Toronto Wedding Photographer: Angela and Sunny's Engagement Session

This past Saturday (June 13, 2009) we had the pleasure of doing an e-session for Angela and Sunny. Probably the most easy-going and nicest couple I've met to date. Angela decided on The Brickworks as the location was very familiar to both of them, and quite frankly the surrounding area is pretty much ideal for an engagement photo shoot. When I woke up that morning the sky was overcast, which I thought it would be ideal from a lighting standpoint. However, by the time we met up with them at 8:30, the sky had opened up again and it was extremely bright. It was quite challenging trying to avoid harsh shadows but within the first hour, the clouds moved in again and it made things a bit easier for Shelley and I.

Here are some shots from the session:












For the Strobists reading this post most of the lighting was done using Nikon's CLS with one single SB-900 set to Remote mode and triggered via an on-camera SB-800 set to commander. The first 30 mins. or so when it was really bright, I used Pocket Wizards to trigger the SB-900.

The Beauty of Available Light

While I'm a big fan of the Strobist movement, sometimes the best light is the one that is available, whether it's beautiful sun light or the light coming from a lamp on the ceiling of a greasy spoon diner.

In the following two shots the different sources of light (big windows at the front end of the restaurant and plenty of artificial light inside)in this diner provided for some very interesting colors, which were further enhanced with Nik Color Efex Pro Film Effects.





Then there's always the beautiful light produced by the last rays of the sun before the sunset

Diversity

Ever since I moved to Toronto, I've been fascinated with the ethnic diversity of the city. It's quite amazing that so many people from so many different cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs live together in peace on a daily basis. As a photographer, you try to convey that cosmopolitan atmosphere of our city whenever we are are out and about taking pictures. Yesterday (Sunday, Jan. 18), I had such opportunity. A group of students denominated "Students for Israel" were holding a rally at Dundas Square in front of the Eaton Centre. For those who happen to read this blog and don't live in Toronto, Dundas Square is on the East side of Yonge St., which is the main street that divides the city on down the middle. While the rally took place on the East side, on the West side there were a group of Muslim students handing out literature on Islam and also protesting the Israeli offensive in Gaza. While the police were out in force for most of the rally, when it was "officially" over they pretty much left the scene and people from the East side came over to talk to the protesters on the West side. Amazingly enough, people just voiced their opinions, some got into heated discussions, but violence never played a role. That's why I love Toronto! Here are a few shots from the day: