Dress by MaryPierson Ball

Sorry this image does not do much for me. I would rather see it being worn by a bride instead. Alternatly I would say that this image is not very exiting by POW standards.

A lot of symbolism here, Mary: the open windows, the dress that hangs like wings ready to be worn to take one out of one world into another--or perhaps a chrysalis from which someone has already stepped. Technically the photo is superb, with just the right amount of backlighting to give a wonderful airiness and sense of freedom.

It's original. Far apart from the usual shot with the bride in the dress. Technically it's also very well done

I too like the poesy I see in this picture, and its symbolism. Someone wrote before me: "I would rather see it being worn by a bride instead." While I can certainly understand this opinion, I think it would just be a totally different image. Let's not compare apples and oranges.

To me, this is a still life, and has very little to do with Mary's work, which is generally more about people. To some extent, though, as Nabil mentionned long ago, the absence reveals the presence of the bride in this case. This shot is almost an invitation for her to "jump in" - in married life as well, and pun *is* intended...

Besides that, I am somehow in agreement with Jed Goode about the vertical lines, though one may also say that the slant adds dynamism to the picture, and indeed it does.

Finally another little point that could be argued about, but that's perhaps just the scan, is the sharpness of the gown. Is it slightly blurred due to the movement and was it meant to be blurred, or is it simply a scanning issue. I'd be curious to know, since I'd personally prefer a sharper gown, or a more blurry gown, rather than this in-between sharpness.

All else are positive points: the light is truly superb and so is the fact that I can really *feel* the wind in this image. Great mood, here.

There we are. Now I hope you won't moderate my post too heavily, Mary. :-))) Cheers.

Second thoughts...

After a while looking at the picture, I'm now wondering whether I wasn't the victim of some sort of optical illusion...

It *seems* to me that the window immediately behind the gown was open at the bottom (in this white area), because the gown feels like it swell somehow, but is it really so ? Maybe not. Maybe the gown appears swell and almost flying off simply due to the fact that the image is slanted and that the gown itself has a lot of layers... Now this is getting really interesting... Could you possibly have slanted the shot to add to the impression that the gown is flying off ? If so, I'm starting to wonder whether the slant is not the most interesting and original aspect of this image - together with the light...

When I said I could *feel* the wind, I really meant just that, and yet, it occurs to me now that there was maybe no wind at all...:-) Fascinating illusion if there was indeed no wind...

This image was shot quickly Marc and it might be a DOF issue but I also always shoot with a #1 soft warm filter and then again - maybe a scan problem or a breeze. I honestly don't know. But I do agree with your observation. I don't have the original image or negative any more so I can't even analyze it.

As to the thought that this not being a typical representatation of my work - it actually is.. I'm always thinking of "detail" mood shots for the album. This was the opening shot I chose for the brides's formal album. I usually upload "people" images because my instructions to the lab is to give me 4-5 CD's of their choice of the couple and group shots. My lab is in VT and it is cheaper to do CD's at the time of processing. Then - I upload them and also e-mail them to clients. I invite them to check out a few previews of the wedding on Photo.net. Since at that point they are mostly interested in themselves and the wedding party - that is what I post.

I love getting creative with the flowers or the dress and other important "non-people" details in the attempt to elevate the final album with a little "art".

Kudzu - the backlighting of the dress was exactly what prompted me to shoot this shot. Not many wedding dresses are transparent enough to shoot in a window taking advantage of that light. Thanks to all for your thoughtful critiques. Negative or positive constructive comments are very welcome.

Mary, First, congratulations on POW. This one is worthy of it. When I ask myself what I like about it most I find it's the fullness of the dress & the translucence of it on the left side. Details like this shot are an important part of the wedding photos as long as one doesn't sacrifice the 'must' shots such as the full length and 3/4 length posed shots of the bride. Looking at your folder gives me confidence that they are indeed extras, not taken at the expense of the more traditional & expected shots. Best, LM.

This is a great shot. Very moody. I hope that when I get married, my photographer thinks to take some shots like this.

Elegent & Sexy ... Simply Beautiful!

This is an average image at best. There is nothing to say about it, and it is very uninspired. This does not inspire me at all. A dress hanging by a window. Nothing to conjure up here. Sorry. Wedding images have so much more to offer.

I feel quite uncomfortable with this one Mary.

The overall quality of the image (scanning quality?) is quite dull IMO: not very sharp (large part of the dress in not in focus especially in the large size version, so is the hanger), not very much contrasted despite the lighting effect.

The symbolism of the image itself is quite interesting: one part of the dress (the outside part: the part that people can see from outside ... the window) is so bright that you cannot see the detail and its mixed with light (overexposed) and the other part, the one inside, looks so grey and dull, very sad. Sadness feeling is even more accentuated by the fact that the dress is 'empty', and the hanger is dark, the lines of jail-like tapestry, ... Is the party over? is the dream finished? just remain the smell that the blowing wind bring in the room,... for how long?!

