Tuesday, August 28, 2012

 
Saturday's wedding was a gift. The weather was perfect, the seas were calm, and a slight breeze was blowing to keep things just cool enough. The Captain was not only able to marry the couple, but he is the future husband of this brides daughter. Funny how some things work out. As can be seen in the photo above, the flowers looked great, and the bridesmaids dresses matched the orange flowers. I know this sounds like a Bridal magazine run down, but these things all effect the photos that are taken during the wedding. Weddings present their own set of challenges, but shooting on a Schooner puts a few extra wrinkles in the equation.


Shooting a straight horizon is next to impossible on a moving boat. Thank goodness for PhotoShop Elements. I use the Free Rotate and crop to make it right. Lighting is also an issue on a moving boat. As the clouds move overhead, and the ship slips through the water, the light will change from moment to moment. Keep a close eye on your histogram and adjust your settings accordingly. I found that boosting my ISO to 400 or even 800, helped me in shooting with a faster shutter speed. It certainly helped that the bride and groom both wore white. 


Moving about on a Schooner is also an issue, especially when you are loaded down with at least two cameras. I use my 28-300mm zoom on my primary Canon 60D, which enables me to reach most areas of the boat without significant moving around. My Canon 30D is fitted with my 18-55mm wide angle lens. It may seem obvious to most, but you don't want to be changing lenses with the possibility of salt water spray in the air.


Then it was back to the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn, Maine for the Reception, and another 3 hours of shooting. I usually figure that about 1/3 of the photos taken during a wedding will make the final cut for the DVD I provide the newlyweds. This wedding was no exception. I took about 668 photos during the ceremony and reception, and 225 have been uploaded to the wedding album on my web site. Anyone wishing to view the photos can go to www.jimwalkerphotography.com/event/weddings  (this with permission of the couple that was married).

Thanks for reading, and I hope you visit my blog again.....

Friday, August 24, 2012


Welcome to my new blog. This is my first attempt to be entertaining, amusing and I hope, educational. I have been a photographer for most of my adult life. (Longer than I would like to admit.) I purchased my first 35mm camera in 1967 during my first overseas assignment with the U.S. Army in Korea. My career in the Army took me to 22 countries and 44 states, allowing me to photograph many beautiful and exotic places. When I semi-retired from my civilian career as a Network Engineer, I became more serious about photography. I started taking more photographs of birds, and nature.

 
About 10 years ago, I entered the world of Fine Art photography and started showing my work in Art Shows and Galleries. I have since branched out with photographs of the Maine Coast, as well as the occasional Wedding and Special Event.


Travel photography is still near and dear to my heart, and a camera is never too far from my reach. For those interested, my prime camera is a Canon 60D, with a Canon 30D as a backup. My main workhorse lens is a Tamron 28-300mm VC for general photography, and a Sigma 150-500mm OS for birds and nature. I also use a Canon 100mm Macro lens for insects and flowers, and a Canon 18-55mm lens for wide angle shots.

I will attempt to keep this blog updated with my latest and greatest, and hopefully some tips and tricks to eak out that award winning photo.


Tomorrow finds me shooting a wedding on the Schooner Wendameen, on Casco Bay, out of the harbor in Portland, Maine. I am very excited about this shoot, and will share some of the photos and special considerations when shooting on a somewhat less than stable platform. It should be fun, and the weather looks like it will be perfect.