Step and repeat photography

While shooting at the festival, I really wanted to make the most out of the opportunity given to me. Its not often you get to shoot the famous. Just like all things that are to be done well, preparation is the key to succeeding. This is very true in photography. Just counting on being luck to get an amazing shoot just is not enough. Relying on skill and experience has really helped, but creating exceptional work take exceptional steps. When ever there is a chance to get close to shooting a famous person, I instantly think wouldn't it be great to shoot them in a studio. The only problem is the bigger the star the less time you will have to shoot them. In uni they told me that you may have as little as 10 mins with a celeb, but the reality can actually be seconds.

I'm thinking that step the whole red carpet set ups also know as "step and repeat photography" may be the solution. These not only have the lighting and studio backgrounds already set up but celebs also know the standard routine shoot posses routine. They walk in front of the designated backdrop, poses and get their exclusives taken. I particularly like the whole set up because its instant, its a tool to be used to a photographers advantage and it can be included as a photographic package. It would set my apart as an exceptional photographic professional when compared to other photographers. The biggest issue facing a photographer while shooting famous people is exclusivity. Arranging an exclusive shoot would be more a matter of negotiation with organisers, agents and management. I personality don't mind making this all happen for myself and I could see the advantages of adapting it for other types of photography such as weddings. But shortly someone should recognise the amount of work involved the set this all up. My bank balance says someone should be paying for all this but my passion says just be grateful that your given the opportunity to shoot celebs. Oh well you just got to love photography 

Breaking out festival.

What a fantastic day! I would even say that it was one of my photographic career highlight. I was asked to be the official photographer for the Breaking out festival in Abergavenny, Wales. I was required to document the acts and events though out the day. The acts consisted of up and coming urban music artist, dance groups, x factor and britains got talent show runner ups. The main acts to the festival were Skepta and Chipmunk. Thats right Skepta and Chipmunk. I could not believe my luck that I was given the opportunity to not only have all expenses paid work, but also to shoot not one two stars which I am a fan of. It shoots like these that reminded me why I still do photography. I'm glad that I have not given up on it due to the lack of work out there. One of the best things about being a photographer is it gets grants you access to amazing places and people.

The job was fantastic and was a great chance to flex my low light skills. My major issue for my self was dealing with the combination of hot sun and fatigue. Its amazing just how photography can sap your energy on long shoots. It severed as a reminder that when preparing for shooting I will have to be more mindful towards fatigue management.

I got complete VIP access though out the day allowing me to exclusively shot  chipmunk while he was performing. It gave me a fantastic perspective and also an insight into what performers experience on stage. Bellow are some of my lights of the shoot.

The Guild Photographic competition

To celebrate the Preston guild Preston city council have launched a photographic competition. They simply wanted images of the letter G and are offering an Ipad 3. My family informed me of the competition and said that I should enter. I thought that it would be a wonderful opportunity for another blog entry as well, so I decided to give it a go. I came up with two ideas. The 1st was the image bellow that is of a G of water being lifted form the river Ribble. The 2nd image was a carnival scene taking place at night outside of the Harris museum. The G would be shone into the sky like the bat signal and fireworks would add to the images ambiance. Unfortunately the image did not work out as well as I had intended and I deemed it to busy and artificial to work. As such I decided to stop work on that image.