Downtown Austin 2022 - Saint Mary Cathedral Spires #1

As per usual, when the wife travels to attend a conference, I take some vacation time and tag along.  While she's in her meetings I'm free to wander with the Bigger Cahoona to either scout or take photographs.  This is how I got the pics for the Denver 2017 series, the McKinney Falls series, the Austin series posted June through September of 2020, and many others.

This particular conference was two full days with a stay of three nights in Austin, so I decided to use the first full day just to scout.  After her meetings started, on that first day I took a gander around the neighborhood, which was on the southern edge of downtown, then trekked deeper into downtown to see what might be worth capturing the next day.  Photographically I was armed with only my iPhone 11 to capture references such as street intersections and landmarks for the return trip.  And as is usually the case, several times I regretted not having the D850, but didn't yet know how safe it would be hauling that thing around while by myself.  Turns out it wasn't so bad.

So here we are with what was captured on that second day.  There were some pretty interesting things going on - such as the construction of the tallest building to date in the city - but this is what caught my eye first: the juxtaposition of the old Saint Mary Catholic Cathedral, built in the 1800's, against the modern Texas Tribune building behind it.

Andrew and Ellen's Wedding - Night Shot of Ceremony Venue

This is when I wished a tripod was handy.  Think I leaned against a back wall to hold it steady, and the results aren't too bad.

Thus ends the series on Andrew and Ellen's wedding.  Next we'll go to Austin again, where Chenjean recently attended a conference.

Andrew and Ellen's Wedding - Reception Dinner Table for the Bride and Groom (after dinner)

As can be seen by the cake, this was obviously after dinner and the cake-cutting part of the reception.  Here I wanted to capture the stark shadows created by the dance floor lighting.  Revelers were caught in the background of the shot below:

This is where things got loud and boisterous, a part that I generally avoid because I don't like a lot of noise and I don't dance.  Many times I had to retreat to the relative quiet of an adjacent courtyard to clear my head, but those participating seemed to be having the time of their lives.

Andrew and Ellen's Wedding - Reception Dinner Table for the Bride and Groom (with flowers)

 

...and the flowers did make all the difference - beautiful bouquets and arrangements generously provided by Ellen's parents.

Andrew and Ellen's Wedding - Reception Dinner Table for the Bride and Groom (pre-flowers)

As anyone who's attended an American wedding knows, the bride and groom have their own center-stage place during the reception.  To make this setup even more conspicuous, the table was positioned at the bottom of a grand staircase, which served as a visual funnel that zeroed all eyes on the blushing couple.  I can hardly imagine a more uneasy position to be in, where expectations are high and all eyes are on your every move.  This pic was captured before the table was adorned beautifully with flowers in each vase lining the front.  At least those provided a hedge of sorts between the couple and everyone else in attendance.

Andrew and Ellen's Wedding - Reception Table Candle Lighting

I really, really like candle shots.  Suppose it's up there with silhouettes and pictures of something through something.  The brightness of the flames increases the shutter speed, and exposure is automatically adjusted to the subject.  Many more candle shots can be found using this search and this search.

Andrew and Ellen's Wedding - Wine and Water Glasses

...and who doesn't like a little refraction here and there?

This is one of the few times I've allowed a person into a posted shot, as he is indistinctly featured in the background.  Similar shots can be found here and here from Enchanted Rock.

Andrew and Ellen's Wedding - Chandelier with Light Graphic

Moving indoors now for the reception, and a much more challenging place to take pictures with the Bigger Cahoona's middling lens.  Though these pics were captured freehand - that is, without tripod or even a column in the right places for support - a few keepers snuck into the mix, such as this one.

Andrew and Ellen's Wedding - United We Sand

At some point in the ceremony Andrew and Ellen blended these flasks of sand, much as two candles are used to light a common wick in traditional US weddings.  Result below in this post-wedding shot:

Andrew and Ellen's Wedding - Ceremonial Tea Set

Being an avid student and chronicler of culture, I was pleased to see that Andrew and Ellen's ceremony would provide ample opportunity to observe, learn and capture elements not commonly seen at weddings here in the United States.  This included a carefully planned and choreographed tea ceremony.  But not just any tea ceremony; this was one conducted by a special family friend flown in to handle it just right.  Naturally during the ceremony itself I stayed put where I was seated, so couldn't capture it with the Bigger Cahoona, but was able to photograph the setup before guests arrived.

Not to say that it wasn't expertly captured in every aspect.  The professional photographer they hired, along with the assistants and all of the equipment they brought in, were top-notch, and I've hardly seen better wedding photography anywhere.