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Never work with kids and animals? Why not?

January 7, 2017
Portraits
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One of the hardest things to do is to juggle jobs.  I already have a busy and very demanding job. It is photography based, although has become more of a management and administrative role, which obviously opens new challenges, but I really miss the hands on with a camera side.  especially in the studio.  So, this year, I am planning to up the anti on my studio work.

What better way to do that than to offer people lots of free stuff?

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Now I have run these things before and they have proven to be very popular.  So I am going to open up a studio for a weekend, here in sunny (not today) Middle Wallop.  I have booked the community center for the 28th and 29th Jan 2017 and plan to open for some studio portraits.

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Saturday will be for children.  These will be for one on one portraits, so I can work on some new styling (lighting) ideas.  Each shoot will cost £5.00 (what?  I thought it was free?), well yes, the £5 goes to Cancer Research completely and the shoot will last for 30 mins (so I will need you all to book 30 min slots), and you will receive a complimentary 8 x 6 in print from the shoot.  OK, you don’t get anything for free, right?  Well that’s true, I guess.  I will need a signature which will allow us to use the images for promotional purposes, although this does not mean we will.

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We will be looking at making some really stylish contemporary portraits, that you would love to hang as works of art on your wall.

On the Sunday, we will be doing the same, but with your pets.  I have done these things before, so I do kind of know what I am getting myself into, lol.

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As I said, all the booking fee will go to Cancer research, as this is an ailment that pretty much touches us all.  Who has not had a family member or friend that has not had to battle?

Photographs taken of Chris and Machala Butters pets as part of the pets win prize's promotion

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The whole point is that we want to do something with the community, build a reputation and if we can make the odd sale or booking then that is an added bonus… 😉

We will have some other work up and on display.  so feel free to come and visit.mrn-2012-033-0209

Oh, did I say we can do family portrait sessions and weddings too?  No?  Well, now you know.  We look forward to seeing you there?

To book, you will need to call either Roxy or Mark on 01264 781461 and when prompted say ‘Studio Open weekend’.  Please call in the evenings though, after 1830.

Please note that this is a session for individual portraits only, no groups or multiples this time.  We will be looking at running other themed shoots during the year, so send us your ideas.

Landscape – I like the summer but mornings get too early.

April 11, 2016
Landscapes, travel
2 Comments

Landscapes.  I dabble, I will be honest, I don't spend the time on them that I should.  Commercially they are quite hard to make any profit from them, unless you happen to be called Peter Lik (Google him).  Worst of all, though, is that as the summer gets closer, the mornings get even earlier. So every once in a while, when work allows, I will get out there and capture a landscape or two, or just go and look for a possible future image for when the light is better. Mark-2016-04-04--42 I know I should do more, I know I should, but that is where we must try to balance our lives.  There are times that I wonder how some photographers manage to make their photography the sole purpose (or certainly give the impression).  Life does not seem to be in the way for some. 22608538936_448323f4e3_o I contemplate offering framed landscapes to clients who book a particular wedding package, but struggle with this too.  Who would want one of my Landscapes on their wall?  Lets face it, I don't even have any of my own hanging up. [caption id="attachment_1949" align="alignnone" width="3000"]British Army assist the Environment Agency with floods.  

Autumnal Landscapes

October 24, 2013
Landscapes
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I don’t really get to take too many landscapes.  I feel you really need to be out looking for them constantly and the reality is I will see a potential but the weather is either wrong or it is the wrong time of day.  So I make a mental note and go about my business.

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I have been eyeing up this location for a while, the leaves are turning and in the evening light these colours will simply pop.

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On the way home today, I stopped…… and explored.

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There is not much more I can say about that.

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The ‘SCURGE’ of photography and a client education

October 18, 2013
Opinion, Portraits
2 Comments

As I write this I have just discovered that another good friend of mine has been ‘ripped off’ by a so called professional photographer.  Why am I pissed off?  Simple, because every time this happens the effect is felt throughout the whole industry.  I have been a professional photographer for over ten years now and I do not know all there is about photography.  It has taken years to build a reputation, a style and a direction.  There is no short cuts for this,

There have always been con men and women, that is nothing new, but the recent progress in photography has made this a breeding ground for minimum risk chancers.  It is easy to set up a website, operate for a few weeks and then vanish.

Everyone is aware of the massive increase in photographers available and offering you their skills. This is both good and bad.  Good because it has removed much of the elitist attitudes and competition is always good.  Bad because most clients know little or nothing about the industry and how it should operate to be able to make an informed choice.

