Wedding Photos At The V&A

As we left the Mughal exhibition at the V&A yesterday, a couple were having wedding photos taken on the steps of the museum.

The train of the bride’s dress was billowing in the breeze and I wanted to catch the preparations as they got ready for the cameraman at the bottom of the steps.

I aimed my little Ricoh GRIII as best I could because as I have said before, it does not have a viewfinder. It is, therefore, next to impossible to see the focus point on the rear LCD when the sun is hitting it.

Then down to the bottom of the steps to photograph the couple.

I see there are two cameramen – one with a stills camera and one recording on video.

What an interesting video camera and such a large screen anchored above! I was so interested that I could hear myself telling my brain to concentrate.

And really, why? I had no reason to photograph the couple. I could have changed tack and concentrated on the camera gear.

And then the couple standing looking at the bride and groom, so pensive. And she notices me and I keep shooting.

I am shooting blind without a viewfinder. When I open the photos on my computer I see that somehow they are in focus.

Is there a small camera with a viewfinder that will serve me better than this camera for quick shots?

And I managed to get the cameramen after all as the couple look in the screen for instant feedback.

It’s a strange world today.

Tamara and I once watched a performance of Bagatitsa in St Petersburg. A couple of rows ahead a woman videoed the performance on her phone. She never really got to see the performance itself. The videos of the performance were on sale in the foyer, so it wasn’t as though it was a now or never choice.

Then there’s the joke of the woman who looks at her friend’s baby in the pram and comments how lovely the baby looks. That’s nothing, says the mother – you should see the photographs.