Jeff and
Judy met while working as river rafting guides on the Salmon River in
Riggins, Idaho and instantly had a special connection. After a couple years of dating they decided to return
to their favorite beach on the river for their wedding ceremony. Their
family and friends gathered from all over the country to celebrate with
them on the beautiful white sand beach. At the ceremony they set up a cute
little lemonade stand stocked with
refreshments for their guests. Their sweet dog Mia was the flower girl and had a
collar made of daisies. It is Salmon River tradition to toss a daisy in the
river when a couple ties the knot. Each guest was handed a daisy as they arrived. After the ceremony everyone tossed the daisies in
the water, waved goodbye and blew kisses as they floated
off in an old classic river boat. The day after the wedding, Jeff and Judy arranged
with local guides to have ALL of their guests float the Salmon River. It was a great way to end a beautiful
fun filled outdoor wedding weekend!
Several of these images were shot with a Holga camera. At weddings I only shoot with my Holga, if I know the bride and groom will appreciate the vintage look of the images. The cheap plastic construction of the camera lends itself to vignetting, blur and light leaks. All of which I think can be quite beautiful with the right subject. I am still experimenting with the Holga camera, I enjoy the unpredictability and playful nature of it. I found the book "Plastic Cameras-Toying with Creativity" written by Michelle Bates to be quite insightful on the nuances of Holgas. I was inspired by Michelle Bates’ graphic and quirky images in her book. Visit her online gallery to see some of her playful photos, all shot with a modified Holga camera. Below are a few of my favorite images by Michelle, these photos make me want to go out into the world and PLAY with my camera! Since a Holga camera only costs $24.00 on Amazon it’s not a big investment for experimental equipment. The cameras are simple enough (just point and shoot) that anyone could give it a whirl.
above photos by Michelle Bates