The papers are always telling stories of a bride and groom duped into giving away their hard earned money and being heart broken when the resulting images are not at all what they expected.

So how can I help?

I am going to give prospective clients 5 tips to reduce the risk.

1.  Do your research.  Visit the photographers website (no website should set alarms going), check their galleries.  Is their work of a quality you would be happy with?  Are the images of a similar style?  Are they creative images?  Visit their Blog (most have them now), do their blog entries match their website in quality and style?  Look for endorsements but don’t trust them out of hand, anyone can write a few words.  Be more trusting of personal recommendations although this is not always possible.

2.  Speak to the photographer and meet them before any booking.  Check the quality of their work on their walls, again, does it match the website for quality and style?  Ask to see any other imagery that they have done that is not on their website or blog.  Always ask to see a complete wedding if that is what you want to hire your photographer for.  That could be either a digital display or a copy of the wedding album.  Be cautious if they refuse, why would they?  

3.  Make sure the photographer has insurance.  This should mean that you are protected to some degree.  If your wedding photographs are ruined then this insurance will cover for this.

4.  Get an contract.  This should be an agreement like an email identifying what you should expect may suffice in many cases.  I have had instances as a photographer where a client has said to me ‘but I thought I was going to get A, B and C’, the contract is there to protect the photographer as well as the client.  Make sure you read and understand what is written.

5.  Be cautious with up front payments.  Most photographers will charge you some kind of sitting fee, this is to be expected.  Make sure you know what you are getting for that.   You should however expect to pay up front for a wedding (this is standard practice) so seeing as much evidence of the photographers work as possible is a must. 

These simple suggestions will not remove the risk completely, but may minimise it.  Photography is subjective and in any dispute, if the images are well composed and exposed correctly, you might find any judgement does not go in your favour.  Make sure you actually like the work you have been shown.

A photographers web site should only contain images that they have taken themselves or within a larger company, although there have been instances where photographers put stock imagery on their page, so their website has professional imagery.

These points are not an exhaustive list but a mere five suggestions that will help minimise your risk.

It’s all in the exposure, and a day out with my daughter

September 27, 2013
Development, Portraits
2 Comments

Photography is as popular now as it has ever been, with many households in the west owning at least one reasonable SLR (or so it would seem).  The instant viability of the image means that if you miss the first shot you can adjust your settings and have another go (in many cases).  We take many more photographs than we used to and probably as a result this has actually devalued the image.  We can simply take another shot, means that getting it right first time is not important…

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The number of people I speak to who tell me that photography is actually not that easy, they went out and bought a really great camera that has all these buttons and hey, “why can’t I get the background to blur?”, or “my photo’s were too dark”, to name a couple.

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Whilst it is true that the newer cameras are technologically advanced and will continue to be so, there is a skill, a skill that is totally reliant on knowing the principals and more importantly being able to and understanding how to manipulate them.

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I have been toying with the idea of dabbling with film for some time now, and have recently bought an old large format ‘Speed Graphic’ or press camera from the 40’s and 50’s.  It is a big beast (not the biggest), and I have yet to find the memory card slot, let alone the playback screen.

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The fact of the matter I plan to work on some portraiture and possibly the odd landscape, and the exposure needs to be spot on.  So I decided to play around with some exposure techniques.  The first I tried was a rather clunky and simple method, where I take a spot meter reading from the lightest part of the face and then for my daughter I over exposed the whole image by 1.3 stops.  The exposure alteration will vary depending on the lightness of the skin.  The reason for this is the light meter will try to make your selected area mid grey, but for my daughter that would make her look too dark.  There is an element of trial and error to start with but as you look at your subject you will get to know what adjustment to make.

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Any way back to the subject, I had decided not to view any of the images until I was finished and my daughter was eating her promised ice cream.  Although not the same as film I wanted to add that little bit of pressure to the process as it was not that easy to re shoot if they had not come out.  It’s all part of the mind set needed for film.

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The images in this entry are those from the walk and as you can see I did not get too many.  But the exposures were exactly what I wanted and apart from a little split toning or desaturating in Lightroom, they are as they came out of the camera.

These images were taken on a D800 with a prime 105mm f2 lens and manual focus.

SLOW DOWN AND GET IT RIGHT FIRST TIME!

