Jul 022010
 
Infrared bridal formal photo in front of the Fairmont Hotel In San Jose.

I thought I’d combine my new love of experimenting with infrared with my old love of wedding photography.

This photo was taken in the park in front of the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. On a busy Saturday, the park was full of people, and really not the most romantic place. A great place for people watching, but not the best place for bridal shots. However, the infrared really transforms the scene. It becomes a magical land with romance and mystery, the crowd of Saturday tourists fading into the background.

All photos © Alex Schoenfeldt 2010. All rights Reserved
Alex Schoenfeldt Photography

Infrared bridal formal photo in front of the Fairmont Hotel In San Jose.

Bride and groom wedding photo with infrared camera in front of the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose

Jun 242010
 
Mothers and children by river. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.

I recently bought a digital canon, a D60, that has been converted to shoot infrared. Now, you can’t quote me on this, but here is to the best of my knowledge how this thing works. All digital cameras have a filter in them that blocks infrared and allows visible light to pass. In my new IR camera, someone has taken out that filter and placed instead a filter that does the opposite, blocks visible light and allows IR to pass.

If I’ve got that wrong, let me know in comments.

I first took the camera out to the Berkeley hills, and I loved it right away. I could tell immediately that I had to learn to see in a new way to get the most out of this camera, which as a photographer was an exciting prospect.

Then, I took the camera to the Big Sur River with some friends, and here are the results:

All Photos © Alex Schoenfeldt 2010. All rights reserved.
Alex Schoenfeldt Photography.

Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Kavi in Infrared
Delilah on log at river. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Teenagers in puppy pile. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Teenagers in puppy pile. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Big Sur River Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Children on tube. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Sepia. Kids on tube. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Kids on tube, Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Boy holds rope of innertube with kids. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Kids on inner tube. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Kids on inner tube. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Teenagers. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Boyfriend and Girlfriend. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Circle of friends. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Kids floating on river. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Mothers and children by river. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Teen girl poses. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Nude women in river. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Teen girls. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Circle of friends 2. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
Friends and soccer ball. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
baby with drum. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
back of todler. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.
baby and lens flare. Infrared photography of the Big Sur River on the summer solstice.

Jun 102010
 
Bride before the wedding, sepia Churchill Manor Napa, CA

From 2005, this is one of the oldest weddings I’ve posted on this blog. (I have a very rigorous process for deciding what to post. I reach blindly into the drawer where I keep all of the old contracts, and pull one out at random.) I was using older equipment, and I had hundreds fewer weddings under my belt (at this point I’ve shot over 600 professional gigs, including weddings, portraits, corporate events, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs etc…) but I am still happy with my work, looking back.

Angela and Steven got ready at Churchill Manor in Napa, had a ceremony at Marsha’s Vineyard in Napa, and a reception at the Pelusi Building also in Napa.

Bride before the wedding, sepia Churchill Manor Napa CA

Bride before the wedding, sepia

Bride and Bridesmaids through window, black and white. Churchill Manor Napa, CA

Bride and Bridesmaids through window

Wedding Ceremony, Marsha's Vineyard Napa CA

Wedding Ceremony

Please take a look at the image above, and the image below. These are the same image, and the second one has been converted to Black and White. Back in the bad old days, you had to pick which you wanted to shoot, but now,I shoot everything in color and convert the ones I want to see in black and white. I think it words very well.

Wedding Ceremony, Black and White, Marsha's Vineyard Napa

Wedding Ceremony, Black and White

Bride with flower girls, Marsha's Vineyard Napa CA

Bride with flower girls

All Photos © Alex Schoenfeldt 2005. All rights reserved.
San Francisco Bay Area wedding photographer

May 272010
 
Bride and Groom walk each other down isle wedding Evergreen Lodge in Goveland, CA

Lisa and Chris got married at the Evergreen Lodge in Goveland, CA. They were on the older side of brides and grooms. (Not old, jut older than most first timers). Something I noticed with couples that are in their 30’s and 40’s when they get married. They stress a lot less about every little detail, and bring their own personal ascetic to the wedding instead. It’s quite nice really.

Photos © Alex Schoenfeldt 2006. All rights reserved.
Yosemite Wedding Photographer

Apr 292010
 
Bride and Groom Formal Portrait under Oak Hahn Estates in Soledad Black and white

Yesterday, I got a photo order from Maria and Adam. I hadn’t thought of their wedding in a few months, and the photo order was a nice reminder. I especially like the black and white shot of them under the Oak Tree. Something about it seems so eternal.

They got married at the Hahn Estates in Soledad, a Vineyard.

All photos © Alex Schoenfeldt 2009. All rights reserved.
Alex Schoenfeldt Photography