 I spent my weekend back in NY as a guest at a wedding. While I was there I took some photos and during the editing, this image jumped out at me. Not because it is the best image I have ever taken. Not even because its the best image it could have been, but because of the image that came immediately before it.
There are basic elements that I look at while I go through my initial edit on any group of photographs. Color is among them and when I saw this photo I new I hit the color just right. I love the separation of the white on blue. This photo was taken with on camera flash bounced into the ceiling behind me to camera left, creating a very flattering light across the bride. When I look at the photo however, it’s not my light that draws me to this photo. The ambient bleeding into the background adds everything to this photograph.
It is the difference in ambient level that caused me to take notice of this image. The photo to the right is almost the exact same photograph but without the ambient level. I came across this photograph first and didn’t even hesitate to flip right past it. The photo that followed however, the one with the blue background, stopped me dead in my tracks. There are obvious compositional flaws in both of these images but I would not hesitate to show the image with the blue background to the bride and groom because of the emotional pull of the ambient light. If you look at the back of your camera and your images aren’t popping off the display while you are using flash, try dragging the shutter a bit(slower shutter speed) or just Jumping up the ISO and see what happens. So the lesson to be taken from this quick tip is to pay close attention to the ambient levels in your photos. Most times, they can make or break the image. |