Teaser in the snow

January 31, 2013
Military work, Sport / Action
2 Comments

While I wait for my computer to catch up with my obviously speedy working habits, I thought I would take the time to give you a teaser of an ongoing job.

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These guys move quickly and they hit the gates really hard.

 

Keep watching there will be more to follow soon.

Getting known and trying to break the norm.

November 28, 2012
Development, Portraits, Promotion
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Any photographer will tell you that one of the biggest journeys for them to take is the attempt to do something new, so find their own USP (Unique Selling Point).  More often and not these days it is a certain look done in post production (after the photo has been taken).  An example of this is the Dragan effect (google it).  The thing is with PP is that it is quite easily replicated.  Once someone comes out with a catchy look, its just a matter of time before everyone is doing it.  That USP then becomes dull, it loses its impact.

I have decided to undertake a couple of projects over this Christmas period working at charity events  and a Christmas fayre.

Why?

Well simple, I decided I needed to do two things.  Firstly be seen for what I do (taking portraits) and secondly to capture something that makes people go wow, which is not that easy.  I also wanted to make people go, “I like that, can I book a family shoot or a portrait session from you?”

A standard set up for this kind of event is probably a two light set up, maybe three.  A main light, fill and either a background light or hair light.  The idea being that this set up is versatile as the sweet spot can be organised to be quite large.

Well I decided I didn’t want to do that as although you can get reasonable light it will not suit everyone.  There is not really any set up that will suit everyone, so decisions have to be made.  I chose to use a ‘clam shell’ set up which has the main light as a 1.2m Octobox directly above the subject, and very close.  The fill light is under my feet and I shoot through the gap in between.  The problem is that to get this really amazing soft light the subject is close to the light and the sweet spot is quite small.  I can only fit (carefully) two subjects.

Ultimately here lays the problem.  I do not directly make any money from this shoot which as a business I have to make money to survive.  There will always be people that want a certain shot and it is difficult to almost alienate yourself from anyone, but I have to look at the bigger picture.  I want you to see that I can get some amazing pictures of you guys and in a studio with all my kit at my disposal and a couple of hours to spare, we can come up with same really memorable shots that you will love.

Looking at it that way, its a bit of a no brainer really….  What I particularly love about this is the options that remain in PP, like in any lighting situation I suppose.

In the thick of it and always experimenting

November 19, 2012
Development, Portraits
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As a photographer one of the best parts of the job is the sheer volume of options.  I love the fact that I can always learn new techniques, be it composition, lighting, style or… well the options some times feel pretty limitless. #

The only limit to a photographer is their imagination.

I love playing with lighting, the studio is a great place when things are going well and the most frustrating place when they are not.

Lighting is, in essence quite simple, even the most complex of lighting set ups should look simple, but simple is great to look at and natural.

After setting up a stand at a recent charity fashion show, I thought it would make a great opportunity to try a simple clamshell setup.  I have to say I have never used this one before and I really have no idea why.  It is an amazing light and with post pro can suit men, women and children.

For this one I had a 1.2m Octabox as the key light, with a simple shoot through brolly as the fill from the floor.  The lights were no more than 1m from the subject so I used a wide lens for most of them.

Another set up in the bank.

I made a photograph……… Snap, snap, snapping away.

October 22, 2012
Development, Opinion
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Snap, snap, snap, this photography lark is easy….. Isn’t it?

Any of you who have read some of my older posts will no doubt at times have noticed that I am a little critical of Photography as a form of art. As a photographer myself this is not meant in a detrimental way, more a quizzical way.

To describe an image as arty usually means it has a below a quality threshold but illustrates an effort to provoke some kind of thought process.

Now I am quite opinionated about art where it seems a skill of verbal diarrhea makes certain arty types go weak at the knees. I am however coming around to certain aspects of art in photography. Why?

Well I do think that far too many photographers are overly critical about their abilities, I know I am far too harsh at times. Does photography come naturally, we’ll for some it does and others it most certainly does not. Because it comes naturally to some does that mean it is any less impressive.

Where there is a problem, I think, is when photographers concentrate on an aesthetic composite over a narrative. After ten years, this is something I only now think I am getting to grips with, although some of that is my acceptance that each year that passes, my photography changes, the focus, my understanding of what I want to capture and how, seems to change constantly.

So what does this mean?

Well it means that as a photographer I am always adapting, moving, processing, getting better? Well, that will always be a matter of opinion. One thing I do know is that the more experienced I get, the clearer I see a photographic opportunity, the more I am able to preempt a situation and try to posting myself accordingly to get as many of the relevant elements I can into the frame.

