Boston's Multi-Cultural Wedding Trend

Boston, even more than most of America, is the melting pot of the world. It is here in Boston that young people from diverse cultures come together to learn and receive their professional degree in our prestigious halls of learning. And therefore it follows that Boston is a flourish of multi-cultural weddings, as young adults graduate and seal their relationship with their college sweetheart.

I thoroughly enjoy photographing weddings, events and ceremonies of diverse cultures. Having traveled far to photograph cultures in Asia, Europe and across the United States it is a pleasant trend to be able to take my love of cultures to my immediate work in Boston.

Such weddings include combining Jewish traditions with Chinese. A prime example was the wedding where a Jewish Ceremony was performed with the traditional Chuppa (canopy above the couple which represents their future home together) adorned with not only the Jewish cloth, but a beautiful Chinese cloth and design as well; thoughtfully symbolizing the co-mingling of cultures and traditions. This ceremony was soon followed by the brides wardrobe change from her white-wedding gown to her Chinese ceremonial attire for the custom of serving tea to their parents and immediate family. Again both cultures participated in this Chinese ceremony.

Yet another ceremony involved the Indian and Pakistani Mehndi or henna ceremony, where women gathered together to sing and play ethnic music and celebrate their new bride and groom in the style familiar to South Asia. Traditional henna was drawn on the hands of guests of any ethnic background, while the traditional ceremony played out and well-choreographed Indian dancing was performed.

This trend is a welcome sign and shows how one can truly celebrate diversity and differences.

The Frame

This unique composition was taken with awareness of the hanging lights below.

The concept and application of the frame in photography is the senior principle in composing a picture. I am not talking about the matting and framing that occurs to a piece of art at a Framery. Instead I am talking about the frame in your viewfinder. The frame or boundaries of a picture are THE dimensions which you choose and which isolate the universe around you. It is by placing these dimensions or borders over the world using the viewfinder that you select what to portray in your final image. Yet this most basic principle is not known by most people. After teaching photography for years and working with both beginners and more advanced artists, I’ve finally seen that this point is almost always misunderstood and not applied.

In my previous essay called The Dimensions of Photography I spoke of the frame but in retrospect I see that scant attention was given to it. Here is an excerpt from that essay:

“Let us couple the first two dimensions as they fall under the heading of composition – the selection of elements to fall within the borders of one’s picture.
“When looking through the viewfinder one needs to be very aware of the borders of his composition.
“There are many rules and tips that fall within the subject of “composition”, but it must be understood that all of these rules fall within the confines of the frame and the first two-dimensions.”

So to be more thorough, let’s define what the frame is in regards to taking a photograph: The frame is the borders which can be seen through the viewfinder that select and isolate the world in your view. That which is inside the frame will be in your image. If there is a lot of space around your subject within the frame, then that space will be there in your final image. Now more importantly, let’s define framing, as herein lay the action which is missing from many a shutterbugs picture-taking. Framing is the recognition of the borders of the viewfinder and consciously placing those elements of the world that one wants included in his final image, inside those borders.

Of course one can crop later, and there is such a thing as purposely leaving some unwanted space or dunnage within the frame. This is fine as long as it is conscious. A drill to improve ones compositions and framing techniques is simply to take pictures paying particular attention to the borders of one’s viewfinder. Do this and soon you will be doing it as if second nature.

Artist Proofs

Robert Castagna's fine art limited edition giclee prints will soon be available exclusively at Rolly-Michaux Gallery. Currently Artist Proofs are available directly from the artist. Artist Proofs are unique images made during the proofing and printing process for the limited edition series. The limited edition will have a set number and will be signed. The Artist Proofs will also be signed, however will feature the letter AP to designate Artist Proof. Artist Proofs are archival, printed with the pigment giclee process using 100 % cotton paper made by Crane & Company. Because Artist Proofs are unique and often one of a kind images, they often go up in value. Once the limited edition prints are approved and printing, no further Artist Proofs will be made.

Artist Proofs are available in approximate 11X14 sizes for $250 and can be selected from both the Italy Series and the Kyoto in Spring Series.

In addition Portfolio One, a series of Kyoto in Spring images created by the artist for promotion is now available. This portfolio of 16 images features many of the well-known images, as well as some hidden gems that will never be printed again. This complete portfolio is available for $1950. Also there are still a limited amount of boxed card sets, named and signed by the Artist. Each set is handsomely boxed with foil emblem. Boxed sets are $75.