
SEPTEMBER 2009 – Table decoration for a wedding dinner near Munich, Germany. Photo © Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com
The story behind the image
When shooting weddings I always make sure that I capture those pictures that will not come back as the wedding proceeds. Take, for example, the table decoration for the dinner. The couple has put a lot of effort into the planning, and the staff of the venue has put equal effort into realizing these plans.
Usually there are just a few minutes between the decoration being completed and the arrival of the couple and their guests. Once everyone sits down, the place will never be the same. Napkins will be removed, glasses will be filled, cutlery will be used. So I make sure I get a good number of pictures before this transition begins.
A great help is to have a fast lens with a large aperture so you can get a nice bokeh effect. This photo is a good example. This adds focus and style by blurring the background. A flash bounced at the ceiling provides additional light while leaving the background in its soft, warm colors.
Importantly, the couple will have a few decent shots of how they envisioned and experienced the table decoration on their great day. This motivates me. Every time.
The high resolution image
Capture Date & Time | 05-SEP-2009, 18:08 |
Location | Germany |
Camera | Canon EOS 5D |
Lens | Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM |
ISO | 400 |
Exposure | 1/125 sec at f/2.8 (with flash) |
Digital Image Source Format | Canon Camera RAW (CR2) |
Edited Image Format | JPEG, 24 bits/pixel, sRGB |
Edited Image Dimensions | 4250 x 2833 Pixels |
Copyright | © by Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com |