rocket launch

Here are some pics from the daily mail that caught my eye recently. The pics are from Koreas successful rocket launch in ordered by Kim Jong il 2nd. The images caught my imagination as they are as the daily mail describes them, just like something out of a bond movie. The full story in attached to the link below, which includes a video of the Koreans celebrating the successful mission. It highlights the difference between themselves and the west as the celebrate in mass unison. 

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2247971/Kim-Jong-Un-North-Korean-leader-puffs-cigarette-oversees-rocket-launch-terrified-world.html

School reunion

It had been talked about on facebook for sometime and now was actually time to do it. My own 10 year school anniversary took place on saturday. I will be honest and say that I was not intending to go as I have left school and moved one. But my mate Adrian suggested that this would be a great way to network with people who are at the age where they would be getting married and starting up families. So how could I really turn an opportunity like that down. I meet up with some of my friend s who were also going before hand and there was a definite air of anticipation about us. I was thinking how was i going to tackle meeting people I haven't seen for years and trying to rekindle the same if not better friendships that once had been. I thought that so long as I had my camera it would be a great excuse to meet everyone and capture their portraits. Its what I like to do when meeting new people, just get stuck in and start socialising.

I did contemplate bussiness cards for the event but I thought that it would be the wrong way to approach this type of shoot. I would just upload them onto my facebook page and that way people would have direct contact to me when they need me. I felt that the event was making people more aware that I was a photographer rather than flogging off my services stright way. When I did get to the reunion it was immediately apparent  that everyone was friendly and happy to see who did attend the night. I had a great time chatting to everyone and I was glad that I decided to go. Among getting shots of everyone who was at the reunion I even managed to get a big group shot, which after popular demand was the pinnacle of the night photographically. I thought that had I not had been there doing my thing, the big group shot would not had taken place and the opportunity missed.

The new camera worked a treat and reinforced my diction to purchase it. I completely forgot that it even did video as well until I got back. I can see that this is going to be an fantastic partnership with me and the camera. Bring on the shoots!

Tuesday night football

I was asked by an old friend to get some shots of him and his footie mates playing last tuesday. They have been playing 5 a side for about 2 years but they do not have any pics. I though this would be an excellent chance to try out my new canon 60d. Thats right, I finally got my hands on it. My very own and I must say im loving the camera. Anyways the shoot was for about an hour or so and took place in some indoor playing courts. I took with me a broken telephoto which some how has come back to like when i use it with this new camera. I though as well as my other lens I could really do with a tele lens to zoom in on the action, much like the photographers at sport games do. A risky strategy that i was interested to see how it would work with this non pressured photo shoot. However while shooting it was not the lens which proved problematic, with was the lighting. It was that awful orange fluorescent flood lighting which is just the about the worse light to work with. The lighting also proved too dim photographically making my task of capturing images even harder, as low light and fact moving object never equal pin sharp images. 

Thinking back on what I could have done to achieve even greater results. I could have got my hands on a lens that had a higher sensitively ratio. But seeing as I don't own one and no money was being put towards to shoot to hire one this was not an option. Also I could have used a flash. This shoot just demonstrated its importance in photography. And although the new camera can work in low light situations the images are still at high risk of distortion and grain. Luckily in for this shoot I think the flash would have become more of a distraction to the players. With that said here are some of me favorite results.

I wanted to comment about two images I saw in the news recently. The first from the image bellow which was about the recent Abu Qutada story. The story was about the fact that he is considered a threat to the U.K and has been released from jail without deportation. The story is not what I want to bring to your attention here. Firstly I wanted to bring to your attention to what struck me about the casual respect, if any for the equipment that these papp's (paparazzi)  have. There must be close to £10,000 just perched on the wall, not even pointed at the subject himself. It just looks like an accident waiting to happen. I hope that they are placed there with the thought that they will give some sort of capturing advantage. My only foresight of that being the case is some sort of remote shutter set up, or that the cameras are positioned there for an advantage over other papp's. 

Secondly what struck my about the image is the amount of photographic coverage that features in this single image. Photographers and their cameras flood this image in which I'm sure Abu will be using to his advantage as he appears to have a casual and acceptant manor to the media attention.  9/10 photographers shoot people of interest for some myself. This picture is a clear indication that this is not always the case. Abu appears to be using the media attention to gain public focus/attention to his story. I'm glad to see such a picture as this gives me a heads up, as I have not yet experienced a national public interest story to shoot. Its photography on another level which makes me really happy because it serves as a remainder, that I have only scratched the surface of my photographic career. There is still plenty of work out there for me to get. 

