Gypsy*Photography

New Photography Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:10:00 +0200

There has been a lot going on lately and while I kept blogging about photography on Gypsy*Diaries I've never officially closed this blog until now. In the past few months I have grown a lot, shot a lot and worked tirelessly on my new photography business and I'm happy and giddy with excitement that I can finally share my new company and my new photography blog with you.

You can now follow the En Route blog on Bloglovin, Facebook and Twitter or just come by to say hi. Let the new adventures begin!

My first real Photoshoot - WERK

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 09:00:00 +0200

Last Friday was a very special day in my calendar. My very first real photoshoot as a photographer. It was for a schooltask of a stylist, her topic was air and we were aiming at shooting airy shots in a fally environment. We had some serious luck with the weather, bright blue sky, sunshine and light wind, I couldn't have ordered it better! The model was a friend of mine and my assistant was one of my classmates at school. (to whom I send a huge thank you for all his help and support, the pictures would have never turned out the way they did without his help!) I used a Nikon D300 mostly with a fix 50mm 1.8 lens, a Nikkor SB 600 flash and a homemade softbox. Well trust me on this... the 50 mm lens is one to invest in!!The good news is that it's a totally affordable one for around 80 - 100 euros. Overall the shoot went really smooth and in the end I couldn't believe that I made the photos that were in the camera. Curious of the results? Head over to Gypsy*Diaries for the full spread!

Face your Pocket

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:13:00 +0200

We are starting to receive a crazy amount of homework in school! One of them was to scan (yes I mean with the scanner!!!) our faces with object that belong to us or feel special to us. The idea was originated by the Face your Pocket website and while I was not a big fan of the task I must admit I had fun thinking about the items I wanted to include. The second part of the task was to make the same scan BUT showing us in 20 years.

TODAY

I wanted my palm to have a central location on the post because the future that is still ahead of me. I included items like my I heart my Blog bag, my passport and two cutout pieces referring to possibilities and Budapest. My Nikon remote also has an important part as today I mostly take pictures of myself using the remote.

IN 20 YEARS

Vogue and Conde Nast refer to the type of magazines I'd love to work for in 20 years. My passport is constant in my life and so is my Nikon. I put on glasses to show the pass of time and included a dice and a ballon, typical kids games to reflect on my desire to be a mom of many kids by then. :)

It's a crazy but great task as it really forces you to think about yourself and about who you want to be, not to mention how it makes you think about image composition! Wanna try? :)

Week 2

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 10:40:00 +0200

The week I got scared. After the introductory first week we started with classes like photo technology and archaic photography (aka camera obscura and pinhole camera). Things really sped up and I started to be a bit worried for not understanding many of the very basics of photography like blende, shutter speed or ISO and spent my evening researching after school (looks like we were supposed to know these things already). I feel like there are thousands of puzzle pieces floating in my head and I really need to pull myself together to be able to complete the big picture. We also received a lot of homework this week, we have to make a kind of camera obscura and a pinhole camera! I've yet to do the pinhole camera but I can show you the results from my camera obscura project!

The idea is that if you manage to darken a room and let light in on only a small hole than if you hold a white paper or cloth in front of that hole you will see the reflection of the "view" upside down reflecting on the paper. Quite frankly I did NOT want to belive it on class but I guess seeing is believing, right? :)

Model Portfolio

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Sat, 2 Oct 2010 09:22:00 +0200

Last Sunday we spent the whole rainy day with an amazing team in the studio doing two model portfolios. The guys were great and I have to say I think I'm getting better and better in assisting. :) Moving the set, setting up the lights, adjusting the color and power... I'm getting into the swing of things! :) Love love love my sidejob and love "my boss" Vivi!!! :D She is so talented and I can learn so much from her! The portfolios turned out great don't you think?

Week 1 - Writing with the Light

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 09:30:00 +0200

When I started this blog I promised that I'll include you in my journey and I was actually planning to write a post after each photography class too. Well, by now I know that it will be impossible, but I will definitely give you an update on a weekly basis. So let's see what has happened on week one of my two-year photography school.

I was excited like a child at Christmas on my first day back to school! We got our timetable and started to get to know each other. I have classes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night (5 hours a day) which is really tiring considering I have a normal day job, my assistant job, two blogs and a man to take care of as well. :) But whatever! It is so much fun! For the first time in my life I feel like I'm learning something I'm genuinely interested in and that is the best feeling ever! Even though I haven't had a camera in my hands in school yet we are definitely learning a lot!

After all the administrative blabla we started our curriculum with photography history. We learned that the first ideas of photography were started by Aristoteles and Leonardo da Vinci and that the first actual photography was made in 1839. We learned about chemistry, camera obscura, Daguerre, French photographers and a bit of sociology.