Definitely a sad image IMO.

My first responses to this were positive, mostly because of the light and the subject selection. The light has unquestionable beauty, imo, and the subject is emotional- and ghostly.

After closer viewing, though, I felt a little let down. Nitpicky gripes include the hot spots( I don't feel they resonate with the rest of the image), and the lack of a vignette(I think it would help the somewhat boring top left). Also, I don't really like how the black inner-window on the right competes with the hanger in terms of the blacks.

Most importantly though is the compostion itself. This may not have been possible at the time of exposure, but I feel like the subject could have been treated better. Without trying to sound like a zen photo-guy, this subject evokes feelings of solitude, time, and a little sadness. The way the frame was filled with the dress, though, speaks more of product photography to me. I wish you could have included a little more environment, so long as it didn't detract or clutter.

It just kind of feels like a shot that was taken quickly instead of one that had time and thought invested into it . Oh wait, thats what it was. So I guess that makes it something between a fantastic snap-shot and a not-so-great shot of deliberance. cheers

I like the Mary's picture very much, but I can not understand, how Paolo Cardone's folder (http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=146059) could go unnoticed, when the elves were looking for wedding pictures.

In the context of the brides day, I feel that this image is a great opener for their album, which is after all why Mary shot this photo. It will without doubt, prompt memories for the bride, of all the anxieties and excitement during the preparations on the morning of the big day. For many (if not most) wedding albums, they contain a series of formalised and posed photos of all and sundry; couples, groups, or single shots, but here Mary has thought about the programme of the day from start to finish. This makes the day into a story.

I don't feel the sadness that a couple of viewers have expressed, or the ordinariness. Instead I see the beauty of the dress itself, and think of the hours the bride perhaps took to choose that special one, in order to bring her "princess for a day" dreams into reality. Many little girls long for the day to be that princess. The absence of the bride in the photo brings a sublime element to the photo and makes this a fairly artistic piece of work - using the dress for symbolism of the brides innocence and purity, only later at the finish of the celebrations of course, it will vapourise [if they're not too drunk on champagne]....... well okay, maybe that was the case in the old days :)

Congratulations Mary, a very well deserved POW.

ps In response to Bernhard, yes I agree that Paolo's pictures are very strong and do stand out with his unique approach. But, let's not use that fact to take away anything from Mary's style and efforts! Where this particular image is very "light and airy" as somebody else relates, I find Paolo's photos extremely dark and oppressive. For me that isn't really conducive to the emotions you want to remember from your wedding day. Paolo's style is much more "italian fashion", or "movie still" orientated imo, which would undoubtedly look great in magazines or photography books, but not my wedding album thanks.

A very original image indeed. I can really imagine how the bride is going to feel when it's all set up and the dress is waiting for it's moment, hanging by the window. A lot of people seem complain for thechnical details, but this could have been taken with a disposable camera and would still be better than most of the perfect (and boring) usual wedding shots.

Simone

I just want to say that I think that this is one of the best POWs that I have seen in a while (sorry all, my personal opinion). I would compliment you more but I think that most of it has been said. It just hit me as a REAL POW the instant it filled my screen. Congratulations!

I'm very disapointed by this POW... The framing isn't very special, the play with textures is OK but I find the overall image quite commmon. Sorry Mary. Maybe it is just me but the photo doesn't look inspiring, which, to me, one key issue in the choise of POWs.

Jacques - I have to agree that it looks dull on my monitor as well. Not on the print from what I remember. I upped the contrast and lowered the brightness on on my monitor it looked better... I'd love feedback as to how to improve it.. I appreciate your constructive comments...Sorry it made you sad.. So interesting how images strike people in different ways.. Very helpful to hear.

Peter - Thank you.. I also like the simplicity and "realness" of the shot. My slogan for my business is "Real Moments...Real Memories". Usually the room I shoot in while the bride is getting ready with all her girls...is a mess!!! I have to shoot what is there without making a big production to interfere with the goings on. It can be a challenge.

And Kelly - you are right -- It was shot fairly quickly. I have to work with the constraints of time, location, people in the room and at that time a totally manual camera. I shoot about 500 to 800 frames in a six hour period. Have to be quick enough to "see" a shot that carries beauty and mood. Saw the light coming through the dress -- had to have it.. Shot about two frames and moved on to the "people oriented" activities in the room. I've also done a lot of commercial work where you have the luxury to take your time to create the perfect shot.. Not possible with weddings - it is a whole different animal.

Bernhard, Paolo's work is awsome! Marc Williams also has some great stuff. I admire them both. I also agree that Paolo's work is like movie stills - and on the dark moody side. I love the shot of the groom looking at his reflection. Awesome. I think many many people on this site are very aware of his great work. And if not - Go see his work it is very artistic and dramatic!

