Holiday pictures

A relaxing way to spend the afternoon

I have recently returned from a trip to Jamaica to stay with family.
I thought about taking my DSRL. But decided to take a bridge camera instead. For a few reasons. The DSLR is bulky and heavy. And people tend to get a bit intimidated when it's a family trip and out comes the "big camera" as it's called. In a more formal setting. Like the recent studio session it's okay. Everyone expects and is prepared to be photographed. But around the house or family trips. Everyone just stiffens up.
The Bridge camera is okay in good conditions. It's customisable and flexible to an extent. I take it with me cycling. Pretty much all of the pictures from my biking adventures are taken with it. But I miss my main camera. It's slow. Slow to turn on and be ready to shoot. Slow to capture the picture after the shutter button is pressed. But the worst part is the wait for it to save the picture to the card. Even with a fast one it just takes too long. When taking a family portrait, I realise someone blinked. Everyone starts getting bored while they wait for me to take another shot. If I have been using the DSLR a lot and go back to this one. It really frustrates.

I'll use this post to show the other, travel photography style shots I took. I wanted to show a flavour of my trip. Not just beaches and palm trees.
There is ackee and sugar cane. I have eaten a lot of ackee. But only from a can. In Jamaica it was growing in the garden. From a can it doesn't have much flavour. But fresh, wow, it is a whole different taste. Then there is the beer. Red Stripe. Sitting on the veranda drinking Red Stripe in 28 degrees and sunny weather. Whilst listening to Heart FM on internet radio. It's freezing cold at home. It can't be beaten. With only the dogs barking at people walking too close to the fence disturbing the peace.

I just took it really easy for the two weeks. So I didn't take a lot of pictures. But the ones I did take have some thought behind them. I hope it shows. Let me know what you think.

This visit got me thinking about a career in family holiday portraiture. How good would it be travelling the world photographing a family's holiday? I had it all planed. The contract would say how many hours a day I would follow them around. How much time I would spend each day processing the days pictures. And how many they should expect after the holiday. Just think of all the great places I would see.

But then the two weeks we're up and it was back to work.

ocho rios bauxite mine used to film some scenes from Dr No

Ackee growing in the garden

Ackee and sugar cane

And the guard dogs, taking it easy

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.

For more of my work, go to my Facebook page.

and 

Website

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.

For more of my work, go to my Facebook page.

and 

Website

Calendar

The idea started at the beginning of the year. I mentioned it in my last blog. I want two things for my photography in 2017.

A purpose and a new way to display my work.

A calendar will give me both.

I'm have now started planning and contacting models.

I don't want to have only one or two locations or models. So it will take a few sessions.

I'm using Pinterest to gather pictures of outfits and posing ideas. I'll share them with the models. We can discuss what they have available that fits the theme.

It's a good way to ensure there are no misunderstandings.

I have some ideas for locations. But this time I can't rely on scouting the area as the shoot progresses. This worked before because I knew the areas. This time around I won't have been there with the intention of completing a photo shoot. I want to ensure the area is as I remember it. A visit beforehand will be needed. I could also take some pictures, use them for a montage on the back of the calendars. Display them in a scrap book style. Or to look like a scattered pile of polaroids.

Of course I also want more opportunities like the family photo shoot a while back.

If I keep posting my thoughts on this blog and the results of my photography on Facebook, twitter etc. They might come me way.

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.

For more of my work, go to my Facebook page.

and 

Website

Quiet period

I haven't produced many pictures lately. Cycling has been the main source of photographic opportunity. I have written before that my cycling is becoming a more serious reason to have my camera ready. And to be on the lookout for inspiration. This month I had a family portrait session. But in the last six months I haven't used my camera much.  And I miss it. I have been thinking about what to do this year.

Some shoot ideas are taking shape. The next step is to visit the areas I want to use. It will be along the river Thames. Around Blackfriars or Tower bridge. Then select the models. But I don't think I will be doing as many hired model shoots this year. I am learning and gaining experience. But I haven't got a reason for the pictures. I need another personal project. The books I produced gave me an excuse to revisit a set of pictures. A decade of cycling. 

It will be another format for my pictures to appear in. I'm considering a calendar. With the Thames as a backdrop. The people will be the focus of the portraits. But the river will connect the whole project. 

The outfits I am discussing with the models will be long, light dresses that will catch the wind.

A second theme will be using architecture as a background. There are some iconic buildings along the Thames. I'll use them as part of a blurred background. A shallow depth of field should leave them recognisable without being a distraction. 

This time around the outfits will be more fitted, stronger. It will be high contrast, entirely black and white. 

