Blog of photographer Kevin Ahronson

Engagement-shoot: High up in the trees

Occasionally a job comes along that makes me nervous.    

I don't do heights, I'm not good on ladders; so why did I agree to climbing up onto a small wooden platform, less than a metre square, on top of a glorified telegraph pole... to take engagement photos of two fearless people who are soon to be married ?

Leigh and Rowena are both keen outward-bound types, they'll have a go at anything that has a 'thrill' element to it.  For their engagement photos they chose the High Ashurst Outdoor Activity Centre at Boxhill in Surrey.  Not exactly your average engagement location of sun, sea and sand - but hey, I do like a challenge.

So we had this image in mind of Leigh and Rowena sitting on a highrise timber pole, drinking champagne. The idea had been inspired by that very famous 1932 image of American workmen having their lunch, whilst sat on a girder, hundreds of feet in the air, on top of a New York skyscaper.  
You can see from the photo above how it all looked from the ground.  Fortunately we had some very skilled climbers to help us make it happen safely and I had two of my assistants helping me who also captured the process on camera (Thank you Heather and Rebecca).  

Leigh (the bridegroom to be) also works with me as an assistant - but today he was in front of the camera for a change.

In the photo above, Leigh edged his way onto the pole having just cimbed up the ladder with picnic basket and large umbrella in hand (a feat in itself).  As I said, we originally planned to have them sitting on the pole drinkin champagne, but as is so often the case with shoots like this, the best shots can be the ones you don't plan.  I took a number of photos with them drinking... but it wasn't until Leigh produce a pack of playing cards that saw the winning image.

 

For me, climbing up the ladder, then off the ladder to climb up the pole, and then transferring from the pole to the tiny wooden platform was quite nerve-racking.  Sitting down on the platform, with nothing to hold onto was even worse.  I genuinely do not like heights, but once the camera was hauled up on a rope and we began shooting the nerves disappeared.

Heather taking photos of me.  You get some idea of the scale.  I gues it's not really that high, but it sure felt like it.  Next week, we're climbing to the top of the Shard!!

So here below is the final shot, the one I like the most.  Rowena ditched the brolly, they turned to face each other and began playing poker - 20 feet in the air!  I love this shot.  
Click on any of the photos to see large versions, but the picture below is extra large.  If you have any questions or want to leave a comment, use the comments section beneath this final image.

See more of my images at www.ahronson.com

 

 

Wedding of Sally & Russell

Weddings can be difficult to photograph at the best of times, but when it's your own daughter getting married... it's a whole new ball game.

Torn between playing the role of photographer or father, this was probably the most difficult wedding I've photographed.  

The emotion of seeing your little girl getting married is very powerful, the emotion of not being in control of the camera when I saw Sally in her wedding dress or when I walked down the aisle with her - or while I gave the 'Father of the Bride' speech - was equally tough.  Fortunately I had help from my daughter's friend Luke Myatt and also my wife Mary, who between them managed to take some great images.  I am eternally grateful.

The wedding ceremony took place at St Paul's Church in Chichester.  The reception was in facilities at Chichester Cathedral.  To get from the ceremony to the Cathedral, the entire wedding party walked in long procession through the centre of Chichester - virtually bringing the town to a standstill. Shoppers smiled and cheered us on, calling out congratulations as we went past.  It was a surreal experience, but everyone looked so happy to see us.

The images here are ones I did manage to take - and span the whole day,

To see larger copies of the photographs, just click on any of them.

Feel free to leave comments at the end of the section.

My Worst Wedding Shoot Ever!!

In less than three weeks from now, will be walking down the aisle with my daughter at her wedding.  

Doubtless I will be feeling an element of stress at that moment, although not necessarily for the reasons you might expect (with the possible exception of the constant thought that later on that day I would have to give the "Father of the bride' speech).  

No, the main reason for the stress is elsewhere.  I love being a wedding photographer, being able to photograph couples on the happiest day of their lives, it's an honour and privilege.  Although much of my work is in the Sutton and Croydon area, increasingly I find myself at weddings in throughout Surrey and much of Sussex and Kent.  Sally's will be in Chichester, only 70 miles away.

I was thrilled when Sally asked me to photograph her wedding, I was fully prepared to get another photographer in, but she wanted me.  Last year I photographed my son's wedding.  That was a lot easier.  The father of the groom has a lesser role to play, and I had greater freedom to roam around with my cameras.

Not so when your daughter is the bride.  How do I photograph myself walking down the aisle?  How do I photograph myself during the speeches? 

Fortunately Sally has a friend (Luke) who is going to step in at those points and take some photos with my gear.  We have already arranged to meet up at the wedding rehearsal and give him a chance to practice.  

