2011 - My year in Flickr photos...

I write my most philosophical and reflective posts at this time of year. A lot can happen in twelve months. You meet new people and build new friendships and if you are lucky, ones that last a lifetime. You can begin a career, or take the baby steps towards that big goal that you know will make you and everyone who knows you, proud.

I have come some way over this year with my photography and though I have mentioned some of my achievements in some of my recent posts; I can't help but relive them in my mind and the influence that those achievements will have when the bigger picture comes in to sight. 

In the last few days of the year, I look over what I have done. I like to keep journals and blogs as such, as a reminder or what I have done, what I have thought and what I have felt, but not only that. I like to see what I have done on certain days that I may have done differently in other years or write about new experiences or even life-changing ones like starting University and really knowing what it is like to grow up. 

I don't always write about Photography in a direct way but you will know that I gift-wrap it in somewhere. You can record many memories in many ways. This can be through writing, through song, through video but sometimes it can be the pictures that we take, whether they are captured with our minds eye, or through a camera. I'm an owner of a few cameras now and each one that I look through; I get a different experience. We can look at the same thing but our minds place a different significance on it, no matter how similar we could argue against it, but it is the same world, and that is what I find interesting. 

Since 2008, I have been a Flickr member. Each year, I create a Set and fill all my pictures I have uploaded from that year and review them at the end. I would like to share with you my photos of 2011. 

I wish you a very happy new year. 

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.

Camera news!

I am back from my photogrpahy trip to Liverpool. Here are some photos i took while i was away.

Also more news on my photography - I am going to get a professional camera for my sucess in my GCSE's that i recieved yesterday. The camera is really for my college work but after that I will be heading for my Wedding Photography career. Unfortunatly i didn't win the the photo competition with the "Creative Colour - the Cd" but it is ok because the prize was a camera and now I am getting one i don't need to enter. So good things come out of life even if you don't win.

The camera I am getting is the Eos Canon 450D. I heard it's pretty good. Can't wait.

I edited the bottom two photos shown here, with "Cross Process". I hadn't never tried it before but it gave really good effects. Remember exploring new tools helps on the road to improvement :D

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/

Once in a lifetime memories...

As I have a bit of time on my hands, while in the middle of packing for my latest holiday I thought I might as well write, seeing as my holiday is photography related.
I am going to Liverpool. My family and I are big Beatles fans and we are going to see the whole Beatles history in their home town. Perfect oppertunity to snap those photos for a photo diary that will be remembered forever.

Thats the thing about photos. They help define a memory a special moment in time that you never want to forget. What would we do without them. How would those wedding couples really remember what that speical day was like? What you looked like ten years ago or the first ever picture of you when you are newborn. We can't remember that, and even when we do remember things, memories fade and that moment is lost.

So go out and capture a one in a lifetime oppertunity pic that you can have with you through life.