ron_day___greensboro__nc

<p>4/03/2010 Nikon D300, 17-55 mm, 1/800, f4, iso 250</p><div></div>

<p>I have also used My Publisher quite a bit but have not tried their lay flat option yet. The quality from My Publisher seems to be evolving ..... I printed a sample press book from Miller's a year or so ago and thought the quality of the pages was so so. I have seen an example book from Blurb and thought it to be similar to My Publisher, etc. <br /> <br /> It sure would be nice to have side by side books using the same images from the various publishers to evaluate the quality.....if anyone has done such a comparison I too would be interested in their opinions. <br /> <br /> Seems I have read somewhere that most of the press books use the same printer made by HP?</p>

<p>Nikon 300, 17-55mm, 19mm, 1/60s, 3.2, 3200 iso</p><div></div>

<p>The photos.</p>

<p><img src="http://www.dayimage.com/images/blog/rnd_3942nofill.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="792" /></p>

<p><img src="http://www.dayimage.com/images/blog/rnd_4307.jpg" alt="" width="565" height="850" /><br>

I usually use a touch of fill flash even in late day images like this one ...</p>

<p><img src="http://www.dayimage.com/images/blog/dsc_3746fill.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="594" /></p>

<p> </p>

<p>Nadine - I agree completely with your assessment of the difficulty of available light photography in most of the wedding venues that I have photographed. There is simply not enough light for consistent rendering of acceptable images. After reading this thread last week I made an effort with the 2 wedding over the Labor Day weekend to use available light more.... and got what I think are some good images like the ones below in the hotel lobby and then just before the wedding with back as well as side window light.<br>

After the sun went down there were very few opportunities left for available light images even with a high iso camera in my opinion and this is typical of most weddings.</p>

<p>A few more examples of seeing the light.</p>

<p>I am sure most of you are opportunists like myself when it comes to seeing the light because often the light and subject content coexist only for a moment.<br /> <br /> The image of this bride was created just moments before walking down the aisle when I noted the overhead skylight. Had the bride take a couple of steps forward for the best rendering.<br>

<br /> <img src="http://www.dayimages.com/images/photonet/skylight.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>For the portrait below I had just taken taken images of the bride surrounded by her dress and noted how wonderful the mix of the late day overcast sky with light being reflected from her dress was on her face, simply zoomed in and snap the image with no image editing except a slight crop.</p>

<p><img src="http://www.dayimages.com/images/photonet/sabrina.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>This image is one of the situations of cutting the flash off and on during a series. The blue light are glow balls in the young man's pockets which would not have presented as well with flash.</p>

<p><img src="http://www.dayimages.com/images/photonet/fallon.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Another example of being at the right place at the right time when I observed the bride's daughter selecting music with the DJ. <br /> D300 17- 55mm 1/30, 2.8, iso 6400, +.7 exposure compensation.</p>

<p><img src="http://www.dayimages.com/images/photonet/computer.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Great thread Marc and thanks for starting it. I value your expertise and have enjoyed your posts over the years. <br /> <br /> Most of us have always known that light is the most important key to great photography everything else being equal. It takes great discipline to manage light especially with a photojournalistic style. <br /> <br /> I do think that a properly executed available image is the best possible image but quickly add that the management of a flash is the most practical, efficient and consistent method to capture great images especially on the fly. I have my camera programed to cut on and off the flash by pushing the Fn button and render quickly changing conditions both with and without flash within the same second. <br /> <br /> Some examples of seeing the light is this image my son associate captured a few years back with the candles providing the light for the altar boys.... perhaps 5 seconds to get the shot.<br>

<img src="http://www.dayimages.com/images/photonet/alter.jpg" alt="" /><br>

This is an example taken from the back of the chapel during a rather long mass in July... and noted the single light as well as the surrounding light ratio.... <br>

<img src="http://www.dayimages.com/images/photonet/va.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Below is what I consider the best of both worlds.... it is a February afternoon with no practical shade and the sun too high for flattering exposures and I wanted an image showing off the shoes. Placed the bride in the narrow strip of shade ...had her look toward the flash with just a little fill. Accurate metering for the desired effect is mandatory. <br>

<img src="http://www.dayimages.com/images/photonet/koty.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Most of the time we have to react to what is available only for a few seconds and then there are times one can visualize what is needed for a good image. In this case I wanted backlight on their hair, the falls, the light in the trees in the river bend and the puffy white cloud. The cloud is going to be in place just briefly .... 5 frame bracket with slight fill and 3 masks in photoshop for a very pleasing image.<br>

<img src="http://www.dayimages.com/images/photonet/linville.jpg" alt="" /><br>

The trick is to use fill flash in such a way the images look like available light.</p>

<p>I agree with #2 of Mark's post above about having the image posts for the contest anonymous.</p>

<p>I would also suggest limiting the categories but allowing more than 1 entry. </p>

<p>Best regards and a special thanks to Nadine for doing a great job as the moderator as well as the good input posts.</p>

<p>Always and Forever</p><div></div>

<p>Hi Marc,<br /> <br /> You mentioned earlier the<br>

<em>"The Flash debate:</em><br>

<em> </em><br>

There are those who feel the Canon shoe mount flash system to be inferior to Nikon, but I have to admit that hasn’t been my real world experience with later Canon flashes like the 580EX. Give or take a few attributes, they are both quite good, and IMO not a compelling reason to select one camera brand over the other for wedding work."</p>

<p>I only have experience with Nikon flashes and find that Nikon flashes tend to consistently overexposure with subjects wearing black like tuxs - black dresses, etc by 2/3 - 1 stop. Has that been your experience? Also with the SB900 - I have randomly gotten about 1 stop over exposure with direct flash across the center of the frame, etc. (set to even) especially at wide angle. It is not repeatable but does occur at most weddings when using direct flash.</p>

<p>Pocket wizards are also my choice for remote flashes. CLS may be ok for portraits, etc but is inconsistent in a changing reception venue, etc.</p>

<p>Thanks, Ron D</p><div></div>

<p >Thank you very much for your perspective on the various formats and brands of photography equipment as well as some of your insights to wedding photography. As a wedding photographer I often state that my dream camera will consistently meter and instantly focus in what can be a rapidly changing environment assuming image quality being similar with the various brands. </p>

<p >I like the nano second comments above and “That talent, technique, or whatever you want to call it I freely admit is intuitive and hard to explain.” Today’s journalistic images are often present and gone in less than a second and photographers need equipment that is fast, accurate, consistent and like an extension of our being to be able to utilize that talent, intuition, etc. There often is not enough time to make a quick exposure compensation change let alone switching a lens or to a 2nd camera body with a different lens, etc. Some of our favorite candid wedding images have been taken with an Nikon 18-200 lens. We do not use the 18-200 much any more due to the overall image quality and focusing speed, etc. but the practical convenience has captured many wonderful moments. </p>

<p >The images from the Sony are quite impressive and I am interested in hearing more in the future about your long term impressions of the system.<br>

Thank you again for your time to present a well thought out, well written and useful perspective. It is a great read. </p>

<p>There is a good chance we can cover for you Saturday depending on the time. I have emailed you my cell number through your website.</p>

<p>Best regards,<br>

Ron Day</p>

<p>Sometimes an image captures more than a moment in time....<br /> <br /> Nikon D200 18-200mm iso 1000, 1/60 @ F8 - April 2008 wedding reception</p><div></div>

Again as 500x335<div></div>

Please also enter one of my better images from 2006<div></div>

Please add "Greensboro, NC"

 

regards,