Heather & Ben, part one

Upcoming sequence of images from Heather and Ben's wedding on Saturday, on the golf course out at Rancho Las Palmas in Palm Springs, CA.I loved the Nikon 85mm f/1.4, but it runs between $800-900, and in some instances it was almost too telephoto. So for this wedding I rented a Nikon 50mm f/1.4 to test out. It worked GREAT. It worked BEYOND great, I can't believe some of the quality of some of my shots with that lens...it's like mmmmmmagic! And it's far, far cheaper than the 85mm. I found a deal on eBay and purchased the lens the next day.I'm really, really pleased with these shots. Outdoor weddings are my favorite, particularly those that take place on beaches or golf courses; the setup is usually situated in the shade so it's not too hot or harshly lit (or dim, as in a church), and there is no limitation on room, so as a photographer I am usually free to roam all over the ceremony area (including behind the altar) for the perfect angle.First up...bridal preparations. She had a gigantic suite that was bursting with cool patterns and colors, it was lovely :D(I LOVE this shot! Taken with the 50mm.)The resort's suite in which the bride was dressing was full of colors and patterns that were very inspiring!This was a lucky shot...I wasn't even looking through the viewfinder. Taken with a Nikon 50mm f/1.4.Another SWEET 50mm shot. Are we loving this lens yet, or what?Maybe you can see in this shot the only problem I had with this lens (50mm): flare. I've never had to deal with so much flare in an unhooded lens before, but the 50mm was apparently incredibly susceptible. So if you get or rent this baby, make sure you have a hood to go with it.Look at that rock!!I am particularly proud of the emotional value of this shot; it is the bride's mother's hand (and wedding band). It was just one of those shots that I caught almost as a reflex while my lens was roaming over the scene, a totally lucky capture. In retrospect I wish I had tried to squeeze maybe more of the mother herself in the scene, but like I said, the moment was fleeting, and its capture was practically a reflex.Another shot I am quite proud of. A splendid dress on a splendid figure always looks good photographically ;-D