The ultimate mission is to capture everything relevant to the narrative in a single shot. Not an easy thing to do, but always an objective.

You always want a picture editor to choose your image to support the article, and more often than not, one image is key (although with the Internet, there is an unlimited space). In print, one photograph is best, although not always possible.

So, as a conclusion, the images I take now are not simply a case of the fraction of a second it actually takes to capture the scene, but it becomes a culmination of a whole pile of ingredients. Like a chef, two people can make the same dish with the same ingredients and come up with completely different end products. This is the same with photography, two photographers at the same event with full freedom of movement will still come away with different images. The images I take now have taken far in excess of ten years to produce, which brings me to my final point, and one that for some time I never really understood. When I say I made a photograph, I now know I mean it. I construct an image from the surroundings, my position, my composition, my use of the photographic elements of shutter speed, aperture, ISO, the use of the lighting, or adding my own light. A photograph can really be so much more than just a snap, a brief moment captured as a still.

Building books and the tangible truth

October 22, 2012
Afghanistan, Military work, Opinion, Portraits
6 Comments

If there is one aspect of digital photography and the internet that I don’t like it is simply the lack of necessity to print your images.

There is nothing quite like a decent print, and trust me it is never simply a case of hitting the print button.  So in the last six months or so I have been responsible for producing 4 photographic books, and all I can say is wow.  Although the books have been limited run or one offs, the sense of achievement you get after all the work of putting them together and handling it is second to none.

I now have the printed book bug.

A reflective image is so different from a back lit image, that seeing your images feels like seeing it again for the first time.

There are some amazing companies out there that can produce these books and some of the software you can use to complete the books are very straight forward.  All I would say is don’t feel the need to over complicate the layout.

Photo books should ideally, in my humble opinion, be about an image at a time, although that is not always possible.  There is certainly a skill in putting a book together and I feel myself getting better each time.  There is a lot of work, in particular when you are trying to include other contributors.

Another important effort is to do your best to create a narrative, to make the images inter connect and flow from one to the other and at times, even if you have a cracking image that misses the narrative, do not shoehorn it into the book just out of hand.  If you need to add another section to the book to fit it in, then try but be your own worst critic.

The end result is worth it though.

Finding the time, a photographers lot

October 19, 2012
Development, Portraits
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Well many of you may be aware the last few weeks have been a blur, but a happy one.  Now I am starting to move on and as a photographer, there is always a difficulty balancing the work with real life.  Any working photographer lives and breathes photography, and I find it gets worse the longer I go on.  Understanding light is probably the hardest thing with photography and it takes time.  There are no shortcuts here and learning to identify and use light is something every photographer constantly works with.

As I understand light more and more, I see opportunity and inspiration.  I suppose it feels a little bit like staring at the screen on ‘The Matrix’, you just start to see photographs everywhere.  That said seeing images and capturing images are two completely different things though the more I see light and its subtleties I base it on images I have taken.

Now I like working in the studio with controlled light.  There is a sense that anything is possible, if you can just control it as you need.  I really love photographing people but the most difficult part is ‘the people’, getting them to do what you want, no, need them to do.  A sitter does not have any idea what is going on in my head (probably a good thing), and I am working towards an end product that nestles in the outer reaches of my muddled head.

There is no substitute for working with people, it really is the only way you get to know the craft of lighting.  I can play with new ideas on an inanimate object but translating that to people is something that can only be done with people……

….and no two people are the same.

So there we have it, this post is no more than a plug, I need you to improve and you need me to take your portrait, so there you go, no excuses any more…

And here is to the weekend, all good in moderation.

 

Award winning, does it really make a difference?

October 12, 2012
Military work
10 Comments

I write this blog in somewhat of a state of shock.  I have just been told that I need to get myself over to London next week to pick up a couple of prizes from the Army photographic awards. This image was taken at 0500 using available red light on a high ISO and shows us packed like sardines into the back of a Chinook about to go on an operation.

This year was only the second time I have entered in ten years for one thing or another, and after being runner up last time, the improvement was great. This macro shot was taken with a macro lens and was supposed to be an observation of religious prominence within the military and more so with the Americans.  What is does not show however is the levels of religious diversity that we have now. 

