This post is long overdue so I don’t have all the info for all the people involved like the previous years. Here are a few of the images I took during the shoot. Don’t miss the time-lapse at the bottom of this post from the 10+ hour shoot.

Shown from left to right are the 15mm 2.8 Fisheye and the 100mm 2.8 Macro.

I refer to these lenses as my specialty lenses since they have limited uses and give specific looks. Both lenses offer some great advantages compared to everything else in my bag, that is the reason I use them at every wedding for specific shots. Keep reading below for a few notes about each lens and a few favorite images I took with it.

Canon EF 15mm 2.8 Fisheye If you are looking for a fun lens, a fisheye is one of the best! Due to the shape of the glass in this lens you get a huge amount of distortion which can be fun, but it isn’t flattering if used improperly.  My Canon 15mm Fisheye gives me a 180 degree field of view and allows me to focus as close as 8 inches.  With this huge field of view you really need  watch your edges to make sure your foot or other body part is entering the frame.  I mostly use my fisheye lenses for overviews of a wedding ceremony and for capturing fun images during the reception.  Every once in a while it comes in handy when shooting a fun group shot.  Check out the images below for a few examples. 

Canon EF 100mm 2.8 Macro  I mainly use my macro lens at every wedding for ring shots and occasionally getting ready shots. This lens allows me to focus as close as 12 inches (film plane to subject) so I can capture the smallest details on a wedding day. When shooting details at the minimum focus distance, the depth of field is very shallow a 2.8 so I often bump it up to 5.6 or 8 which requires more light.  Because if this, I always try to get details done early in the day using natural window light, if that isn’t possible bouncing a flash works well.   Here are a few examples of images shot with my Canon 100mm macro.

Here they are!

Weddings

Engagements

Shown from left to right are the 17-40mm 4.0L, 24-70mm 2.8L, and the 70-200mm 2.8L IS.

Zoom lenses offer some advantages over prime lenses. Two advantages are they are lighter, and offer more flexibility. The 3 lenses I have listed above, are essentially all you need to shoot weddings, giving you a range of 17mm (wide) to 200mm (telephoto). Any time anyone asks about what lens to buy next I always ask if they have this range covered with zoom lenses before buying primes. Zooms make it easier to move quickly and get shots by “zooming-in” when you don’t have the time or ability to get closer to get the shot. One of the disadvantages is that they are not as good for low light, compared to prime lenses, with their smaller apertures.

Keep reading below for a few notes about each lens and a few favorite images I took with it.

Canon EF 17-40mm 4.0L This is actually one of my least used lenses in my bag. I probably would use a wide angle zoom more if I had the Canon 16-35mm 2.8L which would give me another stop of light. When I do use my 17-40mm I tend to use it for group shots. Here is one of my favorites.

Canon EF 24-70mm 2.8L I have been using this lenses less and less recently. Maybe because I prefer my prime lenses, and also I let my assistant use it when I don’t need it on a wedding day. Actually many of my friends in the industry have sold this lens and no longer have it in their gear bag on a wedding day. I like to keep it as back-up for my primes, just in case. This lens comes in handy for group shots since group sizes tend to change constantly, so it is much quicker to zoom and reframe than move back and forth constantly.  Another nice feature is it’s macro capability, which is great when you are pressed for time and don’t need to use a true macro lens. 

Canon 70-200mm 2.8L IS. Out of all my L zoom lenses, this is the one I use most. This lens is my workhorse during the ceremony. I also use it at times during the reception, group shots, and shots of the bride and groom together. The IS (Image Stabilization) feature is really helpful during indoor ceremonies or low light reception halls. The zoom range is great for capturing nearly everything during the ceremony.

Here is the first of what will be several posts about the tools I typically use at a wedding and many of my film projects. I figured I would start off with my favorite lenses, my Canon L primes.

Shown from left to right are the 24mm 1.4L, 50mm 1.2L, 85mm 1.2L II, and 135mm 2.0L.

Fixed focal length lenses, or prime lenses, offer many advantages over zoom lenses. I think sharpness and a larger aperture are the biggest ones. Prime lenses are typically the sharpest lenses you can get. I shoot with my prime lenses so much that when I use one of my Canon L zoom lenses (post coming soon) the images almost look soft in comparison. The larger aperture allows me to shoot in lower light than I could with a zoom lens, it also allows me to get a shallower depth of field than I could get with a zoom.

Keep reading below for a few notes about each lens and a few favorite images I took with it.

Canon EF 24mm 1.4L Even though there are wider lenses, I think the 24L does pretty well. It gives you a nice wide view without as much distortion that you would get from a wider angle. I love using my 24L for many parts of the day. I most frequently use it while the bride is getting ready, but also for select portraits and details.

Canon EF 50mm 1.2L I most frequently use my 50L when the bride is getting ready, for select portraits, and details. The 50L focuses much fast than the 85L but I still think I prefer the compression and angle of view of the 85L compared to the 50L.

Canon EF 85mm 1.2L II The 85L is an amazing lens that requires much practice to master. The lens focuses really slow, due to the build and design used in this heavy lens yet allowing it to still stay relatively small. I tend to use my 85L most during portraits and the first dance, and details. If the room is big enough I also like to use it while the bride is getting ready. It also comes in handy in low light churches.

Canon 135mm 2.0L Honestly my 135L is one of my least used lenses in my bag. I had even considered selling it at one point. Most of the times I need to a lens longer than 85mm I am usually using my Canon 70-200 2.8L. I do love how fast the 135L focuses though, and it is nice to have the 135L in my bag as back-up for my 70-200. It was hard finding images I shot with the 135L. Here is one

I could nearly shoot a whole wedding just using the 24mm 1.4L, 50mm 1.2L, and 85mm 1.2L II. If fact if you ever see me working at a wedding or engagement shoot I probably am using one of those 3 lenses, since they are on my camera most of the day.

Stay tuned for a post about my Canon L zoom lenses.

Here is the cover along with some pages from the magazine featuring my photos.

This is my last post for Hope in the City 2010. You can find the previous posts using the links below.
Fashion Shoot 2010 preview
Fashion Shoot 2010 full post
Fashion Show 2010

The runway at Vibiana just before the start of the show. I would love to shoot a wedding at Vibiana, it is such a beautiful venue. Hopefully that opportunity will come sooner than later.

Our hosts for the evening Hank Fortener & Jeannie Mia

The show started off with outfits made out of 85% paper. It is incredible what the designers could do with something so ordinary as newspaper. The designer is lsted above each image.

Katrina Andrews

Amara Ononiwu

Rey Aquino

Adolfo Sanchez

Jalyse Hanna

Katie Chan

Kristen Bluhm

Mariah McManus

Rexford Dosamantes and Marisa Castro

Crenshaw High School

Sherise L. Shields

Some amazing headpieces from Salvatore Salamone

A few from Rey Aquino

A few from Adolfo Sanchez

A few from Shpetim Zero

A few from Shekhar Rahate