Jun 28th
Over the weekend thousands of photographers congregated on Sydney’s convention and exhibition center for the annual Australian Institute of Professional Photography Awards (AIPP) It’s certainly one of the most prestigious and also one of the toughest awards a photographer can enter.
Only a small number of GOLD awards are handed out each year and I’m very excited that Adam received one of them for his stunning image taken at a recent wedding here in Brisbane, at the Gallery of Modern Art, just as the bride is entering the wedding reception. Though hard to see at this size, I just love the expression and the eyes peaking over the glasses of the lady from gallery security about to say “You can’t photograph in here!”
Adam also received his double Masters of Photography, which is a pretty amazing achievement for a photographer who has only been a member of the AIPP for eight years. Congratulations Mr Finch.
Jun 20th
Kirstin & Matthew got married at Maleny Manor. Now I’ve photographed a few weddings at Maleny Manor over the years (lost count) and what I love about this venue is that it never gets boring. Every wedding is different. Kirstin & Matthew, with the help of the very creative Trudy Croad at Lovebird Weddings, managed to transport me (and Maleny Manor) to the english countryside. I swear if it wasn’t for the view of the Glasshouse Mountains, I could have been in the Cotswolds.
This was a great wedding. Matthew is English and many of his family and friends travelled from the UK to be there to see Matthew & Kirstin become husband and wife. One of the things I love about England is that when the sun comes out, so do the people. Seriously, if you have ever been in London on a day when the sun finally forces its way through the clouds, you notice that people are suddenly everywhere in their shorts, sunbathing in the parks, playing footy or listening to music. It is like they don’t want to miss a second of the beautiful day that has blessed them. Sometimes I think in Queensland we get a little complacent & take our great weather for granted. Kirstin & Matthew’s wedding felt just like a summer day in England to me. The sun was shining in that warm winter way and thanks to the floral creations of Terrianne at Mondo Floral designs, it felt like a country garden. Between the ceremony & reception guests drank Pimms while playing croquet and boules on the lawn. It was all so gorgeous that we didn’t even leave the venue for a location shoot! All the photos (except the getting ready shots) were taken at Maleny Manor with their friends and family around. I have to say though I wouldn’t have minded a ride in the black London cab or the classic black jaguar that transported bridal party to the venue!
This wedding was fantastic! A real reflection of the two people that sealed their love that day. Kirstin & Matthew actually live in Abu Dhabi. I know why they chose this beautiful place to get married. It was perfect. Thank you Kirstin & Matthew for inviting us to be part of your day. May your marriage be filled with more perfect weather and warm sunshine!
And for the girls….the dress is Vera Wang….the shoes, Manolo Blahniks. I can hear you sigh…. Kirstin did look beautiful!
The theme was carried right through to the scrumptious cake by Cake Designs, and with the entertainment for the guests not stopping the whole night, including the fun of a dress up photobooth courtesy of Photobooth Moments.
Wedding guests are welcome to view a sneak peek slideshow of Kirstin & Matthew’s wedding.
Wedding guests are welcome to view all images on the online gallery.
(Slideshow & gallery are password protected. Please contact Kirstin & Matthew for access.)
Jun 16th
My recent post gave you a sneak peak of the magic at Brieanna and Luke’s Maleny wedding. You’ll see from the images here that rainbows and downpours were just part of the beauty of the day.
For Brieanna and Luke’s family and friends, there is a link to all the images taken at the end of the post. Contact Brieanna and Luke for your access password.
For all you brides to be who love the details:
Brieanna’s gorgeous dress was courtesy of Elizabeth de Varga
Brieanna got ready at the House of Laurels where the reception was also held. As always, they did a fantastic job.
Luke got ready at a private holiday house called The Knoll. What a fantastic place (and a great website too – check it out). I am going to try to get back here.
The Ceremony was at the new Little White Wedding Church.
The amazing bouquets and floral arrangements were by Mondo Floral Designs.
Thanks again Brieanna and Luke for sharing a little of your magic with me.
Wedding guests are welcome to click on the link to view Brieanna & Luke’s sneak peek slideshow.
Wedding guests are invited to view all images on the online gallery.
(Slideshow and Gallery are password protected. Please contact Brieanna and Luke for access.)
Jun 9th
Well, here it is – Post number 2 on Russia that I promised. And YES there are people in Russia.
While I love photographing vast empty landscapes, I find that incorporating the human element in these scenes can add so much more to the story I’m wanting to tell. I do this in some of my wedding images where I include the couple as one element in the surrounds they have chosen for their wedding. Both compliment each other to create a more dramatic story.
So here is a bit more of the story of my Russian experience. By the way, did I mention it was COLD, really, really cold.
I don’t usually find myself on the other side of the camera lens, but sometimes it just happens. And well, I REALLY took to Russia. Here are my before & after shots from the trip.
Before: The Serious Photographic Artist After: My alter-ego vodka-swilling Russian version of myself. Za Vas!
Jun 3rd
Russia is one of the largest countries on the planet, as I found out first hand traveling across from St Petersburg in the west all the way to the other side in the far east. It’s an incredible place to visit, with so much to capture I’ve split the post in two, the first showing a few of the landscapes and the second a few people scapes .
