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about photographuy.com

PHOTOGRAPHUY.COM (pronounced photograph-we) is just a silly name for this blog for photographers to exploration through innovative projects and diverse perspectives.

Huy Nguyen is a former newspaper photojournalist turned wedding photographer.  He is also the founder of the Foundation Workshop, the Yin Yang Workshop, and the original Get Real Workshops (where students photograph a real wedding!)

Many thanks to our friends Sergio and Britt Bailey and the photographers who have given us permission to feature their images. You can find most of us over at our small community at the Foundation Workshop Forum.  Thank you for visiting.

the story behind: sleeping kids at receptions

Friday, March 5, 2010 Posted in commentary

darcie_tyler_for_sergio

Photograph courtesy of Ku Photography, LLC

Tony Ku: On the image itself – Darcie only had one bridesmaid/matron of honor, Amy. I noticed one of Amy’s daughters was sleeping on the couch and really wanted to get a picture of mom and dad dancing, and their daughter sleeping on the couch. Luckily Amy and her husband were great dancers so when she was dipped, I raised my camera and that’s the resulting image.

Sergio: Wedding receptions can be too much for little kids sometimes. Kids taking naps are a common sight late at night at many weddings. I love how Tony was able to capture the festive spirit of this reception and the little girl sleeping on the chairs; all in the same photo.

(we’d love to hear what you think too, please share by leaving a comment or two…)

by Sergio

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58 minutes with Rachel LaCour Niesen

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Posted in conversations

I had a the opportunity to talk with Rachel LaCour Niesen, one of the founders of LaCour, The Decisive Moment, and ShootQ about photography, business, and putting it all together.

Thank you Rachel for sharing. Hope y’all like it!

Huy

 

The podcast should be available here also : http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/conversations-with-photographers/id330706393

Photography by Anna Kuperberg

 

by Huy Nguyen

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the Vladeo from Foundation Workshop 8

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Posted in workshops

Thank you to Vlad Chaloupka for documenting our workshop. You amazed us all with yet another truly badass (or is that Vladass?) video.

Thank you! Huy

by Huy Nguyen

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the story behind : babies

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Posted in commentary

Photography courtesy of Linda Crayton Photography

Linda: This was my third session with nine-month old Penelope since her birth.   I shot this one-hour session at my client’s home in Alexandria.  I am moving more and more sessions to clients’ homes, or on-location, in lieu of my studio.  By not limiting a session to a studio, I take images that really mean more to my clients as time moves them past this moment in their lives.  I document them in their own environment, interacting like they would if I weren’t there.  When they look back on the session they remember how it felt not just how it looked.   Often these sessions become special bonding times.  I tell them to focus on their kids and do what feels good.  No emails.  No work.  No forced smiles.  Nothing but their family.

While taking some sweet shots in the master bedroom on the bed with the whole family, I noticed the tri-fold mirror on the dresser.   I hoped Penelope would be excited with her reflection, times three.  She loved it and didn’t know which way to look–all the babies looking right back at her were so fun.  I ducked out of the way to hide my reflection, and starting shooting and re-composing, hoping to get a great moment with lots of scrumptious, baby layers.   Right after this, Penelope had an accident on their beautiful, decorative pillow/cushion.  I think I know what this image will always mean to them.

Huy: It’s hard to explain why I love this image. It’s messy yet it appeals to my sense of composition. The mirror provides instant layering and places for the eyes to go although it’s still drawn mainly to the largest baby shape in the front. It’s just fun to look at.

(we’d love to hear what you think too, please share by leaving a comment or two…)

by Huy Nguyen

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the story behind: simplicity

Friday, February 19, 2010 Posted in commentary

Image by Brett Butterstein

Photograph courtesy of Brett Butterstein Wedding Photography.

Brett Butterstein: This couple got married in a ghost town in Colorado where there is nothing but log cabins. I placed them outside of a window to the big dining room where they and their families would later have dinner.

I’m inside shooting out. The groom’s brother is holding my video light on the couple. The blue is the snow outside.

It took me a while to see this composition. I originally wanted them small in the window surrounded by complete darkness.

Sergio: A wedding couple, four lamp fixtures, a video light and a window; masterful simplicity. Many great photographs make you wonder how it was done;  this is one of those. It is fascinating to imagine what is going through a photographer’s head while trying to figure out how to make a different portrait.

