The pace of life through observation...

You could say being ill is a set back in life. In a way I have seen it like that. In my University education it is a busy time. Within a matter of weeks, project portfolios should be coming together and sessions in the darkroom are to be taken with full advantage and I feel a bit frustrated and stuck in bed wanting to do these things so I can achieve the best grades possible.

However, at the end of the day I may get my degree out of this Photography course but the result of that won't make me a better Photographer, it will just be a label to suggest I studied Photography somewhere in my education. What I am saying is; a photography degree is not essential to get into the Photography Industry, unlike like a Doctorate or Dentistry. I guess what I mean is that I am gaining the skills of a Photographer and these project deadlines are merely stepping stones in the long run. But why do I care so much? I want to do well, I want to achieve and I have seen that I have been risking my health because of it. Being too determined and now I'm in a state of exhaustion and coughing away while if I paced myself, then I could be working towards an assignment that has to be in for tomorrow.

My thoughts shifted this morning; realising that being ill is not necessarily a set back in the words of obstruction, but in fact a set back in observation. Photographers are said to be observers of the world and I think I need to take this time to observe mine and ask myself what is significant in my life and how I can achieve it. I think I need to forget being a Hare in my life and possibly taking the Tortoise role where being slow and steady really does win the race.

The Lovely Linda...

Linda McCartney was an inspiration.

I have just been reading and admiring the Photographs of late wife of Sir Paul McCartney in the tribute book 'Linda McCartney, Life in photographs" in a cosy little bookshop in Prague. In hope to pass some time, after my trip to the National Museum (was quicker than I would have thought) I stumbled across some books in English, that happened to be on Photography. While flicking through a book on Portraits, I noticed in the corner of my eye familiar face and recognisable photograph of my favourite Beatle and Musician, Paul McCartney. With a large interest in his music and the man behind the persona, I have started to take more interest into his first wife who was one of the first female photographers to go about her own. I found this inspiring. I felt I was loosing my way a bit. Was I big enough for this but I feel more secure now. Using 35mm film made this book more exciting for me. Linda certainly has a special way of taking photographs and capturing the emotion beyond a subject. She described photography to her as an "inner thing". If she felt the need to "click " then she would. I see where was coming from. Absolutely!

I am picky with what I take. It has to have some value to me. My family often say "Why don't you take a picture of that?" and I would simple say "..because I don't want to". Photographers want to photograph the unique aspects of life or even taboo subjects at a different angle - Their Angle.

Prague is very unique and as part of a brief; we are not allowed to take tourist shots; the pictures everyone takes of the same statue or landmark and so on.

Photography is certainly about finding yourself, Linda mentioned something along the lines of this in her book. Paul said that "Photography was an extension of Linda's personality and I feel that is an extension of mine.

Photography Wanderlust Perhaps?

I am off to Prague today for a Photography Trip with my University. I must say I am quite excited to go to yet another exciting place I haven't been to this year. They Prague is very different to Spain, Italy and even Russia so I can't wait to see what I can photograph.

I have just completed my slideshow of my second photo shoot that follows on from the previous post. Seeing as my Windows Movie Maker is not working I have had to result in an alternative where I created my slide show. Enjoy.

Want to visit my Flickr photostream with the featured photos in my blog and more then click the following link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brown_eyed_dreamer/

Black and White..it has always been a classic...

It has been a little while than I had hoped, but I finally have the opportunity to show you my latest photo shoot with my magnificent model and friend George Gillbard.

It was just over a month ago when I did my first photo shoot and I didn't really have much insight about it. I felt that I just had to do what I had to do and get on with it. If I were to make mistakes then I would make a mistake, thats how we learn, right?

Anyway, I feel a sense of improvement coming along. I have had a few setbacks - ups and downs and what not but I think it makes me a stronger person and a better photographer. I have had so many comments on my pictures that I have taken on my 35 mm film Pentax K1000 from my class at Uni, and that just feels so nice. They are a lovely bunch, they really are. I can't help but get a little competitive. I'm one of those- I want to be the best of the best and coming 2nd, 3rd or less than 1st is not in my vocabulary. With enough of an introduction, I would like to present my pictures.

Want to visit my Flickr photostream with the featured photos in my blog and more then click the following link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brown_eyed_dreamer/

Putting into practice rather than words -- Exposure and Movement

Recently I have been talking about Photography but I haven't really shown the progress and I think it is important that I do.

Long Exposure/Movement Experiment 1 
Shutter speed: 1/60 ( one sixtieth of a second)

The quicker the Shutter the more frozen the image will be
and vice versa. 

Earlier on this cool, misty Autumnal day, I ventured out into the garden to put into practice Movement and Exposures that I have been present in my lectures over past two weeks. Below I have a looked at Shutter speed and learning how the exposure tools on my camera actually work. I still have more to learn. I thought I may as well share here what I have been doing, because this is what it is all about. Photography and the process - My Journey. Once I have finished Uni and my blogs have been accessed then the work there will be gone, so I thought I could keep a record right here, for always.