Adam and Simone - Thanks - I do try to make my images capture the precious real moments of the day. Including when I do the "standard group shots". I go for lots of interactive expression in the groups as well as the couple shots. A few standard group shots on a page with the next page being the group clustering around the couple with hugs and kisses - I then zoom in on the action. I tell them at that point -- to ignore me and pay attention to the couple and the results can be sooo much fun! Takes away the static feel of stiff posed pictures.

All photographic attempts can be improved.. This is why we are here so thanks for your input of an encouraging, appreciative nature as well as the honest and helpful critiques of a negative nature!

Nice idea, Mary. This image is very pleasing to my eye, and is worth more than one look, to me meaning its a pretty good photo. The manner in which the backlighting emphasizes the needlework of the dress is a most dramatic presentation, making this the best photo I've seen of this subject matter. Please ignore the nitpicking you're getting - those folks need to get out more.

Thanks for your reply, Mary. Interesting to read you do more of this sort of work. It appears then that I was wrong assuming it wasn't your usual style. Apologies.

I read quite a few interesting comments in this thread.

Jacques... Once again we are talking about "overexposure", and perhaps it's a language problem, but to me this picture is certainly not overexposed and that white area should be called a highlight, and a highlight with no detail is not a bad highlight - just a "strong" highlight.

I'm also a bit surprised to read that a few people get no emotion from this image. At first glance, this image didn't do much for me either; fact is, that it is not a "pretty" picture, it is indeed a bit dull, lacks shadows, seems almost faded, perhaps printed using a developer that would have been too long under the table...

Yet, all this, to me, contributes in conveying a subdued, quiet, solemn and nostalgic atmosphere.

This image is about a big moment in a person's life, and looking at this dress, I have to agree with Peter A: what's extraordinary about this picture is that everything is so ordinary, so timeless and almost abandonned - which is probably why some found it sad. To me, this image is only sad this you really focus your eye on the details of the dress, on the way the dress swells, on the way the light shines through. At that stage, I think there is some life something that ressemble the big day ahead... This picture takes time to appreciate. I don't think it is perfect at all, but I do think it is a lot more subtle than what it may seem at first glance. It all feels so light, bright an inhabited, as if a breeze would have brought the soul of the bride in this dress through the window, before the "arrival of the body"...:-)

And as I was writing the previous post, Mary found appropriate to upload a "proper" conventional print with the right amount of shadows...:-)

I must say this new upload looks awesome compared to the original. A lot more beautiful, no doubt. Still, if posted side by side at the same size, I'm not absolutely sure the new version would stand the test of time as well as the imperfect version... Too early for me to tell - there are pros and cons to each version imo -, but perfect tones are not always the perfect treatment for an image. Sometimes, too beautiful lacks soul... I'm not sure whether that's the case here, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

I find in that sense that Kelly L. made an interesting comment about the "missing vignetting". It is true, I think, that this sort of shot would look gorgeous taken with a toy camera...

Since we were talking about Paolo Caldone's work just now, which I have admired for a very long time on this site, Paolo's work is very often what people would generally call *too* dark, but Paulo's dark moods often add lots of drama.

Here, similarly, I'd tend to think, that the dull tones and the strong highlights added an interesting mood to Mary's image (with pros and cons).

This is a gorgeous dress(great choice on the bride's part), hope her groom was a good choice too, lol. The light is soft, chimmering, transparent, lovely. Maybe more detail on the dress? The somewhat more elaborate dress is in contrast to the stark quality of what is included in the rest of the composition. It does seem odd since as you say it's usually very hectic as one would expect, so we expect maybe a more cluttered image. But the simplicity is what sets the mood. I admit there is a little sadness here for me maybe. For the bride however I think it will bring memories of that day, getting ready, picking the dress etc.

When I first looked at this picture I thought of some of Jim Dine's bathrobe paintings and some installation artists. The dress seems very fragile, has a life of its own almost, looks like it may even fall off the hanger too. If there had been time to stage it a bit, maybe the veil and shoes would be nice. I like the spontaneous quality though.

The new upload is MUCH more interesting, more finished. The only problem is it seems to bring out the blown out part of the dress just that much more, but oh well. nice

I'm not sure what to think of this week's photo. I've seen this done before. My only comment would have been to put the dress on a nicer hanger.

Congratulations on your POW award.

I have been viewing this photo at least once a day since it has been up on the front page. Today I read through the comments. After reading the comments I still get the feeling of happiness and as has been said, light and airy feeling from the photo. I can imagine the bride awakening in the early morning, with the sun streaming in her window, lighting up the dress. Its beautifull. I could only wish for warmer tones in the photo. Something to give even more 'umph' to the light.

