Carpe Diem...

indeed....

seize the day.

that is the attitude that suits 

a wedding day.

This bride

was/is a flight attendant with 

a major carrier.

In fact, 

the same airline that 

I had been a 

flight attendant for,

years earlier.

She was absolutely 

radient on the day of 

her wedding.....

She needed no 

encouragement.

She was stunning.

The dress she wore

 had been her mother's gown.

They took it to a seamstress

that apparently had magic fingers.

What resulted was 

a little girl's fantasy dress....

In this photo, they are following someone 

around the side of the church,

to another door,

after having just emerged as a married 

couple.

The smiles

were not prompted...

they didn't need to be....

smiles.

Sneaky moment...

sometimes...

the photographer

must 

be sneaky.....

It is the only way...

to catch

a 

sweet moment like this.

This bride was marrying

this flower girl's father.

It could have been a moment of 

sheer charged terror...

it wasn't.

They had a

couple of minutes

 just before they went up the stairs to the 

chapel for the ceremony.

It was just

 the right amount of time

 to say the last minute things

 that we all know need to be said.

things like;

"It will be alright."

"You look lovely"

"I am so proud of you"

"Let's go have fun!"

They did!

smiles.

Film Love...

I just love film....

I know it is not instant gratification....

that is part of what I love,

 the anticipation.

I also love the somewhat predictable nature of 

certain films...

A high speed B/W film will be grainy...

 this can be used to reflect a mood.

The photo above for example,

if it was shot in color,

you might be inclined

 to concentrate on the dress,

her hair,

the veil,

her gloves,

you get the picture

(no pun intended)

But in B/W, or sepia,

one tends to look at her face,

what is she thinking?

Is she scared,

nervous,

intense,

of simply

quiet by nature?

The good news is

that she was 

simply quiet,

from a family of three girls,

she was the youngest,

and accustomed  to allowing everyone around her 

to be the "whirling dervish".

She was calm as a cucumber,

 very much in love with the groom.

It was a splendid wedding,

easy to cover,

easy clients to please,

and 

the second daughter

 I had the privilege to 

photograph on her wedding day.

I know that I probably 

could have gotten the same look with digital,

I guess I am a bit 

nostalgic,

even though,

digital is admittedly easier.

What do you remember the most about your wedding?

smiles.

Regrets......I've had a few....

But so few I'd like to mention....

Well,

today, at the traffic light,

I had one of those moments that I 

regret.

I was caught without my camera,

any camera....

not just my "pro-rig" Canon,

not just my small "in-my-purse" Nikon,

Not even my phone's camera....

I was camera naked.

And at one of those moments that you really require

Full-gear....and time.

The license plate said it all,

"1969-RR".

It was a smooth silver grey Rolls Royce,

driven by the most elegant 

woman.

She was, I'd say. in her 70's,

beautifully quaffed blonde/silver hair

that seemed to match the palate of her 

interior leather.

She wore Jackie-O sunglasses.

She had on delicate cream leather gloves.

She was wearing a B/W hounds tooth braided jacket.

She was the picture of elegance.

Not 10 feet away from me.......

no camera....

I wasn't even driving and frantically looked around the car

to see of there might be a camera, that didn't belong to me.

no camera.

Why do I do this to myself?

Why haven't I learned from the many experiences

like this?

Regrets....I have a few.....

You may kiss the bride....

While this shot is not technically perfect....

the mood is...

When faced with imperfect conditions,

light-wise,

it is best, I've found to "shoot from the hip"

in other words,

go with your gut.

The minister had just pronounced them 

Man and Wife,

and told the groom he could kiss his new spouse.....

This is not a time to hesitate.

The look of joy transcends 

any and all photographic short comings.

Even the look on the bridesmaid's face is priceless.

Never will any of these people feel exactly the way they did 

on this very moment.

Shoot!

Shoot! 

Shoot!

As fast as the camera would let me....

and the film...

as this was a wedding shot on a variety of 

films,

both manufacturer, color, B/W and speeds...

No Photoshop.

Only tweaking in the processing and developing.

Primitive...

Exasperating....

Spontaneous....

and in the end...

wonderful...

smiles.

When in Italy....

take the opportunity to shoot brides

wherever possible...

This couple was being photographed 

(very adequately, I must say)

and I was on vacation.

But that dress caught my eye!

Look at the weight of the fabric! 

Look at the detail!

They were in the right spot,

and so was I!

I couldn't resist.

So happy,

so pleased with the day,

so ready for the future...

I think this may be one of the reasons that 

I adore weddings.

So much promise, hope and joy! 

Of course there are exceptions,

but for the most part I have 

had the privilege to shoot 

many weddings just as 

happy and special as the one above.

Rarely 

in

such

a 

wonderful

locale

though....

smiles.

Did I mention....

that I am

 oh so

 ready for spring?

That I am completely 

tired of snow...

and 

that it is supposed to 

snow here in the next few days?

I want daffodils,

and tulips,

and crocus,

and 

red-bud trees,

and azaleas,

and 

well...

warm weather.

I want to 

sit on the beach with 

sand in my shoes...

I am a 

Carolina Girl at heart...

and 

when March comes around...

my thoughts stray

to the 

Carolina shore.

Some twenty years ago,

I was in a wedding,

as a bridesmaid,

on an island just south of Charleston, SC

the first weekend in March.

The weather was unseasonably warm,

in the 80's....

and we watched porpoises

just off the shore...

It was a magical weekend.

Live Oaks and Spanish Moss...

I am so ready for spring...

smiles