didn't want it, but because it glitched on me and I didn't want to invest precious moments unglitching. I knew that if I blew out the sky a little bit that I could bring it back in post production - which is what I did. I blended a photo that was exposed for the sky and one that was exposed for the bride and groom. I also enhanced the rocks and sky in post. The bride and groom were happy with the photos, and amazingly, we had a good quantity and variety as well - which I attribute to their own chemistry and that they were so at ease in front of the camera.</p>

<p>Thank you, it's quite an honor to be selected from all the wonderful photographs entered.</p>

<p>For my shot, I was shooting a bunch of candids at the Bride's parents house between the wedding and reception, including the Bridesmaids fussing over the Bride near the front door ... when they were done I took the opportunity to use the same light and shoot one of her gazing out the door so we'd have a shot of the back of the dress.</p>

<p>Her Mom's little doggie "Rocky" decided to investigate. In a previous shot I noticed he was peering around the corner, and I knew he was up to something, so I quietly waited until curiosity got the better of him : -) He was so darned cute I wanted to put him in my camera bag and take him home with me.</p>

<p>Leica M9 rangefinder and M35/1.4 ASPH lens using available light. </p>

<p>Thanks for noticing my photo from all of the great images submitted.<br>

This was a great venue with a wall of tall windows near where the couple said their vows and a very wide room, thereby allowing me to shoot natural light and also get angles from the front of the room while still being out of the guests' line of mental focus. This image was one of four in a burst during their hug, so shooting natural light was key to avoid light recycle delay. The exact shutter timing was less important than my placement in the room and anticipation of action. The composition was from the unusually 'front of the room' location allowing for inclusion of the groom's son and best man's clapping hands.<br>

D300 with 70-200mm f2.8 @ 130mm, f2.8 , 1/250 and 1600 ISO.</p>

 

<p><strong>Moderator Note:</strong> I was going to put all comments from Honorable Mentions in another thread, but since I have some here, I'm just going to go with it. Below are comments from the rest of the 'Mentions'.</p>

<p><strong>From David Williams:</strong></p>

<p>The technical details are fairly straight forward - Canon 5d mk ii, 24-70 2.8 lens, 580ii flash. 1/80th, F5, ISO 1000, bounce blash FEC +1 black foamie thing ala Neil van Niekerk (I'm an avid reader of his too). As for taking the picture, I love taking pictures of the speeches, there's such a range of emotions and fantastic expressions so they are a gift as far as I'm concerned. I like this angle too, you have such a lot going on in such a narrow field of view, focus on what's interesting and the expressions of the others in shot and slightly out of focus will augment the image.</p>

<p>In this image I love the outpouring of laughter from the bride but also the way the reaction is mirrored by the bride's mother on the left hand side of the image as well as the others reaction to the bride's left. The bride's father on the bride's immediate left is hidden behind the bride, I just wish his expression as he looks at the groom had been in view too. As for the groom, does his head need to be in the image? For me no. Its about the brides reaction to his speech and for me its enough to tell the story of the reaction he has undoubtedly generated.</p>

<p>Great reaction to the image from the bride and groom. The wedding generated other bookings. Another prospective customer exclaimed 'I just love these pictures' when she got to this image and then booked me. Its great to get validation for a newbie like me and to get people booking me who like my (emerging) style.</p>

<p><strong>From Victoria Sprung:</strong></p>

<p>For this image, I was utilizing the balcony at the venue. I usually try to get some slow shutter shots of dancing, and this was the perfect opportunity. I had taken a few frames, and then waited for the Couple to dance into a position where they would be highlighted more. They did, and then they also kissed for a moment, which I managed to capture. The railing of the balcony helped to steady the shot, as I didn't use a tripod. It's one of my favorite dance floor shots!</p>

<p>Specs: Canon 5D mark ii, f/2.8, 1/4 second, 28mm, ISO 400, no flash (still some daylight coming in through big windows)</p>

<p>Great Job everyone. Some very nicely shot images here. Love the emotive and tender moments they show.</p>