The second image bellow is from the recent conflict in Gaza. I wanted to bring focus to this image as I felt that it has been one of the best I have seen this year. If I could give an award I would hand it to the photographer of this image. It is by a photographer call Adel Hana who work features in the AP (associated press). 

"The AP is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent news gathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, as a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members, it can maintain its single-minded focus on news gathering and its commitment to the highest standards of objective, accurate journalism.

AP’s commitment to independent, comprehensive journalism has deep roots. Founded in 1846, AP has covered all the major news events of the past 165 years, providing high-quality, informed reporting of everything from wars and elections to championship games and royal weddings." - www.ap.org

Apart from National Geographic I would love to capture images for the AP, it would also be amazing. I think highly of this image because it is one that is engaging for a viewer. I felt that I was part of this group of young men in the middle of dealing with what they are going through. It is not your typical from the air news at 10 helicopter shot. It feels more personal than that. It feels that must have be taken from the perspective of someone who is caught up in the conflict itself. This gives me a much better understanding on how the world captures events just from the footage alone. We live in a world of political media interference and monitoring. Gaining accesses to actual independent footage is like gold.

 I like that the image puts the people as the main focus first over the surrounding destruction, which is presented in a tasteful display of focal depth. The images is both contextually and aesthetically giving intended to report and document a problem to the world. 

update

Good job I got a blog other wise I would feel like I wasn't getting much done. Blogs are great and I would recommend anyone having one for whatever thir interest might be. This entry feels more of a diary, but I will try to keep it as informative and useful as possible.

Currently I am waiting the grandaddy of all cameras to ever grace my own possession. The 60D! So close now, so very close. The question is how to buy? After my last experience with buying online saw me lose £500 to fraudsters, I do not want to repeat the same mistake twice. I have been saying that I will just have to buy direct from a shop to ensure maximum purchase safety. However this comes with a maximum price tag too, as high street shops need to make a profit. I posed my dilemma about buying my new camera to a fellow photographer who must have had over 20 years experience in the photography industry. You could say a photography guru to myself at the moment. He recommend a company called Hdew. The company has actual shops in the U.K that you can visit, which he said he has done a few times. He has also brought from them many times before without a snag. So with that in mind, I feel safer to purchase of this company online. Of course using a credit card just incase things go wrong.

Once I do have the new camera with HD video capability, it will allow me to work on film projects as well as photographic. At first this felt like cheating on photography. Why start creating video when you are a photographer? Have I just become less creative? Well no. I'm even more creative as I'm not just bound to photography. What I think is most important about this purchase is that I'm using my expertise to make an informative decision about investing into my business. I'm literately demanding more from my equipment, not just excepting what ever comes my way. I will apply this notion to all areas of my business, especially when it comes to the quality of my product. Suddenly the word 'Gallery' springs to mind. Fantastic. One of my biggest ambitions for a long time was to become an artist. But lets say I'm a good while off that. As such I did want to share a video I saw recently of Tracey Emin's Studio set-up, to illustrate just how far off I'm from becoming a serious artist. But I'm sure that her and myself would agree that my focus at this stage should be about myself and my journey in achieving my work. Instead I will share a few words from the artist herself that I felt where more valuable to me trying to achieve artistic status.

Memory - Sjambock

What starts as a simple idea turns into a few solid days for graft. Perfect. You know your doing something right when all that matters is the work in which your trying to produce and finish. In the zone! I haven't worked so soiled on something since uni. Memory - Sjambock was my test shoot with the canon 60d camera, which I'm dying to get my hands on. The video was as much a collaboration as a work of my own. Doubling as a music video for producer and dj Sjambock's memory track, it features new model Katie Dobbins. The plot of the video is very much lose and sketchy but dose not hinder from its appeal. However my aspirations to create a similar aesthetic to Rob Coin's "Up in smoke' videos, did not work out as well as I had hoped. I discovered that those kind of effects are achieved through experience.

In order to create the effects that I wanted, I had to get to grips with adobe after effects. Believe me understanding one adobe software program dose not mean you will understand another. What a overly complicated and hard to use program adobe after effects is! I found the experience of using it stressful rather than productive. All in all resulting in putting me off effects software all together. The classic rule of thumb comes into play, "get it right in camera 1st". It saves you loads of time trying to edit afterwards.

