Andy Dubreuil Photography

Site New Look

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 16:07:00 +0000

I decided to do some Spring cleaning, and ended up doing a new website to make things a bit easier to navigate, and some nice ways to show off shoots that I've been doing recently.
So I hope you like the new look and please feel free to share with others, as its much appreciated.
AndyD

March Update 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 13:52:00 +0000

It’s been a busy few months, what with one thing and another, so what’s new?

Well I've been investing in some new lenses and now the proud owner of Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD and Tamron 24-70mm f2/8 VC USD lens, these are the real workhorses in photography when doing portrait etc.

I'm in my second year of my FDA degree in Professional Photography and still enjoying the course and learning more and more and getting to know new students that have joined the course.

I spent sometime in the Brecon Beacon’s in Wales and got some great landscape images that you can see in the gallery. I hope to pay another visit in the coming months to get a different look to how it was in February.

I've been working with a local male model; PJ Paul Walker who is a great guy and a lot of fun to work with and is extremely photogenic and if your reading this, you can find him on Facebook in the group page ‘Bristol Models’.

Its time for me to move up a gear and so I've been looking at charities to offer my services and please to announce that I'm now going to be doing work for Penny Brohn Cancer Care. Its amazing work they do and one of the largest charities in the South of England that offer help and care not just the victims of the dreaded disease but family members as well. I hope to heighten the attention of the organisation through images that are created with them and their events.

I also have other work in this area and waiting to meet other organisations shortly.

We’re coming into the warm weather and looking for anyone that’s wanting to commission me for some work. Working freelance means just that, in that I don’t just work in one area and willing to look at all sorts of work that’s with in my reach of being able to do. So if you or someone you know is looking for images to be taken, I would be pleased if you decided to put my name forward and give them my details.

So as soon as I have more to talk about, I will update the blog, so until then have a great day! J

A New Year Begins

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 10:40:00 +0000

It's a new year and loads to see and do.

Winter in the UK is somewhat an unknown entity, as you don't know when or if it will snow. Living in the South of Bristol, I can see the hills of Dundry, which is on the outskirts of Bristol and see if snow has laid or not.

The great thing of living in Bristol, is that your not far from Wales, South Coast or the countryside of the Cotswolds. So as the weather had dropped and the weather report for a few days was snow, I decided to venture over the Severn Bridge and head up into the Brecon Beacons, which is only an hour and half from Bristol. There wasn't any snow really on the roads and as I entered the A roads towards the Brecon's, the mist started to form and you could just make out the snow caps of some of the mountains.

I was heading for a particular place where there was a large reservoir called the Talybont reservoir, as you headed into the area the weather had changed to a beautiful mist covering the hills of the large forrest's that are in the area. When I got to the reservoir, you just had to sit and take it all in, mo cars, no people and no sounds of birds. For someone that spends most of their time in city, you don't notice so much the sounds that are all around, but when you end up in s place like this and turn off the car engine, and there's nothing, it seems so surreal.

I grabbed what I needed and headed along a small lane along side the top end of the reservoir and as I got to the centre, the lake went on for ever and there was hillsides opposite each other with lush green forrest up the sides.

I hit a bit of a snag in that the wall was quite high and had to set up the tripod so the camera could see over the wall, so I was dependent on the LCD screen to show me the image, after a few attempts the images were coming together. But the quietness didn't last long as a couple drove slowly along the lane towards me and stopped. When your in these opens areas, people actually stop and say good morning or afternoon, something that you just don't get living in a big city, it's like it's a whole other world and there is a certain decorum, if that makes sense.

They had been out with their camera but at the other end of the reservoir taking photos, we had the normal chitchat as to what gear I was using and what he was using, it must be a photographer thing.

Anyway they moved on their merry way and left me to it. I must of spent about an hour in the one spot, because the mist changes as it comes down the hillsides. I was glad I had taken my winter coat and hat as it was print fresh and when I got back to the car, I sat there for some time with a cup of coffee from my flask.

The misty hillsides of the Brecon Beacon's
(click to see image full size)

I then spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the area by traveling along lanes that I had no idea where they would lead me. For me this is whats exciting about doing this kind of location work, because you don’t know what gem could be round the next bend. You don’t have to travel for miles to find something, even down a lane that you've travelled along in the past, but you have to look from the perspective as a photographer trying to find an image thats interesting.

Film Grain Look

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 19:43:00 +0000

I enjoy being behind the camera and working as well as exploring techniques by using myself as the model. Photoshop is and has always been a massive piece of software that allows you to work in ways that the commercial world needs to have images that have impact and sells something, and allow the photographer to be creative in bending the original image in a way that looks so different from the original.

Some may say that’s a bad thing and doesn’t make you a very good photographer, because you need software to create for your final image. Lighting, locations, and a studio can give you so much, and if you were working in film, then it would be down to the darkroom and chemicals, light, shadow and the tick toc of the clock that will allow you to make the image look as you want. So either way a photographer uses some form of editing to come up with the final image and I think both are just as time consuming as each other.

