#8: Throw Confetti
Even the cake was in tiers is our series tips for weddings. The title comes from an overused and not so funny wedding speech joke, "It's been an emotional day...". What advice did you wish someone had told you before your wedding? We're collating all the etiquette and expertise here.
It's the only day in your life you can get away with being showered with love in the form of confetti- so get on with it. Get everyone involved, especially the aunties and old ladies they're always the most keen.
Other things you can only really get away with on your wedding day:
-the big white dress
-choosing who's in your team (your bridesmaids and ushers, and your other supporters and suppliers)
-choosing a guest list of everyone you want
-the menu
January's [DEVELOP] Challenge
And now for the first of our [DEVELOP] photography challenges for 2013! For our first month we've picked out four challenges based around combining multiple exposures. (Read the introduction to the project here).
-Multiple Exposure
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| 1940s Multiple Exposure American Ballet Theater ballerina Alicia Alonso executing a pas de bourree. Photo taken by Gjon Mili, 1944. Source here. |
Digitally this result can be achieved either in camera (check your manual to see if you can do it) or in post processing by layering multiple images on top of each other.
-Pattern Layer
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| I love these double exposures done in camera by Christoffer Relander. Source here. |
-Harris Shutter
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| A photo we captured on New Year's Day near Leicester Square |
Harris Shutter is like a colour split version of multiple exposure. In it three photos are combined each with a different colour. The result is that moving objects are seen in one colour and stationary areas of the photo show up in full colour.
To do this you'll need to shoot a string of three photos (moving the camera as little as possible between shots). To create the colours you can use colour filters on your lens if you have them. Or follow our instructions below to get the effect digitally:
Open your three images in photoshop (or another program- Malc's got a post coming up on free software option).
Pick your first image, select the channels window and make all the channels invisible except the red channel. Your picture will now be black and white. On the layers window click the half moon icon at the bottom to create a new adjustment layer and select 'solid colour'. Change the red 'R' value to 255, the 'G' and 'B' values both to 0. With the new red layer selected change the blending mode to 'Multiply' from the drop down list at the top of the window. Now flatten the image.
Choose your second image and repeat the above steps, this time isolating the green channel and setting 'G' to 255.
Next repeat on your third image but this time set blue.
Paste all of your images into the same file as separate layers. Change the blending option on the top two layers to 'multiply'. Ensure the contents of all three photos are aligned, then flatten and save!
-A Multi
Fancy working with someone else on this one? Make a friend and pair up your images! A multi person multi exposure.
You could agree a theme each shoot a set number of images and then combine them digitally. If you've not found a friend to work with why not post your image on our Facebook event and see who has a picture to add to yours.
Or if you want to go for a more authentic photographic experience: whip out a 35mm film camera, shoot all the frames in a film and rewind it, leaving the end of the film poking out of the canister. Pass it on to a friend so they can shoot over the same film a second time. Then have it developed (its a good idea to warn the technician that the film is an experimental double exposure so they know what to expect as they develop it).
Make sure you share your results with us!
(By the way, there wont be 4 challenges each month- we're just taking it as it comes so sometimes there'll be lots of projects to try out and other months just one thing to really get stuck into.)
Introducing [DEVELOP]
For 2013 we're got a challenge to set you each month, something to get your teeth into to help you [DEVELOP] your photography skills. Some of them might be familiar concepts to you others we hope you'll never even have heard of, but by tackling them we hope you'll try out something you wouldn't have done otherwise.
This is a project for anyone who wants to get better at photography whether or not you've ever thought of yourself as a photographer before. We've got challenges for people who own a DSLR or a simple point and shoot. Some of the challenges use old-school film and some require no camera at all.
If you want to commit to the project you can join each challenge on our Facebook page through the monthly event and upload your contributions. Or if you're not on Facebook send us an email. We'll see how it goes, but we're hoping to give out certificates at the end of the year for all those who get stuck in!
So first things first... introduce yourselves. What's your name, how old are you and where are you living? What do you spend most of your time doing? And what do you love to photograph? Is there anything you want to [DEVELOP] this year in your photography?
This is a project for anyone who wants to get better at photography whether or not you've ever thought of yourself as a photographer before. We've got challenges for people who own a DSLR or a simple point and shoot. Some of the challenges use old-school film and some require no camera at all.
If you want to commit to the project you can join each challenge on our Facebook page through the monthly event and upload your contributions. Or if you're not on Facebook send us an email. We'll see how it goes, but we're hoping to give out certificates at the end of the year for all those who get stuck in!
