W/NW: weddings, photojournalism-style (dial-up warning)

[MelanieC]

Someone who will not be named keeps telling me I should start a W/NW thread -- so here goes.

My brother got married in May, and I took the opportunity to run around with my M3 and take zillions of photos. These are some of the ones I like best.

In installments:

They got married first in a civil ceremony at the courthouse where my brother was working at the time (clerking). This is their first toast as man and wife in the judge's chambers (officiating judge was my brother's boss):

#1
http://static.flickr.com/53/192418911_cff48da2f8.jpg?v=0
M3, Elmarit 90/2.8, Neopan 400

Her sister and best friend were happy for them:

#2
http://static.flickr.com/76/192442367_655fb68aa4.jpg?v=0
M3, Elmarit 90/2.8, Neopan 400

My brother and my mother in chambers sharing some advice:

#3
http://static.flickr.com/52/192762008_b31afb9c47.jpg?v=0
M3, Elmarit 90/2.8, Neopan 400

There was a formal ceremony two days later.

The bride and her friend at the nail salon getting a pedicure before the formal ceremony:

#4
http://static.flickr.com/58/193794051_11d07fdca0.jpg?v=0

#5
http://static.flickr.com/72/193777915_1104d7cccb.jpg?v=0
M3, Elmarit 90/2.8, Tri-X 400

Me geeking around at the nail salon, waiting my turn:

#6
http://static.flickr.com/66/193824373_32015b31c9.jpg?v=0

To be continued...

[MelanieC]

Part II:

Lacing her dress in the bride's room before the formal ceremony:

#7
http://static.flickr.com/70/167403919_a2ac1ee1e5.jpg?v=0

#8
http://static.flickr.com/57/168418304_58b33e733e.jpg?v=0
M3, Summicron 50/2, Tri-X 400

Me killing time in the bride's room before the ceremony (green bridesmaid dress, silver sandals, I wish this was in color):

#9
http://static.flickr.com/73/192361219_6fa11e9db2.jpg?v=0
M3, Summicron 50/2, Neopan 400

[MelanieC]

At the reception, listening to her sister give a toast:

#10
http://static.flickr.com/67/193702783_e82759dfde.jpg?v=0
M3, Summicron 50/2, Neopan 400

Her parents listening to the toast:

#11
http://static.flickr.com/46/192418909_49f33ec220.jpg?v=0
M3, Summicron 50/2, Neopan 400

The bride's hot brother:

#12
http://static.flickr.com/66/192418910_a9c89de1a5.jpg?v=0
M3, Summicron 50/2, Neopan 400

[xabi]

Nice. I will take pictures for my friend's wedding in Nov. I hope mine will come out as good as yours!

[MelanieC]

Later that night, everyone having a good time at the reception.

My brother and a friend who only looks like a movie star but doesn't play one on TV:

#13
http://static.flickr.com/59/193667155_bc5e6e0887.jpg?v=0
M3, Summicron 50/2, Neopan 400

The multitalented best man rocks out:

#14
http://static.flickr.com/53/193678287_1c81a44964.jpg?v=0
M3, Summicron 50/2, Neopan 1600

First dance as husband and wife:

#15
http://static.flickr.com/65/194239063_98a828aa03.jpg?v=0
M3, Summicron 50/2, Neopan 1600

The end!

[Rich Silfver]

Superb shots and what I really believe Wedding PJ to be.

Out of the above, if I were to pick three favorites, I would pick:
1, 10 and 11.

Nice!

[MinorTones]

Here are a few from the first and last wedding I'll ever do heh.

-Mitch

[nico]

Hi Melanie,
altough I don't like weddings' photos I must admit that this is a great serie.
My favourites are the first and the last of part I, your self portrait in the part II, the first and the second inthe part III and the two last in the conclusion.
Seems to me that Fuji noepan works better than tri-x for the purpose, I must find a roll to try.
Bye
Nico

[Rich Silfver]

Interesting observation. Granted it's a super small sample size - but I would agree that the Neopan 400 looks way better than the Tri-X ones.

[Silva Lining]

Melanie, these are fabulous shots, I have shot a few weddings but almost always use a DSLR - I was tempted to use my M3 at the last one but chickened-out only to find that the official photog had two M7's and a Canon DSLR.


I will definitely taken my M3 to the next one!

[MelanieC]

Thanks guys.

If they weren't of people I know and love I doubt I would have liked any of the photos -- I am bad at taking photos of people I don't know because most of the time people I don't know don't interest me. That makes me a really bad street photographer.

I had my dSLR too, but all my Nikon photos blow.

