Category Archives: Lens and Light

Love black and white for the wedding photojournalism

I love the realism of natural light and the contrast of shades of white and black, I love photography and film scene, the story with images that convey emotion and authenticity; Here are some of my black and white image from recent in the last few weddings last year.

 These images represent my work and my wedding photojournalism

 Luigi Rota  photography

www.luigirota.it

http://luigirota.wordpress.com/

Jerry Ghionis Lens & Light Honor

The Lens & Light Honor is awarded to twelve photographers each year who are true leaders in the world of wedding photography. We look for photographers who produce stunning, modern, artistic imagery at the frontier of the field and for photographers who have achieved a rare level of success and recognition among brides, fellow photographers, and others in the wedding industry. We are proud to recognize Jerry Ghionis with the Lens & Light Honor.

“One of the Top 5 Wedding Photographers in the World”

~WPPI

“Icon of Imaging 2009”

~Microsoft

“One of the 10 Best Wedding Photographers in the World in 2007”

~American Photo Magazine

With more than 17 years of experience, Master Photographer Jerry Ghionis has accrued countless awards and accolades from clients, peers and leading industry associations. His bold, beautiful images and creative approach keep Jerry consistently ranking as one of the top wedding photographers in the world.

Based in Melbourne Australia, Jerry is widely known for his powerful imagery and his ability to turn any setting into an incredible backdrop. Inspired by art, glamour and fashion, Jerry’s work reflects his passion for capturing the magic and story of each moment.

Dedicated to giving back, Jerry is actively engaged in the industry. Through public speaking, workshops and his online educational website, The ICE Society, Jerry helps to push the boundaries of wedding photography.

How did you get into wedding photography?


I’ve been shooting as a professional photographer for 16 years, and I started specializing in weddings right away. Like all young guys I wanted to photograph weddings because I thought it would be a great way to photograph beautiful girls and also because I thought it would allow me to make money quickly from the business. So I approached a very prominent studio at the time and assisted them for a year and a half with no pay – carrying bags until they finally hired me full time as a professional photographer. 


How would you describe your style?

My style is very glamorous and natural at the same time. My images tend to have the finesse of a pose with the natural feel of a candid image. I place a big emphasis on the story telling aspect of the day, as well as shooting with empathy for more striking and powerful images. But in addition to that, I also make sure that I never leave a wedding without creating several “wow” shots.

Can you share some of your favorite images and tell us what went into making them and why you like them?

For this first image, I photographed a couple on a windy beach in Miami very late at night. It was a very magical night and I allowed myself to feel the moment. The wind caught the bride’s veil and it gave me the idea for another image paying homage to Michelangelo’s Creating of Adam painting that appears in the Sistine Chapel. The sky was completely dark but I exposed for it first. I then turned my white balance to shade to amplify any tones that were in the sky – even if I couldn’t see it with my naked eye. I then used off-camera flash to illuminate my bride. Because it was so dark, I needed a flashlight to focus on her first.

This next image is of a wedding I photographed in Rome, Italy. It is the only time that I have walked into a church and felt overcome by the sheer beauty of everything around me. It was one of the most beautiful and theatrical sights I have ever seen. As the bride and groom were walking back up the aisle after the wedding, I stopped them and posed them in a way to show off the grandeur of everything around them.

For this image, I did an engagement session recently where all of the images were inspired from different movies I had seen. The inspiration for this particular image came from the movie Malena. There is a scene in the movie where the main character sits in chair in a courtyard, puts a cigarette to her lips and all of the men immediately rush to be the first to light her cigarette. Since I didn’t have ten different men to use in my image, placed my bride in a chair and set my camera onto a tripod. I made sure my focus point was on the tip of the cigarette. I then took my bride out of the scene and took several images of my groom in different positions. Then I combined the images later in Photoshop to create a unique composite image.

This was one of the last images I took on the wedding day. It was pouring rain outside, but I convinced my couple that if they went outside for one last image it would be worth it. I had my assistant stand behind them with an off camera flash as the only light source and it created a beautiful effect in camera.

What cameras do you shoot with, what’s your favorite lens, and what’s your favorite accessory other than your cameras/lenses?

I use a Canon 5D Mark II and Phase I camera system with a P40+ back. The lens I tend to use the most during a wedding day is the 700-200mm f/2.8 L IS. But aside from a camera or a lens, my favourite accessory would have to be jewellery and sunglasses.

How important is post processing in your final images?

