Sunset Beach Wedding Treasure Island Florida with Mary & Matthew

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Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 @ f/8 ISO 500 1/200th strobist: SB-600 on light stand to frame left TTL modeIt is always nice to combine a beautiful wedding dress and a beautiful sunset, except I worry about tearing or damaging such a dress!  So with some hesitation I asked Mary (also the bride featured in "the kiss") if she would be able to sit on the jetties on Sunset Beach of Treasure Island, Florida.  She was up for it so the next challenge was for me to shoot while balanced on a jetty myself.  Fortunately, I started my rock hopping career long ago (in Yosemite National Park) and am comfortable teetering on rocks, though again I was not worried about myself so much as my Nikon D300 falling.  I believe the above shot was worth all the preparing and setup.

Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D @ f/4 ISO 200 1/1250th natural lightMary was all smiles as she walked down the sandy aisle.  For these scenes I like to work with my Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D lens at a 200mm focal length to get up close and personal with the bride as she approaches the groom, and to take advantage of its great bokeh and sharpness at the f/4 aperture.  This allows me to have some distance between the bride and myself so I can get more of a candid shot.  Starting a wedding just about 45 minutes before sunset allows for some great natural light as well.  I used no flash in the above shot.

Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 @ f/8 ISO 320 1/320th strobist - SB-600 on light stand to left in TTL mode

The sun seemed to set slowly this evening, allowing us to try more types of shots than usual.  The staring off into the distance shot is a one I personally like to do as a photographer (I hope the client likes it too!).  I let them stare for a good bit of time to let their minds wonder onto what may.  Then I take the shot without any real warning.  I can think of no greater instrument for conjuring deep thought than the Sea at sunset.  I did not ask then what they thought of.