A few months ago I was able to have my portfolio reviewed by a successful, professional photographer. He gave me a lot to think about. And the changes to the pictures displayed on my website have improved it. He said black and white pictures, if done well, are perceived as better; more professional. I'm not sure I totally agree. But I have started to process some of my cycling pictures in back and white. And after the recent family studio shoot I did. The back and white ones were remarked upon as different and very welcome.

The pictures from the cycling that I processed as black and white were misty and moody. Well suited to a monochrome finish. But earlier in the year. The autumnal tones definitely benefitted from being in colour. 

It's like any processing. It has to be done right. And suit the subject. 

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.

For more of my work, go to my Facebook page.

and 

website

Happy Family

My first shoot of 2017. My niece was 21 at the beginning of 2017 and wanted some family portraits. Her mum, my sister, asked if I would be the photographer. Of course I said yes. I'd wanted to produce some family portraits again. It has been a few years since the last time.

The first thing to decide was, inside or outside. We settled on a studio shoot. It was January after all. There are plenty of studios, but I didn't want just a white infinity cove, or paper roll background. I wanted other areas to shoot in. Furniture, something that resembled a room in a house. The difference being there would be more room than if we used a real house. The owner met me at the beginning of the shoot, showed where everything was and left. If I hadn't used a studio before that could have been a problem.

I already had a clear idea about the pictures needed. My sister and I had talked a week before the shoot. Once I saw the studio I could see how we would achieve them. It was now up to me to lead the group, and keep the session flowing. Be positive and decisive. I wanted them all to relax and enjoy the experience. Not feel uncomfortable. I saw as we went along everyone did become more at ease, but still occasionally they looked a bit stiff, I knew that was not what they wanted. So I thought of a way to distract them. I asked them to look away from me and each other. I would count to three, they would look at me or each other, and I would press the shutter. I think it worked. To relax the session even more I took a picture of them, looking all over the place.

natural laughter

When they realised what I had done they all laughed. Leading to a picture of natural laughter. I think that is one thing that can be difficult to achieve.

The four hours flew past, they were a little surprised how quickly it went, and that I had over three hundred shots. I took that as a good sign, they must have been at ease and enjoyed the session.

I edited a couple of pictures the same evening. And uploaded them. They commented about the black background. How good the pictures looked. I wanted to produce something different. Not just high key portraits against a white background. I was very glad they noticed so quickly.

But the shoot is only half the story. I now have to edit the pictures. Which starts with reducing the number from over three hundred to a more manageable fifty. although now as I edit them, maybe fifty is too many. Next time I'll make it around thirty. I need to set that expectation before the shoot. I'm not sure how many they are expecting. I hope it's not three hundred. A lesson learnt.

I have noticed some family portraits sets appear to have been shot at different times. I'm guessing they weren't. The editing was not consistent. White balance changes from shot to shot. In a studio that shouldn't happen with good lights. The lights I was using were good, but I still noticed differences. It wasn't difficult to fix. I wanted every picture to look it's best, I also wanted the set to look it's best. Ensuring colour temperature was constant, picture to picture, so that skin tone and clothing looked the same in each shot was a basic requirement. I strived for a consistent style to the set. How I cropped some pictures, how they were lit. To give a good balance.

And to top it all. I asked for some feedback, forgetting the family connection. And it was good.

Feedback

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.

For more of my work, go to my Facebook page.

and 

website

Winter apparel

I cycle all year round. When it rains as it can at any time of the year. A coat gives reasonable protection, still not as good as the advertising gave hope of. When it's cold though. Fingers and toes suffer. I have tried various gloves and shoes. Extra layers don't seem to help either. There are lots of clothes sold under the premise that they will keep you warm and dry. I haven't found anything that can keep my fingers and toes warm. I have even resorted to shoes one size too big so I can wear two pairs of socks. One of which were hiking socks. Designed, they said, to keep feet warm in extreme conditions. It was the same with gloves. An extra layer of base layer gloves, under my "winter" cycling gloves. After a short time, cold fingers and toes.

I mentioned rain earlier. I have had cycling coats that have been anything but rain resistant, never mind waterproof. A days cycling in the rain on the first leg of a London to Paris ride ended with me removing soaked money and passport from a jacket pocket. Not what I expected from a waterproof coat. I thought maybe it was the cost that was the difference. But I'm not so sure. The picture in this post is Matt's balaclava. I think he bought it from Millets. It keeps him warm even in the snow. I have a cycling specific hat. I'm sure it cost more than Matt's solution. It does work so I'm not complaining. But it's the cost compared to cheaper alternatives that annoys me. It seems that any hobby or interest specific accessories always have an extra cost. 

Any suggestions about ways to keep my fingers and toes warm, gratefully received.

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.

For more of my work, go to my Facebook page.

and 

website