Nadine Ohara - SF Bay Area/CA 
, Jan 30, 2012; 01:18 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 First Dance. So post your best shots of romantic, teary, happy, choreographed or any other First Dance. I am excluding exchange dances such as Father/Daughter type. 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. ;-)
Mark Anthony Kathurima 
, Jan 30, 2012; 05:33 p.m.
Here's mine from a couple of years ago. My first time using off-cam flash at a wedding...
17mm, 1/10, ISO 3200
Karl Knographer , Jan 30, 2012; 06:16 p.m.
Playing with motion filters.
Karl Knographer , Jan 30, 2012; 06:17 p.m.
Playing with motion filters. Three layers in PS, one gaussian blur, one radial blur, blending the three for the motion/swirl but taking some of it out of the edges.
5DII, 3200 iso, 1/60 3.2, no flash, 24mm.
Dave Gardner 
, Jan 30, 2012; 07:24 p.m.
I had a great time at this wedding....this shot no flash...i don't like using one unless there's no other way. I shot it while holding the camera almost on the floor and without looking through the finder. I was please with the results..
D3...Iso 2500...17mm...f/2.8...1/250sec
Dave Gardner , Jan 30, 2012; 07:29 p.m.
Mark K.....i love that shot. I like how ceiling just transforms the image....very cool.
Dave
David Wegwart - Denver/CO. , Jan 31, 2012; 12:07 a.m.
Love this part of the day...
2nd … first.
Shawn Mertz , Jan 31, 2012; 10:57 a.m.
This dance floor was surrounded by walls that are a ugly green for photos anyway. I used three speedlights all aimed at the dancers to reduce how noticeable the walls were. I started out with relatively even flat light and changed power from the back of camera to add more contrast and light from the direction they ended up standing in.
nikon d200 iso 500 f5 1/50
Vail Fucci 
, Jan 31, 2012; 01:24 p.m.
So now I love the change with the theme shots suggestions, but no one seems to critique shots much any more. So in honor of that original purpose, here are my critiques...
Mark, where was your flash? I love the shot! The way the ceiling is it makes it almost seem like it's glowing from above.
Karl, I suppose using those filters makes what is rather a dull background less dull, but the shot generally feels very underexposed and white balance off to me. They are dead center. I'd rather see if you have negative space it be on one side or the other ala rule of thirds, or crop in on the couple and make it a vertical shot instead.
Dave, was one of the guests next to you trying to take the shot? It seems to have the telltale red AF assist lamp hue to her dress at the bottom. Can't begin to tell you how much those drive me bonkers when dragging the shutter!
Marc, I wouldn't have gotten first dance from this. No face at all, and someone in the background, and a few spots on the bride that aren't too flattering. This I wouldn't have given to the bride. Unless if she was totally in love with her bird cage veil, then maybe crop in much tighter on their heads? I just don't get it. Sorry.
David, I like the cuteness of the shot, but the grain is getting me a little bit. Nice moment though.
Shawn, I can't see the color of the walls in this conversion obviously, but if it's that horrible a background instead of dragging the shutter and letting in that ambient, let your flashes light your subjects and do let the ambient around them go more to black. I would clone the edge on the left so that distracting white out of focus element was gone.
