Around Colne

Following on from my last post.  These are couple of the digital images taken at the same time as shooting on film.

Although edited digitally, they have only been through a Lightroom process.

I've shot film!!!

Last week I thought I would do something different.

 Early last week I went out to Boots to pick up some stuff. While I was waiting I decided to have a look at the photography session. To my surprise they still has film on the shelf. Not just colour film but mono as well. Admittedly, it wasn't as cheap as film used to be but the temptation was too much and I bought a roll. A few hours later and I took a trip up in to the attic and retrieve my flight case with my MTL3 kit in.

On checking the camera over I found that the light meter was dead. Next day and the princely some of £2.50 later and my much loved MTL3 was back in working order. So, on Friday, I took my first shots on film for around ten years! I don't think I've captured anything fantastic, but that's not the point. The point was to shoot some film; to see if I could still do it; and, to do something a little different. I did actually shot a couple of the photographs in digital as well but that was more to compare results. A couple of things I re-learnt about camera handling with film:

 1. When you half press the shutter the camera does not autofocus or exposure lock.
2. Remember to press the light meter button.
3. There's only 36 exposures on the film. You need to get your composition right!
4. You have to wind the film on after the shot.
5. There is really no point at looking at the back of the camera after the shot.
6. How heavy is my camera bag with both kits in it!!!

 I won't know how well I have done or if the camera is still as good as it was the last time I used it until I get the film processed. Despite this, I think I'm hooked again! Not only that, I'm tempted to go in to the studio with it!

Photographing Food

Over the last few months I've been working with some friends that are planning to open an Italian Deli in Colne.  They asked me if I could help produce some product shots for their website and for print in the shop.

This was quite an interesting little assignment for several reasons.  Firstly, I wouldn't class myself as a 'foodie'.  Don't get me wrong, I love food, I love cooking and I love Italian food.  However, as much as I have dabbled in still life photography before, I haven't shot food.  The other problem is that you have to be able to present the food to an extremely high standard, especially if they are going to be displayed to advertise to companies products.

We went right back to basics with this one.  We started with the company and what it's ethos is.  Being called La Dolce Vita the owners want the company to have a very al fresco and impromptu feel to it.  Getting our heads together we came up with a seasonal theme.  We also decided that we would do it honestly.  All the shots are taken at the right time of year using natural props and food that is cooked at the time to give it a more authentic feel.

This assignment has definitely been a challenge, one that I have thoroughly enjoyed and hope will continue as the La Dolce Vita develops.  Hopefully, I will have some more news about La Dolce Vita in the near future.  Good luck to Sarah and Sara in your venture and thank you for making me put on weight!!!

It has been extremely busy lately.  I've been doing some work for Walton Lane Children's Centre and a couple of private clients as well.

The Children's Centre work has been really good.  They are developing a Forest School and asked me to create a series of images to display in the building.  So, I have been out with a teachers and a load of kids to get shots of everyday life in a Forest School.  It has been a lot of fun and sometimes quite difficult but I have come up with some really beautiful shots.  These will be posted in the very near future.

New Issue of Pixel Out Now!!!

The latest edition of our photography magazine, Pixel is now out.  See embedded link below.

Open publication - Free publishing - More art

Keeping Busy

It's hard to believe its nearly been a month since I last posted on my blog!

Photography is definitely keeping me as busy as possible.

I have several commissions all going on at once.  There is a couple for private clients and consists of mainly environmental portraiture.  However, I am currently working with a nursery school that is branching out in to different areas.  This has been a fantastic little project.  There hasn't been a brief just shoot what I like.  Brilliant for me.  I can let my creative side go a bit more and see what I come up with.

One project that I have been working on is Exploring Landscapes.  This was a research and development phase of a larger project that saw seven artists brought in to work in parks throughout Pennine Lancashire.  Last months Pixel magazine featured Lucy Bergman who was resident in Corporation Park in Blackburn.  I was lucky enough to meet and work with all the artists but in particular with Orly Orbach (pictured above).  The project has been fantastic for parks and for Pennine Lancashire.  For more information about Exploring Landscapes visit http://exploringlandscapes.co.uk/.  This months Pixel (which will be out next week) will feature the project and all the artists.

At the moment my projects have come to a halt.

I'm struggling with Taking Back.  Although there are several images throughout the series that work well as stand alone images they whole series just refuses to gel like it should.  A tough decision may have to be made in the near future.

Watching Sport has taken a bit of a back seat to other work but I hope to pick it back up in the coming weeks.  Of course this all depends on the weather and the conditions being right.