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This image was one of the last taken at a trash the dress session at Macao Beach in the Dominican Republic. I had photographed the bride and groom the p...
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This image was one of the last taken at a trash the dress session at Macao Beach in the Dominican Republic. I had photographed the bride and groom the previous day in Punta Cana, but I have to say we had even more fun making images with the total abandon and relaxed atmosphere of the day after the wedding. You can see a video of the bride and groom's response to "trashing" their beautiful wedding gown here: http:--shirleenburnett.com-about-shirleen-burnett-testimonials-
The dress was eventually cleaned after 3 pounds of sand was removed!
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This image was one of the last taken at a trash the dress session at Macao Beach in the Dominican Republic. I had photographed the bride and groom the previous day in Punta Cana, but I have to say we had even more fun making images with the total abandon and relaxed atmosphere of the day after the wedding. You can see a video of the bride and groom's response to "trashing" their beautiful wedding gown here: http:--shirleenburnett.com-about-shirleen-burnett-testimonials-
The dress was eventually cleaned after 3 pounds of sand was removed!
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Behind The Lens
Location
This image was made on Macao Beach in the Dominican Republic. Macao is a lesser know public beach just north of Punta Cana. We wanted to take the bride and groom out of the crowded resort area and into a more authentic Dominican environment. We were rewarded with some unforgettable interaction with curious locals —mostly children, who added spontaneity and humor to our photo shoot. The privacy of this less crowded location provided opportunities that would have been lost on a crowded, private resort beach.Time
According to the meta data it was exactly 3:51pm on May 13, 2015. We started the photo session about 90 minutes before sunset and stayed until in was completely dark. In fact, it wasn't until the end of the session that we noticed the two armed police officers who had remained on the beach as it got dark to ensure our safety!Lighting
I'm a huge fan of crafting light rather than relying on the natural light conditions. Without a fill light on the couple this image would have been a compete silhouette. I did make a pleasing image of a silhouette, but I preferred the detail I got with the fill light. This image won an award with MPIO, Master Photographers International Organization, which was very exciting for me!Equipment
I'm a Canon shooter and usually use a 5DM3. However, for this shot, I used a Canon EOS Rebel SL1 as I was precariously low in the water and worried that the tide would destroy my pro camera! Lens: 16-35mm L2.8 wide angle zoom lens. Focal length: 16mm Exposure: 1/100 sec at f/2.8 off camera fill light used with snoot to stop light from spilling onto the water. Iso: 800Inspiration
I really wanted a "golden hour" sunset image over the ocean. This was tricky since Punta Cana is on the Eastern coast of the DR and the sun rises over the ocean and sets over the land. We did a lot of location scouting to find a vista where we could get the sun dropping over the water in the evening. As the day ended, the sky went crazy with color and we positioned the couple so that the sun flared a bit between them. I had to get on my knees in the water to get low enough to capture the angle just right. It was a bit crazy putting my camera gear in such peril— the tide was rolling in and out and I was jumping around like those proverbial "Mexican jumping beans" to keep my camera dry! The risk was worth it though, as this became the couple's favorite image from the entire wedding. It hangs in their living room reminding them everyday of their beautiful wedding experience.Editing
Of course!!! How an image is handled after the shutter clicks is just as important, arguably more so, as the settings when it was taken. World Class images require expertise and creativity on both sides of the process. I love editing images. For me, this is where my unique style and artistry emerges. In this case, I pulled detail out of the sky for more dynamic range, adjusted the white balance of the wedding gown to make it look white, it was originally very blue from the reflection of the water beneath it and I darkened the shadows for more drama.In my camera bag
I admit that I'm a tech geek. Being able to mold light is my passion and fascination. I carry no fewer than 6-8 inexpensive manual speed lites, YN 560 EX II being my absolute favorites, along with a eclectic selection of homemade light modifiers usually made from Cheerio boxes, black chloroplast and gaffers tape. I try to use the cheapest equipment I can get away with when shooting destination weddings as the salt water and sand are caustic to sensitive camera gear, not to mention security issues while traveling abroad. That's my excuse anyway. The reality is I like making these things. It's fun and allows me to save my money for bigger ticket items like state of the art lenses and cameras. And on that note, this is the gear the is in my bag: Bodies: Canon 5D Miii x2 Canon 7D Mii Lenses: Canon 8-15mm L F/4 Fisheye Canon 16-35mm L 2.8 wide angle zoom Canon 70-200mm L F/2.8 zoom Canon 24-300mm L 3.5-5 zoom Canon 85mm prime F/1.8 Speedlites: Canon 580 EX II x2 YN 560 EXII x8 Light triggers: Pocket wizards Plus III x6 Pocket wizards Plus X x2 Video: 2 go pro heros Rode shotgun mic to use with DSLR camera, usually the 7d mii Rotolight Neo Tascam field recorder Continuous Lights: 1st generation Ice Light ( I'd love the newer one, but boy they are expensive!) assortment of cheap LED pencil lights and butterfly lights bought from a hardware store. Modifiers & Accessories: compact light stands & umbrella adapters x2 ( I like Manfrotto and Wescott products) The little stands that fit on the bottom of the flashes that you get when you buy them x lots! C clamps with umbrella adapters screwed into them x4 40" white shoot through umbrellas x2 of course, extra rechargeable batteries for everything home made gobos, snoots, grids Micellaneous: Picnic basket for my clients with lots of booze and yummy treats. my husband— he sometimes counts as equipment!!! ;-)Feedback
Wait for the light to get interesting. Shoot longer into the dark than you feel comfortable. There is still a lot of light in the sky and the images you will create will be more interesting than if you shot in the brighter daylight. Shoot into the sun and light your subject with a fill light. Learn how to creatively use off camera flash. I love David Hobby's site: http://strobist.blogspot.ca/ I learned more there than I did in photography school! (Thank you, David!) Experiment with extremes of angles— super low, super high. Never put your camera away! Some of my best shots were after the photo shoot was "done" and my subjects completely relaxed. Use equipment that won't cost an arm & a leg should it get ruined. Salt water & sand are photography gear's nemeses! Worrying about expensive gear will kill your creative juices and most likely prevent you from taking the chances needed to get an exceptional shot. We were in the water for a lot of the time we were working at this site back lightiing the water as the waves came. We were lucky in that we didn't loose any gear—this time! Replacing a $50 speedlight and $400 camera hurts a lot less than a $600 speedlite and a $3,500 camera! I hope this was interesting to you! Thank you for caring about my work! You can read more if you like on my website: www.shirleenburnett.com Have fun & good luck!