Experimentation-self direct at Maraetai

Form

I have to say that Tuesday was a very productive day for self direct. The wedding photographs I am really happy with, but in saying that I have to put up my failures as well.


What's working?

• With this image I was trying to achieve a under/over exposure. I used my built-in-flash and turn my f-stops down, at first I didn't think I could pull this off with what I didn't have. Which was no light metre and no shoe flash. I will use this technique again if I have to, only because the lighting has left no harsh shadows on her face.
• I have applied the rule of thirds to take advantage of what is around the her. 

 What's not working?

• The flash light not quite reaching the distance on the bride to brighten up her face a bit more.

What would I do differently for next time?

• Use a light metre and SB-800/SB-900 to give a bit more of a theatrical background of the clouds. Bringing the f-stop down more and the brides face lightened by the flash a bit more.

What's working?

• The lighting was perfect, it was late avo and the sunlight was hitting the bride's face.
•  I took this under the wharf to capture the pillars and the blueness of the water. 
• I used a tight composition on the bride to bring an intimacy feel to the image by capturing her expressions while her feet are in the water.

What's not working?

• The only thing that I didn't realise till I got back home to check my photos. Is the shadowing behind her. 
• Pole sticking out of her head. 
• Her far shoulder is shortened.

What would I do differently for next time?

• Use a reflector to lighten up her back and side of her face.
• Avoid poles sticking out of her head.
• Have bride on a 45 degree angle and get her to drop her front shoulder.

What's working?

• high vantage point
• front shoulder is dropped
• she's on a 45 degree angle
• one hand focal point showing ring.

What's not working

• white shells in background are distracting.
• cropping off the rest of her backside
• squatting position.
• two hands
• lack of light

What would I do differently next time?

• Practice more with positioning of hands and sitting positions
• bring a flash and reflector

What's working?

• Shoulder dropped in front and at 45 degree angle
• The pillars in the background.
• Sunlight as a keylight.

What's not working?

• Use a reflector on the shadow side of model
• Slightly over exposuref. Too much contrast on her dress.

What should I do differently next time?

• use a reflector on the model
•  down one f-stop and speed up shutter speed.

What's working?

• Rule of thirds vertically and horizontally
• Position of model looking down

What's not working?

• dress and her skin is too over exposed

What should I do differently next time?

• drop the f-stop
• have model looking at camera

Failures
What I need to do to improve on these photos?  
I need to take a reflector, to fill in the shadow and bring the bride to a bit more light.  Also change the vantage point abit more.