Sawley and Pendle

Sawley Abbey is quite a distinctive background for wedding photographs. It is popular too. As we were leaving another bride and groom were about to walk around the ruins.

One of the photos at the Abbey was used on the CDRom. There are spaces to write the name of the bride and groom and the number of photos on the CDRom. At times it is useful to have space in photographs.

On the day I said (more than once) that Pendle Hill was a tremedous background. You can just see part of the hill on the horizon on the left. Generally I say that indoor photos may be just as good as outdoors but I am pleased that we had fine weather on this day.

Happy snapping

Comparing fridge magnets

Yesterday I wrote that I would show you the photo on the left in a couple of days. This is because I took photos at two weddings this weekend and I usually alternate the weddings on the blog, but today I want you to compare and contrast (sounds like a GCSE question) the two photos that I chose for the fridge magnets.

Both are close-ups as fridge magnets are small. Both have the bride and groom at almost 90 degrees to each other, but on the left we get the side view of the groom and on the right it is the bride. Both photos work and if it says anything it says there are no rules when it comes to poses. I have heard something about the groom having his sword hand free coming down the aisle but this is definitely not a strict rule. As for where they stand after the ceremony, it really doesn't matter to me. It is one thing less to think about and one more reason to relax. Now that's the important thing with photos.

Happy snapping

How nice can people be?

Two days ago I didn't get home to go back to the evening reception with fridge magnets or a framed enlargement. Yesterday's wedding was local so I did manage to get an enlargement back for the evening reception. It is the photo on the left. I took back fridge magnets - not the photo on the right. It was a contender but even though Morecambe Bay must be one of the finest backgrounds in the world I went for the quarry in Williamson Park. I'll show you in a couple of days.

I am never surprised by the number of good wishes when I walk around with the bride and groom. However yesterday was exceptional because we must have had four or five workmen in the park ask us if they needed to move or if they should move vans. They couldn't have done enough for us. You don't have to go far to see how nice people can be.

Happy snapping

Return to Sawley Abbey

I usually get back to the evening reception with fridge magnets and an enlargement. I didn't get back tonight so these gifts will have to be picked up with all the photos. I like to get back on the same day as the guests get to see a photo and they are surprised that one is printed so quickly.

The photo on the left is a 10"x 8". On the right it is the more usual 6"x 4". I don't get long to choose the photos but I do have more time now. I wanted to work on a few photos for this blog so at the moment the photo on the left has a very good chance of being the enlargement, and even though the photo on the right is not just head and shoulders, I may well choose this for the fridge magnets because Sawley Abbey is visible. You may have seen this Abbey on the blog for the pre-wedding meeting at the start of August.

Happy snapping

Choppy Waters

This photo was taken at a pre-wedding meeting last weekend. It is a great view across Morecambe Bay at Heysham. In the space of a few moments we can have a background that includes Morecambe or across the Bay. It can include the Viking graves and there are also the ruins of St Patrick's Chapel. That's quite a range of backgrounds just by moving a few feet.

The main reason for using any background is because it means something and it does mean something to this couple. It is high ground and the wind is definitely a factor. On the day that we were there the wind was strong but as far as I am concerned it is well worth walking up the hill and taking on the elements for some photos. You can't really tell but the waters were choppy. I thought the sepia versio might have brought this out but you'll just have to take my word for it.

Happy snapping

More manipulations

These similar photos have a few differences. Firstly one is landscape and the other is portrait. This is fairly obvious, but less obvious is the perspective. I have amended the view on the right because of converging verticals. This happens when you are close to a building and the top is further away. This means it narrows (like a path as it goes further into the photo). I don't think that you can tell I have manipulated it. I have also taken out a few weeds - there weren't many at all but I took out one or two.

Another obvious difference is the level at which the photo was taken. I took a few steps backwards which was down a hill. It was much easier to get the top of the building this way and it also means you see little of the drive.

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Sense the relaxation

I like to go back to the evening reception for the first dance and to give fridge magnet photos and an enlargement. There is a third reason. I like to get photos like these. They are different versions of the same photo, one in colour and one in sepia.

The reason why I like to take this type of photo (again - the photos from yesterday were taken from a very similar point) is that you can almost sense the greater relaxation. They don't have to worry about anything else. The organisation, the wedding and the speeches are all finished - well mostly. There is still the first dance.

Happy snapping