dav.d wedding photography

Archive for the ‘Photography’ Category

A Self Portrait on the Utah Salt FlatsTuesday, April 27th, 2010

Spring is taking for ever to bloom this year! We have had so much rain, snow and clouds it seems impossible that the weather will every dry out and warm up. On Sunday I was photographing a friend out at the Utah Salt Flats and he wanted to try his hand with a camera so he took a few shots with my camera and lighting.

The Utah Salt Flats are awesome – and this Sunday most of them were covered by water. So I need to find out when they dry out and are perfect for photography. I love this location and there is no extra cost to photograph there for bridals or engagements. We can always stop at Wendover for a quick buffet. Wendover is only 9 miles away from the Salt Flats.

dav.d on the Utah Salt Flats

dav.d on the Utah Salt Flats

And the Utah Salt Flats are perfect for me to bring my studio lighting and create some very dramatic photos with some cool lighting setups – and quite often there will be some kind of clouds in the sky to create these amazing backdrops.

I am hoping that the Salt Flats start to dry out in the next few weeks – cause right now most of them are like a giant lake or a puddle.

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Books for Dummies, like me
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Visiting Ogden on a PhotowalkMonday, March 29th, 2010

I was in Ogden on Saturday to meet up with about 70+ photographers. We met up at the historic Union Station which is now a museum for trains, trains and more trains. If you are even a beginner photographer check out the Photowalking Utah website.

And I was the person charged with taking the group photograph. And so I created an HDR image here! I think that is a first for Photowalking Utah.

About 70 photographers attended an Ogden, Utah Photowalk

About 70 photographers attended an Ogden, Utah Photowalk

Photowalks are a chance to meet other photographers and talk technique, equipment, and even make new friends. It is also a great chance to scout locations to photograph. And downtown Ogden is really a remarkable location. And the train museum as well. I can see using the location for some engagement photographs and maybe even some bridals. Who wouldn’t think a bride on top of a train would be a cool image. That would rock!

Union Station

Union Station

And while I was photographing someone photographed me! So here is a picture of me in action.

dav.d

dav.d

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Testing my New Camera and Lens
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Newport Beach LDS Temple in HDRSaturday, March 20th, 2010

One project that I will be working on will be to photograph the wedding locations of temples, churches, and such. So the day before I grabbed my cameras, tripod, and cable release to take some photographs of the Newport Beach Temple. The temple is a sacred building for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

And the temple is a beautiful building with great landscaping – so here are a few of the photographs. I wasn’t able to photograph during sunset because I was photographing the engagements at that time. But with HDR I am able to photograph the temple with the sun in the composition – you can’t do that without HDR.

Newport Beach LDS Temple in HDR

Newport Beach LDS Temple in HDR

Newport Beach LDS Temple in HDR

Newport Beach LDS Temple in HDR

Newport Beach LDS Temple in HDR

Newport Beach LDS Temple in HDR

And of course you really really really need a tripod and cable release.

Newport Beach LDS Temple in HDR

Newport Beach LDS Temple in HDR

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Showing off my first Holga photograph
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New Camera Lens! It’s Like ChristmasTuesday, March 9th, 2010

I have a brand new lens! I love shooting with prime lenses. Prime lenses require me to zoom with my feet a.k.a running back and forth. Their advantage is that they can have wide open apertures and can create some ethereal type photographs where I can control the focus and the blur and get all sorts of artsy.

This lens is a stepping stone to buying a Canon 85 f/1.2 lens. The price difference is huge and I only buy lenses or equipment when I have the cash to pay for it.

Canon 85mm f/1.8 Lens

Canon 85mm f/1.8 Lens

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A Self Portrait on the Utah Salt Flats
Other Photographers - Yay for Name Dropping!
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Judge Brown let’s a “professional photographer” have it!Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

This video has been circulating the interwebs today – and it is worth watching. It goes to show that not all photographers are created equal. When pressed the photographer didn’t know the speed of her lens, she only owns two lenses and an entry level camera.