I am a strong believer in in-camera artistry although certainly believe in finessing an image in Photoshop to bring out the best in it. The advice that I give my digital artist when retouching an album is that I’m looking for “invisible Photoshop”. That basically means that most of my images will be colour corrected and will have some retouching but not much more than that. I feel that there is a new generation of photographers where many of them have become lazy shooters and then overzealously Photoshop their images.

Who or what inspires you to create great imagery?

One of my favourite mantras is, “You don’t have to be the best. You just have to be better than last week.” And I truly believe this. I’m always trying to beat last week’s effort. If we’re talking about general inspiration, then fashion, music and cinema are my three favourite sources of inspiration.

What is the most challenging thing about photographing weddings?

It’s the ability to work under pressure, think quickly, and create the best out of any situation. Bringing the best out of any situation is one thing that I really pay attention to every week when I’m presented with less than desirable locations. A photographer’s communication skills are their most valuable asset. The ability to read people and the situation will allow them to be able to bring the best out of their subjects.



What do you think are the most important trends in wedding photography today?

Let me answer this question by saying what I believe are the most unimportant trends in photography. I was recently surfing random photographers’ websites and a common trend that I saw was that many of them were focused on showing images of decorative details at the expense of exploring emotion, relationships, storytelling and glamour. Very few of the new generation truly understand lighting and posing and unfortunately many images that I see look like glorified snapshots.


If not a photographer, what would you want to be?

I don’t think it’s any secret that I want to be a singer in my alternate life. At the age of 15 I had decided that I wanted to be either a singer or a photographer. I decided back then that a photography career was probably the more viable option so now I just sing whenever I can!

Jasmine Star Lens & Light Honor

The Lens & Light Honor is awarded to twelve photographers each year who are true leaders in the world of wedding photography. We look for photographers who produce stunning, modern, artistic imagery at the frontier of the field and for photographers who have achieved a rare level of success and recognition among brides, fellow photographers, and others in the wedding industry. We are proud to recognize Jasmine Star with the Lens & Light Honor.

~

© Jasmine Star

‘One of the 10 Best Wedding Photographers in the World in 2009”

~American Photo Magazine

Since 2006, Jasmine Star has taken the industry by storm. Named as one of the ten best wedding photographers in the world in 2009 by American Photo, Jasmine has become known for her intimate and creative photo stories, her dedication to getting to know her clients personally, and her engaging blog.

With more than 12,000 Twitter followers and more than 18,000 fans on Facebook, Jasmine has also developed a strong social media presence. As she puts it, “I developed a voice and online brand by leveraging social media and developing techniques to empower clients to become the voice of my brand.”

Dedicated to shooting in natural light, Jasmine works hard to make her brides feel “beautiful and fabulous” whether the setting is a picturesque garden or a patch of radiant orange gravel. For the dance floor, though, Jasmine uses a Canon Speedlite 550EX and has a custom-designed set up for a PocketWizard Plus II, and she’ll often set up an off-camera flash near the DJ or band.

Based in Orange County, California, Jasmine travels worldwide to cover weddings and to teach courses on wedding photography, marketing and branding.

~

© Jasmine Star

© Jasmine Star

© Jasmine Star

How did you get into wedding photography?

The answer to this question is quite detailed and complex, but the shortest answer could be summed up in one word: Fate.

I was at UCLA Law School in 2005 when I received news my mother had a relapse with brain cancer. The news hit me harder than I can adequately describe and I took a medical leave to be by her side. I moved back home and while I was happy to be with my mom, I felt lost, frustrated, and depressed.

I was at the lowest point in my life and I was desperately praying for deliverance. Thankfully, it came: In the form of an engagement ring. My boyfriend, JD, proposed and we decided to plan a destination wedding in Hawaii. Seven months later – against all odds – my mother walked me down the aisle with my father on my wedding day.

And the best part? My wedding photographer, David Jay, captured it all magically. His photos moved me. Challenged me. Gave me hope and allowed me to believe in dreams again. I saw his life, passion, and art, and I wanted to do the same thing.

So I did. I had never touched a digital camera in my life, but I assisted a few wedding photographers the summer of 2006, and then shot my first solo wedding in October of 2006. From there, my business grew and I ended up shooting 38 weddings in 2007.

My path to into photography is mangled, but it’s beautiful because it’s mine. And I wouldn’t change a thing about my crazy journey.

How would you describe your style?

Lifestyle Photography for Fabulous People.

Can you share some of your favorite images and tell us what went into making them and why you like them?