The shoot day was a very nice day out to the sand dunes. I love the place. Working more in depth with video took me back to my experimenting days with photography, trying to achieve my desired results but working it out the technicals as I go along. Working with Katie was a breeze and I would quite happily recommend her as a photography model to anyone. I also discovered that working with Sjambock was essential in the editing process as he was able to work out the sequencing the shots together.

After the smoke

After the smoke is a website that I came across  while researching for my latest shoot. It has been curated by a guy called Rob Coin who is a video editor for the $$$$ Art revolution. His approach to video is very much sort after and is the latest aesthetic in music videos at the moment. The style is what I would describe as purposeful distortion that enhance the viewers watching experience. At the moment it is getting used to express a notion of being under the influence. As though you have joined and taken part in the experience, which the characters are going through. I phrase it as "being part of the party". An example of this can been seen in the 'After The Smoke - UIE' video on youtube.

The after the smoke site features countless random amazing images and sort clips that drum up assorts of inspiration.  A great reference tool for image makers. Yes as the name suggest something fun to look as your are high. But why I felt that it could be taken as something more serious is because of its freedom and variety. What is also great is that every time you visit the site the images arranged themselves so that you always are present with some new. After the smoke also offers music to accompany your viewing pleasure, which I would highly recommend. I have attached a link bellow so that you can check out the After The Smoke site. Enjoy.

Canon 60D test run

After discovering that my work horse of a camera the 20D was beginning to fail and unable to keep up with the demands I now professional require from it. I knew it was time for a new camera. To date I have only ever brought myself one camera that still hasn't been used for £20 on a whim. Buy a new camera to replace the legend of me old one was not something to be taken lightly. It firstly had to produce images that are superior in quality over the 20D and the over all average now being achieve by the mass population. Secondly it had to maintain the same easy of usability as my 20D. Thirdly I wanted a camera that I could use the same lenses that I already owned. Fourthly I wanted a camera that could also double up as a HD ready. And finally affordability. Never before have I ever place so many factors into thinking about what camera I wanted. But this was going to be a professional investment to my career that I did not want to later discover to become a set back.

After much research I decided to settle my heart on a Canon 60D. Luckily my photographer friend Alex Wolstencroft already owned one and was kind enough to lend it to me for my latest video shoot. To my delight the camera didn't disappoint. In fact it reaffirmed my need for this camera. While using it I was felt that I have slogged my way around pervious shoots with my 20D. The 60D was an absolute pleasure to work with and was perfect the tool I need for my level of photography. Although most of the work from the shoot was video, which the camera preformed brilliantly too. When I did see the opportunity to shot one or two pics I was in no question of having any problem using it. I felt that I have never had so much width and extra parameters to work with. Thank goodness for this camera. Bellow is a vidoe that tell you more about what the camera can do and there are also some test images I took with the new camera. As you can see the is just no technical problems with the images what so ever. Once I get the new camera I can't want to push its boundaries and take it with me on my next leg of my photographic journey. 

Professionalism

You cant but a prices on professionalism. We so to speck. Its something expected, almost a curtsy gift what comes with your services no matter what line of work that you do. I bring this point up because on a job that I did recently for a client I was personally disappointed with my professional approach that I delivered to them. God do I not what to repeat the same mistake in future engagements with clients. I was still hungover from the night before, which made generating excitement and describing ideas difficult. But come on I'm only human and make mistakes every now and then. With that said I still feel like it was a successful meet but it should have been so much better. But it got me thinking professionalism can be over looked and I feel in my industry it is very important. But as a creative freedom should always be paramount. Oddly enough destruction is also part of the creation process. You take something you create or others have and destroy it to improve on what has been. I learnt this from Chinese artist Ai Weiwei who produces multiple huge porceiln works of art and smashes those which he deems not perfect. Many artist through out time have gained inspiration from drugged fueled binges to create new works through new perceptions on concepts. So with that said even though I did mess up professionally the experience has taught me a valuable lesson learnt.