If I am totally honest, I didn’t really hold out much hope as much of the last 12 months was doing video, and if I am even more honest, not to a great standard. Military equipment – this was one of my favorite portraits from Afghanistan, it shows an attitude and toughness that belies the old equipment they operate with.

So back to the competition.  I am obviously very pleased for the recognition, but I really don’t think it means all that much at the end of the day but what we can do to raise the profile of our small group of individuals who work hard to show our colleagues at their best.  This is not down to me being disrespectful to the other entrants in this particular competition, just the fact that winning competitions may be a skill but also requires a lot of luck.  After all three judges look at the images subjectively and pick their favorite and on another day with different judges, the results would, I am sure, probably be very different. This military portrait taken in the studio is intended to show a diversity within the whole port folio.  It is a standard portrait with a little twist.

I had no idea who was judging this competition, not that knowing that would have made any difference.  The simple fact is that photography is purely subjective and what one person loves another simply can’t stand… the Marmite thing I suppose. In the absence of a perfect boxing or skiiing shot (not much of either in Afghanistan), I wanted to demonstrate a little bit of the British soldiers sense of humour… unfortunately there was no lake in sight.

So what did I win?  Well rather surprisingly, the Professional port folio award and the best Professional image.  Wow, now I am speechless. From the harshness of Afghanistan to the grandeur of Hannover town hall for the Queens birthday celebrations, a city that has close ties to the royal family.

The port folio was a simple case of choosing eight images, each one fulfilling a single criteria.  Operational image, Sport, Macro, Black and white, portrait, military equipment, Interior and Public relations image.  So the portfolio was always going to be a mismatch off images rather than a coherent collection of images to support a narrative.

Which ever way you look at it, there will be controversy and disagreement, as everyone will see different things from the images submitted.  So there we have it for another year, I only hope that we as a photographic trade can make the most of this and promote ourselves as the self motivated, professional individuals we are.

The image selected by the judges as the winning image, taken just before the officer at the front of the picture screamed at me for not being where I should be.

 

Territorials are dead, long live the reservists

October 5, 2012
Military work
2 Comments

The Territorial Army or TA, have been around for longer than I can remember, and since I joined the British Army ‘Regulars’ they have taken the brunt of the jokes.

These part timers or weekend warriors have over the last decade had a resurgence fueled by an ever increasing involvement in Afghanistan.

The name ‘Territorial Army’ is no more, replaced by the simple ‘Reservists’, many of their numbers have now served more operational tours than some of their regular counterparts.  Probably a minority but this fact is one aspect that has transformed reputations.

There are still ways to go, but the momentum is there and with more and more ambitious training exercises going on, I feel the reputation will improve.

As the government places more and more emphasis onto the reservists, the future looks bright for these soldiers and their future looks assured.

Viable and sustainable?  Well really only time will tell, but with so much being laid on their shoulders, can they afford to fail?

 

Any opinions or points of view expressed in this blog are not the views of the British Army or the Ministry of Defence, but of myself and should not be viewed as official comment.

Should you wish to follow us, you can find is on http://www.Facebook.com/LIMEfotos

Still playing catch up

October 4, 2012
Military work
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One of the best parts of this job is the diversity of the tasks that come in.  One of the more interesting that has come in recently is the funeral and re-internment of a soldier from Operation Market Garden from World War 2.

Not one for being known as a historian, but basically Operation Market Garden was the momentous assault by the allies of Arnhem in the Netherlands and more specifically the bridge in Arnhem.

The operation was known for a number of reasons, mostly for its audacity and the scale as an airborne operation made famous by the old film ‘a bridge too far’.

 

Not all the soldiers involved were Para’s or airborne and due to the intensity and ferocity of the fighting many soldiers lost their lives, many being buried in field graves and marked accordingly with the intention of burying properly after the battle.

As part of the battle though, the German military burst dykes and flooded part of the land as a defensive measure which also washed away many of the grave markers meaning so many soldiers were never found.

 

Occasionally remains of soldiers are found and the difficult task of identification ensues.  With no DNA records on file, the investigations are usually based on artifacts found on the bodies and dental records which do take an inordinate amount of time.

 

Private Curtis was only 19 when he fought and lost his life in battle with his unit  the 5th Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment.  His body was discovered almost ten years ago and then the difficulty began to try to identify him.

 

 

The family were there to see him buried with full military honours and the poignant thing was that a relative of Pte Curtis, Rifleman Edwards is now serving with 5 Rifles who are the current guise of the old regiment.