The original image was done in my studio with the help of a backdrop and lighting, the lighting is the important part of the process of the studio as it depends on the tools that you use with the light, like a softbox or beauty dish for example. You may use more than on light to get the look your looking for and moving the light forward or backwards and up and down will cast shadows in different ways.

Working in a studio gives you an idea of what lighting can give so you can put what you learn into practice when it comes to working with a client or model. For instance with this image, my main thing was to not have light reflection in my glasses, this is so difficult to get right, but by working with the lighting, you get the right look.

Today this is such a small part of what makes the final image as its ends up on the computer to be worked upon to give so many different variations of what is decided to be the final image.

So this is one variation of the original image that has that film and grainy look that’s done on purpose to give an effect that makes the face pop out of the background, and that strong look of the hand clasped so tight that the knuckles look almost white by the strain.

I am middle aged and yes I could of made my skin look smooth and vibrant, but that’s not the look that I was going for, I think it wouldn’t suit my personal look and would look tacky.

There’s no point in going through each layer that I produced to the image as this write-up isn’t about that and there are plenty of YouTube videos that can explain it better than me. What I can tell you is that yes I did remove blemishes that stood out that I removed, but the rest of the work is based on adding adjustments to contrast, exposure, adding what is called cures that adds either light or shadow to different point in the image. Brightening the eyes is a point that’s worked on to show a central point to the image. Then playing with the colouring and adding graining to the image is what gives that very different look the whole view of the image.

In total there are twenty-four layers to the image and there is two stages to the image.

Stage 1.

Original image.

Stage 2.

Removing blemishes, working with curves, levels and vibrancy.

Stage 3.

Working with curves, vibrancy, selective colour and graining is the final stage to the image. (see image at top of page).

The thing I love about this kind of work is that you can do one style on an image and then come back to a few weeks later or even months, and then come up with a whole new style to the same image.

This took just over and afternoon to complete with a few brakes in between, as you need to come away from the screen for a while to look at something else before going back, its then that you may decide that something you’ve done just doesn’t look right and can go backwards to a point that you can begin work again.

Post editing is styling an image, and when you’re doing it for yourself then you’re the only critic till you share it with others. Some will love it, while some will hate it, but that’s photography for you and you have to take others critique on board as it’s a way of learning.

24HRS in Bristol Competition 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:03:00 +0000

This year I signed up for the competition thats about photographing Bristol over 24hrs, each photographer gets a set hour to photograph within that hour.

This is the image that I took and entered, I called it ‘holding onto our heritage’.

There were over 900 images taken during the 24hrs and four judges had the job of choosing three images from each hour to go through to the final. The final included having your image as part of an exhibition to be held at the end of the event.

For me the idea of making it through to the final and having my photo on display was what its all about, even though there was some great prizes. My image was part of 72 images that made the exhibition and a great achievement that I'm so delighted about that I wanted to share this on my blog.

Summer break is over :(

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 16:12:00 +0000

Summer break is over L

For those that read my blog will know I'm doing a foundation degree in professional photography.

It’s kind of funny in that when you’re doing the school run with the kids and then they have their summer holidays; it seems to go on for ever! But when it’s you, time seems to have whizzed pass and you’re into a new year and you have to get your head into that mode once again.

It’s been a nice break, but at first I felt I should be doing something like research or my head buried in a book somewhere. But I’ve kept myself busy and done a few paid shoots and then there was my own little project on photographing myself and taking part in Bristol’s 2hrs in Bristol Competition which was a marathon. I did a fair bit of studio work as I know the beginning of the new year there will be a lot of that, and what with a new camera I had to get some new equipment to be able to get the camera to work with studio lights. I also invested in a beauty dish and some reflectors and tried them out in the studio; the beauty dish does give some really good lighting on a person. I read somewhere that to use a grid for a man and white diffuser for a woman; to me they both had their advantages depending on the image.

Buying gear is really down to how deep your pockets are and whether you look around for a good deal. I've looked at some video and images taken with well-known brands and the cheaper end seems to do just as good a job as them. Of course a lot of the work is done in the post editing and that’s something else that I've been working on what with composites and skin texture.

I think the summer break has given me the chance to digest what I've learnt and to put that into practice, when looking through the viewfinder I don’t just concentrate on the main part of the image but look at the sides and try different angles on what I'm seeing. Getting critical with your work has got to be a good thing, right?

One of the last things that I've invested in was the X-rite Colorchecker passport. I've read a lot on the subject and many professional photographers look at it like a bible, it does help get the right white balance and colouring, it also now works as a plug-in with Lightroom and saves a heap of time getting those batch of images right. I've had my monitor calibration software for some time now so everything works in sync.

