My sister's wedding - Part 2

[findonsa]

Part 1 - http://photoforum.com.au/showthread.php?t=12857

As promised here are some snapshots at the wedding ceremony & party.

I know these are not the sharpest images, but the light was pretty poor and I didn't bring my external flash (and didn't want to use the built-in flash either). All shots were taken with Canon 50D + Canon 50mm f/1.4, usually at f/1.4 to f/2 and ISO 800 - 1250.

CCs are always welcome please.

#1
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/3508444909_fb6d82f4f5_b.jpg

#2
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3576/3508444903_76ba261207_b.jpg

#3
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3311/3508444879_97b20dbc4f_b.jpg

#4
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3626/3508460851_c7e2f0a707_b.jpg

#5
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/3503794152_cda37caa56_b.jpg

#6
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3374/3503839924_745767e8e5_b.jpg

[1073841]

Jackie,

i love the 3rd photo. the expression from your sis is well captured.

cheers

[findonsa]

Thanks Scott.

[DG77]

Pretty good job considering the equipment... 50 1.4 is bloody difficult to get sharp photos with between f1.4-f2.8 in all but studio environments where you have plenty of time on your side. Anything with movement is even harder because it's so slow at focusing.
Second & fourth images would have benefited from getting some light into the eyes of the bride, but very hard to do without using flash or a reflector. (and someone to hold the reflector) The baby & bride shot is nice, you can see the difference a bit of light makes in the babies eyes, getting the bride to lift her chin slightly would have helped - all good in hindsight. :)

[Shaddsi]

Love them all Jackie. They have a photo journalism feel to them.. very nice.

[findonsa]

Pretty good job considering the equipment... 50 1.4 is bloody difficult to get sharp photos with between f1.4-f2.8 in all but studio environments where you have plenty of time on your side. Anything with movement is even harder because it's so slow at focusing.
Second & fourth images would have benefited from getting some light into the eyes of the bride, but very hard to do without using flash or a reflector. (and someone to hold the reflector) The baby & bride shot is nice, you can see the difference a bit of light makes in the babies eyes, getting the bride to lift her chin slightly would have helped - all good in hindsight. :)

Thanks for your detailed feedback. I do agree that the 50mm 1.4 is quite hit-and-miss in term of focusing. Lucky I wasn't the main phototog so it was only a matter of snapping away what I wanted. My sis loved the photos though :)

Oh and the comment on the lighting is spot on. I wouldn't do a real job without an external flash with a bit of bouncing technique mastered before hand.


Love them all Jackie. They have a photo journalism feel to them.. very nice.

Thanks Simon. That was the first time someone said my photos have a journalism feel :) It was simply a candid show more than anything. Glad you liked them :)

[DG77]

I would have used either the 85 1.8 or 135 f2L.
I just bought a 200 f2L IS and 85 1.2L II and have decided I don't need any of my other lenses anymore...... I'll just buy a megaphone and give instructions from 30m away. :)

[trigger]

You have done a pretty good job considering it was in low light and no flash attached.
Just wondering what was you keep rate? was it AI servo or one shot ?

I noticed that most of the photos where OOF / focused at infinity? a fair amount of motion blurr too. Maybe increasing shutter speeds a bit and iso to 3200 / or even 6400!

In the end i think getting the shot in focus / stopping the shot is more important then noise. I think PP with things like Noise Ninja would handle most of the noise problems.

Then sharpen edges after NR and you wouldn't know it was done at high iso :)

[findonsa]

I would have used either the 85 1.8 or 135 f2L.
I just bought a 200 f2L IS and 85 1.2L II and have decided I don't need any of my other lenses anymore...... I'll just buy a megaphone and give instructions from 30m away. :)

The reason I used the 50 was because all shots were taken indoors, with some small group shots too, so space was a limiting factor. Outdoor I would definitely go for the 135 f2L or 85 1.8. The sharpness of these just blows me away everytime.

The idea of a megaphone is awesome LOL :D


You have done a pretty good job considering it was in low light and no flash attached.
Just wondering what was you keep rate? was it AI servo or one shot ?

I noticed that most of the photos where OOF / focused at infinity? a fair amount of motion blurr too. Maybe increasing shutter speeds a bit and iso to 3200 / or even 6400!

In the end i think getting the shot in focus / stopping the shot is more important then noise. I think PP with things like Noise Ninja would handle most of the noise problems.

Then sharpen edges after NR and you wouldn't know it was done at high iso :)

Thanks trigger, all shots were using AI one shot, with middle focus point I think. Then I used focus+recompose technique. I agree that some shots are OOF which must be because of this technique. If I had time I would of selected the correct focus point instead.

Yeah and most of the time the SS was around 60-80th so some motion blur was expected. I wasn't very comfortable with my 50D at ISO higher than 1600 ATM, and most of the time I stay below 1250. All the shots were cleaned with Neat Image and sharpened in PS.

I guess I need a bit more experience in this area before pushing ISO a bit further, or otherwise a 5D MII would do too :)

[razzledog]

I think you did a great job here...The shallow DOF is extraordinary and gives a stamp of individuality. Everyone gets so off on sharpness and perfection that it becomes boring and the atmosphere of the occasion can become totally lost in technicalities :confused:
I like what you have done....Cheers.