I do not get the feeling of 'clutter' in the room on the wedding day that Mary mentions. Anyone who has been through that clutter on the wedding day will be very well aware of how difficult it must have been to get this shot. I get the feeling of the anticipation of the day. The dress is one of the main incredients for 'the day' with all the significance the traditions hold. This waiting dress seems joyfull and eager to "jump in" (as Marc so aptly put it) to the new life to be started this day. I think the open window with the breeze blowing in adds a lot to the dynamics of the shot. I prefer the original to the darker one, because of the light and the movement apparent in the original one. I think it would be a treasure for the bride to have in her cache of memories.

It's hard to understand how anyone could not like this image. You may not relate to the subject in a way that a recently married woman might, but just as a study in light and compostion, it's something I think most of us would have shot given the chance. Being attracted solely by lines and shapes and textures, but especially when they're presented with such unusal lighting, may seem like a dry analytical way to approach photography, but don't you think that these aspect by themselves do create a mood even if you couldn't identify, let alone relate to, the subject?

Mary says she saw the light and had to have the shot. Believe it.

I really enjoy the photograph and think you have a great eye to catch this image. There is so much imagination that can be added to this shot which could represent so many things to different people. Bravo Mary Ball. What a welcome relief in contrast to all the boring wedding shots in this world.

A day later...

I have reached the conclusion that I do prefer the new version of this image, which you uploaded as an attachment. In fact it is simply more beautiful and doesn't seem to have lost its soul: so, I'm all for it, finally. Cheers.

The expectations of what is to come. It is anticipation of a days events hanging in the air for all to wonder upon. What a thought inspired photo. Exciting and surreal in the same moment. Why the heck didn't I think of this?!

This new upload makes a huge difference IMO. So that I feel I have to upgrade my comment. Higher contrast and darkening were missing so much in first place, so that the image went dusty and dull as the result (in spite of white light smash in the middle, trying to save the whole mood)... and dull, wedding-wise, isnot it a synonymous of real disaster...

Here I see brightness, life, happiness, youth..., more than the window itself the dress seems to bright light in that room...

Just my 2cents, but I am not an expert in wedding...;-)

I do like the open window! The bride must have got cold feet and jumped.

I don't get quite the same sense of light airiness with the second version. Marc is right about the virtues of the second version, of course, except for that mystical sense that inheres in the photo and which I think is brought out better by the original.

A few pointers: I too had noticed the lack of contrast and the cheap hanger and thought these two things alone killed the special-ness of the photo. To me, this seems a really nice photo that suffered from a few peripheral nuisances: the hanger, the contrast problem, the dark spots on the right window, the splotches on the wallpaper, and most of all, the TILT! Not to mention that the dress is kind of plain and simple as far as wedding dresses go. Mary, you’ve got to straighten up this photograph before I get dizzy looking at it. I had actually played with the image a little bit in Photoshop yesterday just to see it’s potential. It definitely is a winner and a keeper for any wedding album, but the crop is too tight for this kind of shot IMO. This is where the vignette comes in. But in the heat of the moment there is no time to run over to your camera bag and sort through the accessory section and try to find the vignette along with the corresponding filter size adapter, so what to do? Simply take one step backwards and give it more room at the edges and add the vignette later on. The idea is to keep the entire dress inside the vignette as much as possible. I actually would prefer this as a high-key photograph over the original or the edited version but I just couldn’t get the right toning I was looking for in ten minutes or so, so I gave up. I’m pretty sure I can do it I just don’t have the time to dedicate to it; but it would look very nice as a high-key photograph.

A little aside: if anyone is interested in seeing some good wedding photos with a different approach but still in the traditional form try seeing some of “photografz” work in the Leica user site at:

(link)

I prefer the original image, by far. I feel that detail has been lost in the second version, due to the increased contrast. I find the slightly tatty wallpaper and skirting board rather touching, and in wonderful contrast to the innocent simplicity and purity of the wedding dress, which by it`s very shape suggests youth and tenderness. Personally I am shocked that Mary no longer has this negative. This is a photograph which is certainly more interesting to the photographer than to the bride, in my opinion.

Mary, thanks for the comment. I have come back to it another day later and I still find it excellent. I am not sure that the later version is better on my screen (a flat-screen iiyama 17 inch at full colour). I guess that what hit me was the translucency and the much commented on feeling that it is blowing in a gentle breeze. I much prefer this to most wedding pictures. It just says a lot about the hours before. The variety of discussion, though shows how wide the spectrum of what constitutes a good wedding photo is. But then if we all liked the same thing you wouldn't have taken this picture!

Leanne -- I shot dress in the window 6 years ago and don't have negs because the couple can buy the negatives after 5 years. I do reserve the right to ask them for the negatives to make a print. Though I love this image and what it conveys (for me) - I have gotten better over the years (I hope) and have better dress shots than this. And though not "original" as someone pointed out it is a key shot for brides. Original - to me - is attempting to do a oft shot image in my own unique way.

