Pre-ride walk

The weather has changed during the last few days, it's gotten drier but colder. Too cold for me to want to ride far from home, so I kept to my local 15 mile route. I'm still on holiday so have been riding between the rain showers. As the chances of getting wet diminished I used the spare time to go for a walk with the big camera. Lately when on the bike I tend not to stop for pictures. The extra control and quality I get from my main camera has been missed. It's way too heavy to carry on the rides, and I don't want to risk damaging it. You could describe this post as the view from the saddle, if I had a pro camera with me.

The last time I did this was with the Caterham Photography Society, in March 2018.

This post is going to be very picture heavy so prepare for some scrolling.

it's a small world, the top of a fence post

Never far from thoughtlessness. 

Garage slowly being reclaimed

flint animal

serpent branch

the summer remembered

a long way from home

St Lawrence church, built in 1095

Another week

I apologise dear reader; I fear my creativity may be nearly spent, my ability to compose witty prose is diminished.

The last week has been pretty much as before.

Looking after Marcia, cycling and writing my blog. There has also been gardening, cooking and shopping.

I am getting use to queuing outside Tesco.

Only going shopping once a week was at first a challenge. With the shops very close I was use to popping over a few times in seven days, and not having much stored in the house. Now I make one trip and plan ahead.

I had a rant about the media.

Cycling news.

I swallowed another fly.

I may not comment on every ride, staying local means the routes are regularly visited. And even a literary giant like myself eventually runs out of ways to describe them.

I'll just post pictures if I see something of interest. I hope you understand.

bluebells

sheep in the distance

new rocky climb, it got steeper

farmer and tractor in field

It is proving to be a little challenging, landscapes aren't a genre I photograph very often. I struggle if there isn't something to draw my attention. I guess that's why my bike is normally included in shots.

rapeseed

The rapeseed field attracted my attention because of the lone tree just over the horizon. It is small but stood out amongst the yellow.

A sheep lazing in the shade of a tree.

There is nothing like riding familiar routes in the opposite direction. Sections that I flew along, I now realise are slight inclines this way round. A voyage of discovery.

I know how lucky I am to have countryside on my doorstep.

I have been posting pics from my rides, and now have over 300 followers on Instagram. Does that make me an influencer?!

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2018, looking forward to 2019

Where did 2018 go? I think I wonder at the speed the past year has gone every year. And I look back too.

My photography has included a wedding, more great shoots with Xandria and her mum in September and December. 

A project to shoot pictures for a clothing designer is in the early planning stages. Location scouting and model choice is happening now. The shoot isn't likely until Feb or March, so watch this space.

My personal projects had more focus. This will be my goal for next year. I want to continue to learn, but I also want to produce more eye catching pictures. The shoot with Natasha had that. Next year I want to be more creative, produce images that insist on a second look.

I worked with two male models, I plan to work with more next year.

Do I work again with models I know or with new ones? My confidence has improved a lot this year, Natasha said as much during our first shoot. I'm not so anxious as the shoot gets closer. Meeting new people regularly has helped me to quickly become comfortable. I think I'll try to do both.

I hope to work with Xandria and her mum again. They both have good ideas and goals they want to achieve. I enjoy the challenge of delivering them. I hope to work with Janayah again.

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Whilst I didn't lead it I did organise a group studio shoot for the Caterham Photography Society. It was a good experience and I was able to pass on some of what I had learned. Maybe if I plan another one it will be more of a teaching shoot with more structure.

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I also want to photograph other subjects. 

I use to shoot a lot of motorsport, both on my own and at track-day events. Lydden Hill and Canada Heights aren't far from me. Both great locations if you don't have a press pass.

I have had a couple of food photography sessions, whilst I thought they looked okay at the time. Now I can see they needed work.

Landscape is isn't something I have explored. The most recent time I really focused was in March at the first meeting of the Caterham Photography Society. Although I did take a couple of portraits during the walk.