[DougK]

Melanie, you definitely have a great eye, all of these shots are well seen. Bravo!

I understand not being interested by people you don't know... I feel the same way most of the time. Probably why I shoot so many landscape photos.

[nikon_junkie]

WOW! Very humbling! Very inspiring. I've shot ten weddings as a second shooter and only get intimate shots like these from afar with my 85 or 135.

This is the very reason I have made two Leica M purchases. I'm sick of banging away with my D200 and 17-55 and flash. I would never sell my D200/17-55 because it's a killer setup, but these are images I will hope to strive for as I venture out into doing my own weddings.

Hopefully next Friday I will have a similar civil ceremony to shoot.

[planetjoe]

...most of the time people I don't know don't interest me. That makes me a really bad street photographer.

I know exactly what you're talking about. However, the contrapositive must be absolutely true, since the images above show great care taken in composing and capturing them. Well done.


Cheers,
--joe.

[planetjoe]

In the interest of full disclosure, I can't recall if these were RF or SLR shots (!?); I'll have to check on that.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3326/U3326I1153436703.SEQ.0.jpg

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/3326/U3326I1153436706.SEQ.0.jpg


Cheers,
--joe.

[bobomoon]

http://static.flickr.com/76/192323333_7eddd4afaa.jpg

[Goodyear]

Superb shots, Melanie.

[Dale Cook]

I've been convinced to shoot a couple of weddings. Here's a few that I liked...

http://www.dalecook.smugmug.com/photos/670415-M-1.jpg

http://www.dalecook.smugmug.com/photos/670525-M-1.jpg

http://www.dalecook.smugmug.com/gallery/18999/3

http://www.dalecook.smugmug.com/photos/673775-M-1.jpg

http://www.helton-hutchens.smugmug.com/photos/5601791-M.jpg

http://www.helton-hutchens.smugmug.com/photos/5558212-M.jpg

[erudolph]

Really nice work Melanie... great available light photography... :-)

Ed

[Dale Cook]

Melanie, your shots are excellent!

[gcsk76]

Nice work Mel.

My one and only wed shots done, just a couple to share

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d166/gcsk76/back2back.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d166/gcsk76/backKC.jpg

and my all time fav

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d166/gcsk76/windowround.jpg

#1 & #2 with OlyXA + HP5+
#3 with Yashica Lynx + HP5+

[Peter Klein]

Here's a few from me, from my cousin's wedding last summer.

Signing the Ketubah (Jewish ritual marriage contract):
http://gallery.leica-users.org/albums/Rachel-Scott/3_6233_10.jpg

Preparations (this reminds me of an Eisenstadt picture):
http://gallery.leica-users.org/albums/Rachel-Scott/3_6233_17.jpg

Brother of the bride (facing camera):
http://gallery.leica-users.org/albums/Rachel-Scott/3_6233_23.jpg

Ringbearing brothers in matching outfits :-)
http://gallery.leica-users.org/albums/Rachel-Scott/3_6233_26.jpg

"Oh, yeah? Wazzittooya?" (This was NOT a formal wedding!):
http://gallery.leica-users.org/albums/Rachel-Scott/3_6233_34.jpg

Happy family:
http://gallery.leica-users.org/albums/Rachel-Scott/3_6233_37.jpg

Jubliant Mom, who just married off her last kid:
http://gallery.leica-users.org/albums/Rachel-Scott/4_6230_11.jpg

"I always cry at weddings"
http://gallery.leica-users.org/albums/Rachel-Scott/4_6230_16.jpg

". . . if we survive the reception. . ."
http://gallery.leica-users.org/albums/Rachel-Scott/4_6230_31.jpg

Enjoy!
--Peter

[dmr]

"Oh, yeah? Wazzittooya?" (This was NOT a formal wedding!):

That expression is priceless. :)

[BudGreen]

Beautiful pictures, Melanie, both technically, and in the way you’ve conveyed their feelings. #1 & #11 are my favorites, but they’re all very fine.

[Nachkebia]

excellent images! all of you!

[telenous]

Great work Melanie. I did some wedding photography, PJ style, just two-three weeks ago. Here's some of the better shots:

[MelanieC]

WOW! Very humbling! Very inspiring. I've shot ten weddings as a second shooter and only get intimate shots like these from afar with my 85 or 135.

Well, it helps to be part of the wedding party. :)

Thanks for all the nice comments, guys.

[max35mm]

great work Melani, my fovourite are : 1, 2, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15. Good reportage.
Also beautiful Dale's seire and the two from Planetjoe