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.