Rangefinder Magazine
March 2005

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Rf Cookbook: Amy & Yves in Hollywood by Mike Colón

I was tired of photographing the same old half-hour engagement sessions on the beach right before sunset, so it was a nice opportunity to find a couple that wanted to try something different. Amy and Yves are fun and adventurous. For their engagement portraits, they were willing to trust me and try anything. It was actually their idea to photograph in the streets of Hollywood, and I turned the session into a five-hour marathon. We had so much fun running around finding cool spots that it was dark before we knew it.

I was using my new 70–200mm AF-S VR (vibration reduction) Nikkor lens and I was anxious to try it out at night. I had Amy and Yves hold still while I photographed them, handheld, at shutter speeds down to 1/4 second. With the vibration-reducing stabilizer in the lens, I could get sharp images without the hassle of a tripod, while moving cars in the background streaked by. I took this image using only available light, which consisted mainly of streetlights and car headlights.

I really like the movement in the images caused by slow shutter speeds. It added a dimension of time to my images. Since this assignment, I have become increasingly more attracted to movement in my images. I have begun to allow what I previously regarded as imperfection to become a regular part of my work.

I have been a professional photographer based in Southern California for the past six years. With a background in pro fight and sports photography, I appreciate the challenges of working under pressure that is involved in this type of photography. Today, I focus nearly all of my attention on wedding and portrait photography. Just like sports photography, there is no such thing as a retake in wedding photography. When you have just one chance and such a huge responsibility, there is great satisfaction in a successful outcome.

I have been commissioned to photograph weddings throughout the United States and abroad. I recently photographed the NBC television show, “Race to the Alter.” I have work featured in numerous publications, including Wedding Style Magazine, Modern Bride, The Knot, Studio Photography & Design, WPPI Monthly and the Orange County Register. I also lecture internationally.

INGREDIENTS
• Camera: Nikon D1x
• Lens: Nikkor 70–200mm f/2.8 AF-S VR
• Film: Lexar 48X WA 1GB CF card
• Software: Photoshop 7.0.—Brighten and color balance
• Computer: Mac G5