Oh The Joy...

[Mac22]

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I use my M8 for work, photographing house insurance claims, so it's with me through the working day.
So to protect / improve it, along came a half leather case, thumbs up and a soft release button....Totally changed the feel of the camera, especially the thumbs up..

Today I've been messing about trying to balance a slower shutter speed with a higher f.stop..
Just can't seen to put the damn thing down....

[Jeff S]

I'm just amazed that you get so excited photographing house insurance claims all day.

I like mine naked...gives me all the excitement I need.

Different strokes...

Jeff

[Mac22]

Hey, there's some damn pretty artexed ceilings out there...

[SJP]

Choosing between artexed ceilings and a naked M8 is such a conundrum. I will happily provide mental support (at a price).

[Jeff S]

And let's not even get into soft release.

Jeff

[SJP]

[Ming Rider]

Maybe you could shoot your insurance claim pic's like the old b&w American police crime scene photo's from the 30's.

[Mac22]

I was invited to a wedding last weekend, the posh side of the family and all.
I couldn't pass up on a chance to annoy everyone with my limited photography skills....
Once at the church I bumped into the official snapper and throughout the day I really got on his nerves, some may say purposely, I would say two into one space doesn't go.
To be fair we kissed and made up at the end of the day and I gave him a go of my M8.2.. He was suitable impressed and loved the feel, focus and size of my pride and joy....

Here's a few pics of the day, hopefully...Feedback appreciated..

This may take a while...

[Mac22]

[IMG]
L1010352 by Mac M8, on Flickr[/IMG]

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L1010380 by Mac M8, on Flickr[/IMG]

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L1010427 by Mac M8, on Flickr[/IMG]

L1010441 by Mac M8, on Flickr

[Mac22]

[IMG]
L1010458 by Mac M8, on Flickr[/IMG]

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L1010463 by Mac M8, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]
L1010574 by Mac M8, on Flickr[/IMG]

[erl]

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Originally Posted by Mac22

I was invited to a wedding last weekend, the posh side of the family and all.
I couldn't pass up on a chance to annoy everyone with my limited photography skills....
Once at the church I bumped into the official snapper and throughout the day I really got on his nerves, some may say purposely, I would say two into one space doesn't go.
To be fair we kissed and made up at the end of the day and I gave him a go of my M8.2.. He was suitable impressed and loved the feel, focus and size of my pride and joy....

Here's a few pics of the day, hopefully...Feedback appreciated..

This may take a while...

Not something to be proud of, interfering with someone in their workplace. If you had tried it on me while working you might not be quite so cocky about your exploits. Wedding photography is one of the hardest assignments going and does not benefit from fools interfering. By all means take your pictures, but remember, the Pro is being paid to deliver an assignment, not deal with bloody idiots getting in the way.

[jaapv]

I agree. That is not the way it is done. If invited to a wedding - and asked to do informal snaps- I will talk to the professional photographer beforehand, to avoid interfering with his work. I have always found that it is appreciated and it works well. If not asked to do photographs I will leave my gear at home.
I must say I am not surprised you clashed wth the pro. The images you took are mostly formal ones that duplicate his (or should). The strength of a family member doing photos at a wedding is getting the moments the pro will miss, as he is not intimately aquainted with all the undercurrents that run in families. That way you will add to the memories of the event. If you try to get the same type of shots he is supposed to get you are engaging in a M8.2 vs Canon 5D contest.
Having said that, if the official "pro"is a bumbling fool (believe me, it happens...), you will have saved the day.

[Mac22]

Guys, Guys.......
Please take my post as it was meant....Obviously you didn't ...The smilies should of gave it away.....

Sounds like you have had your fair share of "bloody idiots" in your time...erl.

jappv...you got it spot on with the family/personal thing and spent the day getting some really good "keepers".

As for the "professional bumbling fool" all I can say as he arranged and shot the family line ups it was absolute chaos...

Oh and thanks for the feedback on my photo's erl......

[jaapv]

Well, the family could be the root cause of the chaos as well...

[philipus]

Originally Posted by erl

Not something to be proud of, interfering with someone in their workplace. If you had tried it on me while working you might not be quite so cocky about your exploits. Wedding photography is one of the hardest assignments going and does not benefit from fools interfering. By all means take your pictures, but remember, the Pro is being paid to deliver an assignment, not deal with bloody idiots getting in the way.

Um, with respect Erl, I think this was unnecessarily harsh and even provocative.

The flip side is that the pro is also paid to be pleasant, a trait which usually translates into nice, memorable photos and which in addition helps to deal with grumpy guests.

Anyway, I've been to my fair share of weddings and usually bring a camera and happily snap away. On no occasion has a paid photographer ever complained about what I do. That said, it would never cross my mind to run around before or during the ceremony and I don't go around and attract attention from people when the photographer is photographing the same lot.

