Nadine Ohara - SF Bay Area/CA 
, Jan 16, 2012; 12:15 p.m.
I am continuing the theme assignment in this week's POW. I may even change the title, but not right away. This week's theme is Bridals. So post your best shots of gorgeous brides. Make sure it is 700 pixels or less in width and/or length - AND - make sure to enter a caption in the caption box on that page where you've uploaded. Some details about the shot would be helpful.
This is not a contest - but simply a discussion of art and technique, with illustrations. Positive as well as constructive suggestions are what will occur. HOWEVER - IF you wish to post your image but DO NOT WANT to be considered for critique - please say so in your caption. Images that show as a link will be deleted and you'll be asked to re-post.
Newcomers and Pros are both welcome to post in this thread. You can start discussing immediately. ;-)
Jose Rivera , Jan 16, 2012; 01:11 p.m.
Nadine, I love this forum and I hope people catch on to it. Here is my submission. I would love to see some critiques. I have done mostly Sweet 16's and events.
My sister in law
John McCosh , Jan 16, 2012; 02:38 p.m.
One from a recent wedding taking on 11-11-11.
Bride before leaving for her wedding
Dave Gardner 
, Jan 16, 2012; 05:29 p.m.
One of my favorite weddings....
Iso 400....70mm....f/3.2....1/320sec
Marc Williams 
, Jan 16, 2012; 08:33 p.m.
Sony A900, Zeiss 85/1.4. Available light.
"Lady of Spain."
Mark Anthony Kathurima 
, Jan 17, 2012; 03:13 a.m.
Nadine, thanks for the excellent work you do!
Jose - the lighting brings out the bride's tones beautifully. I am sure some posing experts will weigh in though, on her posture. I vaguely recall reading somewhere that the way you've positioned her right hand here tends to be frowned upon. That the side of a female hand is more elegant than a full-on front view. Also, with the wrist rotated as it has been here, it looks somewhat uncomfortable.
John - I like her thoughtful look. I think I would have more deliberately used the foreground foliage in the composition, to add a bit more mystery. As it is now, it is more of a distraction. Since that didn't happen, I would therefore treat it a bit differently...
Dave - I love B&W images. I can see why you liked that one. I like the tones and the long veil adds to the drama. I would have framed her in a 1/3's position. Her current position in the middle of the frame makes the image feel slightly unbalanced. I have cropped it to show what I mean.
Marc - love the colours and tones. Great exposure. Would love to see her shoe a bit more deliberately revealed, seeing as that's what she seemed to be doing in this shot :)
Show & Tell...
Mark Anthony Kathurima , Jan 17, 2012; 03:17 a.m.
Here's mine - shot in an under-construction staircase at the MOB's while the bride was getting ready. I liked the edgy unfinished look of the stairway contrasting with her beautiful and unique gown...
Tech details: 21mm, f/4, 1/125, ISO 800, window light
Stairway to...
Marc Williams , Jan 17, 2012; 06:33 a.m.
Thanks Mark.
Actually, the pose is a cultural thing. The Bride's family is from the Andalusia area of Spain, and the pose is Flamenco inspired. Slightly hiking the dress wasn't to show off the shoe, it's a coyly provocative gesture with a practical purpose ... to avoid stepping on the long dress.
At the reception, her spry 85 year old Spanish Grandfather out-danced all the young bucks to their knees : -)
You meet the most interesting people shooting weddings, and you learn a lot in the process.
El Abuelo
Mark Anthony Kathurima , Jan 17, 2012; 06:59 a.m.
Ah, thanks Marc. I learn something new every day :)
You meet the most interesting people shooting weddings, and you learn a lot in the process.
I heartily agree!
Vail Fucci 
, Jan 17, 2012; 07:26 a.m.
Jose, she looks very old hollywood, but the pose doesn't quite fit the dress and the girl. In general you want to avoid people putting all their weight on an arm like that. It pops out the elbow in weird ways (particularly on me, I have some hyperextension there), and flexes the shoulder making it look bigger than normal. With the exception of maybe breasts and hair, most women don't want ANYTHING to look bigger than normal. Applying that pressure to that arm also pushed her shoulders up, making her lose her neck. Generally you want to avoid having parts of the body be straight on to the camera. The face even if it's a 7/8th of the face look tends to look better with most people than looking straight at the camera. Perhaps a little head tilt. Perhaps looking down towards the flowers contemplating them type of thing. Generally I would really hesitate also to ever put red roses on a white dress, you risk staining her dress. Lastly I would have moved to a different spot if I could where a plant wasn't right behind her and that window wasn't as distracting with the bunched up curtains. For her camera right arm, I would have had her move her hand slightly more camera right, so that you would have gotten just a hint of space between her arm and her body, which would then show off the curve of her body, and that generally makes women look thinner (not saying at all that she needs to look thinner, just it is something that most of my clients want). In the end I still think she looks very pretty and she probably loves the shot. =) In the future, I often tend to try to find out in advance the style of the dress the bride is wearing. If it is as old hollywood as this, I would have looked into some classic poses from the era to complete the look.
