Category Archives: News

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WedComp Competition Results are in!

August 7, 2008 – 3:43 pm

I just received word that I have placed with some of my images in the Summer 2008 WedComp Competition! I’m honored to have had so many of my images chosen by some of the best photographers in the business to be a part of the super talented pool of winners! Click the link above to view all the winners, and judges comments.

There are four categories, Getting Ready, Portrait, Ceremony, and Reception. The judges chose 1st through 25th in each category, then chose the best image of the competition from the four first place winners.

I’m excited to say that this image won 1st place in the Portrait category, and was also chosen as the overall winner for the contest!! It was for this shot taken late last year at Kim and Yuri’s elopement in Big Sur:

Judge comments:

“Strong portraits are supposed to evoke emotion, and this one certainly does. Beautiful job controlling shadows and highlights. Bride and groom are along with each other and it’s beautiful. Congratulations on a fantastic, surreal-feeling image.”

My comments:

“This image was taken while covering an elopement with a fantastic couple Kim and Yuri, in Big Sur. We were headed to Pfeiffer Beach to take some portraits, when we drove up on this scene with this truly amazing light and mist filtering through the trees. Needless to say I hit the brakes. It was definitely one of those serendipitous moments when all the conditions align and you’re just screaming inside while pressing the shutter.”

Here are the other images that placed in order of placement. I’ll quote the judges comments for those images that made it to the top 10, and my comments for those that placed in the top 3:

2nd Place Ceremony: Lan and Kiyomi

Judge comments:

“Simple and clean composition! The photographer captured great lighting highlights. With the groom reaching over, the photographer effectively captured a frame around the candles, creating a strong visual element. With no clutter in the negative space behind them, your complete attention is drawn to the story.”

My comments:

“A quiet moment during the ceremony where their two flames become one. I love how tenderly Kiyomi reaches out to guide Lan’s hand, and how his arm helps frame the candles. I was really drawn to try and capture the subtle candlelight on their faces, keeping the image a little dark to pick up that rimlight.”

4th Place Reception: Stacey and Brian

Judge comments:

“Great action, great expressions, great light…This is not an easy shot to get, and everything came together for it.”

7th Place Reception: Heather and Mike

Judge comments:

“Nice shot of the groom, bride and a whole lot of other people dancing their worries away…love the choice of black and white.”

8th Place Ceremony: Leily and Nick

Judge comments:

“With hands raised and doves flying, this is a great action catch! I like the interesting use of a wide-angle lens. The preacher in the middle adds an interesting storyline element. She is framed perfectly within the bride and groom’s arms. I like the angle from the back of the bride and groom. It is a different view of a dove release than I am used to seeing.”

18th Ceremony: Leily and Nick

20th Reception: Leily and Nick

Thanks to all the fabulous couples in the images, Wedcomp and the judges!!

Cliff

By Cliff | Also posted in Weddings | Comments (5)

It’s official!

June 16, 2008 – 7:57 pm

This was San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom addressing the media and supporters after the cake was cut, and after Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon’s wedding ceremony, which he also officiated. This couple has been together for over 50 years, and was also the first couple to be married during the 2004 same sex marriages in SF, that were later deemed invalid.

It was difficult to get too close without media credentials, but I was happy to just be a part of something historic, and supporting this amazing couple!

I haven’t had anyone take me up on the offer to photograph their ceremony at City Hall tomorrow, but the offer is still on the table for any couples interested!

Congrats to Del and Phyllis, and everyone else!

By Cliff | Comments (0)

Free wedding coverage on June 16th and 17th at SF City Hall!

June 12, 2008 – 2:02 pm

As most people by now probably know there has recently been a decision in the California Supreme Court that overturned a ban on same sex marriages in California. I wholeheartedly support this decision, and as a wedding photographer have a tangible way to show my support for these couples wishing to be joined in a legal marriage.

At 5:01 on June 16th this decision will go into effect, and at least here in San Francisco they will be immediately commencing the weddings at City Hall. There is supposed to be an unprecedented number of weddings per day, 250+ by some estimations. They will even be extending their hours and bringing in volunteers to help handle the huge demand.