Jun 1st
Over the last few years there has been a real surge in photography. There are a lot more cameras at weddings and it seems, a lot more interest in photography. You just have to look at the number of photography Apps sold at the Apple store to see that. A lot of people use photography now to communicate and I think it’s great. At most weddings, there is at least one or two people that have an obvious interest in photography (usually their camera is the giveaway) and I’m always getting asked questions about the gear I use, my camera settings and other technical questions. So, I’ve decided to share some of this here on the blog. This will be the first of a few posts about technical “stuff”.
And because it is the most common question I get asked by both amateur and professionals alike, I thought I’d start with what gear I use. I’ll have to warn you though, this is a long one. You might like to get your coffee now.
So, WHAT GEAR DO I CARRY?
My CAMERA KIT for Weddings includes:
Camera Body 1: Nikon D3s
Camera Body 2: Nikon D3s
Primary Lenses: 24-70mm f2.8, 70-200mm f2.8 VRII, 35mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.4
Extension Tubes: 12mm and 20mm
Sandisk CF Memory cards: 8 x 16GB Extreme Pro, stored in a Tamrac: Card pouch
Epson: P7000 portable hardrive
Spare Battery for the Nikon D3s and Epson Download
LED Mini torch with warming Gel Filter (great to add a little light to detail shots)
For me it’s the perfect kit to capture the perfect moment.
For a wedding, I tend to shoot with two camera bodies as the two different lenses I have on those cameras provide two different perspectives. A little like having two photographers at your wedding. I can quickly choose how I want to capture the moment and know that between the two cameras I have a lens that will best capture that moment without hesitation. It also means you have an instant backup if there is a problem with your camera.
Sometimes I want to capture a particular shot, or a situation might call for something special. Over the past 3 years I’ve slowly acquired some speciality Lenses that include: 24mm PC-Tilt Shift, 45mm PC-Tilt Shift, 50mm f1,4. 135mm f2 and the 300mm f2.8. and I will use these lenses when required.
How do I get all this around?
I carry all this in a small pouch/belt bag, so I don’t have to worry about leaving gear unattended. Along side the belt bag I have a small tarmac clip pouch that contains my memory cards and a portable downloadable hardrive by Epson that has its own belt pouch. The Epson P7000 harddrive is fantastic because it provides me with security and means that all the data captures are safely secure on my person, and I have the ability to create an additional backup as I continue to shoot.
Camera Straps: To work with two cameras, the camera straps I use are critical. I use “UpStraps” produced by a little indie camera strap company in Tallahassee, in the USA, because the non-slip ribbed strap grips to my shoulder. This year I have also been trying a holster system called “Spider Holster” which by adding a bracket to the camera body I can holster the camera on a strap that goes around my waist. It really takes the weight off my shoulders (literally) during any downtime - considering each camera can weigh as much as 3-5kg it’s a good investment in the future.
Bags: Spare lenses and backup equipment are safely stored in a range of travelling Tamrac hardcase rollers that is secured either in the car or hotel. If I do need to carry some additional lenses and equipment whilst I’m shooting, I use either the ThinkTank Retrospect 10, 5 or lens changer.
Lighting: Even though I mostly shoot with available light, a few years ago I started to work with portable lighting kits at weddings which range from a strobist kit, to mini video lights & torches and even through to full studio lighting kits on location. I’ll share a bit more on my experiments with lighting in a future post.
But as every situation varies, so does the gear I use. You will find that the cameras, lenses, and technique that I use for my weddings will differ from what I use to capture my portraits or landscapes. I even have specific cameras for street photography where you really need to blend into the surrounds and look like a tourist rather than a professional photographer. .
WHAT BRAND IS MY CAMERA?
Just over 3 years ago I changed to Nikon from Canon after being a solid Canon user all my career. It wasn’t an easy decision. However Adam at the studio has always shot Nikon his entire life and I can vividly remember shooting a commercial job with him that completely changed my mind. He just acquired one of the first Nikon D3 cameras and I had my brand spanking new Canon 1Ds MkII. We were shooting in a variable low light situation and when we compared the images I was surprised. The low light quality alongside with the nano crystal coating technology in the Nikon lenses were a true standout. It took me several months more, but I honestly couldn’t argue that the new Nikon suited my style better than Canon and was helping me produce a superior product, and so I made the move. The choice of camera though all comes down to what works for you, but never be afraid to try something new. I must admit I do miss the banter we had when we had a divided camp in the studio.
Just like any professional, my gear is vital, but it really is all in how your gear is used. It is just like a top golfer selecting the right club for the right shot. Those of us that are weekend golfers can buy the same club used by a professional, but it is how that club is used that makes the difference. So Tip No # : Get to really know your gear and all it can do.
Bringing photography to life
Describes what we do. This blog is about exactly that - here we will share a little of our life and a lot of what we love - people, art and photography. Whether you are planning a wedding, a family portrait or building your own professional photography business, I hope you find something to inspire you here. Thank you for visiting.
- Marcus Bell | Brisbane, Australia
