ed farmer - mount laurel,

Joe,

This is a very dated way of posing the hands for a wedding ring shot. Although, I have to tell you that I see many photographers still making the same mistakes.

First, the hands laying flat over the flowers is not flattering to anyone involved. The flat back of the hand makes it look heavy and unwieldly and the uneven position of the fingers of the bride's hand do not look nice. Also, this is a little too sharp; it show that age lines on both hands.

I don't know if this explaination is going be very good, but bear with me here . . .

You need to move your camera position around to your right. Have the groom place his hand on the bride's forearm and gently hold her arm in front of her. He can turn his had over slightly so that you can his ring. Now have the bride bend her wrist back a little and gently curl her fingers with the longer fingers pointing pointing out a little more. Then move her flowers under and behind the hands. Your background will now be the flowers and the front of the bride's dress. You will the hands more from the side than the top or back.

I will try to post an example later this evening. In the meantime, look at the work of Monte Zucker or Doug Gordon in this area and see what can really be done.

Ed

Tom,

First Rollerblades are in-line skates. As for the photo of the Rijksmuseum, although I do like the shot you did, I think that I would have prefered it off center. The arches appear too static for my taste.

I like the image of the in-line skater even better!