August 2007 – Claude Schneider's Photoblog

August 31, 2007

Dawn & Bill's Wedding Rehearsal in King's Chapel

My friend Dawn, with whom I danced in the Offbeat Team, is getting married in King’s Chapel tomorrow. Her fiancÃ© was baptised there, and went to King’s School, so is allowed to get married in the fantastic venue. For someone who’s been in Cambridge for almost 10 years, I’m ashamed to say that this was the first time I’ve been inside King’s Chapel. Perhaps I was waiting for the right moment, and being asked to photograph a good friend’s wedding seemed to be the perfect occasion.

The chaplain, Reverend Richard Morgan, was a very nice chap (obviously habituated to speaking in the resonating acoustics of the Chapel), and delivered the news that I was expecting – no flash photography near Rubens’ “Adoration of the Magi”; but also no photography during the service (“it’s not Hello Magazine”). I wouldn’t want to disturb the proceedings with my shutter clicks resonating through the service, and it’s rather dark in the chapel anyway. We’ll see what I can get tomorrow…

Dawn & Bill's Wedding Rehearsal

More photos from the wedding are available at CantabPhotos

View my portfolio of wedding photographs

August 26, 2007

Daniella & Clive's Wedding

My first wedding where I didn’t know the couple before being asked to be their photographer. They were friends of a good friend of mine, and the parents said they really liked the insight and breadth of my portfolio. The wedding was one of the nicest I’ve been to; the venue (Poundon House near Oxford) was a very impressive private/stately home, the couple and their families were incredibly nice, and the weather decided to provide one day of blue sky among weeks of cloud and rain. I hope you’ll agree that the photos do the day justice.

The flashgun that I purchased last week turned out to be invaluable – the first three photos were taken in a very dimly-lit room (the bride had to be kept hidden from the guests outside, so the window shutters were closed) – the flash made everything bright and natural. Also, the couple wanted the outdoor formal photos to be taken in front of the house (in bright sunlight, which soon turned into one big shadow as the sun moved), so the flash helped light up people’s faces in the shadows. Finally, the party photos came out great, bouncing the flash off the marquee walls and ceiling. Thanks to Neil van Niekerk and his fantastic advice on flash photography technique.

More photos from the wedding are available at CantabPhotos

Daniella & Clive's Wedding

View my portfolio of wedding photographs

August 25, 2007

The gym never looked so good

Walking across Parker’s Piece, the gym next to Kelsey Kerridge was lit by the setting sun, with the moon rising just behind it.

August 24, 2007

Portrait with new flashgun

I bought a flashgun, the excellent Canon 430EX Speedlite, to help with my portrait and wedding photography. I’m photographing a wedding this weekend, and from past weddings I’ve photographed know that it will be very useful for formal photographs in sunlight, and for the after-dinner party.

To make sure I know how to use it on the day, I took a couple of photos of some friends.

Duckling and mother
It even helped with these back-lit ducks

Portrait with flash

August 12, 2007

Sweden

I travelled to Sweden for a few days to attend a Rock’n’Roll Dance Camp/Workshop. We didn’t see much of Sweden, as the CURnR team members were there primarily to receive world-class training, but the 90 minute drive to Stockholm airport provided some beautiful scenery. Our trainers, Wim & Griet from Belgium, showed why they were at the top of the World Championship rankings.

Mist forming over fields at dusk

Stunning sunset over lake in Sweden
Stunning sunset over lake

Islands on lake in Sweden
Islands on lake

Wim & Griet's Acro Rock'n'Roll
Wim & Griet’s Acro Rock’n’Roll