2019.06.28

Personal Best vol.28 | Scott Johnson

Gears

  • FUJIFILM GFX 50S
  • FUJIFILM X-Pro2
  • FUJIFILM X-T3
  • GF23mmF4 R LM WR
  • XF56mmF1.2 R
  • XF8-16mmF2.8 R LM WR

Story

I’ve no one favourite image. I have favourites from each wedding, as each wedding is unique, and creates its own opportunities. I never have a plan on the day itself, as this can be very limiting. I much prefer letting the wedding itself guide the photography route… of course, there are some shots I would like to try and achieve, but if the conditions don’t allow, we move on and create something else!

This image is something I had planned for about six months – and even with all the planning, the weather didn’t play ball! I had scheduled the shoot around a new moon and clear skies, and on the day of the shoot, rain, gale-force winds and thick clouds, so much like a wedding, I had to think on my feet and create the shot I had been thinking about for literally years. I’d ‘wanted’ this location of as long as I can remember. It was a career goal to shoot here. GFX 50S, GF23mmF4, ISO200, 1/1400th

Most brides wouldn’t DREAM of going out in the rain, let alone stand there while I create something iconic. This is where trust comes in. The bride trusted me when I said she would not regret coming and standing out in the rain for ten minutes – her reply “well, you only get one chance in life… let’s GO FOR IT!” X-Pro2, XF56mmF1.2, f4, 1/2400th, ISO800

Light on the wedding date is my driving force, and if it is good, I can make anything work, and no more so here. Taken in the middle of the dining room, this shaft of light was perfectly placed on the wall, so I asked the groom to stand there, and I said, “let me work my magic!” X-Pro2, XF56mmF1.2, f2, 1/1800th, ISO400

Another example of just letting the wedding day ‘happen’. On a walk to find the sunset, the setting was perfect, so just told the couple to carry on walking up the hill. This was the only shot we took of the sunset as when we got to the planned location, the clouds covered the sun! X-Pro2, XF8-16mmF2.8, f2.8, 1/750th, ISO200

The minute I saw this floor, I knew I had to put the bride there – this is more about seeing the finished image, not just the image from the back of the camera. X-T3, XF8-16mmF2.8, f2.8, 1/160th, ISO800