The very last thing to mention is tethering my Sony A99 through Lightroom. I did download the Sony software but you really have to go round the houses in getting the dam thing to recognise the folder you want it to use, it can take me 15 minutes before I have it right, which is not good with a client sitting and waiting. So I was looking round the web and came across DSLRSoftware.com who boasts about their piece of software that works direct with Lightroom as a plug-in which is called DNA capture support. It’s about £18 but they do allow you to do is download a free version to try out, this has their watermark come up all over your images. But it’s brilliant, you start the tethering after connecting the camera to the laptop or PC and you just name the file and away you go your connected and taking images. Displaying images on a larger monitor than what’s on the back of your camera or through the view finder, gives you the full view of what you’re doing and gives you the chance to make changes on the fly that maybe you wouldn’t of done if you just went with the small view on the LCD screen or trying to enlarge the image on there. Sometimes it’s the small things that make that job just a bit easier to do and can be a real time saver.

So am I ready for the new semester, well I think so. I'm for ever creating ideas in my head for an image with a certain look to it, and maybe I will be able to put those together now with what we’ll be asked to do in the workshops. So into my second year of a great course that I totally recommend to anyone thinking of doing something similar and to catching up with friends I've made at college and to new ones that are just starting out in their first year.

Thanks for reading, AndyD

The Photographers Ephemeris (TPE) App

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 09:24:00 +0000

The Photographers Ephemeris (TPE)

Today, not many of us DON’T walk around with a mobile phone that does more than just be a phone. We can read emails, shop online, play games, play music, make videos, and of course take photos or selfies.

This list can go on and on, but finding an App that actually does something for photographers that use an external camera, is something that is getting better.

The Sun and Moon

Here's the thing, you find this great location that over looks a city or landscape that you think would make a great image for a sunrise or sunset, or maybe you would like to capture the full-moon on the horizon. But how do you know what time on a certain day the sun or moon will be there and will it be in the right location?

You could take pot luck and drive back on and evening or get up before dawn to find out, but what then if its all been in vain and you've struck out and it won't happen at that point of reference, your not going to be happy at wasting time and effort.

TPE

This is one of the very best apps you could possibly buy for your phone, the Photographers Ephemeris. You don't even have to go to the location as you can look over the map or do a search on the road or point that your interested in and just drop a pin. Straight away it will show you the sunrise, sunset, moonrise and moonset. And even have realtime of which direction the sun or moon currently is. It comes with a compass to show your direction in comparison to where the sun or moon will fall at a certain time of day or evening. You can go to a date in the month to see not just what time sunrise or sunset will be but the positioning will reflect the change of date.

You can save locations, so you can go back at a later date or time of year, you can view the area in so many map types as there are many to choose from. Its all there in one app for where ever you are in the world or looking to go to.

Desktop Version

Screenshot of desktop version

This version is just as useful and is free to use as its web based. you get the same info and you can bookmark references from your search.

There are so many times when your photographing a landscape, you think the location might have a great sunset or sunrise. So with the phone app, you have all the info at your finger tips, no more trying to predict where and when.

If there was one thing that I wished it did, would be to sync with my iPad or laptop, maybe this is something for the future releases.

Thanks for reading, AndyD

Doing a shoot on a budget

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 17:59:00 +0000

Next weekend I’ve got 6 locations to photograph as part a competition I’m entering and I’ve decided that I want to add more to one of the images and have that dramatic look to it.

Locations

When you know a city so well, its difficult to find a secret spot that maybe know one knows about. I’ve spent over 4 weeks looking at Google satellite maps to find areas and then driving to them to see if they might work out or not. With that said, I think I’ve got it covered.

Adding to the image

The idea of the competition is to photograph the city, and with that thought maybe just photographing the view of a location or some street photography, I want to add a feature to the image that wont take away from the scene but be part of it. So I’ve enlisted the help of a friend who’s going to act as a model for me, this guy has never done anything like this and never really likes having his photo taken, but he seems to trust me for some weird reason, which I’m very thankful.

The Image

With one of the locations, I’ve got this image in my head of the location with this figure standing there and smoke behind them to add effect, but not hide the full scene of the location.

The Options

So I have a few options, hire a smoke machine, buy a can of smoke from Maplin’s or use smoke emitter pellets. The first is not going to happen as it cost to much for what this is, the second really only works in a studio and you need an assistant to help, so that leaves the smoke pellets.

Amazon seems to sell most things and even smoke pellets that are normally used to seek out problems with your chimney and seems like a possible use for this image.

So a small package arrived in the post this week and I have 10 pellets to work with. To see what the smoke was like, I lit one in the garden and for about a minute the garden was full of this white smoke!

The problem is that the smoke comes from one point on the ground and looks more like a rescue flare that’s been lit, I want the smoke to spread and be even in length across the ground.

A bit of DIY

So with some searching on the web and racking my brain, I came up with the idea of some kind of tubing that could have holes for the smoke to break through. The pellets do give off a bit of a smell, which you don’t want to be to close to and sucking in the smoke, and the pellets give off some heat as well, so the tube needs to be heat resistant. After some searching I came up with aluminium semi rigid flexible duct that used in pluming and heating. I went to my local B&Q and found a piece that’s 1.5m long and was damaged at one end, so with a bit of bargaining I got it for £5!