We had creativity class where the teacher told us that he wants to break down our ideas of the world and wants us to see everything in new light. We looked at impressionist paintings and weird psycho test pictures. We got our first homework and started to think outside of the box. :)

We also had a photo artist presenting her portfolio of artistic images, she told us about Orozco and Corucci and we went out for our first (and second) beer as a group. While I'm one of the oldest in class I definitely have a lot more to learn than some of my classmates.... some of whom have been experimenting with photography for years now. But I don't care if it took me a bit longer to find my calling. I'm on the right path now... I just wish I was more patient with myself. I WANNA KNOW EVERYTHING ALREADY!!! :D

{Image via Weheartit}

Aviary

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 16:53:00 +0200

Just found this online photo editing software which seems to be more sophisticated than the other free online tools like Picasa or Picnik... I'll be playing with this tonight for sure! Awesome demo! ;)

Film Noir

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 15:33:00 +0200

The results of shoot nr 2. Vivi is the best! :D

Results

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:19:00 +0200

The final products of my very first photo shoot are in. I'm just so glad I could be a part of this as an assistant to the photographer.... :D I've already been learning and experiencing so much, I'm getting more and more excited for my future!

Shoot Nr. 2

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Thu, 9 Sep 2010 12:37:00 +0200

The first day of the rest of my life

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Tue, 7 Sep 2010 12:19:00 +0200

Isn't it fitting that on labour day I started my new labour? Seriously, yesterday was a day to remember... my very first professional shoot as the assistant of this amazing young photographer, Vivienne Balla.

Let me start with how I got here. Basically a few months ago when I was preparing for my photo school admission exam I started to research Hungarian photographers and found her website. Well it didn't take a long time for me to get to like her, she is very young, sweet, humble and extremely talented while already considered as the future of Hungarian fashion photography. I loved her work and I felt like I could really relate to her so I decided to stalk her... :D No I didn't actually stalk her, but I did go to an event solely because I knew she would be there and I was hoping she would help me out with some advice for my exam. Well I couldn't find her and when I was just about to leave SHE stopped ME!! Like a crazy person I started grinning and talking way too fast about how much I love her work, how great she is, how I'd love to learn from her... of course she had no clue who I was and what I wanted from her, she just stopped me to see if she could take a photo of me as she was responsible for taking street style pics of the event. (remember this? :) So she was supernice and all, but I was 100000% sure I would never hear from her again until a few days ago a little note landed in my inbox asking me if I was still interested in working with her? YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! And there I was just a few days later helping her shoot the girls for ELITE Model Management....

So basically ELITE does this model of the year competition once a year and the winner of the Hungarian round gets to participate in the world competition... 15 girls (All between the age of 15-18 and well below 100 pounds) scared like little Bambis hoping to become the next Gisele Bundchen lined up while hairdressers pull their hair, make up artists do their Bridget Bardot makeup, the room is full of people and eveyone's superbusy...

We shot in a tiny tiny hotel room which really showed me how you really have to see through the mess to create something beautiful... I mean we were standing in hills of clothes and bags (yes! yes!) 2 stylist, the model, the photographer and me.. not to mention the ocassional model, hairdresser... eg visitors... I really felt like someone through me in America's Next topmodel and I'm trying really hard not to be in the way of Nigel Barks while finding ways to help him.... anyway I'm getting off topic here... so there was no nice studio or professional backgrounds, we were shooting in a big mess with a Canon 40D and a real professional flash. That's all. We had pretty girls, fabulous clothes, professional hair and makeup... it does make all the difference you know... next time I'll certainly take some before and after pictures of the girls! Shocking... :)

So what did I actually do on my first day as an assistant you ask?

- I took behind the scene pictures

- I moved some cables

- I smiled at the models

- I went to grab lunch and coffee

- I handed out business cards

- I helped to pack the kit

- I helped with changing the SD cards

- I moved some stuff around

... but most of the time I was trying to stay out of the way.

I felt like Alice in Wonderland... I felt this feeling rising in me. Like... that's it... you know? Like I get it! This is it! I wanna be a photographer so badly!!!

I feel like someone has opened a closet that has been inside me for a long time but noone looked at it. You wanna know the stupidest thing? I have tears in my eyes while I'm typing this! TEARS!!! I swear I am crying!!! I was waiting for something to click in me for some time now... I felt like there was this something I want to do so badly but I didn't know what it was!!! Have you ever felt this way!? Now I know what I want. I want to assist Vivienne and learn as much from her as possible, I want to go to school, I want to live the life I want to live. I want to be a photographer! :)

Funny or too much?

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Fri, 3 Sep 2010 22:00:00 +0200

Getting started...

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:38:00 +0200

Guess who is the new assistant of this amazing photographer!!! :DDDDD

For my future baby

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:47:00 +0200

Adorable wooden little cameras. Can't wait to get one of these for my future baby! :)

{via Black*Eiffel}

Ciao Bella Italia!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Wed, 7 Jul 2010 22:40:00 +0200

Here are a few shots that didn't fit in my Gypsy*Diaries post about my weekend in Italy... the place in the Alps was so breathtaking, not posting all of these was really really difficult.... enjoy!!! :)

Montarosa, Italy, July 2010

Frame it!

