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What’s it all about? and what IS the magic of photography?

February 20, 2013
Opinion, Portraits, Wedding
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Wow, heavy, or is it?

Today we were informed by WordPress that we have now reached our second anniversary, where does the time go?

How do you begin to approach questions like ‘What’s it all about’?  Well I suppose every single one of us would give a different answer and more than that, your answer would differ almost daily…

The question always reminds me of a Michael Caine line used in a song by Carter USM and it always makes me smile, not for any other reason than the acceptance that we all pose the question to ourselves at one time or another.  It’s only natural.

So what is this blog all about?  Well I am under no illusion that this gets seen by millions of people, tens of people is something….  This is a tool of my trade, a business tool an opportunity to shout about what we are doing, what our plans and ambitions are, so show some examples of our work, to interest you (well you can’t have it all I suppose), but ultimately a way of connecting.  There is no malice, just what is intended to be an honest approach.  The trouble with the written word is context. The skill in writing is just that, but often over looked is the skill in reading.  Most of us don’t really understand punctuation, me included.  Where should that colon come in, why does the apostrophe go there and how does the comma in a certain place change the meaning of the sentence?  Yes it is fair to say, I am not the best at writing, but I try.  We all communicate with each other, and talking is the best way because quite simply, the voice naturally has the natural inflexions that enhance the words themselves and make the meaning come to life. to give it context, to make it easier to understand.  I think it is far easier to misunderstand the written word than not and possibly the other way around for the spoken word.  That is not to say, the spoken word is never misunderstood because we all know it is.

I guess it makes sense then that unless you are certain the writer of some text is excellent and you have confidence that you read well, you should never take what you read too literally.  Easier said than done!  I know….  The more I write the more I understand just how artistic writing can be.

This leads me onto the next question, what IS the magic of photography?  Well apart from being a tag line for this blog, photography for many has always had that allure of magic.  If you go back to thee old film days (many of us view with a nostalgic tear), the actual process of creating an image onto a piece of glass or gelatin is nothing short of ingenious.  Using the right chemicals at the correct temperature for the exact amount of time to develop the latent image is nothing less than astonishing.  To see an image form on a blank piece of paper in the darkroom will always amaze me, it feels like magic.  Of course I know it is not, it is chemistry but I will never fully understand the process so no matter how much I research it, I like the feeling I get that I am witnessing a little miracle.

Photography has changed in many ways in recent years and like any development, change is never all good, but usually it is also never all bad either.  It is true the chemistry has gone, but the technological change is as dramatic and breath taking as the original process.  How modern digital cameras capture what they do, well there simply has to be an element of magic in there somewhere.

Again though, this is not all there is, the magic goes beyond that.  Surely the magic is in the emotion that a still image can portray?  The capture of a genuine smile, the love displayed in a wedding photograph, the drained exhaustion of a brand new mother holding their baby, the satisfaction of having received your scroll from University, the list goes on and on.  The capture of these things remind us of those moments and allow us to relive them, to remember.  This is the real magic of photography, a simple two dimensional print or image can be so much more than that.  In fact in cases where families have lost all their belongings in a fire often say that the hardest to come to terms with is the loss of their photos.  Makes you think….

Showing potential and laying down in the job

February 4, 2013
Military work, Sport / Action
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The newspapers show regularly images of our Armed Forces in Afghanistan and that is great.  The young men and women really do a fantastic job out there on a daily basis, but the Armed Forces are not just about Afghanistan, there is so much more to the organisation that being defined by a single operation.

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Life in the Armed Forces goes on in the mean time.  There are always requirements that need to be met, training must continue and the search for the next generation of commanders goes on.

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If you are in the Royal Signals in Germany, promotion to Lance Corporal (the first step as a commander), comes after passing the Potential Junior Non-Commissioned Officer cadre.  The course is intended to train and to push your limits both physically and mentally and is similar to the courses most units will undertake.

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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.

A change of perspective and the cold light of day.

January 29, 2013
Development, Landscapes
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At times the life of a photographer can send you to some stunning locations.  I recently found myself working (yes, you heard me, working) in the French Alps to cover a skiing competition.

Cool water 04

So rather than show you images of skiers, I thought I would share something else.

Cool water 06

I don’t really do many landscapes, although I enjoy them, I find them frustrating most of the time because I am either there in the wrong time or I am simply unable to stop and take the photo.  Comes with rushing around doing other things I suppose.

Cool water 01

Not typical landscapes and not the same as I have done in the past (I do have some examples on my website http://www.LIMEfotographic.com).  This time I was interested in the fast flowing water, the fresh snow and ice sitting on the rocks and the at times abstract nature.

Cool water 08

Specifically looking for long exposures, a good tripod was a must and the help of a local (well kind of a local, an American, or Texan, if he had his way), we went exploring a small stream looking for interesting shots.

Cool water 07

I have experimented with some different post production ideas and was inspired to be bold by this same ‘local’ who showed me some of his own work.

Mont Blanc Panorama

Like always, like it or loathe it, the work should speak for itself.  You decide.

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
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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
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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
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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
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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.

Herding cats and capturing character

May 13, 2012
Development, Portraits
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There is a popular phrase that we have all heard stating you should never work with children or animals, however as a photographer, you try that.  I recently came up with a promotion idea to get people into the studio, to see how we work and hopefully come away with plenty of workable images to wow the customers.