It’s a ‘Riskey Business’

August 12, 2012
Development, Music
2 Comments

As many of you are already aware, I really enjoy my job, to the point of feeling guilt at times.  How can I enjoy a job so much?  I think one of the primary reasons for this is the fact that no two days are the same.  This is such a challenging vocation at times, and sometimes so simple.  I enjoy photographing people, in the studio, on location, it’s just so much fun (although there are times when there is little fun to be had).

One of the things I particularly like is the opportunities there are to ‘try something new’.  Too many people see the skill of photography as a dying art, or simply a matter of a numbers game to capture the one required image.

Photography is a form of art, it can be creative but there is creation in every single image.  The camera operator has decisions to make every time the shutter release is pressed, composition, timing, exposure, aperture and shutter speed.  Then there is lighting, another discipline that is undervalued by viewers everywhere as the best lit shots out there generally look like they are naturally lit, so with very little skill.

The fact of the matter is that every time a photographer captures a moment, there are so many things to consider, that people just don’t see.

As a photographer and an aspiring photographer too, it is dangerous to get comfortable, you always look for the next image, the next project, so being asked to photograph a local hobby band for publicity shots was a challenge to look forward too.  At this point I feel I need to add that these musicians are brilliant and the term ‘Hobby’ is meant to show their motivations, they play for the love not the finance (although they are available for hire).

Due to the nature of most of their day jobs, the band line up does change constantly as members move on and new ones replace, but this adds to the difficulty of getting the photograph.

I shot the band the first time in 2011, not too long before I went to Afghanistan, a short time out of the bands religious rehearsals.  With a camera, a few flash guns against a brick wall, I managed to make a simple image, but after I felt it did not do the band justice as by their nature, their line up changes almost monthly.

Then back from Afghanistan, a new line up, with even more changes on the horizon, I wanted to do something that I felt suited their make up.

Individual portraits, all with the same identical lighting that have that connection, the images could then be brought together to make a band photo.

I did however make an image of the band all together too, call it the banker shot if you like…………..

Taking stock

August 10, 2012
Landscapes
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One of the biggest jobs we as photographers have is trying to keep on top of our archives, this is no mean feat for those of us that are not what you would call a specialist photographer.  As a generalist, we can tackle most things.  Also like anyone else we need to recharge our batteries.

After a few days away (somewhere we have not been before), we had been to the seaside.  On looking around on the map we settled on an area to the north of Germany, close to the border of Holland.  With a huge Dyke along the coast, breathtaking and dramatic the scenery was not, but what that gave you was the potential for big big skies.

Thankfully one night did not dissonant.

More Royalty and the Rifles march on

July 17, 2012
Military work
1 Comment

Wow, where have the last two weeks gone?  Work has been crazy, a new promotion and a busy diary have contributed to my head spinning.

Having spent a vast amount of time in Afghanistan recently, it is natural to take some time to get back into the real world.  Life in Afghanistan in many ways is simple, you get up do your job, eat and sleep, there is not too much more to do.  Life back home seems so much more complicated as a result.

Getting the kids to school, sorting out the kids passport, chasing bills and paying invoices, meeting clients, and even at times taking the odd photograph, it all seems like there is so much to do.

So the tasking came in to photograph a home coming parade for some local press journalists from the UK came up.  This is after all our job so this is not a problem and it also gets me out of the office doing what I enjoy so its a winner all round.

I have never photographed a Rifles parade before so I was there early to get a good look around and make sure everyone knew what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go.  In the middle of a parade it can be quite daunting to wander onto parade and shoot away.

 

It is mostly a simple case of letting certain people know what your intentions are and they will be fine.  They also know that they will be getting copies of the shots for their own use too so everyone’s  a winner.

 

The weather in Germany has been as bad as the UK recently so that will tend to be an issue but you can’t plan for every eventuality although in this case we worked out being quite lucky.

All in all it was a good day and we got some good coverage in the press back home.

Have courage in your convictions

June 23, 2012
Opinion
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Most people in our society will at some point in their life need (no, not need but want) a photographer, be it for their wedding, to photograph their new baby, their portrait, their pet. Their business products, the list goes on and on.

What do people look for?

Do you search for a photographer who captures something different or has a certain look you like?  A cheap photographer?  A friend who has a camera? Or nothing at all?

Where does the cost of a photographer come into it?  Should it enter the equation at all?