Isidro, your points are all very valid and well stated and helpful! However, If I were shooting in a quiet room with more options and time.. Perhaps many of those issues would have been addressed (pardon the pun).

Let me set something up for you... The bride is running late.. I just fixed her hair and checked all the girls makeup by the window since we'll be shooting outside. There are six girls behind me in various stages of getting dressed -- all talking at once and some asking me questions about their shoes, dress or whatever.. We have only one half hour to get pictures before the ceremony of the bride alone and with each girl and with her parents and flower girl... There are shoes, bags, curling irons, plastic dress bags and other personal effects including my two camera bags all over the floor and chairs and bed... The florist just came in and has questions about the flowers. The bride needs to get in her dress. It is complete chaos. I don't carry fancy hangers with me and there are none on site because this is a bed and breakfast and the hangers are permanantly affixed to the clothes rod. I see a great shot because of the light coming through the dress and the mood I saw in a fraction of an instant...and take two frames. Sure I saw the chipped paint..part of the charm of the place..very old but elegant mansion. Hope for the best that I got something close to what I envisioned. Yes, it is crooked. I don't worry about that because when I enlarge it for the album or use it as a 4x5 alone on a page... I'll either straighten it within the mat or totally slant it in a mat opening that is made for that kind of shot.. I don't have photoshop - I get creative with cropping and mat openings. None of this is in the form of an "excuse" -- just the reality of doing weddings. And - I love it. It is fast and furious and not perfect sometimes but the important thing is to capture the reality of the day.

Carl mentions that some might not be able to relate to the image in a way a recent bride might. Well, I'm a recent bride. August 27 - just a few weeks ago! It was an invaluable experience. I had probably the second best photgrapher in New England. Lucky to have her for cost as she's a friend. She has a similar style to me. Which means she is flying all over the place and yet not getting in the way or interfering with my preparations or my day. It's madness! She did a great job because when I see my images I see mood, joy, playfullness, love and a few artsy images of important details that I'll treasure forever. With the fast pace and time constraints she had to deal with, I didn't expect perfection because we are not traditional studio shooters. We want real, expressive, emotional work.

The uploaded image is my daughter and I - that was taken by my photographer ...If I were to critique it for negative points.. I'd point to the sand trap and composition. However, I know that when I put it in an album - I'll be getting an 8x10 and that will automatically be cropped out going from a 4x6 to an 8x10. I have here what I want and what my clients want from me -- a great moment captured with genuine emotion. When I see it I smile and remember. Wedding photography is a whole other animal than studio shooting. ;-)

Congratulations or apologies are in order.

Regardless, I love the haunt of this image. The ghostly white light and the active billow. Something about the mimickry of ordinary draping and the significance of a human moment elevates this into a sublime observance.

Most atttempts at abstract symbolism fail because they are static. This glimpse into frail life succeeds because it echoes that dynamic energy. I agree with most about the wall verticals, but nonetheless, it's a mature insight into human faith in promise and hope, with nary a person in site. Well done.

I like the photo a lot. Much more so than recent Photos of the week. To me when I look at it I see the morning before the wedding. The brides fears and hopes all in one. The lighting is superb and evokes those long early morning rays of sun. This seams to fit in with the begining of a new day and a new life. Well done and diserving of the honor of POW.

Interesting and very creative. You obviously seems to relate to your customers deeply, not just as many other weddings photographers do, simply "documenting" the event and that's it. I say this not only based on this shot, but on the many that I've seen before in your portfolio here in p.net.

My problem with this one, is the blown out areas on the bottom right of the dress. I'm not sure if it's my monitor, but it looks like there's no details. I wonder if the original negative shows anything there or if it's just the scan. I'm surprised that only Kelly Loverud made an observation on this regard, so maybe it's not that serious...

Take a look at www.hasselblad.com. You will find a much forceful image by Chris Marr that somehow is very similar to the photograph by Mary Ball. Is that just a coincidence? I would lower the points for originality..

Congratulations Mary, both on this well deserved POW, and on your recent marriage!

I find this image evocative and emotive, yet still realistic. It transcends the hustle and bustle of that chaotic time of the wedding, and gives back to the bride a chance to reflect on things she may not have had time for on the day. It creates a quiet moment by stilling this special visual that otherwise may have been missed. I consider this an achievement in itself, but also this choice of subject conveys so much symbolism as others have already commented. Signalling the beginning of the day, the following festivities, and the rest of the married couples lives together. The dress without the bride says much about "the specialness" (if there is such a word) of the day, and therefore this picture has universal appeal, aswell as being a treasured memory for the couple that commissioned you.

Well done, and all good wishes to you, your new husband and your daughter, for a fun-filled joyful future together.