Luke will be unfamiliar with my Canon 1D, and he will have to practice the skill of photographing myself and Sally walking towards him down the aisle, keeping constant focus as we get closer and closer.  A tough enough assignment under normal circumstances, but when it's your first time, and it's not your own camera, and there's no second chance, and the father of the bride is walking towards you...  THAT is pressure!  

As soon as I get to my seat, both my cameras will be waiting for me - and that's when I stop being just 'Dad'.  That's when I snap into 'Wedding Photographer' mode and begin the photograph the rest of the ceremony.  

The stress I was talking about??  Not being able to photograph my daughter as she takes the most important steps of her life.  The 'walking down the aisle' shot is iconic, and for once, I just have to relinquish control and enjoy the moment.

 

 

 

Engagement Shoot - Laura & Niel

It was my great pleasure to photograph South African couple Laura and Niel recently.  This was a pre-wedding photo-shoot to give them images that their friends back home could could see prior to the wedding in October.

We deliberately picked the end of the day to take advantage of the low sun.  The hour before sunset (and also the hour after sunrise) is what photographers call the 'golden hour'.   The sun is at its most beautiful, casting a warm, soft glow over everthing it touches.

We caught the sun in most of the shots, and when it did pop behind a cloud, I used a wirelessly fired remote flash to replicate the sun's light.  The image of Laura leaning against the tree was photographed this way.  The light from the flash hits the couple from behind, highlighting Laura's hair.  The warm colours were replicated in post production using Photoshop.  To all intents and purposes, it looks like it was shot in sunlight, just like all the other images here.

Please click on any of the photographs for larger images.

You may leave comments or ask questions at the end.

New Camera

After over a year of deliberating, I finally made the decision to buy the Fuji X100.

This camera has been a game-changer in the photography world, combining gorgeous retro-looks with cutting edge technology and stunning quality images - especially in low light.

I'm really looking forward to putting it through its paces and will be posting my result in due course.

Another workshop - this time in September

Shooting Rosie Thorn

Rosie prides herself on perfection at all times and in all areas of her life from her perfectly pressed frocks to her award winning rose garden. As the model inhabitant of Featherington-on-the-Wold, the lady chairwomen of the Women's Institute, the organiser of the church choir and the provider of the most outstanding baked goods that she provides for all the village events she asks for very little in return. Just the gratitude, admiration and teeth grinding jealousy that she deserves from all the other aspirational social climbers in the village.
(From Rosie's website)

And this is why I wanted to photograph her.

I already knew actress Eleanore Appleton, who tours Rosie around the UK in her one-woman-show, and when I asked her to help me out with a couple of photos, she very graciously agreed.

I had an idea for a shot - of someone creeping down to the kitchen in the middle of the night to raid the fridge. The kitchen itself would have to be dark and Rosie would only be illuminated by light coming from inside the fridge.  Being Rosie, of course, she wouldn't venture anywhere unless she was perftectly turned out - even if it meant getting fully dressed just to go downstairs!!  Hence Rosie looks immaculate.

Heather, my ever resourceful assistant, set about finding a location and all the props.  The location was fantastic; the high-end kitchen showroom owned by John Lewis of Hungerford on the Wandsworth Bridge Road in Fulham.   They were wonderful, giving us full run of their massive showroom with all our lighting and camera gear. 

On an earlier visit I had spotted a couple of possible places to shoot, one for the fridge shot and another, in part of the showroom that they had fitted out as a 1950's washroom. 

John Lewis' showroom had a large fridge which was ideal, but it was free-standing and not in the actual kitchen that I had planned to form the background.  This meant that it would have to be photographed separately, and later combined with the right background in post production.  To do this we erected a large white backdrop behind the fridge.  Rosie was then photographed opening the fridge door with the backdrop illuminated behind her.  Being nice and bright made it easier to cut out Rosie and the fridge from the background using Photoshop.

(below)  You can see Rosie posing in position with the white backdrop behind her.

Although we took along four powerful Bowens studio lights, I decided instead to use portable strobes: Canon 580 EX II Speedlites.  Because of their compact size, it would make it easier to work in tight spaces.

So the first Speedlite, illuminating the backdrop, was hidden behind the fridge.  Another Speedlite was placed inside the fridge, to throw light onto Rosie as she opened the door; and a third light was on a high stand just left of the camera.  This last light was bounced off the ceiling to illuminate the front wall of the fridge (without it, the fridge would have been a silhouette). The fridge was yellow, which was not ideal, so we fitted a blue gel to the front of the Speedlite.

All three flashes were connected to the camera by wireless remote triggers.

(below) Here is the final shot with the correct background added.  The kitchen in the background was photographed later, elsewhere in the showroom. 