So first things first... introduce yourselves. What's your name, how old are you and where are you living? What do you spend most of your time doing? And what do you love to photograph? Is there anything you want to [DEVELOP] this year in your photography?
FESTIVITIES
Camel Day!
A little challenge...
Did you get a new camera for Christmas? What a treat! Or perhaps you're about to finish your 2012 365 project? Have we got a little challenge for you...
Mustard Yellow is going to be posting a monthly photographic challenge to help you push your boundaries and keep you on your creative toes! The first one will be up next week, what a way to start the new year, so keep your eyes peeled.
This post is especially dedicated to our lovely friend Indy, who's been passionately growing as a photographer through her 365 project with this group. These challenges are hopefully to help the group members keep on growing.
But before the first challenge... we need a name for this little project... any ideas?
Christmas?
South Wales: Part 2
We didn't spend out entire time on the South Wales coast in the dark looking at Christmas lights, we got some fresh air in Singleton Park, strolled along Swansea Bay and loved the industrial landscape at Port Talbot.
South Wales: Part 1
Jack Frost
Night Photography Session
Last week we took this lovely lady out to take some night photos- she dubbed it a Master Class, but we wouldn't like to be so presumptuous. It had rained and it was dark (but not too cold) so everything was shiny and the Christmas lights were out in force. We snapped away, tried out some new things on Indy's camera. She got the best shot of the night, but we weren't too jealous because she bought us hot chocolate to warm back up.
P.S If you'd like your very own lesson... check out our shop.
a very festive birthday party
We went to Melbourne
A week ago we took Mum on a trip to Melbourne as a thank you for the trip to Melbourne she took us on last year. It was a lot colder. See the warmer photos right here.
Liz & Paul's Wedding Now Online [Birmingham Wedding Photographer]
Liz & Paul's Wedding at Calderfield's Golf Club is now in our portfolio, take a peek here. Or watch the photo-booth video!
#6: Little Ones
Even the cake was in tiers is our series tips for weddings. The title comes from an overused and not so funny wedding speech joke, "It's been an emotional day...". What advice did you wish someone had told you before your wedding? We're collating all the etiquette and expertise here.
Having some of the smaller members of your family involved in your ceremony can be a very sweet and personal touch. But try not to stress about them performing perfectly- there's very little they can do that would actually ruin your day. To keep things in perspective:
- allow them to practise, but don't stress out about timings
- try to encourage the adults not to make too big a deal of it (this way they wont know there's anything to be nervous of).
-having a special job, like sprinkling flowers, can be a good thing to focus on and feel important.
-go with the flow! If a ring bearer ducks out at the last minute it wont matter.
One of the cutest flower girls we saw this year didn't want to let go of her Daddy's hand, so he walked down the aisle with her. It wasn't planned, but it was very sweet.
#5: Mr & Mrs
Even the cake was in tiers is our series tips for weddings. The title comes from an overused and not so funny wedding speech joke, "It's been an emotional day...". What advice did you wish someone had told you before your wedding? We're collating all the etiquette and expertise here.
A quirky piece of wedding themed etiquette: salt and pepper are considered a married couple! And as such should always be passed up and down the table as a pair. Especially romantic to remember this at a wedding.
Still time to buy our Christmas gifts
Looking for easy peasy, super-fun gifts? We might be a bit biased (just a tad) but we think our vouchers would make a great present!
We've got vouchers for photography lessons or for photo sessions: maybe you'd like a family photo shoot for your sister and her cute children or a portrait session for your friends who just got engaged. Check out our little shop!
Here's the complete list of vouchers:
Couple or Engagement Photo Session
Baby or Maternity Photo Session
Family Photo Session
Extended Family Photo Session
Photography Lessons
Wedding Album
Wedding Stop Motion Video
We built a den!
Top christmassy date [fairy lights optional]
#7: Make space
Even the cake was in tiers is our series tips for weddings. The title comes from an overused and not so funny wedding speech joke, "It's been an emotional day...". What advice did you wish someone had told you before your wedding? We're collating all the etiquette and expertise here.
If you want beautiful, bright fresh photos of you getting ready in the morning then put a little bit of thought into where you'll get ready. If possible get dressed in a room that is more than big enough for you, the big white dress and anyone you want around to help. Consider space for the photographer and the amount of light available. Removing unnecessary clutter is a good idea too!
This also applies to the rest of the day, though you might have less control over what goes where. Think through what clutter can be removed and what's around the key areas you'll be having photos. Are there ugly signs or posters in the ceremony venue that could be removed or hidden? Keep the top table uncluttered particularly of tall bottles or flowers which could obscure faces during the speeches.