Does anyone one else feel a sense of solitude within this image? Comments upon this site include romantisism, excitement and anticipation. I see this but I also feel sadness for the dress, like its hanging in suspense, waiting to be worn, but only once, and then the light from the window will die. It's almost as if the dress is a stage costume, hung in its beauty for the last performance. This image leaves me feeling sad rather than the happiness it perhaps symbolises. A beautiful image in more ways than one, not technically great but then the best photographs often arent, they come from the heart. Would look great in a wedding album. Claire M UK

Claire - Sincerely and beautifully said -- and very, very interesting as others have also felt what you've just expressed so eloquently.. That is the amazing and wonderful thing about photography or I suppose most artistic "expressions" .. We all bring to it our own experience..All very valid, and I am listening very closely because it is important to my business to realize that my "vision" is not always going to be interpreted the way I intend it to be. Thank you. That is also why I love so many of the predictable dissenters on this page. (I could name them but they know who they are and we love them -- They keep you on your toes ;-)..

On the other hand, it is also very wonderful to get that praise when some recognize that you came "close" to what you've tried to achieve... That praise is especially cool when it comes from photographers that are normally very critical and have a high standard... (And we also know who they are.) Encouraging and inspirational.

G....I wish you had a name -- But - Thanks, the couple was very happy with the results...this is only one little piece of the final album which was mostly about the love and interaction and personal moments of that particular couple.

Nestor - yes, I love what I do and as you say I do very much relate to my clients. I feel like they are family when I leave.. But also - YES..Agree!! The highlights are blown in that one area of the dress. I look at my results and wish that next time I can do better.. It never ends but it does get better every year, at least I hope, because I try to keep open, keep learning and keep trying.

Anrijs - What? Coincedence that there is a shot out there like mine - really? ;-) No offense... I'm just amused.. I have not studied or researched other people's work... ;-) I never heard of Chris Marr... Hmm What year was the shot done? I'll have to check the shot out.. Does it surprise me that others shoot a dress in the window? Does it surprise me that others see something wonderful with the light coming through the dress in window? No.... But, thanks for the tip.. I'll check it out!! I might learn something...and improve my work. That is why we are here - right?

So much banter about a simple honest image.

As suggested above, I took a look at Chris Marr's dress shot. Not the same at all...except it's of a dress hanging...which all of us wedding photographers shoot if given the chance. Originality is not contained in the subject matter of some event so regimented to tradition. It comes from a fresh vision of those traditions. IMO, Chris' image is a studio like still life...Mary's is animated by light and a gentle breeze. One (while beautifully composed and lit), looks contrived and somehow lifeless, while the other connects the viewer to the Bride in an unpretentious manner.

Much of Mary's work has this human quality. There is a difference between a fairy tale approach which separates itself from the actual people being married to reach for some iconic ideal, and an approach that actually is a perceptive record of the B&Gs most personal day spent in full view of hundreds of their friends and family.

Mary is indeed very perceptive and personal in her approach. That, as opposed to suffocating rules and obsession with technique, is Mary's genius.

I thought this created a feeling of the dress dancing, enticing its owner to wear it and dance too, enhanced by the off-true verticals. Coppelia-like and balletic.

I like this image a lot for all the reasons people have stated in terms of the content. As far as the technical stuff, Back lighting is very hard to control. I do think this photo, just for discussion sake would have been better served by using a view camera (I know, we all carry one in our back pockets:) I say this because then Mary could have controlled the highlight during developement and had, in my opinion (only), a touch more of detail on the left edge of the dress there. I can see just a hint of seperation between the dress and the window light, would like to see a little more detail there. For taking this shot with a roll film camera, its pretty cool though.

Compliments coming from Marc Williams..are much appreciated! Many Thanks Marc.. Your work is very wonderful and your generous and frequent contributions to the forums are so appreciated. I agree that the reference to that very talented photographer on hasselblad.com with the dress shot bears no relationship to this shot..man .. it isn't even by a window! Geez..

Anyway.. Mark, Marc Williams, Marc G. (hard to please and a great critic), Geraldine , Kelly, e.e., Joseph Coalter (another tough critic), Leanne, Isidro (always a tough one), Kudzu, Herman, Jacques, Margret Meehan, Carl Root (also a tough critic), Jeffrey, Critter (a tough and humorous critic), Peter, Scott, Simone, Adam, Bernhard Mayer (very tough critic), Jeff, Len, Ken. Rafael, Nestor, - thanks for your constructive critiques and compliments.. Both were accepted and appreciated.

And - interesting..to see a comment by "Barry Fisher".. Who is Not "Barrie" Fisher (female wedding photographer as well as fairly famous Olympics sports photographer that took the photo on this page of me and my daughter at my wedding) What a fun coincedence.