Yashica-Mat

What a thing of beauty. With this camera you can truly say they don't make them like the used too. It would be fair enough to say that the camera is more ornamental than practical in todays technological advanced digital age.  I now own this twin lens reflex Japanese box of fun. But what to do with it? What will I shoot with it? When will I use it? The camera is in full working order and is screaming to be loved and to be put into use on another shoot. I feel that I almost owe it to the designers of this lovely looking camera to go out and shoot with it. It uses 120 medium format film, which means it does have fantastic picture quietly that is superior to 35 mm standard film. In fact I would much prefer to use 120 over any digital camera.

 To get it right in film, to work in the bounders of limited exposures, to having to touch negatives and work exclusively to print rather than screen...... that's truly satisfying photography. Yet with this what I know to complete photographic heavenly shooting potential, I will and have turned to digital professionally.  You see "they have got you by the balls" every time because you want the flexibility and promise of image perfection in an instant, hassle free. So what do the photographers let themselves in for. Iphoneography, other camera phones and point-and-shoots. The revolution demands more from photographers because it allows anyone to be able to make good quality images. Hmm at least food for thought. Dose it touch a nerve? Yes I suppose so when it comes to social media and what joe blogs posts proudly about about their latest toy camera filtered image.

I think what I'm getting at is the fact that I have put the work in to achieve what I have done to date. So that anyone can give me any type of camera and I can always get a good picture, without excuse; and thats the clincher.  Do I have the balls to work how I want? I feel a photo shoot coming on.

National Geographic - The Photographer book review

Im not one for reading but the National Geographic - The Photographer by Leah Bendavid, quite easy changes that for me. Photographic book I know, so you think it would be filled just with amazing pictures. This book offers more for those who want to take an interest in photography at all levels. The book feature some of the finest work of national geographic photographers over 100 years plus. Along with great accounts, history and assignments form the photographers themselves.  Reading the book is a great boast to you photographic morale and it inspire you to get out there and take on bigger projects like never before. A fantasic quote right at the being in the book says that

"when people ask how our photographers make the world's greatest pictures, they may shrug and say, "f/b and be there."But being there means a lot " - Gilbert M. Grosvenor, Chairman of the Board, National Geographic Society. 

I knew that from the 1st image the image that hits you like a crashing wave of its content. The book would be an amazing read. Although I don't want to spoil the book for anyone who wanted to read it I did want to share my favorite two images with you. The image on the below is 'Andaman Islands by Raghubir Singh 1974' and is the 1st that you see when you open the book. And the 2nd is 'Ellesmere Island, Canada by Jim Brandenburg 1986' and was another of my favorites.

Clear out!

Clear outs can be brilliant sometimes. No more so than when it come to photographic clear outs. It quite amazing what you collect over the years. Thinking this and that will come in handy. Especially when it comes to collecting single images for reference material. My best storage strategy is to scan everything and keep it digitally. Although it becomes slightly time consuming it does free up clutter (which reminds me I really need to scan that pile of pics on the side). 

Last week I was on the receiving end of a good friend clear out and I acquired some real fantastic item. I know own a tower of great photography books that would have been a gold mine for me in my uni days. There is a mixture on solely image books, how to guides, theoretical, reference, magazines and biographies. The tower looks great in my study, makes me look quite the photographic book worm. However I did not agree to take the collection for me, oh know I already have enough of my own photographic clutter. The tower will be donated to my old college who really could benefit from all the fantastic books. While studying at degree level I came to understand how important books are to anyone who seriously wants to engage in their chosen study. Sure the internet is great for researching, but it is vastly unregulated and will only scratch the surface of must subjects. Good books are packed with factual information approved by peers and publishers. Having the advantage of a good library that is filed with everything related to your interest is priceless. I was fortunate in having such a thing dominated by rows of shelfs at my university. 

Fish and Chips

Last week I was asked by my good friend Shaks to come and take some images of he new restaurant. I was more than happy to help and I paid a visited expecting to be able to shoot some pics within his restaurant, which he could display on the walls as decor. When I arrived it was great to see Shaks and his new fish and chip restaurant. Very kindly he sorted me out with a delicious plate of fish and chips and discussed what kind of images that he wanted for his restaurant.  I discovered that he wanted to introduce colorful and locally inspired images to feature as his decor. Although I'm not to bad a creating images right there and then on the spot, having received this latest requirements from Shaks. I felt that I would not be able to deliver the shots for him from the shoot that I had originally intended. I rather get the job right than fob anyone off with something that they wouldn't want. For what it was worth I still got a few shots to make the most of the opportunity, hoping that perhaps I would be lucky to get one that could be used regardless. Bellow are the results.