Photo of a dictionary

I was preparing a PowerPoint presentation today and I was looking for photographs to put in it. I am talking about the role of a deputy manager so I photographed the words in a dictionary and put them on a slide.

In this photo I blurred all the other words and I sharpened the words that described a role. I didn't use a flash because I thought natural light was better but the photo was a little dark so I increased the brightness on the computer.

I may show you the finished slide in another blog but the definitions looked even better by erasing most of the photo but leaving a little of the blurred words around the non-blurred definition.

Happy snapping

I should be on commission

These photos were taken for a pre-wedding meeting which took place this evening (I am writing on Friday 12th June), and as you can see from the clock it was fairly late in the evening.

This is the church of St Paul, Caton. From the second photo you can see that I can't get a better picture of the church tower because someone has had the audacity to build a row of houses in front of it. The picture on the left is a good example of converging verticals. I am too close to the building and the bottom of the tower is so much nearer to the camera than the top that it looks like the sides are moving towards each other.

On the right you can see that I have taken out the registration number of the car. This is to save the car from any embarrassment :-) The main purpose of the pre-wedding meeting is to see where the photos may be taken. There is horse and carriage for this wedding instead of a car and I would like a photo that has the bride and groom standing by the horse and carriage as per the second photo. They will block the view of the pub and the church will be in the background. We will see if it works next month.

In the meantime you know that you can get two meals for the price of one at the Black Bull in Caton. I should be on commission.

Happy snapping

Pre-wedding Meetings

For those with a good memory, you will have seen this pose back in a February blog. You can see that photo on my website at www.gradwellphotography.co.uk and then click on the secrets page. You see the photo before and after manipulation. The wedding last weekend was at the same venue - Morecambe Parish Church.

I am showing this photo to show you that I go round the venues with the bride and groom prior to the weddings. I can suggest settings for the photos but it really is up to the bride and groom where the photos are taken. I mentioned three places where photos could be taken and each had the church in the background. This time the bride suggested a change in order of the photos and it worked very well. The church was in the background and the wedding car with the bride and groom in the foreground.

Another point is that you can't legislate for the weather. This photo was taken the week before. It wasn't quite as sunny on the wedding day but at least it didn't rain. It's a pity that the grass had not been cut but I don't think that the grass length affected the photos too much.

Happy snapping

The First Dance

This wedding was on the 7th June. I was watching the forecast in the previous few days. It changed from light showers to heavy showers to light rain. In fact on the day there was no rain. Even the day before I heard the forecaster tell me there would be showers later in the day. This is later in the day. It is after 9pm and the sunlight is still flooding through the windows.

In this photo I have done my usual blurring of the guests. I always like the first dance photo. I think that more than any other time of the day the bride and groom are being presented to their guests. Alright, they walk into the room for the meal and there is applause, but this lasts a few seconds. The dance lasts minutes. Even in the church they are surrounded by assistants (like a vicar or a best man).

I always take a few photos of the dance as expression is important and this can change from second to second. I also like different backgrounds including the DJ (who also becomes blurred). I also like black and white and sepia and vignettes. You can always tell which photos I like as they get variations on these themes.

Happy snapping

Any photo can be a masterpiece

A couple of weeks ago I wrote how you should use Morecambe Bay if you have it. Well this couple did get their Morecambe Bay photos with the car, but for a different viewpoint I tried this photo.

The sea defences could be seen in the top left of the picture. It was a distraction as were some marks on the road surface so I smoothed them out on the computer. It is so easy to amend things digitally that there really is no reason why distractions could not be removed. There are no excuses now. Any photo can be a masterpiece.

Happy snapping

Photos within Photos 2

The last blog was enititled photos within photos and was based on simply cropping a photo further. The quality of most digital photography means that this is very easy to achieve. Today's blog is also about two photos in one but this time I have added a photo into a frame on the wall.

I am not trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes. The bride and groom know what was on the wall. It was actually a notice that said welcome to the hotel. Call it artistic licence. I don't object to changing the notice because it can be taken as two pictures in one, it can be taken as the happy couple thinking about their wedding at the church, but mostly it can be taken as a bit of fun with photography.

Happy snapping

Photos within Photos

I was taking photos at a wedding today. It was at one of my favourite churches, Morecambe Parish Church. I also went to the homes of the bride and groom to take some photos of the preparations.

The photo on the left shows the context. The bride is being helped into her dress. The photo on the right is the same photo. I can't instruct brides to look like this. She is trying to see what is going on but you would never know this if you just saw this photo.

I amended this photo a few times. You can always tell when I like a photo because you also get a black and white version or a sepia version or there may well be a vignette added which is usually white for weddings. The point here is that sometimes there is an excellent photo within a photo.

Happy snapping