While we were there we set up another shot in the 1950's washroom.  The light coming in through the shutters was beautiful, and just added to the lightness of the image.  Thanks again to Heather for tracking down the old washboard - brilliant.

Here are a few shots of us during the shoot. 

Leigh is my key technical assistant and I am so lucky to have him with me.  He makes sure that everything is up, connected and working while I liaise with clients and work my shots out. 

(below) Heather found some old milk bottles for the fridge, but had to cut up gold foil to make the tops for them.  She also brought various food dies to colour the water in some of the other bottles.  Clever girl!

(below) Leigh, myself and Rosie (Eleanor Appleton) checked the shots on my laptop.  The camera was tethered to the laptop so that we could check results as the images were taken.

Finally (below), Heather helps Rosie with her head-band before the final shot.

Feel free to leave comments below.

Click on any image to enlarge it.

Pre-Wedding Photos: Sally & Russ

Taking pre-wedding photos of any couple is a priviledge, but it is especially so when it's your own daughter and future son-in-law in the frame.

Sally and Russ live on the south coast, and despite the wettest summer in living memory we managed to find a few hours of sunshine to pop off a range of shots to celebrate their engagement.

No assistant with me on this occasion, so it became a family affair with my wife stepping forward to hold on to the lights and the occaional shoot-thru umbrella.

You'll notice that they are all in a 16:9 widescreen format.  I use this a lot now, it looks so much better on a widescreen TV or wide computer screen. 

Click on image to see larger version

Feel free to leave comments at the end of the photos.

Cameras used:
Canon 1D MkIV & Canon 5D MkII

Lenses:
Canon 24-70mm f2.8 L & Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS L

Flash
Canon 580 EX II Speedlites
PocketWizard Flex & Mini wireless flash triggers
Elinchrom stands and brollies 

Photographing Becky

I had so much fun with this image.  

Becky used to play rugby for a girl's team while at school and when we asked her to model this shot for us there were no problems... except she no longer had any rugby kit to wear (apart from boots, which we never used in the final shot).  This is where Heather, one of my assistants stepped in.  

She has an amazing ability for source anything, costumes, props  and even locations.  She's a bit of a "find-it" wonder-woman!  It wasn't long before she tracked down a kit and when Becky arrived at the studio, Heather even had a choice of colours !  

The studio set up was fairly simple; two lights behind Becky, illuminating her left and right cheeks and a large softbox in front on her, overhead, pointing down at approx 45 degrees.  I diffused the lights behind her as I didn't want the shadows to be too harsh.   She stood in front of a white backdrop, but it wasn't

illuminated and in fact looks quite grey, due to the lack of light falling on it.  Either way it didn't matter what the colour was, because it was going to be removed in Photoshop (above).

Becky had not done a great deal of modelling in front of a camera, but once we had the lights just as we wanted them and the atmosphere had been lightened with some humour, she soon relaxed and was just spectacular.  She pulled some extraordinary faces and we were all rolling about.  The images captured in that short burst were wonderful and she made the job so easy.  We had the shot and were finished before we knew it.

The next step was to find a suitable background to put behind Becky's image.  Once again Heather rose to the challenge and found a very co-operative ground nearby in Croydon, the Old Whitgiftians Rugby Club.  

A few days later I drove up with camera, tripod and laptop, plonked myself in the middle of the pitch and was fortunate to be there just as the sun disappeared behind clouds.  I took seven exposures, ranging from 3 stops over-exposed through to 3 stops under-exposed, and could see that the clouds were going to look nicely ominous the darker the images appeared.

The shot below is of the normal exposure, the two shots underneath show the extremes of the seven images, from brightest to darkest..

The last stage was to put it all together.  

The merging of the background image was done using software called Photomatrix Pro.  It takes multiple images and merges them in an infinite number of ways, over which you have full control.  The resulting image is the one below.  I tweaked it in Adobe Lightroom afterwards, to increase mid-range contrast and sharpen up, I also increased highlights and darkend some of the grass in the foreground.

Pasting Becky's studio image on top was the last phase, which was done in Photoshop.  Her image also went through some additional Photoshop work before it was added.

All in all, a pleasing result.  If you have any questions please post them below.

All images can be viewed larger by clicking on them 

Want to take better photos?

I'm running this half-day workshop in April for anyone who has a camera (point & shoot or DSLR or anything in between) and wants to simply take better photographs.

I meet a lot of people who, despite having some very sophisticated technology in their cameras, still seem to struggle to take consistantly good photos. This workshop will address many of the most common issues and hopefully look at tips and tricks that you had never thought of.

9.30am - 12.30pm.

It could be the best £50 you ever spent!

Email me if you are interested [email protected]