Memorial Day weekend, my son & I met my brother-in-law and his daughter down at our place on the Outerbanks to do some last minute maintenance before the house opened for the rental season. After getting our chores out of the way, we headed over to Jockeys Ridge. My niece had never been there and Beau had got her all hyped up on how much fun it was.
So, we went, and while waiting for the sun to set, I started shooting random candids of people having fun and such. My brother-in-law took it upon himself to be my agent, and he started going up to people handing out my cards, telling them I had taken their photo and they could go online to see if they wanted to buy a copy. I love that guy!
This one guy overheard him, and he came up to me and asked if I was a photographer, if I had a website. Then he told me he was going to propose to his girlfriend at sunset if I could get some shots of the moment, he'd like to buy some. Barely twenty minutes later, I shot this. Wow!
Absolutely amazing. Here is another image that will last not just my lifetime, but possibly the lifetimes of a lot of people, especially those that were witness to this moment. Best wishes, M&V, and thanks for making a moment of a lifetime!
Not really the greatest shot, in terms of challenge entries, but that's the difference between posing people and capturing candids...
Seriously, was I supposed to yell across the 70 yard distance, "yo, dude, move the bag, it's ruining my shot! and move over, the sun's in the wrong spot. and really, quit slouching. come on, give me a pose!"
Well, in spite of all the dpc-flaws in the images, this couple seems to be pretty happy that there was someone there to capture that moment in their lives in a way that will last an eternity...
Fun shots! How great to be a part of something like this!
I know what you mean about "real" photos being picked apart. I rarely ever staged a shot before joining DPC. I had a comment on one entry that I should have tried the shot earlier in the morning. What a shock! It never occurred to me that people would expect that I staged the shot. And it also occurred to me that only rarely could a candid stand up well against setup shots. After all, you're right. You can't yell out "twist to the side! you look like a dwarf!" (I looked at your comments)
It's times like this that make being a photog all worthwhile. It's often less about the image that results than it is about getting to be a part of some of the most exquistie moments of someone's life. You were there, you got to be a part of something truly special, something that nobody else did.
Whether it's a proposal, a graduation portrait, a family gathering that puts all the members of the family in one place at one time for the first time in a decade, the winning catch in the championship football game......or just an incredible moment of a baby sleeping with her head propped against the family dog, we get to be there, and have it be a part of OUR lives, most often in a way that others can only dream about.
I'm certainly no great shakes as a photographer, but I truly have my share of magical moments in my life, most of which I wouldn't have were it not for my photography.
Lovely images, Skip! Glad you were there for the moment!
it really was an incredible moment, especially when the people near me started watching what i was doing. by the end, when she bent down to hug him, we all knew she'd said, 'Yes!', everybody started cheering and clapping. it really was awesome.
and jeb, you're dead on. it's not about the technicals, it's about being there.
it really was an incredible moment, especially when the people near me started watching what i was doing. by the end, when she bent down to hug him, we all knew she'd said, 'Yes!', everybody started cheering and clapping. it really was awesome.
Sunset, tears, & cheers.......it just doesn't get ANY better than that!
Seriously, was I supposed to yell across the 70 yard distance, "yo, dude, move the bag, it's ruining my shot! and move over, the sun's in the wrong spot. and really, quit slouching. come on, give me a pose!"
That's a great story and I like the photos. Perfect? No, but perfect for the moment.
I love what photography has brought into my life and sometimes that can only be appreciated fully by other photographers, (regardless of skill level, as mine is still way below most dpc photogs.) Way to go!
