Note: My goal for this shot was to provide the ability for the tent-cards to flow from the bottom left to the upper right. I wanted to only emphaisze one row of the cards which is why a shallow depth of field was utilized. Expanding the contrast and ensuring the maximum use of the white space of the image all blend together.

More notes about the images: All of these B/W images were created utilizing TMAX 100 film and using hand crafted and calibrated developers in the same way Ansel Adams would process his film with the Zone System. My mentor Bill Edwards (who learned from Ansel Adams) introduced me to these techniques for handling B/W images. Digital imaging technology provides significant controls for enhancing images.

Note: Placesetting shots are really great with view cameras since you can easily utilize camera movements to provide a more natural look to the plates and stemware. I had two objectives for this shot. First I wanted to create a draw from the white napkin in the lower left to the curtain in the upper right. This is done with the plate, menus and white flowers. Second I wanted to utilize the transmited lighting of the #19 through the glass. Table 19 was the bride and grooms table and in the large original the #19 is reflected and transmitted multiple times through the piece of stemware.

Note: In B/W our concern is with providing a smooth overall contrast and giving an image a strong subject. In this case I wanted to make the chocolates pop off the print. Additionally I wanted to use the placesetting at the bottom with rose and charger to point towards the candies and also to provide the viewer with an understanding that they are viewing a placesetting. Notice the pair of candles shown through the wineglass.