LF wedding success!

[Denis P.]

I'm not sure this is the right forum - perhaps the Lounge would be better, but anyway...

I have to share this! Really!

My first (semi-serious) LF assignment turned out OK!

My cousin's wedding was on Friday, and she asked me to bring the camera with me, to shoot some photos "along the way". They had a pro photographer, who did the "pro" stuff, and they wanted me for snaps of the kids, flowers, etc....

I shot only two weddings before, years ago, when I didn't know any better, when friends (who could not afford a pro) asked me to be the photographer, and the work and the prints were my wedding presents... I swore I'd never do that again (you know what I'm talking about....).

I thought making a few LF shots would be nice, and brought along also my Speed Graphic with Ektar 127 lens. It's the lens I "DIY"-ed with Ektar cells put into a good Graphex shutter from another Ektar I got here on Apug. Never tested the lens, apart from making sure the speeds were right (by the sound of it). Rather careless, I know...

Ayway, like all weddings, this was rather hectic, and there was no time for elaborate setups and adjustments - so I just made two quick shots in front of the reception hall, and then hurried along before they arrived to the church, set up the camera on the tripod, measured the light, and when they arrived, I had about two minutes to make a few shots.

From what I could see on the spot, I did not make any stupid mistakes (like leaving the darkslide in, or forgetting to close the lens before removing the darkslide...), and made 4 shots.

Last night I developed 4 of the 6 in my JOBO, taking care not to mess anything, and the negs turned out great!

I'll make the prints in the next few days - I'll have to use friend's darkroom, since I don't have an 4x5 enlarger, but I scanned the negs, and I'm pleased to say that everything looks fine!

The framing could be a bit better - but then again, there's a lot of "real estate" to crop from

BTW, the "official" photographer was using an Oly E550, and was amazed by my "old-timer" Speed Graphic. He even asked me whether the lightmeter was in the camera itself

I just smiled and told him I've measured the light a few minutes ago with a separate hand-held lightmeter, and that I didn't need to measure each and every shot separately He just looked at me strangely...

Ah, those modern "pro" photographers.... I wonder when he shot film last time - if ever!

If I get the permission, I'll post a scanned shot of the couple later...

Regards,

Denis

 

[matt miller]

Good for you! I'm sure your shots will have a completely different feel than the pro's digi snaps.
Please do post them if you can. I'd love to see them.

 

[BrianShaw]

I second the "good for you" sentiment! Isn't it wonderful the reaction you get (along with the great negs) when you pull out a "real" camera. Last summer I shot one of my son's Little League baseball games with a Super Graphic and roll film back. Naturally, action shots were a challenge and there were no close-ups of the outfield, but I concentrated on the kids batting and on the bench. Great shots and LOTS of quizzical looks from parent who never saw a camera that large.

 

[Denis P.]

Here's the (slightly cropped) photo, i.e. negative scan.

Film was Efke PL100, souped in Rodinal 1+60, Jobo rotary processing. I was glad to see no "ruts", under- or over-developed areas near the edges - which sometimes happens with my LF negs...

Now that I look at the shot, I realize that I did make a few blunders - mainly relating to framing and positioning of subjects..

Dang! But, since everything was so hectic, and I was rather anxious, I guess it could have been worse... Given the pressure, I'm glad that anything came out

At least I was clever enough to move away a bit, so that I can crop around them, without cutting any arms or legs

Denis

 

[roteague]

I think it is just one great image, I would be proud to have such an image on my wall. It has such a great feel to it.

FWIW, I can't imagine any real professional using a Oly E550.

 

[matt miller]

Fantastic shot Denis. I'm sure they'll be thrilled with it.

 

[John Bartley]

Here's the (slightly cropped) photo, i.e. negative scan. .....
Denis

Very nice !! I'm sure they'll be thrilled !!

 

[Monophoto]

Move forward in time to the point when this couple is celebrating their 50th aniversary and are looking for a picture to run in the local newspaper (assuming newspapers exist then), I would predict that this image will be the one they choose over the images done by the "pro". It has a natural, unposed feel that most pros shots lack.

Very nice image.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Yup...you nailed it!

Murray

 

[Denis P.]