This became the ‘Pets win prizes’ competition.  The premise was for local people to bring their pets to our studio in order for us to try to capture some of their character.  The shoot was free and an image from their shoot was to be displayed on Facebook in a gallery for people to vote (like) their favorite.  The winner is the image that 7 days later has the most likes.  They then win a canvas wrap print of their pet (not necessarily the one used in the competition).

As with anything like this, the build up can be nervous as you find yourself asking the questions, like, did we promote this enough?  Will people turn up, have we explained the situation properly?  Has word got around?

I need not have worried because apart from a quiet hour at midday, the event was a success.  We got a variety of pets in from the expected cats and dogs to the more exotic Bearded Dragon and some tropical fish in a huge beer glass.

I like to put myself under pressure, and I limited each shoot to 15 minutes, which included the time to get to know the animal a little, try to find some of its character, decide on how to work with it and light it, and then execute (not the animal but the idea).  I could quite easily have set up a flat light setting and just gone for the safe option but I didn’t want a load of same images.  I wanted to be creative, to try to show off each animal as best I could in the time.

At the end of the day, I sit through the images and I have to be honest, I am happy with what we got.  There are a lovely range of shots, the customers went home happy and I now hope they like what they see.  I don’t photograph a lot of pets, so this was an ideal opportunity to try to broaden my horizons as a photographer.

As I try to complete the job, my eyes are heavy, this was a challenge but like all challenges I am left in its wake feeling content.  This is the kind of project I think I should do more often and I urge others to also.  It is all to easy for a professional photographer to focus on revenue, but there is a kind of warm feeling when you undertake a project for no obvious gain, that said I did take a couple of bookings today which is nice but certainly not what this was all about.

If you have read this blog today, could I urge you to visit our Facebook page, and visit the gallery.  Please take a little time and like any images you like.  The winning pet owner will I am sure be most grateful.  Plus there are more images from the set to see.  As with any of my work I love to hear from people, feedback is important.

Pets win Prizes!

May 5, 2012
Development, From the Archive, Opinion, Portraits
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We at LIMEfotographic have arranged a special open day at our studio on Eichholtstrasse, in Bunde, near Herford in Germany on Sunday 13th May 2012.

You love your pets, of course you do!  Have you ever considered getting a professional pet portrait done?  Well here is your chance, and you can be in with the chance to WIN a canvas frame print of your special pet.

We are opening our studio for a special pet day, so between 10am and 4pm on the 13th May, bring your pets to the studio behind the Naafi in Bunde (near Herford).  We will photograph your beloved pet.

 

HOW THIS WORKS.  This is a promotion day, we will photograph your pet in our studio for a maximum of 15 minutes per pet.  Once the images are processed they will be posted on our Facebook page for voting.  You can invite who ever you can to vote for your pet and quite simply by the closing date, announced when the images are posted, the image with the most likes, will win a stunning canvas print worth €250.

There is no obligation to purchase anything, but of course you may decide that you would like to book a family shoot or some simple portraits…………

Just pop by on the day, and don’t forget to bring your favorite pet with you.

Promotion and give away’s

May 2, 2012
Development, From the Archive, Opinion, Portraits, Wedding
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The technical side of photography is not a problem for me.  I know that may sound big-headed, it’s not meant to be.  My photographic training was, let’s say, comprehensive.  A seven month full-time course that in wider circles is well-respected, certainly gives you a grounding.  I look back at some of the work from back then and cringe at it, but I also accept it for what it is and am still striving.

A personal first from ten years ago, the use of many layers, taking days to do and really pushing the computers boundaries.

Having been presented with the subject ‘shopping’, it made sense to mimic some of the visual inspiration of the time.  Not great work now but it was a step.

When I graduated from the school, I felt a little bit like when I had just passed my driving test.  I knew how to take a photograph but that was just the mechanics, I now had to develop that knowledge into a style, to give my images some character.  This I think is where the real challenge of photography is.

I really enjoy shooting weddings, they are challenging and never easy, so you need your wits about you.

So ten years on, my photography has developed into its current manifestation and I now think I am a marketable commodity.  This is where my next hurdle lays.  All my training does not prepare me for self promotion.  Some of you who have been reading my blog or follow my Facebook page may be surprised to hear that, or maybe not.  I have in recent months been looking into the different ways to market yourself and mostly it is now down to the internet.

In the studio, you need to work hard to get the shots you want, you can never just turn up to a shoot.

Sometimes it is a shame that many elements used in the shot are hidden.

Inspiration is important to any photographer, we draw our inspiration from other image makers all the time.

Being in Germany does kind of limit my available market somewhat but this gives me the opportunities to try out marketing plans to get an idea about what works or doesn’t.  Mostly though I just want to stay busy, producing new work.  I have in the past organised a very successful studio open day where I allowed visitors to come in off the street into the studio, sample a micro shoot, see the product and as a result took bookings for bigger shoots.  My next project is similar, but based on the pets theme.  This one will be slightly different as it will be a kind of competition where people who have their pet photographed will then see their image on our Facebook page.  This is where they vote (by liking) their pets image and they then invite their family, friends, anyone who knows them to also like their image.  The winner will receive a canvas print of the winning image.  Votes can also be included by the general public, so there will be a need to really push the Facebook page.

Sometimes you just have to jump in with both feet, a studio full of animals is a daunting thought.

The idea excites me, I am intrigued as to how the project will work out.  This does need loads of work to work, but it is just another step in the journey of building a client base and a reputation that is in this industry all important.

I don’t find self promotion easy, I find that at times I feel clumsy and awkward with it, I am always too critical of my own work, but I accept that in these times I have to get beyond that and just go for it.