What I’ve done is put in about 15 holes in the tubing so that the smoke can filter through, and at the damaged end I’ve squashed it so the smoke can’t just go out through that end. I did a test this afternoon and found a small tin we have to put the pellet in and makes it easier to light and place in the tube, then blocked off the end with a piece of card with good old gaffer tape.

So guess what, it works a treat! The pellet gives off about 60 seconds of smoke and with it being confined, it comes out of the holes slower and spreads evenly.

Conclusion

Now I don’t know for sure if it will work on the day, but its cost me less than £15 and if it doesn’t work, it wont take anything from the image I will be creating, this would just add to it.

I’m going to have to work with my model and explain how its all going to work and point out that they will have to light the pellet and then run into position and pose, if nothing else it will be fun and a laugh.

I guess the point is that with a bit of imagination and research, you can come up with the same kind of thing that’s done on large sets, just on a smaller scale.

I’m hooking up with my model tomorrow to take them round to the locations so they can see what will be needed and done for the real thing next week. It will give me the chance to see how they will fit in with the image I have in mind for each of the locations and where best to place them. Its all good having it in your head, but can be different when it comes to the real thing, so this will save some time and maybe give me other ideas for what I want him to do.

Once I’ve posted the images to the competition, I will post copies on Google plus to show how good of bad they image came out, who knows it might be a winner as that’s the reason for entering the competition in the first place.

Thanks for reading, AndyD

Portait Images - The Problems One Can Face

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 13:17:00 +0000

Portrait Images…

One of things I’ve found is that unless you’re working with a model that’s trained to be in front of the camera and can take direction in what you the photographer is looking for, you get the frozen and can take time to have the person comfortable in a studio or camera environment.

Being Relaxed

For any client that’s come to you and asked you to do a portrait image of them or of a family member have an idea of an image that represents them best. But putting someone in front of a camera seems to cause that involuntary look of nervous or a blank look. Many times I’ve heard people say they hate having their picture taken, but I think this is due more to the situations they've been in when they've had the image taken and by people that like everyone else has a camera and says ‘smile’ and then they see an image they feel is un flattering, this plants the seed of not wanting to have their photo taken.

There’s a great difference to someone having a camera at an event that wants to take photos, but inclined to take the photo of a funny situation that involves that person, while a photographer goes round and looks for that interesting but relaxed look that puts them in a much better light. If you say to someone to look at the camera or look to the left, they end up with this fixated look and their desperate not to blink which involuntary makes them blink as you press the shutter.

Getting that natural look

With young children and animals it seems to work in the opposite direction where you make a noise or rattle something to gain there attention. What makes this different is their not aware as of yet what a camera is or does. Older children and adults, it’s more about getting their attention away from the camera and lights and to focus on something else.

One way is to communicate, build a conversation that leans them into forgetting why they are there, make light of something that comes up in conversation that makes them give that natural smile or laugh. Take an image of someone and ask them to look direct at the camera and then another using the commutation situation, you’re going to see a big difference in the images that makes one stand out better than the other, and that’s the relaxed look.

Using a wireless trigger

Something that I learnt while doing my self-portrait project is to use my wireless trigger to take the shot for me as I don't have anyone to help me behind the camera.

Using a wireless trigger in the same way while working with a client, gives you the flexibility and the chance to get images easier. Once you've set the lighting and camera up on the subject, you can then move away from the camera and then have your subject focus on you. For instance you want them to look slightly to the left, you move yourself to that position of the angle you want them to be in. you’re getting them to focus on you and not the camera so if you strike up that conversation and carry it through, you’re always going to have that natural look.

Moving around and communicating brings those images your trying to create without that professional model direction. A wireless trigger is there to control the shutter and doesn't need you to be behind the camera all the time. You know you've got the focal length how you want it, and the lighting, all that’s left to do is watch and click, then you’ve got the shot.

Getting the shot

I’m sure other photographers have their own techniques; this is just one way to consider working on portraits if you’re like me and you’re still learning the skills of taking good portraits. Getting those amazing shots can take time but if you find a way that makes it easier for you and the sitter, then you’re saving time and effort for both of you.

Thanks for reading, AndyD

Photography As A Business

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 15:00:00 +0000

My Story…

I’ve always been interested in photography or photographs taken by others, but it wasn't till 2013 that I got my first real camera which was the Sony A65, I did look at Canon and Nikon, but like others I had set myself a budget and the idea of being able to use other manufactured lenses was the appeal for me and I just liked the A65.

Within a few months I had purchase a few lenses and research YouTube for ideas on how to use the camera and take photos. YouTube is an enormous library that can supply awesome words of advice and step by step ways of doing things.