© Jasmine Star

Kristin and Brandon
I’m a lover of soft, natural light … and any time I can capitalize on its presence, I will. The morning sun worked its way through the trees and cast a beautiful glow around the bride and groom … all I had to do was stand back and click as they enjoyed themselves on their wedding day.

© Jasmine Star

Emily and DJ
I love the simplicity of the image and it’s indicative of my shooting style. I prefer shooting wide open (this shot was at a f/1.2) and creating a clear focal point so the viewer can see life through my eyes and feel the moment as uniquely their own.

© Jasmine Star

Stephanie
I love my brides. They’re all unmistakably fabulous. And beautiful. I shot the following bridal portraits with a 85mm at f/1.2 with allowed me to capture the ambient light and created the perfect setting. I find nothing more rewarding than watching a woman feel confident while being photographed … it’s one of life’s greatest rewards.

© Jasmine Star

Kristin and her bridesmaids
I am smitten with untraditional group formal photos and when I’m given the opportunity to work with a fabulous group of girls, I jump at the chance to have some fun!

~

What cameras do you shoot with, what’s your favorite lens, and what’s your favorite accessory other than your cameras/lenses?

I shoot with the Canon 5DMII and my favorite lens is the 50mm, 1.2. I shoot with this dynamic duo more often than not, and it’s truly helped define my style.

How important is post processing in your final images?

I view post processing like salt on a really great meal. It’s merely the spice and flavor to a meal, but not the meal itself. I use minimal processing and prefer to shoot images in-camera as close as possible to the desired end product. I’m often asked about post processing, so if you’d like to read more about my preferences and techniques, you can read more about it on my blog: Jasmine Star

Who or what inspires you to create great imagery?

I know it sounds cliché, but I promise it’s the truth. My basis of inspiration is God. I photograph people because we are all reflections of something great and beautiful; something far beyond our understanding. I am inspired by people because they are merely small divisions of God.

What is the most challenging thing about photographing weddings?

The pressure. Sometimes I feel like a brussel sprout in a pressure cooker on a wedding day. There’s SO much going on in a concise duration of time and fleeting memories are hard to capture. But the good news is that I thrive on pressure … it challenges me and allows me to feel alive. That’s the best part of what I do.

If not a photographer, what would you want to be?

Realistically, I probably would have been a lawyer. Unrealistically, I’d love to be a writer. With a few books on the New York Times best sellers list!

~

© Jasmine Star

© Jasmine Star

Pyramids, old markets and camels: a dream wedding in Cairo!

There is nothing more amazing than shooting a destination wedding on a location you have dreamed about all your life.

When Deena and Nawaf contacted me from Philly, I could never imagine I would be the one chosen to shoot their wedding in Cairo.

Both of them had a connection with Egypt and it felt just natural to organize the whole wedding at Deena’s uncle’s gardens in the outskirts of Cairo. Not an easy task to fulfill from the US, but in a matter of weeks, everything was ready to go.

My second shooter and I flew in three days before the wedding from Stockholm and we had the chance of getting to know this wonderful couple better when we shoot their couple shoots on the day they got legally married.

We spend the day in Cairo’s market place, in Old Town, as well as by the Great Pyramids, at sunset.

In Egypt, getting legally married is not the most important part of the wedding. What really matters is the religious blessing given by an Egyptian priest and the Zaffa, the famous Egyptian musical-dancing procession followed by lots of good food and dancing, dancing, dancing, all night long!

Too many wonderful pictures to be posted in only one post, so I’ve divided the four days we spent together into many smaller posts. To see them all, please visit the links given under the pictures!

Couple Shooting by the Great Pyramids:

http://www.morethanwords.se/blog/a-dream-come-true/

Their religious ceremony as well as the ZAFFA:

http://www.morethanwords.se/blog/love-dwells-on-the-shining-of-your-soul/

http://www.morethanwords.se/blog/destination-wedding-cairo-deena-nawaf-married-by-god/

Couple Shots in Cairo’s old town after the legal ceremony:

http://www.morethanwords.se/blog/destination-wedding-cairo-deena-nawaf-the-legal-wedding/

Waterford, Ireland – Real Wedding by Shane O’Neill

Wedding Photographer: Shane O’Neill – Aspect Photography
Ceremony Location: Holy Cross Church, Tramore, Co Waterford
Reception Location: Waterford Castle
Wedding Date: April 2010
Client Names: Jade & Thomas

Real Wedding Description: Shot on location at the spectacular Holy Cross Church in Tramore and the luxurious Island of Waterford Castle – the typical Irish weather could not spoil Jade & Thomas’ day.