The Market Coalition

With Spring on the way, couples’ thoughts are surely turning to warm weather wedding plans. Come April and beyond, travel to fascinating destination wedding sites will increase. Steve Stevanovich find the natural magic in pure North American locations just right for celebrating weddings and other significant life events. The varied venues available for a wedding holiday make the contemplating half the fun.

To those who debate premier locations for destination weddings, looking for a variety of choice qualities in a wedding locale is important. They weigh the proximity of these locations to excellent cultural and heritage attractions. They also debate the average weather patterns in a area. To Steve Stevanovich, and others, good weather is important for outdoor celebrations and distinct exterior photo shoots.

In addition, the traditional cultural offerings of Italy, particularly in Rome, are something he can see a wedding party loving. It almost goes without saying that Barcelona, Spain, and its Sagrada Familia, a giant temple by master architect Antonio Gaudi would gratify someone’s taste for something special in a city. Additionally, so would investigating and researching the Royal Heritage of London, England and its amazing architecture.

Usually people who go to destination weddings wish to do a number of other things once the wedding day ceremonies are over. Many stay an extra few days or a week to tour the area they’re visiting. Therefore, people like Steve Stevanovich and others look for good local attractions. Whether it is fine eateries in France, beaches brimming with activity in the Bahamas, or magnificent museums in Manhattan, they desire choice in activities to suit their needs.

You can treasure why Steve Stevanovich and others find weddings and other festivities held in beautiful locations exciting. The celebration of a significant life occasion, amidst the lush splendor of a tropical setting or the bright lights of a world-class city, definitely enthralls. This diversity of places worldwide is available to all who wish to venture on a travel adventure while embracing a major milestone in their life.

A friend of mine is an avid photographer. He has a DSLR with a load of accessories and a series of nice lenses. He recently bought one that cost an arm and a leg and he was pretty proud of it.

On the other side of the coin, my father has a lens for his film SLR that he bought over 30 years ago. It is ragged, chipped and squeaks a bit. But he won’t part with it. It was cheap(ish) but it lacks some of the functionality of my friend’s DSLR lens.

My friend’s lens is huge. I can see him coming in the distance simply because he had a large photo-rucksack on his back to hold all his equipment. It is a splendid piece of glass but requires a tripod or monopod for all but the brightest of conditions.

The lens is also white. It stands out and says to everyone “I am a lens to look at”. My friend loves it and gives him added impetus to get out there and take pictures.

My father, however, gets the same results - and has been doing for 30 years - with his rag-bag of assorted accessories, some of which are nearing the end of their useful life. His lens, although tatty, produces excellent results and gets HIM out in the field taking shots, just like my friend’s does for him.

My father’s lens doesn’t choose the subject for him, compose the scene and tells him at which point to release the shutter…

…. nor does my friends.

And therein lies the reason why my father is a successful champion of many camera club competitions where my friend has yet to win one

Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com.

If you are still unsure about getting the correct exposure, there is a cheap but very effective device called an 18% grey card that can limit your frustration, if used correctly.

When light falls upon a certain object; if the object is too dark your camera or meter will automatically give you an over-exposed reading. This also happens when we take a reading from something that is too

bright - the meter gives us an under-exposed reading.

We need to find a mid-tone object for our meters to read the proper exposure.

Sometimes if we are taking pictures in a high contract scene a mid-tone object is impossible to find. 18 % grey is the mid-tone between pure white and pure black.

An 18% grey card will record the exact light that will touch any object. Start by placing the grey card where you are going to take your reading, point your camera or light meter at the grey card - your meter should read the exact light that falls upon the card.

These cards can be used for all types of photography. If you are taking a portrait place the grey card beside the subjects’ face. This will give you an exact reading and help to capture perfect skin tones.

We don’t need to understand the full science of how this works, but knowing a little doesn’t hurt. All light-meters are calibrated to produce an exposure of 18% The grey card reflects the exact same reading.

This card only costs a few Euro, and most decent camera stores should sell them. The 18% grey card should become an important part of your equipment. The grey card can be used if you shoot with digital or film cameras, and whether you use black and white or colour film.

TJ Tierney. Award winning Irish Landscape Photographer. If you are looking for more tips visit: Photo tips. To view some of his images visit his on-line gallery: Pictures of Ireland.