Facebook is a social network I've used for a long time, I have in the past set up pages and groups to do with a target shooting sport I use to do, but now I’m retired. I did try setting up a group for intermediate or people new to photography to share their images and ideas, but it was slow to take off and I don't like the way Facebook messes with the images when you post them.

Then Google was plugging its Google Plus and I found communities and photographers of all stages in their work, in one place and the layout seemed great.

It’s a bit nervous posting your own images in a world where people are much better than you at taking images and have a good eye for an image. But my experience with the site has been positive as everyone is willing to give you positive feedback on what you’re posting. For me, that what's important so to progress in my work to get better results. Seeing others work, not only makes me envious in some way but gives food for thought on what maybe I can do based on the technique that they've used.

Over the first part of 2013, I got more into what I was doing and getting better at the understanding of images and the post editing side of things. I had used up my budget and wanted to progress further, but to do that I needed to get a better understanding of photography, so I embarked on signing up for a 3 year degree in professional photography that is part of a Plymouth University degree, but done at City of Bristol College.

Right now I've done my first year and soon to start my second year, I’ve invested in a new camera body which is the Sony A99 so all my lenses would work with it, bought gear to make a small studio at home and built a website so to promote myself and to show my work in galleries that I've set up. Now I feel ready to start doing paid work, but where does one start?

Photography Business…

So I’ve done the friends and family bit and promoted on social networks and even entered competitions, but what more can be done to get one’s self out there?

I’ve decided that I won’t stick to one area of photography like Weddings and made the point in my site and in advertising that I'm freelance. Being freelance gives me a wider audience to approach, it also allows me to decide what’s possible or not in my ability physically to do jobs that come my way.

Photography is no different from other businesses in that you have others offering the same service, I don't believe in looking to lower pricing to tender for jobs out of being desperate, your work and social skills should talk volumes for them to pay the going rate and get what they pay for and leave being not just happy but to express to others how good you are as a photographer to put your name forward.

Working for yourself isn't easy and it takes drive and looking all the time at what’s around you that might bring you work, networking with social media is good but needs to be fresh and updated, just like your website and the images you’ve put there to be viewed and to tell others that there is new items to view.

I’m just starting out and would be grateful for ideas on what can be done or improved to bring clients to see me as a potential photographer they might use. There are many on Google Plus that are Professional Photographers that have been in the business for a while, your thoughts would be so welcomed to this blog feature, even though I know it’s a big ask to make a comment and share your experiences with me and those that are reading this.

Maybe there are pitfalls to take into account when setting yourself up that you know of or affected you when you started out, anything that you can comment on would be welcomed.

If you are just starting out like me, then maybe you have views on what works and doesn’t and happy to share in this blog.

We all have a love for photography and some decide to do it as a business while others do it as a hobby and maybe feel taking it to that level as a business is too much to take on or even see it as binge a risky thing to do, maybe you can explain why feel that way.

Thanks to everyone that's taken the time to read this and to say thank you in advance if you do decide to comment.

AndyD

24 Hours in Bristol 2014 Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 09:03:00 +0000

This is a competition that’s open to everyone, it does cost to enter and you can pay for extra images to be included and you get allocated a time slot that one of the images must be taken in.

Last year was the first time the competition was run and photographers had from midnight on the Saturday till midnight on the Sunday, I got the slot from midnight till 1 am! The weather was terrible with it being cold and raining added to the torment.

Like most I decided to photograph in the city centre and around the docks, a lot of photographers did same thing, and one of the finalist actually took a photo from the opposite side of the docks from me.

Hundreds of photographers took part in the event and were from all over the country and from Europe as well, it was a great event and I knew that if it was to happen again that I would take part.

There are lots of photographic competitions to part in, and in my view it worth having a go to gain experience and having the chance to have your work in a gallery for all to see.

This year the event is being run from the midday on the Saturday till midday on Sunday, I think this is a better way to do it and makes life slightly easier for all. We didn't have much of ID to say we were doing the event but this year supplied with proper ID's so that if anyone gets stopped by the police in the early hours of the morning, they will know what their up to as the council and police are made aware of the event and the Bristol Lord Mayor, is very much behind the event.

I'm not sure if this kind of competition is run in others cites in the UK or abroad, but it’s a great thing to get involved in and helps to promote your city. Over a thousand images were taken last year and I'm sure that a lot more will be taken this year.

For me, I want to have images that cover the morning, afternoon, evening and night. So over the last couple of weeks I've been looking and Google maps and travelling around all over the place to try and find something new and part of Bristol. I guess I'm lucky as I live in Bristol and have the time to look, while others maybe are just coming along for the weekend will find it slightly difficult to maybe get outside of the city centre and know where to go.

Last year images where landscape and street photography images, but I'm looking to try and find something different or to maybe photograph something in a slightly different way that’s more creative.