What impressed me most was the knowledge of photography that Judge Joe Brown has – and I can imagine he loves photography as a hobby – which just rocks! So watch the clip

Every photographer needs to be open and honest about themselves and their skills. And people should definitely realize that you get what you pay for. I hope I don’t sound like I am on a high horse or preachy.

In the digital age anyone with a camera can bill themselves as a photographer and the wedding photography industry can definitely suffer if everyone who has a camera thinks and advertises themselves as a professional.

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Testing my New Camera and LensSaturday, February 27th, 2010

Although this isn’t a wedding photo – my nephew won’t be getting married for a few years at least – this is one of the first photos I took with my Canon 5D Mark II. I have owned the camera and new lens for a week and I do love it a lot. Although I still love my Nikons. There are advantages from both brands of camera and both have their disadvantages.

I really like how Canon renders the color red – Nikon sometimes is weak in that regard. Nikon excels in autofocus, metering, wireless lighting, and zoom lenses. Canon excels in resolution and wide aperture prime lenses. So I will be carrying both cameras around my neck. I can’t wait till my next wedding in California – two weeks – road trip!

Testing my Canon 50mm f/1.2 lens on my nephew

Testing my Canon 50mm f/1.2 lens on my nephew

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A Rabbit Photograph – with my NEW Camera!Friday, February 19th, 2010

I am sorry I haven’t been blogging as much as I should. I have been blogging a lot on my other website and completely ignoring the wedding photography website. Finally, here is a blog worthy post to tug and the heart strings – this is C.J. the rabbit. I am allergic to rabbits (they are my kryptonite and can kill me) however, I am using my brand new camera – the Canon 5D Mark II.

I am primarily a Nikon camera user but I now own a Canon with the stellar Canon 50mm f/1.2 lens. This the first in a few lenses from Canon that I will be purchasing. Nikon doesn’t make anything like them so that is why I now shoot Canon. I am not giving up on Nikon – I am going to use both.

Rabbit in the Snow

Rabbit in the Snow

If you want to see more of my animal photography you can see it at my dav.d photography website.

I can’t wait to use the new camera and lens on a real person. Maybe this weekend I will get the chance. I also can’t wait to use it at my first wedding of the year.

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The Nativity Scene at Temple Square in Salt Lake City
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Last Minute Teaching a Class on Posing Subjects for PhotographsFriday, February 12th, 2010

Every few months Rich Legg, a local Salt Lake stock photographer, teaches a mini clinic on photography. In December he taught a class on low light photography. This month he taught a class on using studio lighting and posing. At the last minute I was asked to step in and share everything I know about posing people for photography. And I think it went really really well.

The mini clinic might have to change its name – there were about 170 people in attendance. Fortunately I have not real fear of public speaking! And after the fact people said that I did a great job and more importantly I was hilarious! Which is always a plus.

And Jeremy Hall took a few photographs of me teaching posing techniques. And the model Ingrid was a great model for the mini clinic. I won’t quit my day job – but teaching photography really is fun.

dav.d teaching posing techniques

dav.d teaching posing techniques

My goal in posing people is to make them look as natural as possible – I don’t want to force a pose. But I will also demonstrate some good techniques and even create the pose myself.

And everyone gets nervous in front of a camera – and 90% of the time I am sure photographers are freaking out behind the camera. They are wondering how to bring the best out of their subject. My approach? Humor and talking to the model. Get them to relax and feel comfortable in front of the lens and that will show in the portraits.

Demonstrate the pose for the model

Demonstrate the pose for the model

And looking at these photos of me – I need to get to the gym more! Spring is almost here – and soon it’ll be bikini season.

Related posts:

A Self Portrait on the Utah Salt Flats
Salt Lake City through a Holga Film Camera
I am going crazy! I bought yet another camera! A Holga!
Autumn Leaves

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