copyright

As a result of a video editing course I have been trying out slideshows with old images.  
When uploading one to youtube for compression purposes they spotted my use of copyrighted music. I had intended to download and then immediately delete the video from the public realm but apparently I can keep the 'prohibited material'!  
Viewers get directed to itunes whilst I am sadly banned from downloading the now compressed video. I'll have to get to grips with Adobe Media Encoder after all!
See the slideshow here.

progress

I have awarded my self a gold star (or rather a giant pink bow) for filing my tax return with two weeks to spare - woo hoo!

my first video

I started a digital video editing course today - this is a still from my first effort - emphasis on the first!  

There is only one shot and a somewhat static one at that - you can take the woman away from photography but... see the video here.

If you like the song then check out x-lion tamer, available on itunes.

winter

I love woodlands in the wintertime. There is so much texture when there are no leaves. 

and a happy new year!

a reprieve

For a while it seemed that having waited all day for the floor panels to be lifted into the structure, the photos would be largely unusable as one of the workmen was wearing trainers. Thankfully they turned out to be specialist work shoes ideal for the task in hand - phew!

the best laid plans

Having missed bonfire night I was determined to catch the Lord Mayor Show's fireworks.  
After cleverly evading crowds we made it to the National Theatre only to be reminded that this part of the Thames is lined by trees and the NT staircases wouldn't be out of place on the Krypton Factor.  
I did find a spot of hand rail for my gorilla pod and shot a few images (with trees) but sadly most are out of focus.  I had never before had cause to look up the manual focus function on my compact camera.
I guess the moral is - 'know (all of) your tools'..

camouflage

unrest

It seems I'm not destined for a life in photojournalism after choosing not to risk taking my work camera out during the recent unrest. That's not to say I wasn't tempted.
Though I shot many more dramatic images that evening, I find myself drawn to this one.  The distinctive silhouette of the police helicopter incongruously framed by a domestic skyline of chimney pots and aerials.

blackberries

There is currently a folder on my desktop labelled, quite unselfconciously, 'blackberries + unrest'.  An accurate description of a strange day in Hackney. 
Incidentally, the blackberries became an incredibly delicious approximation of Eton Mess - I recommend it!

my first ...

So, I finally shot my first wedding and I have to say it is much more demanding than it looks!
What seemed like excessive preparation on my part turned out to be just the right amount.  
In a one time only situation technical issues can't be an excuse.
BTW.. most of the pictures did include heads!

summertime

The first poppy of the year came out today. I love having a garden!

aftermath

A felled tree, part of the debris left in the wake of the recent forest fire in Berkshire.  

You can see more pictures here.

a return to bags

Some years ago (on the first ever godfather photo walk) I spent the whole trip mesmerised and frustrated by bags in canals.  I couldn't manually focus my camera at the time and could never achieve the shot I was after.

On our most recent walk (see below) I finally returned to the subject with vastly improved skills and equipment.
See more bags here!

photo walk

My godfather is one of the few people I can happily spend a day with taking photographs.  
While we do share similar tastes in subject matter, I think the real reason we have such successful photo walks is that we are both quite content to ignore each other and to be ignored without any offence being taken.
See his blog here.

happy easter !

oops

I made the last minute decision to take my small camera to the cuts march, a good choice in many ways.  
However, having not planned to take it, I hadn't checked the battery.  I like this picture with the light relief given by the balloons but wish I had more to choose from.   
Never mind - sometimes it's better just to be there. 

a dog walk

My neighbour's lovely dog was both a help and a hindrance.  
This was the only shot I could catch of the perfect ellipse of sun reflected in still water before the scene was disturbed by said dog.  However, without him I would not have been here at all. 
I guess the moral is  'always aim to get the shot first time'. 

potato portrait

see 'red rock' entry..

transition

I will always be drawn to an open door.
The temporary (or dare I say ephemeral) is also something I keep returning to.

snap shot

For a long time the only camera I had was my rather bulky work SLR.  With a new compact camera I have been enjoying taking no fuss random snaps. 
The main bonus though is that I can take a photograph in public without being looked upon as some kind of identity stealing terrorist or worse.  No one threw me a glance as I took this picture of my niece on a bus. (and the camera lets me take square photos - it feels wrong but I love it!)

summer

It's amazing how an image can transport you to a different time/place/mood.  I was looking through all the pictures I passed over last year and found a new enthusiasm for this one - Hogweed at the height of the summer. 
It seemed all wrong at the time but now I like the imperfections.

picturesque hackney

I feel compelled to run outside with my camera the moment snow hits (the novelty hasn't worn off yet in London).
BUT... it makes everything unbearably pretty.  Lovely to walk through but too cloyingly perfect for a photograph - is it just me?

control room

There is definitely a high key/low key thing going on with my pictures.  I am very drawn to one or the other.  

Photographing a theatre painted predominantly in black was a bit of challenge but I like the results.

it's that time of year

I have been photographing baubles.  It is helping me to resist hanging them on a tree.

Something about the colours reminds me of Eric Carle's illustrations for the hungry caterpillar. This can only be a good thing though they are not very christmassy - too high key.

for Sophie

Taking photographs for someone else in the context of art raises issues.  I have realised that when I take a picture it is always going to feel like it's mine.  Everything is a subjective choice, from the edit to colour/crop/contrast...
I have also gained valuable experience of working with animals!

a picture of nothing

Every time I do a job I find that a picture or two are just for me.  
This is one of those...

the marshes by mobile

I am genuinely amazed by the quality of my mobile phone's camera!  I have recently discovered how to download pictures with the miracle of bluetooth and it turns out the microscopically small lens is surprisingly effective.
And you get the bonus of the squarer shape - a bit of faux 5x4...

a bed

Having witnessed the demolition of Pamela House I managed to gain access to photograph interiors of Lovelace House, the last remaining building in Haggerston Estate.  

I was told by a local that it had been left until last as it houses the bookies.

You can see more images from this series here.

return to Littlehampton

I finally made it back to Littlehampton to photograph Thomas Heatherwick's beach side cafe in beautiful evening light.  This is what I had hoped for when I first went and found my self barely able to stand on a windswept and grey day.
While I like this picture I prefer the subtlety of the original grey day shot.  It just goes to show that we don't always know what is best for us.  The original shot can be seen here.