One tool that I've found fantastic to use for knowing where the sun is going to set or rise is called TPE - The Photographers Ephemeris App, there’s also an Android version as well as a desktop version. Where ever you are in the world, you can drop a pin on the map and it will show you where the sun will rise of set as well as when there's a full moon. You can even go to a date in the calendar and see what time and where the event will happen. The app cost about £4.00 but worth the money as you can work out before you turn up at a location where sun will be at that exact time of day, its brilliant.

There's still time to register for the event and to find out more you can visit their website which is http://www.24hoursinbristol.co.uk.

Thanks for reading, AndyD

Remote Triggers for Sony Alpha Cameras

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 11:33:00 +0000

At some point in your photography, you end up looking at getting a wireless trigger to control the shutter on your camera and some device to link your studio lighting and flash. The thing is that Sony didn't make a good job by selecting a different design in flash attachment on the camera for their top of the range cameras like the Sony A65/77/99. So when looking for a trigger it can be a bit harder as there are only a few around and the price range is either low or high and will make a difference on quality.

2.4G Wireless Aputure Trigmaster II Flash Trigger + Shutter

When I had my A65, I looked everywhere and then found Aperture made one for the camera, the build is a bit fiddly but works fine and they reckon that it will work up to 120 meters but I’ve found in the studio that sometimes it needs to be in line of sight. But it comes with all the attachments your need and the price isn't bad at about £40 and has 16 channels to work from.

I didn't have a problem with my flash working wirelessly as you just have to put the pop flash on and then the flash would work TTL from the camera, I should point out that I have the HMVL-58AM since that has the right connection for the camera and doesn't need a hotshoe to reverse it.

Sony A99

When I invested earlier this year in the A99, I knew that it didn't come with an on board pop up flash, but I thought it would still connect wirelessly to the flash, how wrong I was. So this left me with a dilemma and had to shop around for a new wireless trigger that would do the same work with the studio lighting but would work with the flash in wireless mode. I know there are makes out there like Cowboy but is hard to get outside the States. There is Pocket Wizard but at over £200 is a bit over budget for me, Sony must have listen to complaints as they do provide a hotshoe with the A99 as part of the package.

Pixel King for Sony TTL

The Pixel King is just shy of a £100 and comes with more leads than you could ask for and a handy bag to keep it all in. You may notice that there's a USB lead, well if Pixel do any firmware update then you can connect the devices to a PC and keep them up to date, so no messing around in having to look for something else if Sony decided to do an update that might not let your trigger system work.

This set comes with 3 different groups and 7 different combinations, which is more than anyone would need. It has that all-important TTL connection and has a sync speed of up to 1/8000s and will work up to 100 meters and over. I did a test and actually will work through solid walls with its radio signal, not that you would find a situation to do this but was interesting putting it through the test.

The receiver I love as I can connect it to the camera and then on top connect my

Hahnel Giga T Pro II Wireless Remote Control that I use a timer remote and for bulb work, so everything is tidy on the camera.

This is a super kit and I'm sure that for other makes of camera, it will do just as a good a job, if you need to add an extra transmitter, that’s no problem and for the price I think that it does as good a job as the more expensive models. Pixel also does a receiver that can control light power output amongst other things, but I didn't feel the need to go for that as I can make do for the time being with what I've got.

So if you’re on a budget, either of these devices will do the job and a good one at that, so don't be put off if you’re looking at getting a Sony Alpha camera as there are work a rounds for these great cameras that are easy to use and light to work with.

Thanks for reading, AndyD

What makes a good image?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 08:00:00 +0000

This isn't about an image for a client or for promotional purposes.

Any image can look good as long as whatever you're trying to capture is in focus, then you have something to work with. When I did my self-portrait project, it was difficult to work out the shot, in reference on where to sit how to sit and what lighting to use. But before then, I thought about how I was going to manipulate the image, as that’s what we do when we load the image into an editing software, even if you're adjusting the exposure or white balance, you're manipulating the image from what’s its original state was.

I had mentioned that the self-portrait was based around photographer Lee Jeffries work, and how he produces a certain look to his images that draws you into his and the models world. It’s one of many look's that could have been given to an image, and for the audience, they either like it or don't. The audience are the ones that you're showing the images to, and trying to gain acceptance from to like your work. Working with RAW files gives you the ability to enhance the image into something that is far from the look of the original, the original image can work without enhancement, and it just depends on your audience if they like this kind of work.

The audience or viewers are the ones that you're showing your image to, they are the ones that will repeatedly come back to look at your work as you progress. In today’s world of photography, we are much more likely to find an audience than those that did photography 20 odd years ago, they needed word and mouth, or exhibit their work in a gallery. Some sadly have not been recognised until they have passed away, and that is some respect is only down today’s technology and social networking that they are getting the audience that they deserve to have for their work to be seen and shared.

Sharing your work with the audience.

When you first start out in the social media scene, it can be a bit scary; you don't know if your image will have an impact that will draw and audience to your work, as that’s what you're looking for, recognition in a positive way at first. Social media is a great tool as people will click in icons that are likes and +'s and the more you get, tells you how well it's being reviewed, but is that enough for you to establish what it is about the image they like? Sadly not, as it’s limited to a yes only which you can't take any more information from.