The tilt on this photo gives this photo an extra oomph.  I also love the fact that Brett asked a guest to help him hold the video light; guests can be great resources. This photograph is highly ingenious, imaginative and beautiful.

(we’d love to hear what you think too, please share by leaving a comment or two…)

by Sergio

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the story behind: at the Barr Mansion

Monday, February 15, 2010 Posted in commentary

bill-mccullough-barr-mansion

Photography courtesy of Bill McCullough from Bill McCullough Photography

Bill: Real life is more interesting than any preconceived ideas I may have as a photographer.

Huy: I’ve always admired Bill’s ability to “reveal” people through his photography.  The moments that he chooses to photograph are very different from the happy-smily ones typically chosen by the typical wedding photographer.   His subjects, like those in this photograph, often have an intriguing demeanor or expression that invites curiosity and thought.  They are definitely being real and very unguarded , as if they didn’t know he was there.  Who knows?  Maybe he has an invisible camera.

Britt: Like much of Bill’s work, this photo fascinates me. It has a through the looking glass quality to it, where everything is topsy-turvy and not quite as it “should” be, or as expected.   In this “group” photo everyone is caught isolated in their own thoughts, individualized and separate.  I find myself studying each face in turn wondering what they are thinking.  It feels more like a still from a movie than a wedding photograph, and how Bill manages to find these types of images in so many weddings, is it’s own mystery.

(we’d love to hear what you think too, please share by leaving a comment or two…)

by Britt

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the story behind: father’s trophies

Thursday, February 11, 2010 Posted in commentary

justindemers

Photo courtesy  of Justin DeMers,  a photographer with Still Motion Photo + Cinema

Justin: It’s not enough to just make visually interesting imagery.  The surface quality of an image can only go so far in the success of the image.

This image is of Sandra’s late father’s lawn bowling trophies.

We knew going in to the day that we had to include her father in her collection because he played a large role in who she is today.  And while we couldn’t do that with an image of him, we really wanted to create an image that would evoke the memories of her dad.  Sandra and Sonny were married at the same location as Sandra’s parents.  Her father, an Italian immigrant, helped build the venue that’s dedicated to Canadians of Italian origin.

When we arrived in the morning to Sandra’s parents home where Sandra grew up, we put down our camera bags and asked if it would be okay if we took a tour. While we normally do this at every wedding to scope out the rooms and the light, meet the people, etc, this time, we had a different goal – to find something  non literal that would show her father’s presence at her wedding.   On the fireplace mantle, next to an image of her dad, stood these trophies.   They looked like they had been there forever, a permanent fixture of their home,  something that would not only remind Sandra of her dad, but also of the home where she grew up in, the home where so many memories of her dad originated.

To an outside observer, this image may look interesting.   To Sandra and Sonny, it’s so much more.

Huy: Justin tuned in to his clients’ lives to understand all the aspects of the wedding day that has special meaning for them.  He understood the important role of Sandra’s father in her life and searched for ways to include him in her wedding day images.  The image of the trophies is a simple one.  He presented them at their normal place at the home unadorned by fancy lighting or photographic techniques to allow his clients to view the image and NOT be overwhelmed by the photography but instead be reflective about its content.

His clients will no doubt be surprised by Justin’s thoughtfulness and appreciate his efforts to provide them with a connection to all their loved ones.

(we’d love to hear what you think too, please share by leaving a comment or two…)

by Britt

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the badass Vladeo from FC1

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 Posted in workshops

Thank you Vlad Chaloupka for making this badass video from our gathering last year.  This year’s Foundation Conference 2 will be in November 2010 in Kansas City :  http://www.fconference.com

Foundation Conference 2009 from Vladimir Chaloupka on Vimeo.

by Britt

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the story behind: Baby Knox

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 Posted in commentary

Photography courtesy of Kate Mefford from www.katemefford.com

Kate: Baby Knox was being held by his mom, Amy, in the football position because he was getting fussy. She was swaying him and I asked her to try to remain still (because I spotted the drool that was pooling in his mouth, but didn’t tell her that). I waited a moment (I think she thought I was crazy), and then seconds later snapped a few frames of the precious baby drool streaming down the mom’s arm. It was such a real moment to me, telling that the mom would hold him through anything. =)

Huy: A very sweet little moment of babyhood. The timing of the shot is perfect too. Simplicity at its best.

by Huy Nguyen

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Protected: One Day in Ohio – special seminar

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 Posted in workshops

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