Hey I just realized something! (Mary, I’m sorry for posting this non-related message here), but Marc Williams is actually "fotografz" from the Leica forum which I had I mentioned earlier as being an excellent photographer. I didn’t know he displayed his work here also! Well then, that should make it easier for some of you to go through his work. Marc W., you do some excellent photography, I have always admired your work in the Leica forum, I guess I’ll look for your work here now.

Your foto really brings what could be a plain scene to life. I like it the way it is, no additional contrast required!

Great foto Mary, and great to see another Vermonter on here!

When I saw this image first, it did not appeal me at all. My reaction was, coverting any ordinary photo to B&W does not make it a great. But when I knew that it was a part of a wedding prtfolio, it makes sense. It suddenly tells a story even without the bride in it. Such a photo to my mind does not have a value unless it is with other wedding photos.

Ok here's a stupid question.

I was reading how this picture was taken, personally I think its great!, but what does bracketed mean?

Mary, your photo was worth another look, and after reading certain coments made after my original post, I'm compelled to say a little more. I think some folks are easily caught up in the technical aspects of photography, and overlook the more intangible aspects an image can present. Getting caught up in "too much tilt" and "use a better hanger", the these folks seem to be blind to the spiritual slice of life your photo represents. Yours is a photo that makes one think. It captures a living, breathing moment that begs for the viewer to think about what a wedding means, and how lives of many people will be changed this day. That's no small thing.

Congratulations Mary. This has always been a favorite of mine ever since I first saw it. It certainly stands on its own merit.

D.W., bracketed means that multiple pictures were taken, each with a (slightly) different exposure. Particularly in difficult light conditions it is a good idea to take a few more shots: overexpose a little, underexpose a little and see what comes out best. Depending on the exact conditions and requirements, you could open or close the aperture or select a different shutter speed when bracketing.

Congratulations, it is a lovely picture. I work as wedding photographer and I like this sort of images. If you like wedding pictures, please take a look to my portfolio and tell what you think.

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=336892

Joseph, “love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage, this I tell you brother, you can’t have one without the other.” In the same way, an excellent photograph can’t have love (beauty) without marriage (harmony of the elements) and it can’t have marriage of the elements without love, or as you call it ‘the spiritual slice of life.’ I understand that just as in marriage one can overlook the negative little details, but just like in marriage incongruity needs to be addresses or else the nit picks, when unnoticed or ignored, can cause turmoil in the relationship. The idea of pointing out the tiny faults is that they have an easy fix, and this is done in order to prevent their dominating the situation and becoming a focal point. Mary’s photograph is excellent, but without the nit picks (an easy fix) it’s even better.

By the way, if one were interested in adding a vignette to this or any photograph: all one has to do is print it on a larger paper (or file in a computer) than the intended frame will be and simply add the vignette to the surrounding empty space. The reason I say this, is that the crop in this photo is too tight at the bottom section and would benefit considerably with the addition of a vignette; IMO of course.

Joseph, in another one of Mary’s photographs (in her favorite’s folder) I critiqued one that I really like. Here, in my comment; you will see that I’m not oblivious to the spiritual side of photography.

I’m not drawing the guns here bro’ just following up on your post.

Hello Mary, I have always admired your wedding shots as well as your courage to take them. It's a tough part of the business. I hope you will post more of these detail shots. When I look at "dress", I can't help but think of the Irish tradition of hanging hand made lace curtains on windows that would also blow in the wind and become beautyful translucent lenses for passing light. Congratulations on your recent wedding and the POW. Hope your still shooting weddings when (if!) my Daughter Alanna gets married. I'd be proud to have you do the shoot. Brad

Hi Mary,

Firstly, Congrats for pow!

Secondly, Some of the previous comments have concentrated on the technical limtations of the image. Personally, I don't care about how sharp an image has to be to be considered good, or whether it's technically perfect. Beauty often lies in the imperfections. If everything was technically perfect then it would all be dull as dishwater to me. A photo should be enjoyed for what it is. Sometimes an image is technically flawed, but it has great emotional impact. Other times a picture may have no emotional impact, yet it has technical mastery. Both are valid on different levels.

So, what do I like about this image? Well, if truth be told, I think it's the fact that it deviates from the standard / formula wedding photo. You really have taken a step back and looked at the dress in a different way. I like that aspect very much.

Seeing a moment that others would ordinarily pass by - that's one of the elements of good photography. I'm sure this is what attracted you to the dress in the first place. Well done.

Like this image very much! Has great light quality. One comment, would have liked to see more space around the dress.

Long ago (and many washings since) we inherited some curtains made of a similar type of transparent material with lacy designs. It is very pleasant to lie on the bed in the afternoon and watch them as they billow and fall in succession, with pure white light shining through them filling the room with a soft diffused glow. Mary’s photo reminds me of this and other things.