Thanks for the compliments, everyone

The shot isn't' that great - the background is distracting, and the palm is rather annoying...

Still, I think it will make one nice analog (hand-made) print, once I get to use my friend's darkroom (about 50 miles away...).

Given that so many things can go wrong, I'm always amazed that I actually manage to get anything recorded on film, and that I get printable, even nice-looking, negatives

Heck, it's not the best I can do - I would have preferred to use my Aero-Ektar, but it would only add unnecessary confusion.... all the fumbling with the focal plane shutter, and the weight of it all... The small Ektar 127/4.7 is still a good performer, and with the new shutter, it looks like it's finally very reliable (Thanks again, Morten!!!)

Still, I wouldn't like to be doing this (wedding photography) for a living

Thanks for the compliments, everyone

(I'm just proud to say that I am finally a true LF-er - everything so far was just fooling around...)

Denis

 

[wiseowl]

Nice image, and having done a few "favours" myself I know the pressure you felt, just makes it all the sweeter.

Cheers

Martin

 

[morkolv]

A very nice shoot!! Nice warm feeling in it. And the smallish scan looking that good, the original negative would allow for a very nice REAL photo for the wall!

Good job!!!

All the best

 

[Capocheny]

I'll second all the positive comments above!

And, stop being modest... beat your chest a bit and growl the victory growl. It's a very, very nice image.

In 50 years this WILL be the image they'll want to use in all their newspaper announcements!

Cheers

 

[athanasius80]

Great work! They look like real people being happy. And besides, in 50 years, they'll actually be able to Find the negative instead of trying to find the digital file.
Again, Cheers!

 

[childers-jk]

I agree with all above posts. I think the B&G would be happy with that photo for a long time. Wow, shooting a wedding with the Speed G. That seems like a lot of work but the photo is really very good. Thanks for sharing, and I hope like others, to see some more.

 

[MenacingTourist]

Mistakes? You've got to be kidding. I would trade ALL the wedding pictures from the "pro" who shot our wedding with the one you just posted.
Seriously.

The idiot my Mother-in-law (who I really do like) hired had no idea who I was talking about when I mentioned I wanted something along the lines of Avedon and Mary Ellen Mark. She just looked at me with a blank expression.

Again, you did great.

 

[Terence]

I love the depth-of-field. I think they (bride and groom) separate nicely from the surroundings.

 

[jimgalli]

SWEET! Years hence when all the hard drives are being stripped in China they'll have these precious "hard copies".

 

[jolefler]

Very, very nice!!

It's a very well done photo!

Growing up, my Dad did weddings with a Speed, fired prints off the Solar enlarger in the basement & Mom did the tinting on some of the enlargements.
I sure wish my wedding was done that way instead of 35mm! Just a better feeling to the photos.

A very special gift to your friends, to be sure!

 

[Mike Kovacs]

Looks great to me - you nailed the black/white tones perfectly and I can guarantee that the digital camera lost one or the other.

That, and look at those smiles. Those are the type of smiles you get when you whip out a Speed Graphic, Rollei TLR, etc.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

That looks great!!

 

[Rombo]

Where was thiss wedding?

Hi and congratulations for very nice photo. Could You tell us where was this photo taken? I am not sure, but this couple is some kind familiar to me. Is it possible, that I saw this couple in some magazine photographed on the same wedding? Did You published them in some newspaper?

 

[mark]

(I'm just proud to say that I am finally a true LF-er
Denis

Which is much better than being a F-er.

This is a fine shot. Pat yourself on the back.

 

[BradS]

Great job Denis. Thanks for sharing the story.

 

[Denis P.]

Hi and congratulations for very nice photo. Could You tell us where was this photo taken? I am not sure, but this couple is some kind familiar to me. Is it possible, that I saw this couple in some magazine photographed on the same wedding? Did You published them in some newspaper?

Thanks for the compliments, Rombo.

No, the photo has not been published anywhere - it was taken last Friday without any intentions of publishing. The wedding was held in Varazdin, Croatia (my home town).
Both of them are scouts, so perhaps you met them on some Scouts outing somewhere... in Slovenia or Croatia, perhaps...

Denis