If you’re just starting out, you want feedback as what it is they like about the image. Is it just the composition, light, colour, detail or the way you've post edited the image. I know with my own work that when the audience post's a message about the image that I get so much more from that than just the click on the icon. Good or bad critique is a good thing as it helps you to improve on what you're trying to create and it’s something that any photographer starting has to look at. On the other hand, if you’re well established, you have the ability to move the audience towards new ideas or projects that they've not seen you cover before, with that you will get some that will not agree with the move, but then a new audience is formed from that move.

Why are you doing photography?

Photography for most starts out as a hobby that soon becomes expensive as you find you need equipment to manage your images and to take them to a new level. This could be equipment like a tripod or a flash and then software to post edit your images. Some join local photography groups where you can see equipment and the end results that have helped make that image, photography is no different from any other hobby, the more you want to be able to do then the money starts to get spent.

I guess you have to look at what it is you want to get out of photography, before things get too expensive, because you can make great images that are just for your own personal viewing with the minimal amount of gear, but soon as you begin to advertise in social networks, things can begin to spiral if you don't have a hold on what you're doing photography for. Many will look at others images and have that wanting to reproduce the same technique, but then to get that kind of image, you may have to purchase equipment to help produce that kind of image.

There can be a point with all the feedback from viewers that include friends, that a time will come when you think of maybe earning a few bob from your photography, this journey needs for you to sit down and think hard on how you intend to do that. Some do it as a second job to their main job and helps to pay for the photography equipment and upgrades as a starting point.

Photography as a profession or as a second job does mean that you have to have certain things in place like Public Liability and Indemnity Insurance plus cover on your equipment, why, well if you're doing a job for someone and there’s and accident or failure on you memory card as an example, you need cover against being taken to court, and replacing your broken equipment can be expensive or put an end to your dream. Then you need to pay your taxes as you're making an earning from your photography as you are charging people and invoicing them for your work. If you don't do these things then you are leaving yourself open to a knock on the door. One thing to take into account that soon as your start earning or setting yourself up, is that any VAT you pay on purchases for your photography can be offset from the tax you pay. So the Inland Revenue will take the VAT off your income before you pay tax and there is a starting point on how much you can earn before you get taxed, so is worth finding this out and keep all those receipts safe so that you can show them to the tax man.

Promoting Yourself.

One of the main things in this day and age is having a website, this doesn't have to be expensive but it helps to exhibit your work and give information to viewers on the type of work you cover in your photography. You may well be just doing weddings or baby photography and you can build your website round that, but if you have set area, then you can show yourself as a freelance photographer. To be freelance allows you to make choices on jobs that come your way and being diverse can be a good thing and bring exciting ventures that maybe you hadn't thought of before.

Joining groups or social networks that are all based around photography is also a way to find work and get you out there. Entering competitions is another source of making a name for yourself if your image gets exhibited. And if you have the know how you could make digital photo books that then can be sold on-line, there are always new ways of getting yourself out there, but you have to think clearly before doing anything like this as it will be a case of putting money into setting all of this up, so it’s worth working out how much you are willing to invest in yourself for the first year or two.

The first gaol should be that the business as that’s what it is, is paying for itself, so you may not see a profit in your first year, but if it levels out then that’s a good thing as you've lost nothing, but you have to work hard and that means putting in un-social able hours which can have a grind on the family life at times. But if you can make something that you enjoy doing work and pay for it and even make a profit, then that’s a dream job situation. But you have to keep your feet on the ground as making it to the big time is something that only works for the few, but there is nothing wrong with having a dream and being able to work towards that.

Thanks for reading and hope you found it informal, AndyD

Self Portrait

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 10:09:00 +0000

Ive just finished my first year of my Foundation Degree in Professional Photography, and now the first year if over I'm kind of looking back and what I've done and where I am. I've learnt so much and done what I think is well with an average of 65% pass (40% is minimum pass), that my confidence in what I do has grown.

Now that we've got the summer break, it's knowing what to do so that I can keep the rhythm going. When I was sat with my tutor, I was asked what did I think I would do over the summer and it came to mind that maybe I would do a series of images that were self portraits or selfies which seems to be the in word.

I took a week to relax and do nothing, but it soon felt that I should be doing something, so I began the journey.

Over the last year, I've built my gear up and even invested in a new camera as I had kind of out used the features of the old camera and I know the benefit of having a full-frame camera. My studio equipment was another area thats been built up over the past few months, and I know that in my second year we will be doing a lot of studio work, so its worth getting some practice in over the summer to find new ways of working with equipment and lighting in particular.