As always, a common sense approach is best.

Mac22, you asked for feedback. You have captured nice, natural smiles in a few of the photos. But it does appear to me that several of the subjects seem rather unhappy to have the camera pointed at them. Many of them don't smile at all. I couldn't possibly know if this has to do with your run-in with the photographer or if the moment you saw was simply lost a milisecond later. Some images also have magenta and green tints which look a bit odd (the skin tones look off). Also most images would benefit from cropping to remove irrelevant things/people (doorframe in L1010441 and woman to the right in L1010458 for instance). A better use of DOF to focus on the main subject would also have elevated the quality. The photo with the little girl is somewhat creepy, too, with the man open-mouthed looking at her and the quite unsure look on the girl's face.

Just my two cents not ever having shot a wedding professionally so take it for what it's worth.
cheers
philip

[Mac22]

Jaapv...He was only a young lad, granted some decent gear, but I think it was one of the brides sons friends.

Getting a line up balanced isn't that difficult, but I think it was a confidence thing with him.
Left a bit, you stand here, right a bit...Not that difficult unless you have the responsibility of someones wedding and your doing it as a favour....

Putting the record straight, after he did his thing I stepped in and took my shots on the formal stuff, pretty boring though.

[Mac22]

Originally Posted by philipus

Um, with respect Erl, I think this was unnecessarily harsh and even provocative.

The flip side is that the pro is also paid to be pleasant, a trait which usually translates into nice, memorable photos and which in addition helps to deal with grumpy guests.

Anyway, I've been to my fair share of weddings and usually bring a camera and happily snap away. On no occasion has a paid photographer ever complained about what I do. That said, it would never cross my mind to run around before or during the ceremony and I don't go around and attract attention from people when the photographer is photographing the same lot.

As always, a common sense approach is best.

Mac22, you asked for feedback. You have captured nice, natural smiles in a few of the photos. But it does appear to me that several of the subjects seem rather unhappy to have the camera pointed at them. Many of them don't smile at all. I couldn't possibly know if this has to do with your run-in with the photographer or if the moment you saw was simply lost a milisecond later. Some images also have magenta and green tints which look a bit odd (the skin tones look off). Also most images would benefit from cropping to remove irrelevant things/people (doorframe in L1010441 and woman to the right in L1010458 for instance). A better use of DOF to focus on the main subject would also have elevated the quality. The photo with the little girl is somewhat creepy, too, with the man open-mouthed looking at her and the quite unsure look on the girl's face.

Just my two cents not ever having shot a wedding professionally so take it for what it's worth.
cheers
philip

Cheers Phillip...
Thanks for the advice, I'm using a simple program on my mac, that's prolly why the tints are way off. As for the smiles, I could stand for a few hours and still get bugger all out of the miserable sods.........Prestonians for you..

The last shot of my Niece getting told off by her Dad about decorating the table and nearly my camera with her soup....

[erl]

Originally Posted by philipus

Um, with respect Erl, I think this was unnecessarily harsh and even provocative.

Intentionally harsh.
Provacation is when someone interferes in your official capacity with no mandate other than their own gratification. That is how I read what the OP said he did.

Originally Posted by philipus

The flip side is that the pro is also paid to be pleasant, a trait which usually translates into nice, memorable photos and which in addition helps to deal with grumpy guests.

The 'flip side', as you put it what a Pro does to deal with interference without making a fuss or be seen to be necessarily excluding the interference, and still smoothly getting the job done. After untold thousands of weddings, all booked purely on recommendation (I never advertised), I think I know the score, backwards.
To be clear, I have never encountered 'grumpy' guests, they seem to enjoy getting their pics despite the effect on the Pro.

Originally Posted by philipus

Anyway, I've been to my fair share of weddings and usually bring a camera and happily snap away. On no occasion has a paid photographer ever complained about what I do. That said, it would never cross my mind to run around before or during the ceremony and I don't go around and attract attention from people when the photographer is photographing the same lot.

Probably the photographer didn't complain because he knew it would serve no useful purpose. We just put up with disturbance mostly, but there are very precise ways to counteract the trouble without ever being obvious.

[Mac22]

Hi erl...
I see your from Melbourne, that explains a great deal....

[philipus]

Ok guys, let's keep this civil, shall we.

Erl, I fully accept that you're an experienced photographer who has shot many a wedding assignment. And you've been very helpful to me when I've asked questions here, too, including regarding post-processing.

I understand you feel the need to defend the profession and sure there may be reason for it. Personally I don't think this is the place for it. Mac22 just wanted to share his experience. A better way than what you replied would have been to present your view of guests interfering with a wedding photographer as something that is undesirable because it affects the photographer's work and, thereby, potentially the result which the main participants of the event - the couple - have paid for to receive as precious memories of an important day.

I believe in constructive feedback. That applies at work and at play, including here at this forum.

Cheers
Philip