I am mostly, when it comes to photography, more interested in capturing the moment and reality of the situation and letting it stand on its own. My daily work at the newspaper we can't alter images to make them anything other than what we saw and captured. But in my studio work sometimes, especially after I've been at a computer for too long(like today--yes it is Sunday--the day of rest) the life of a painter begins to creep into my mind and I start using all these little tools within photoshop to add layers and layers and create an image. This picture from Tina and Jason's ceremony was a candid documentary image that showed a little of the setting and a few guests. I was happy with it for what it is, a document of the ceremony, one of many I made from several different angles. I decided to finish it off using the lighting affects filter in photoshop to sort of burn the edges and create a centralized light. I do this once in awhile with portraits that need a little pop of lighting change. One of the filters right above this one is the lens flare and I just decided to see what it would do. One seemed to give it a neat affect but totally made the balance of the picture funny and all of the attention was drawn to the affect. Adding multiple it gave an atmosphere to the image but I think the focus still goes to the action in the center, the bride and groom in the act of getting married. At least I hope so. I saved all variations anyway! SayerMotter photographic illustration by Richard Sayer.