EOS-1D X

Well I cant honestly say that I’m impressed! speaking as a wedding photographer!

Personally, I like the APS-H 1.3 crop in the 1Dmkiv as it gives me extra reach with a 70-200 (91-260mm is useful at a wedding ceremony)
and of course the 300 becomes 400! and so on! I would have thought that this is great for a sports or wildlife shooter?

What I was expecting and really wanted was a replacement for the FF 1Ds and as such I wanted 21 or more MP because I want crop flexibility…
yes yes… I know, frame in camera… well I like to change my mind after the fact and especially when I have more time think
about a hero shot. One good cropping decision can make or break a good photo. Extra resolution can help in this regard not to mention
the ability to print larger. Instead what we got was a full frame version of the 1Dmk4.

Now I agree less noise is always desirable, but the current 1Dmk4 and even the 5Dmk2 are pretty good from a low noise point of view.
Also, noise is not that much of an issue for me… I rarely shoot past ISO 800 anyway and even in a church where flash is not allowed, shooting
at up to ISO 5000, the images are still clean. The standard ACR noise reduction is enough at that level for the shadows.

Of course, it would be good to have the pro features and handling (that a 5Dmk2 does not have) and improved metering and AF but the 1Dmk4 is
already very good for what I do. So I think those improvements will only suit someone in another industry. In fact my question is
just which market is this camera aimed at? sports? general? wedding?

My hope is that this camera is not a replacement for the 1dMk4 and that we don’t lose out on pro APS-H cameras.

So if I buy this, it will only be to replace my FF 5Dmk2 and I don’t see the point at this stage (costly, heavier, less MP)
It will be very expensive and I just don’t think it will be any better than the next 5D either.

So all in all, I’m not impressed at this camera from a wedding photography POV.

Still, I need to see the IQ in a real world situation. Because if that is significantly better, and sharper, then I may change my mind
assuming I can upscale the image without loss of IQ.

Wedding Kiss Photography

I think that a kissing shot is difficult to do in a non-cheesy way. I prefer when their just about to kiss as the bride is expectant of the touch on her lips. That makes for a far better photo usually. But every now then a good kiss, captured in the right way, is a beautiful thing to see and I think that this photo, with it’s extreme composition works well. It was shot high key and then desaturated somewhat along with a little bit of adjustment in photoshop using luminosity masks.

Wedding Sunset Silhouette

I shot this today as the sunset was just great and more importantly the cloud cover was just right. In actual fact it was not sunset yet. There was still perhaps 30 mins till sunset, but the clouds made it just right. Earlier there was a hand of god shining through the hole in the clouds, but we missed that opportunity.

Couples always love a good sunset shot as it is not something they often see and are not very easy to take if you don’t know how. It can make for happy wedding clients and happy clients is one of main my goals!

T for the Today Show

A special shot with everyone doing a T for the Today show!

Masina Miller Jazz Singer

Had the pleasure of listening to and photographing Masina Miller at the Ellington Jazz club in Perth. Masina was just AWESOME! both to listen to and to photograph!
If you get a chance, I highly recommend you go to her next gig!

a Portrait

I really like this shot! It was taken at random, in a jazz club of all places! It was pitch black!
I just love it and it works so well.

wedding veil

I love the way the wind caught the veil in this shot. I didn’t plan it, but I did anticipate it was going to happen given the wind and I managed to snap at the right time I think.
I also think the bride will like this shot as it’s a little bit different to the norm.

Wind factor can be great during a shoot, especially a wedding shoot with a veil of the right length. To short and you don’t see much, looks like a flag actually! Too long and the veil
doesn’t do much at all. This veil ‘just right’ (a bit like the Kelloggs Just Right cereal!)

Anyways, I’m quite happy with it and I think my bride will be too and that’s what really matters!

see more at fotografiacoppola.com

Pentax 645D Wedding Photography

I tried out a Pentax 645D digital medium format camera (DMFC??) last week at a wedding I shot.
I used a 55mm MF lens. It was quiet difficult trying to do the type of action shot I normally
do with a AF lens, especially with the wide aperture I was using, but I managed to get a few sharp ones.

When I edited the photos later I was immediately blown away by the detail and tonal quality that the Pentax delivers. I just loved it.

For all intensive purposes, it handles just like a DSLR, except that it is medium format.

It’s much cheaper than a Hasselblad and in my opinion perhaps better?… well it is for me. I’m
definitely going to get one in the new year.

see more at: fotografiacoppola.com or at facebook.com/fotografiacoppola

Young at heart wedding!

Such a lovely mature couple! Their wedding was simple yet beautiful! A joy to shoot!
See more at fotografiacoppola.com