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Thu, 1 Jul 2010 12:17:00 +0200

I love when photography gets creative! Look at these photobooth pics from Max Wanger's wedding... supercool and fun fun fun

A few weeks ago on a small family event we were bored and decided to play with an antique frame which was basically already in the trash....we had loads of fun not to mention how cool it will be to make a collage out of the results, frame it and voila, I'll have the perfect Christmas gift! (I left the funniest ones out.... you don't want to see the results of the "who can make the stupidest face" contest! :))

I bet there are countless fun things you could do by incorporating normally boring, everyday items into party/family pics... I'm thinking apples, balls, flowers, pillows....

Flickr, Photobucket or Picasa

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:22:00 +0200

I don't know about you, but for me, figuring out the differences between online photosharing sites is just confusing. In fact I ended up having an account on all 3 (Flickr, Photobucket and Picasa). So far I like Picasa the most. It's easy, allows many albums and unlimited uploads, plus I could easily figure out how to make and embed a slideshow in my blog. However I'd love to hear you opinion. Which one are you using?

So far this is the best short description I found on the net: (HERE)

"Flickr’s free account offers a 100MB monthly upload limit (10MB per photo) and only 3 sets (aka album) can be created with no monthly bandwidth limit. Flickr allows only the 200 most recent images to be viewed once you have reached more than 200 images uploaded. You can post any of your images in up to 10 images in a group. Original size images are saved for later upgrade and only smaller images will accessible after being resized.

As for Picasa Web Albums, a free photo sharing service offered by Google providing 1GB of free storage and the images uploaded to Picasa Web Albums can be no larger than 20MB and are restricted to 50 megapixels or less with no monthly bandwidth limit. The maximum number of web albums allow is 250 and the maximum number of photos per web album allow is 500.

Lastly, Photobucket’s free account offers 1GB of free storage with a 25GB of monthly bandwidth limit and custom URLS for up to 10 albums. The images uploaded to Photobucket can be 1MB each or by 1024×768 resolution. However, you can have up to 50 images per slideshow (some slideshows vary) and you are allow to upload a 5 minutes of video playing time (100MB in filesize)."

{Image via Weheartit}

Mai Mano House

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:11:00 +0200

Better late than never right... :) as promised on Gypsy*Diaries some (more) pics of Budapest's beautiful Photography Museum, the Mai Mano House.

Vote! Self Portrait

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:44:00 +0200

Which self portrait should go on my portfolio cover for my application to photo school? Nr 1, nr 2 or should I make a new, more professional looking one? HELP!

Urban Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:36:00 +0200

Palatinus Beach, Margaret Island, Budapest

Street Style: Budapest

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:03:00 +0200

Nora, 27, Budapest

{Pants & Shoes - Zara, Top - Random Boutique}

Does that letter seem familiar? :)

Behind the Lens: Ellen Von Unwerth

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:57:00 +0200

Ellen Von Unwerth might not sound familiar, but I bet you have seen her work many times already! Among others, she shot the the Sex and the City 2 Promo/Cover but she has been featured on countless Vogue editions around the globe as well. I love her take on feminine sexuality and power. I am a sucker for black and write photography and her provocative shots are right up my alley!

*Originally posted at Gypsy*Diaries but I wanted to have all the photographer reviews at Gypsy*Photography as well*

Behind the Lens: Francesc Catala Roca

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:53:00 +0200

Marta has introduced me to the work of Catalan photographer Francesc Catala Roca. His black and white images taken in Spain in the 50's-60's are making my heart swoon. Get a cup of coffee/tea and enjoy! It's pure ART!

*Originally posted at Gypsy*Diaries but I wanted to have all the photographer reviews at Gypsy*Photography as well*

We'd go down to the river and into the river we'd dive

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:16:00 +0200

The Danube was crazy high this year and this weekend I managed to snap this very documentary type photo. Have you ever seen a guy riding a bike on a river? :D

My first "street style" photo

noreply@blogger.com (Gabby / Gypsy*Diaries) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:35:00 +0200

{Dress - from a Singaporean boutique, Shoes - Lefties, Bag - Mango, Watch - Dior}

Here it goes, my first street style photo!!! :D OK, she is one of my best friends so it is cheating a bit, but I think it can be a great confidence booster to start taking pics of your friends a la Scott while you learn the ins and outs of street style photography. Did you know that the best is to keep the camera right about the height of the hip of the model? :) Now I just have to suck it up and start asking random stylish people to pose for me. Scott, please send some energizing and encouraging thoughts! :) Tell me people, (other than the king and queen of street photography Scott and Garance), do you follow any street style blogs?