The photography industry is incredibly competitive at the moment and the industry can be very easy for anyone to access with the super high quality of even some of the budget cameras.  I wonder if this is a positive development, but regardless, this is where our industry is right now.  The client has never had so much choice.

What does that choice mean?

I think this depends on what your view of a photograph is.  Do you see a photograph as just a still image that simply records and reminds you of a memory?  Is a photograph a piece of art?  Can a single image really be that important?  Take a while to think about some famous images you can remember. It may be a war photograph from Vietnam or a celebrity portrait, but the chances are it will be a stunning image for one reason of another.

A photograph is history.  Although it is taken at the time the image is immediately assigned historic status.  I shows us what was.

When you are looking for a photographer, what is your main consideration?  I think there are two main perspectives.  Will I love the images or can I afford them?

Take a wedding for example.  This is for many people the most monumental day in their lives (although not for all).  I think it is fair to say that most couples will look for a look they like from their wedding photographer.  There is usually a budget but their first consideration in many cases is the look.  I have been asked if I can replicate someone else’s look for a wedding before………Mmmmm!

Each and every photographer is different, of course there are styles and fashions that you can find over and over, but you have to look at the image, see what has been captured, is there emotion, a certain use of light, a character in there or is it simple a flat image processed to a style?

Photographers are observers, we look for things, we search for a representation.  Some are better than others, that’s just the way fo the world I am afraid.  As a photographer we should always be striving for the next image, that killer image that may not be the most asthetic but one that has that bit of magic.  Sometimes that is not obvious but invariably there will be something.

To look at a photographers images, look into them, try to identify what they were looking at.  You can do this for any photographer and ask the question, why?  I guarantee you at times you won’t be able to answer the question but you will still see something that you like.
My work may remind you of someone elses work but for sure that’s all it is.  Photographers are individuals, our work is unique, we all see things differently and if you hire us you are buying into that vision and experience.  All photographers draw inspiration from the world around us.

As a client you should never look at a photographers work and then wonder if you can get a cheaper alternative by going elsewhere.  Another photographer cannot just step into anothers head.  So if you need a photographer, look around, look for somthing that you like, an edge, a look, a style or a vision and hire them.

If budget is an issue then look for an alternative, but don’t expect the same, you are only setting yourself for disappointment.

Your choice of photographer may, in the end, cost a little more than you wanted to pay but in years to come, those photographs could have more value to you because you will know in yourself that you did not compromise.

Did I mention that I shoot weddings and portraits…………………………………………………………………………..?  😉

Time is my only enemy these days.

June 22, 2012
Development, Military work
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It now seems like such a long time since I was out in Afghanistan, in real terms it was.  Three months is such a long time.  We move on quickly, get back into the swing of things in our day to day jobs.  I am now (for those who have not been paying attention) back in Germany with my family.  Still working in the Army, yes we still have some of the Army based here (not for too much longer though).

This job does not seem like a job much really, it really is a shock to the system to enjoy my job as much as I do and in fact I have been known on many occasions to feel real guilt as I see people around me slumped and dejected as they struggle through the week to get to the weekend.

None of that for me, many weekends I am behind the camera enhancing my skills and keeping looking for a way of doing things I have not tried before.

One of the most exciting parts of this job is the variation.  This week has been a prime example, for three days I was chasing soldiers around a live range trying to capture images for their local press who had come out to visit.  Then there was the small matter of photographing a high brow event in Hannover city center to commemorate the Queen’s birthday and then today I spent the day photographing handicapped children as they climbed all over military helicopters.

 

All this work needs to be processed and dispatched to whoever wants it.  Not a five minute job.  So my long suffering wife has to watch me sitting at the laptop most of the evening.

Ah, a negative!  Perhaps the only one.  Sometimes there really is just never enough time in the day.  I need to get a new watch……………

One with a 27 hour day.

Royalty everywhere.

June 18, 2012
Military work
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As an Army photographer we get plenty of opportunities to photograph royalty, often on more than one occasion.  In my short career so far I have had the opportunity to photograph Prince Philip, Prince Charles (and Camilla), Princes William and Harry and the Duke of Kent.  I know some of my colleagues would laugh at this list but the fact of the matter is that we are spoiled a bit, these opportunities can lose their sheen a little.  The last opportunity was photographing Prince Philip as he presented medals to about a hundred soldiers from the Queens Royal Hussars in Paderborn, Germany.  For a man who at the time was just getting to his 91st birthday he was inspirational.  I hope you like the images.