In 2006 I helped out at the wedding of friends. While they were dancing I photographed, and this moment caught my eye. It seemed to sum up so much. The wedding dress was apparently an heirloom; it had a grace and elegance that seems uncommon among contemporary wedding dresses (an assessment based on my admittedly limited knowledge of such things — but even I thought it was particularly beautiful). 
05 November 2009
A hand at the wedding
In 2006 I helped out at the wedding of friends. While they were dancing I photographed, and this moment caught my eye. It seemed to sum up so much. The wedding dress was apparently an heirloom; it had a grace and elegance that seems uncommon among contemporary wedding dresses (an assessment based on my admittedly limited knowledge of such things — but even I thought it was particularly beautiful).
If I ever decided to get married, I would be dead chuffed to get a photo like this! So many marraige photos can be predicatble shots, but it's this type of moment that is what is truelly remembered. the dress does look pretty cool too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a symbolic moment you have captured! I appreciate the fact that you can just see the bride's hand as well, complete with her shiny new rings.
ReplyDeleteThat's one to help them remember how it felt. Very intimate and warm.
ReplyDeleteOhhh ... Now this is Romance! This is Beauty. This is Joy. This is Love.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I don't see what the others see here. The bride's presence seems overwhelming to me. The hand on her back provides the only warmth to the starkness of all that white.
ReplyDeleteWatercats, thanks. There are several different styles of wedding photography, and the conventional, formal style doesn't appeal to me. I like the more spontaneous, "moment-focused" approach.
ReplyDeleteP.E.A. thank you. I was lucky with the rings; I almost missed getting them in the photo.
Thanks Zhoen. It has a kind of formality, but to me it does project those qualities you mention.
Barbara, thanks. The bride was SO nervous beforehand, but as soon as she saw her husband-to-be, you could feel her relax, feel that joy.
Robin Andrea, that is interesting. Thanks for pointing out what you see — it's good to get that very specific feedback.
My reaction was similar to Robin's. There was something sinister about the hand emerging from the white and playing across all those buttons. And with the bride's shoulders hunched up against the top of the photo there is something muscular and masculine about the back that gives me no hint of nervousness or joy. I think the flash reflecting off the material contrasted to the dark background further hardens the atmosphere for me. Still a good image, though, if not for the same reasons as everyone else.
ReplyDeleteHmm... looks like an interesting polarisation of impressions developing here. Thanks for the thoughts, Miguel.
ReplyDeleteWow. This is stunning!
ReplyDeleteThanks Brenda :^)
ReplyDelete