February 2012 Insight

February 01, 2012 — This will be my second time attending the WPPI show in Vegas, but my first as an official Rangefinder and WPPI staff member. It’s such a great time of year and a wonderful opportunity to see it all come together, as the whole staff buzzes around putting the finishing touches on the BIG SHOW. And just in time for WPPI 2012, the edit and art team have worked around the clock to introduce a redesigned Rangefinder with a cleaner look and more navigable page layout; front of the book “current events” section; clearly defined edit well, and more.

As the wedding and portrait industry continues to evolve, so does Rangefinder. Not only do we look more updated, we are also broadening our horizons to find fresh, modern wedding photography from around the world. This month we admit that we’re hot for Mexican wedding photography. We highlight the work of Mauricio Alanis (pg. 58), from Monterrey, Mexico, who is as skilled in moody, black-and-white infrared imagery as he is with vivid pops of color and fashion forward bridal shoots. There’s also Fer Juaristi (pg. 76), a Mexican photographer who likes to improvise his wedding portraits in hidden locations. With WPPI Mexico fast approaching (May 7-9), the timing couldn’t be better to check out these south-of-the-border shooters.

We also highlight the work of Italy’s Luigi Rota (pg. 90), who only uses environmental light and tries to maintain reality as best he can; Neal Urban (pg. 104), who never thought he’d become a wedding photographer but now admits that he likes it; the romantic imagery of Samm Blake (pg. 68); Dina Douglass, who runs a boutique studio business and never wants to go high-volume (pg.112); and Mr. Wedding Photographer himself Jim Garner (pg. 44). And just when you think you made it through this jam-packed issue, there’s a new end page, Photo Finish (pg.178) by photographer, writer and portfolio reviewer David J. Carol. Each month, Carol will choose a photographer’s personal project to highlight, because, as he explains it, “all professional photographers see themselves as artists but can’t express themselves fully in their commercial work.”  Please make a point to track me down at WPPI and say hello, I want to meet as many of you as I can and get your input on our new look and direction!

ON THE COVER
photographer: Mauricio Alanis
camera: Canon EOS 5 Mark II
lens: Canon 24-70 f/2.8
exposure: 1/200 @ f/14 ISO 100, exposure compensation -0.33 ev. Focal Length,about 50mm
location: empty pool at groom’s house in Mexico
credit: © Mauricio Alanis
comments: “I asked the groom to keep the pool empty and clean for this shot. No Photoshop was used. The shadow comes from the sunlight that hits her from behind. The light in front is a fill light coming from 2 canon speedlites, radio triggered.”

Jacqueline Tobin, Executive Editor