A Long Time Posting

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted and I really can't believe how busy I have been.

So some of the stuff that has been happening will come out in posts over the week or so but the biggest thing that has kept me busy is preparing my last project, Remnants, for exhibition.  Details of which will follow in the next couple of days but I can't wait to see it hung on a wall.

Obviously, I have been out on the river again and I'm quickly working up the concept of The River.  If you have a look at my flickr stream you will see some of the images that I have taken.  These will slowly be dwindled down to the final set of shots over the next few months.

I have to admit, I have found The River extremely difficult and I think I lost my way on it a couple of times.  In fact at one point I was ready to give up on it as I couldn't see a way of seeing the project through that I would be happy with.  That has now gone and I'm back in the flow with some interesting new ideas and a direction to go in.  I'm pretty sure the end product will be something that isn't what is expected.

Talking Prints

Quack!

I have alluded to this post coming for the last few weeks and today is the day that it arrives and part of the reason that I have been so busy.

The other week there was a post on The Online Photographer about making and selling prints and it struck a chord.

One thing I don't do is sell prints too often.  But why don't I?  I make enough images that are good enough to print.

One thing I didn't wanted to do is produce limited edition prints.  Why?  Well, I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to make a living from my photography;  Don't most of us?  But the main reason is that if someone came to me and said I would love a print of such an image, I don't want to turn around and say "No, that edition is over.  Go and see if you buy a second hand one."

For me, I don't think that only feeds a secondary market.  One that is not good for the photographer, the collector or the ordinary Joe who wants a nice picture for their wall.  So whats the answer?

Well, I've made a decision how I want to do this.  I'm going to make prints in runs that are very similar to the way that book publishers work.  I'm going to print a run of images using one particular method.  This will be individually chosen the images.  It may be Giclee prints or it may be a digital file turned to a neg then developed as traditional photograph or a straight inkjet print.  Whichever, it will mean that there is a first edition, second edition and so on.  One that suits the photograph, the collector and anyone that wants to own one of my prints.

The final details of how I am going to offer prints has yet to be worked out and is part of what has kept me busy.  As soon as I've worked it out I'll will no doubt post.  But keep an eye out for an up coming catalogue.

For now though here is a new shot from The River.

A new toy

I have a new toy.

Well, new isn't exactly the right word.  It' actually around 35 years old but still has its original packaging and manual!

I have to admit I do love my Pentax DSLR and I still love shooting film.  In fact in some ways I prefer shooting film to digital so this camera sits perfectly in with my system.  I've currently got a roll of Kodak 400 black and white film in it but will soon finish that fill and put a roll of colour in to go out an shoot more launderettes.  Just to see how the camera does.  Check back in a few weeks!

The news that I alluded to in recent posts is on its way over the next day or two.  Come back and find out whats going on!

Winning Ways

Monday night saw the results of Blackburn & District Camera Club’s Annual Exhibition (Digital Projected Images).  I had the full compliment of ten images entered.

The standard of images across the board was fantastic as was the spread of awards received.

I am pleased to announce that I gained the following results:

Portrait/Figure Study – Red, 1^st Place

Portrait/Figure Study – Temperence, 3^rd Place

Portrait/Figure Study – Joe the Gardener, Highly Commended

Natural History – Treecreeper, 1^st Place

Monochrome – Turbulent – River Flow, Highly Commended.

Red

Joe the Gardener

Treecreeper

Turbulent - River Flow

Hitting 3000 & Other News

My little blog has reached the 3000 views mark, which I have to admit I am more than impressed with.  I would like to say thank you to everyone who has stopped by to have a look at what I'm doing and to read my ramblings.

It's been a little while since I last posted and it's not that I have a lack of anything to post, in fact it is quite the opposite.  I have stuff to post just not the time to sit down and do it.

So, what have I been doing with myself?  Well, I'm currently working on the next issue of Pixel Magazine which is due out in the next couple of weeks.  We are a small team of volunteers that put each issue together and we devote a lot of time to it.  In addition to this I am also the President of Blackburn & District Camera Club which I have to admit, at times I find challenging.  As you can probably gather it has been busy, busy, busy.

At the moment I am also working towards getting Remnants ready for exhibition.  Keep an eye on this blog to find out more details when I have them.

Lastly, I'm busy looking in to producing prints for sale.  This is something I have been meaning to do for ages and finally, I am getting round to it and the mist is clearing to find a way forward with it.  This has taken quite a bit of time, why?  Well, I wanted to produce extremely high quality prints and in order to do this you have to source the right materials, processes and final product.  Then there is how do you physically sell the prints.  This is one thing that I have yet to decide on but I'm sure that I will make the decisions shortly.  This week will be busy, I have a lot to do and a lot to decide.  Read my blog later this week for thoughts on selling prints.

There's trouble in t'mill

'Lancashire was once the work horse of England.'

That was a phrase often used by my Grandad as he recalled stories of the mills of Blackburn.  The bulk of Lancashire's mills have now gone and the few that remain are either in a derelict state or are being used as museums, retail outlets etc.

One mill, until recently remained in operation.  Not as a cotton mill as such but as manufacturing base for medical supplies.  Unfortunately, the mill closed around two years ago but there is a move to re-develop building for several different usage.

Since October, last year, I got permission to go behind the scenes and document the changing face of this leviathan of a building.  These are a couple of images from a recent shoot.

While you are reading about photography, why not jump over to our magazine for Pennine Lancashire Photography at www.pixelmag.co.uk

Blog design changes, same content

Over the last twelve months my blog has changed from being a blog about promoting myself as a business to something a bit more personal.  It's now almost a journey through my photographic life and depicts the images that I am currently working on and the thought processes behind them.

In addition to this my work with Pixel has also grown and with these in things in mind I have decided to change the design of my blog.

I hope that you will still come back and enjoy the new cleaner Pixel related style but with the same images and thoughts being jotted down!

Thanks for reading!

Lee