Many years ago I was in the Lake District on holiday. 

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There is also my cycling. I have covered more miles this year, and set some goals for 2019. I want to improve my speed to Canterbury and up Waller Lane.

Looking at my recent pictures and older ones; I have improved but it is harder to keep being original. We cycle to the same places, they have been photographed from every angle. So it will be visit more places and start thinking of different ways to keep the old places fresh.

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I don't do new years resolutions. It wasn't my intent for this post to list some possibilities that's for sure.

I guess I'll have to see what 2019 brings.

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Photography walk

I have never been a member of a photography club or society. But now that has changed. I'm a member of the Caterham Photographic Society. It all started with a Facebook post to a local resident's group. Some pictures were posted from a run. A chat started; not about running, but photography and the lack of a local group. It sounded like it might be a relaxed, social focused group. I'm more interested in photography, with less focus on the camera and equipment.

The speed with which it all happened from a mention of taking a camera on a run to a Facebook group, and then to the first meeting is all credit to Karen. Nearly twenty members in almost no time.

The plan was a walk to include some local fields and woods. Then end at a pub for a pint and a chat, definitely my kind of group.

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Well I'm back and although the weather tried it's best I think the first meeting went well. I'm more of a portrait photographer but I like what I have taken. More practise needed though. It was also good to talk about photography and get some exercise. It wasn't just about f-stops and shutter speeds, instead it was more about gaining confidence and exploring different genres. Exactly what I wanted from membership of the group. We also had a chance to get to know each other. So it's a social group as well. I think the group will be one that encourages its members.

Can't wait to see what Barbara and Karen have taken.

 As you can see I couldn't resist taking some portraits.

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A change of career.

There are many ways to make a living from photography. 

I have wondered what it would be like being a travel photographer. At first glance it seems very glamorous. Traveling the world, at someone else's expense. Visiting great places and staying at nice hotels. 

But it is more likely not that easy. Like any photography career. It will be difficult to break into.

I at first tried to get a foothold in motorsport. But it was not to be. I worked with a pro photographer, and for a while was the pro, providing pictures for an Autograss club. But gradually more people assumed I should provide pictures for free. I wasn't intent on making a living from it. Just to cover some of my expenses incurred attending the events. I started thinking that they didn't really value my pictures. Once it became clear that was the case it took some of the enjoyment out of it. Then a mechanic started taking pictures and giving them away. 

The pro photographer I worked with didn't have enough extra work to give me regular opportunities. The work I did gave a valuable incite into making a living. Anticipating what the client wants. And it gave me access to areas of race tracks I wouldn't have normally had. So it was a very good experience. I did get a few pictures in the Autograss magazine, but mainstream magazine publications and commissions eluded me.

Landscape photography appears to be very speculative. And for me too much of a risk. I know I could produce pictures in my spare time. I'm just not sure how to get the business of selling prints started.

Over the past few years my portraiture portfolio has improved a great deal and I have developed a style of my own. But it's the move to selling my time and knowledge that I am having trouble with. 

There is wedding photography of course. I'll need to gain experience and a portfolio. But it is a stressful job. You only get one chance to get it right. 

And like everything I do. I wouldn't commit to a photo shoot or wedding commission if I didn't think I could do it.  I know some would say yes and worry about how to deliver later.  But not me.  

Maybe that's the problem, I'm not a risk taker. And I would need to be for a change in career.

This post isn't meant to sound like I'm complaining or think I am owed a living from photography. I applaud anyone who has made the change I am thinking about. 

This year I will keep building my portfolio and experience but focus more on marketing what I can deliver for people.

I enjoy photography.  Should I risk changing that in an attempt to make a living?

Why not add your address to my mailing list. You'll be informed about future posts. Follow me on twitter. 

Please checkout my website and facebook page. And leave a comment about this post. I would really appreciate your thoughts on this or any blog post.

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and 

Website