29th Apr 2008
sol’s hot toast
Have you ever shot people toasting at a wedding? Every shot it from below? Yeah, we probably all have. If you haven’t yet, give it a whirl. If you use on camera flash and just blast them with light, it will be less desirable and likely a whatever photo, not getting a lot of interest.
This technique will help you visualize how to take a normal / standard exposed moment that you have seen a million times and add a little flavor to it. First step is to make sure you have evaluated the surroundings and know exactly where your ambient light exposures are in relationship to your flash power on your manual off camera flash. In this example, Sol has decided to underexpose the ceiling to contrast the glasses and the shape of the hands reaching out. Its crucial here to make sure that your exposure has some depth to make an impression vs a whatever frame.
Sol Tamargo dropped the ambient out of the background and had an assistant with a slave set to 1/16 power, extended on a monopod in the ceiling. I don’t know the actual distance, but likely 6-9 feet away. The key to this photo’s success is the angle that the light is coming from. I’m guessing it is 35 or 40 degrees from camera left, in the air over their hands.
ISO 200 1/200 2.8 | Sol Tamargo
The glasses light up, the ceiling goes dark, contrast rocks! I really love the subtle touch of the ceiling lights scattered between the arms. Those lights tie in the background and give this photo a magical feel! I also love the timing of arm coming in from the upper left. Love the fact that you squeezed the shutter before her toast clinked the other glasses. This is an excellent PJ decision that subtly changes the composition to be WAY more likable.
Great idea and nice shot Sol!
Cheers!
Matt
yeah, that’s a really great shot! technique enhancing the emotion of the shot, rather than technique for its own sake.
seeing you guys doing the OCF thing in wedding photography almost makes me want to do weddings. almost…
You continue to amaze me. So much so I recommend this site to everyone I meet that says they’ve just bought a nice camera and they’re into becoming a photographer. I tell them this site will teach them a great deal. I know it does. In fact, I did it just today! I wonder how many photographers you get off the ground and give them their wings…
I like how the ceiling lights frame the toast. Great stuff!
That’s an awesome shot. The arm leeds the eye into the picture. The ceiling lights almost between every arm. The off camera flash and all PJ. Amazing.
Thanks guys!… I was in a hard situation as this room as UGLY!!! the only nice thing that I liked was the ceiling lights, so I decided to underexpose to bring attention only to the lights.
I like toasting photos, so when I saw this coming I had my assistant ready to fill some magic light while I shoot from the floor.
I’m happy with the result…
:)