Animoto Slide Show

I'm continuing to experiment with different ways to show pictures. I have a couple of Slide shows in previous posts and here is one from a new one just making the rounds called Animoto. Click play below to show what I did in just a few seconds since I already had some small photos set aside that used in the Slide slide show previously.

The only thing worse than having a picture taken of you when you are totally oblivious to the fact is to have one taken with a dog hunkered down underneath you. I absolutely love this picture. I was busy trying to take a shot across a little pond of the bride and her sister when the groom's son (I think) took this shot of me. Now, you have to understand that I really don't like dogs (or cats even though we currently have three residing in our house) and that's what makes this picture even more delightful. I knew there was a dog running around but I had no idea that he had posed me for this picture with him (or her, who knows? I didn't look that closely.)

But hey, it almost looks like I know what I'm doing, doesn't it.

(By the way, I took way too many pictures squatted down on my haunches. Boy, did I suffer for the next few days.)

Brian and Nadine's Wedding

Here's a few pictures from the wedding that I shot recently.

Processing Pictures

Whew! It is a far greater task than I anticipated to go through photos and sort them, convert from RAW and I still have cropping to do and some minor photo retouching to do. My eyes are aching, but it is a vast learning experience. I now begin to understand the importance of work flow. Mine currently needs a lot of refining.

I still intend to get some pictures up, but most of my time has been spent working on the pictures.

One thing I am beginning to understand: I either need to get a far speedier workflow or teach my wife how to do it. It would be next to impossible to shoot a wedding every week, still work at my mill job and try and stay on top of getting pictures ready. Not possible. Of course, I currently have no other weddings planned, but I have offered to do a church directory for my church so that will be the next project.

Someday, I hope to make some money at this, at least enough to support my photo habit.

I've put up a couple of links in the sidebar to two excellent sites. Have a look.

What I've Learned

I got through my first wedding shoot yesterday. The pictures still need to be processed but a quick look through shows adequate coverage. I don't know if it's any better than what anyone can get just by grabbing a quality camera and shooting but it's a first learning step.

Some thoughts on what I still need to figure out:

• posing techniques
• better understanding of lighting
• using fill flash for outdoor shots
• keeping fit

On that last note, I have let my exercise slip these last several months and I suffered for it yesterday. My legs ache from squatting down to get shots free of background clutter and/or get to a level to shoot those who are seated. My left bicep is sore from bearing the brunt of carrying the camera while shooting. The camera isn't exactly light, especially with a flash perched on top and my arm was complaining by the end of the day.

In short, lots still to learn and it's hard work. Harder than I would have thought.

But now, some of the fun part; the processing and picking out the best shots, cleaning up some of the backgrounds and getting them up on a slide show for the bride and groom and family to see.

No money involved in this learning experience but I'm still interested in pursuing it to see how far I can take it. Nothing like a new venture as I approach my 53rd birthday.

A First For Me

I'll be leaving in a few minutes to attend a wedding of a friend. They weren't going to have a photographer so, since I'm exploring this as a possible sideline, I offered to shoot their wedding in exchange for the experience and to start building a portfolio.

The only real thing I'm nervous about is making sure I get all the "standard" shots and hoping the rain holds off. Of course, I want to do my best to take it to a level beyond just a guy and a camera. This involves being more aware of lighting and angles and shot composure than the average shooter. So, we'll see.

Above all, it is a learning experience. I know the couple will get some higher quality pictures because the DSLR just takes better pictures than the average point and shoot. Plus, shooting in RAW I can go into the pictures and set the correct white balance and other things that can help make up for any minor mistakes in the field.

If I need to use flash, I have my shoot through umbrella ready to go off-camera aided by my lovely assistant who also happens to be my wife and very supportive of my attempts (although she's still making me pay personally for all my equipment).

Check back later. I'll try and post a couple of the better images.