Long Exposure/Movement Experiment 2
Shutter speed: 1/15 sec

What I love about blogging is that I can record what I have done and come back to a post that I create a year previously and see how far I have come. Learning can be a slow process and I find that frustrating. I have the tendency to want to be able to achieve something straight away. Taking singing for example; it is a natural talent of mine and I have always been able to hit notes. Even so, I have improved quite a bit from when I first started even though it is still a natural talent.  All talents have to start off at a low point somewhere for them to progress.
Anyone can take photographs but having an eye for compositions and creative approaches is only the baseline of this talent. Since I have been at University I have begun to develop my skills. Before I started, I knew the basics. I began learning about the technical elements; I was shown them but I didn't really understand them and thats an important thing. Understanding. With the correct understanding you can really achieve what you really want to and in the appropriate manner.

Long Exposure/Movement Experiment 3
Shutter speed: 1/4 sec

At Uni, we have Blogs that we keep to track our progress and for the students to view. Whenever I write and upload in mine, it always feels so educational and not really creative. I have to really think what I want to say rather than typing away and letting the words flow with ease.

This is only the second time that I have tried this technique. It doesn't have to be of anything significant in particular, would have been good for Halloween.



Tip: Set your camera to Shutter Priority and it will sort out the Aperture so you don't have to. It is much quicker and you still get "ghosting" results with the longer Shutter speed. Most cameras go up to 30 seconds but this is only best at night.

Example of Shallow Depth of Field
Shutter speed: 1/125
Aperture: f/8

Want to visit my Flickr photostream with the featured photos in my blog and more then click the following link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brown_eyed_dreamer/

C for Confidence, S for Success...

Confidence? What is it?

"belief in oneself and one's powers or abilities; self-confidence; self-reliance; assurance"
                                                                                             - Dictionary.com


You could say that a success is achieved with confidence. Sometimes you have those lucky breaks when things work out but that is really just do with luck. Having the confidence to do something makes you feel better. This could be to do with anything; Music, Writing, Performing, Socializing and so much more. When you have the belief you can do something that is when things turn out great. There are many tasks in life that are worth considering confidence.
I started University, six weeks ago. I am planning to spend tomorrow in the dark room with one of new friends, processing and developing film. If I hadn't had the confidence to strike up a conversation or hold it then I may not have made a friend. Though I'm a person who doesn't mind her own company I could have lost with what I was doing. If I didn't have the confidence, I wouldn't be asking for help when I needed it, because honestly developing film is no easy task.


So why am I talking about Confidence and where are the pictures to go with this post? To be honest, I don't have any to show to today but I want you to bare with me and let the words create images in your mind. I was learning about Typography earlier this week and how the communication of words can do such a thing..but that, is an entirely different story.

Confidence. That is the focus of today.

Going to University is often that stepping stone in to the real world. The industries, where your aspirations are able to take shape and really be brought to life. Like many things, Photography needs such confidence. As much as it is an Art and debatably a Science, it is also a lot to do with Social Communications.

I had to do a classic Powerpoint Presentation today that was a proposal for an assignment as part of my Digital Photography. Without going into much detail; my idea revolves around commuting. I am a commuter and any regular readers would probably know that about now from my recent posts. So this is an important subject to me but I have never really done Documentary Photography before. I have been hiding in the shadows. I have been lacking confidence. If you have seen my Flickr page  then you know about 90% of my photos are Still Life, Architecture or Landscape and Nature. I haven't really captured many people, only beginning just recently. It's not that I don't want to capture people, I just haven't got the words and the stratergy to get me there successfully yet. It's what I want to do. I want to be a Lifestyle Photographer; Family Portraits, Weddings, Couples, Children. What do I need? The Social Skills. Are they easy? No. Can I get there? Yes. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but every experience I have communicating with people I am gaining confidence, maybe even subconsciously. Everyone at some stage of their lives lack confidence, even the people most Extravert of people. Confidence is lacked and that is a sad truth. However. It is not lost. It is gained. It can be maintained.

What I found was today in my presentation session was everyone found it hard to approach the public just to have their photos taken. I don't know if this is just a British characteristic, but we are so reserved and stiff.   One guy in my class had no trouble, hats off to him but realistically as aspiring Photographers the majority of the class are finding this "Approach" the hardest. We are interested in the Primary elements; seeing interesting views, objects, people etc but putting that in to practice is hard. I was saying a few posts ago that the Photography that I am learning about is more than just Point-and-Shoot. There is so much more than I would have thought, and that is great because I'm passionate about Photography and I love it but you still have to strive for something. You have to have a clear head and be focused. Much about Photographing people is the control that you have over them. The problem is that once you point a camera on a person their expression will change. It will be forced, posed, unnatural. For some occasions that is down right perfect and it works but my Communting project I need to get these commuters to pose naturally, candidly but fake candidly because the tired, distressed look is what I need. It communicates with the viewer. That is the challenge. The fence I have to climb and not fall down on either side.

What I have been trying to say is that without having the confidence to ask for access, whether that is for location or a person then how am I going to expect to be a successful Photographer? It's not just about taking pretty pictures. It is about control and confidence. I won't be able to complete my project without it. I may have confidence in myself. But to apply it...well --


Try not and let the fear, prevent you from becoming successful, for I believe.




Want to visit my Flickr photostream with the featured photos in my blog and more then click the following link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brown_eyed_dreamer/