To offer my support for these couples who have waited so long for this right, and to be a part of this historic milestone, I would love to offer my services free to couples who value photography on June 16th and June 17th for weddings taking place at City Hall. I would be happy to offer up to a 2 hour coverage of the event, an online gallery, and a free 8×10 print. This is a value of $875.

I honestly have no idea if anyone will take me up on this, but I really want to reach out and make the gesture. I will do as many as can be scheduled on the 16th and 17th on a first come, first serve basis.

If interested please leave a comment below with your email address or fill out my Contact form on my main website Brunk Photography to schedule your time!

I welcome any support my readers might be able to provide in getting the word out there that I’m making this available!

Thank you!

Cliff

By Cliff | Comments (10)

New Book Offering!

June 1, 2008 – 8:00 am

I recently designed this as a sample to show off a new line of books that I’m very excited to be offering. This will soon be joining the lineup on the pricelist officially, and is available now for any of my current and future clients who are interested in a purchase or an upgrade. Please contact me for details. :-)

These books have a thinner page than my Custom Leather Albums, but thicker than my previous offering for a “coffee table” type book. I would describe the page thickness as similar to a card stock weight. The pages are completely matte, which to me gives a really modern, high end feel. The pages are also full, creased pages, meaning there is no page break in the middle, and thus I am able to design full spreads rather than individual pages. There is a photo cover, that has a nice subtle texture and a satin finish. Pretty sweet!

I designed this one as a Guest Book, which is meant to show off your Engagement images at your wedding, and is designed with generous white space so your guests can leave their well wishes. I even supply the proper pen for the job, although they’re so nice you might not want anyone to write in it!

This particular book was designed from Kiyomi and Lan’s awesome Engagement session. Stay tuned for their wedding in late June!

The same type of book can be used to feature your wedding images as well.

This image shows how the new book compares to the Custom Leather Album (bottom), and my current coffee table type book (top).

I will follow up this post soon with some info about the Custom Leather Album as well since many of my current clients who booked a while back may not have had the chance to view them yet.

Thanks for viewing, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on the new book! Please take a moment to comment below!

Cliff

By Cliff | Also posted in Engagements, Products | Comments (1)

We’re Home!: Part 1

May 27, 2008 – 7:45 am

We’re back in action and getting caught up after a very refreshing vacation. Thanks for everyone’s patience and well wishes during our time away. We definitely had a chance to recharge our batteries, just in time for the wedding season to get in to full swing.

As you might have already guessed I have a bunch of photos to share, even though I tried to make sure to take some days without a camera in my hand at all. We spent most of our time in Croatia, so that is where most of the images will be centered. I also took relatively few photos in Paris in comparison, as I was feeling nostalgic for our previous life there and just wanted a lot of quality time with Malarie.

For the images I did take, I made a conscious attempt to change up my style a bit. When shooting for myself I tend to look for the big, grandiose scene. I made an attempt to shift a little and shoot “smaller”, meaning looking for the more minute details that are often passed by but have as much of an effect on the feel of a place as any giant landscape. This was also my goal due to the fact that I have shot many images at these locations in the past, and I wanted them to feel fresh.

I’m going to post up images likely everyday this week, 10 at a time or so. I’ll start with Croatia and end the week in Paris.

OK, enough talk. On to the images!

We stayed on the mainland in a traditional house the first night of our stay due to the fact that we came in late, and there were no boats running to the islands. Not a bad view to start out the day with though:

It was my birthday on the 15th, and my one wish was to have the Lobster Pasta at Pavo’s. I was lucky enough that the local fisherman were able to get two of them for us. Sometimes that’s the way it is with island life, if they can’t catch it, you can’t eat it! :-)

Before:

After: (it really didn’t stand a chance)

BTW, there was 3 of us eating, I didn’t do all that damage on my own. :-)

This was an urchin that Malarie found on the shore. This particular one had seen better days. You’ll see these everywhere in the water close to shore. Watch your feet!

That’s all for today, see you tomorrow!

Cliff

By Cliff | Also posted in Travel | Tagged , , , , | Comments (4)