I wonder if a better title would be, “Her Mother’s Wedding Dress.” To me this dress appears to be of another era and I wonder if it was handed down after being stored away in a trunk or a hope chest for many years and is hang in the fresh air for the first time in many years. At any rate this is an effective photograph full of small details about the people who are absent from the frame. For my own reasons I like to think this was taken at someone’s home but it could just as easily be one of the small wood frame churches I am fond of for their human scale and unpretentiousness. The painted wood trim and the wallpaper suggest that this room is reserved for special occasions and important family events. The softness that others have derided as a flaw, suggests to me the gentle motion of a breeze, a recalled memory or an afternoon dream.

To me the play of light and shadows is quite exquisite and I really wonder that anyone who claims to be a photographer in any sense of the word does not understand that cameras do not see the world the same way that the eye sees the world. Try going from a dark basement directly outside to the bright summer sun at noon and see how many “highlights” your eyes can detect before they have a chance to adjust to the light. A highlight is a highlight and not necessarily a flaw or a failure.

Tilting verticals usually bother me because I used to make my living building things that were required to be straight and level. In this instance the perspective is an asset and draws the viewer into the photograph making us feel that we are passing through the room quickly on another errand and happen to catch site of this dress as we are rounding the corner towards the hallway.

“Artistic Photojournalism” is such a thing really possible? The two words seem to be at odds with each other. Art is interpretive and journalism is a statement of unbiased facts. I guess it is a little late in the week to begin that conversation. I only thought about it now because I have been reading the Evans/Agee book “Let us Now Praise Famous Men.”

I can imagine that the photograph was taken in some haste with other duties looming and that when it was made the corner of Mary’s lips took a slight upward turn as she pressed the shutter release. It works for me.

I have seen many similar shots done by local wedding photogs in my local city. Hence, I'm not inspired.

Technically it's very good though. Lighting seems right and pleasing.

Would you be so kind as to share them with us? "Similar" is a loaded word when it comes to photography.

"Similar" as in shots of the bride's wedding dress hanging. Either in color or b/w. This idea is not new. Of course, Mary did it extremely well.

The "hence" ("therefore") is the great leap of logic here, Travis.

what Im trying to say is this idea of Mary's has been done before. Personally , I have seen it many times and in fact have done a few shot of "similar" scenes myself. I might not have done them so well as Mary though, but let's just leave it as that, shall we?

I was only leaving my 2 cents. If anyone is offended, please disregard what I have said, ya.

Enjoy the picture.

Beginner student fare at best, and I'm being generous!!!

No one's offended, Travis--just the usual (hopefully) benign give and take on the PoW.

Thanks Dennis... Nice praise coming from you... ;-) I do believe that this was Holly's (the bride) Mother's Dress as a matter of fact..

Someone else made mention of this being in someone's home. This is an old mansion on a huge estate in Shelburne, VT. The name of the venue is Shelburne Farms. Though the old mansion was elegant and beautiful as well as one of the nicest wedding venues (and most desirable and expensive) it is old and after layers and layers of paint - the windows don't show well. Outside that window - not far from the mansion is Lake Champlain. Wonderful spot.

As to what I call "Artistic Photojournlism".... It is a phrase I've made up to separate myself from what I call "snapshot photojournalism". If you look out there at what some "wedding photojournalists" shoot ...you will see a lot of wide angle or straight 35mm shooting and tons of black and white and lots of DOF. I shoot with lots of zooms, I shoot color, I shoot close up and I shoot details artistically (or try) and I zoom in with shallow DOF to get expressions and emotion as well as the wide shots. I've had clients go with me because I was not what they saw out there as: "photojournalism" and they felt I needed to explain what I do in a different way.

And Dennis - yeah -- I smiled but not until I got my proofs back ;-) As with many photographers I've learned that sometimes when you think you got "it" it would fall short of what you imagined..But every once in a while, you get to say yahoo..good one. Yes, it is a shot that has been done to death by wedding photographers.. but... each one of my weddings, are all different in a special way. With the dress shot..sometimes I don't do it because the conditions are not right and other times.. the light, the environment, the dress just speak to you and you've got to have it! - it is always a new shot to me. Once again thanks to so many of you for your wonderful words of praise - it has given me a renewed jolt to go out there and do more creative work. And Michael McCullough - Thanks for your generosity ;-)

Patrick, Thanks for the explanation on bracketed...I guess I've been doing a lot it lately and didn't know what the heck it was called, other than taking pictures!

Brilliant! I always tend towards pictures of people. But this one REALLY grabs me. It stirs in me more than a memory - more like a mood or a feeling of many meories - a recognition - though I have never seen anything quite like it before. I can feel and smell the warm fresh summer air pushing out the must of the old house. I am eager with anticipation of what will happen later today. Absolutely incredible! The best of it's kind. Congratulations.

This is definitely one of those pictures that says 1,000 words. I like that it was taken in black and white for nostalgic effect. Good work, original idea.