So after setting up the studio and getting myself in front of the lens, I drew a blank as to what was going to be a self portrait, is there a formula to it or do I just try and pose and click the shutter and see what happens? As I looked at the first couple of image the posing side of things just wasn't working, I now understand what its like for those that I photograph and direct in what pose I wanted them to do, it seems like there is a learning side to being a model and being able to work with a photographer. I have always looked at the idea that when working in the studio or on location, that I would be looking for that natural look, something thats un staged, to do this you have to communicate with your sitter, and on a level of just having a chat while at the same time asking them to move their head of arm etc to what you're looking for in the shot. Getting a smile or laugh, you have to find things that will make them do this, either in a joke or something that you have in common. It doesn't matter if you know the person or not, you need that communication to be able to come up with that shot that they've hired you for.

But when it's just you and know one else, your on a whole different level of doing portrait images, you don't have that direction. After half the day gone by I started to just face the camera with the remote shutter in one hand and looking at things around the room and then taking the shot. Now I was getting images that reflected me and how I look to others, how do I know that, well because I was just being relaxed and focusing on something other than the lens. I would move myself to different directions and adjust how sit in my chair, either sitting forward with my chin in my hand, to looking up and closing my eyes as a kind of sigh of relief.

I looked at the images initially and then left them alone for a few days before going back to them.

Know at the stage, I wanted to work out a way of post editing them images. I'm a great fan of the photographer, Lee Jeffries and his dark and powerful looking images that he's done in the passed of the homeless, they have such character and definition to his images that I wanted to try and edit my images in a technique that was similar to how he produces his images. I don't know how he does his work apart from the small piece of info that he uses a dodge and burn technique, there are plenty of ways to work with an image to come with something similar. As I started on the first one, it just wasn't happening in Photoshop, so I did a slight HDR single image, and this began to come together as I then reworked the image in Photoshop.

The images might look I've been working in a coal mine or something, but the images highlight the blemishes in my skin because of my age and the wrinkles that are there. The idea of a self portrait is not to hide from what I actually look like to others, but to except those blemishes and flaws that I have. Yes, they are over exaggerated, but this is about me being happy in my own skin as it's the only one that I have!

I'm 51 tomorrow, but someone close that had no idea of my age was asked how old did they think I was, and they replied mid forties! well I know that I don't look my age as many have made the same comment, I'm just lucky with the look that I have to seem I younger than I am. But imagine if I had retouched the image to get ride of the blemishes and wrinkles, I could have taken off another 10 years and look like I was in my thirties, but this would not be me or who I am and would be going against the idea of a series of images that are about me in the now and not then.

I've done not just colour but also black and white as I personally like black and white and its just my preference, and will when they are all complete post on my website in the gallery section and will let those that have read this know.

It has been an interesting journey and would recommend to others to have ago and see what you come up with, it's not easy but I feel that its very rewarding and has given me the view of what its like being behind the lens with me taking the photos. I think that it will make a difference on how I will work with sitters or models for the future, not dramatically but a slight difference in my approach.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and hope that it's been informative. AndyD

Street Confidence

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 08:53:00 +0000

Firstly I'm know expert but I believe in sharing knowledge, ideas and views, that way we can learn from each other at whatever level we are at.

The fascinating thing about photography is that there's so many different forms or areas we can cover, anything from still photography, sports, wildlife and street photography as just some to mention. For me I've not found one area that I prefer over another, maybe because I'm doing it more as a hobby that I'm looking to take the one step further in doing a foundation degree in professional photography which is over three years as a part time course and I hope that maybe it will give me a step up in the world of photography, if not then I will at least have a lot more under my belt to do photography in what ever way it comes.

My personal view is that when you get into photography, you start to see the world around you in a different way. For that photograph you see an image in your head of how you would like to see it as a print or a visual aid on a screen. Soon as you put that viewfinder to your eye you begin to move the focal length and angle of the camera to the point that you decide to press that button. If your like me or others your change the angle and camera view so many times that you end up taking maybe 5, 10 or more images of the same thing. Its not till you get home and you load them onto your PC and scan through them all, you start to weed out the ones that for what ever reason you feel don't work and your left with maybe 2 or 3 that has something for you to work on.

Then the work begins as you decide in what form the image is to be in its colour range, this could be anything from B&W, tinted, HDR or just colour, what ever comes into your head may again change so many times which is the great thing about digital is that you can make as many copies as you want to try different effects until you have the final image that your happy with.

Some forms of photography don't involve people, children, animals which are probably some of the hardest things to photograph as they don't always do what you when you want. Then there's photography that involves people, children and animals that are in the environment of the street.

Have you ever herd of the term people watching? You can sit on on one of those benches that I reckon is put there for the population to take the weight off their feet while their better half is busy in the shop and could be there for some time.

If you sit there and watch the people that go pass you or are in the foreground doing something which could be just looking at something in a window or in their view that as an image would be an interesting subject. People, children and animals can do the funniest or interesting things from the point of view as a photographic image to be captured. Their looks or mannerisms can be captivating and it doesn't have to be just a single person, it could be a group of people and you just wished you had your camera to capture it.

Today we live in a world of images, why, because everyone has a camera on them that capture stills and video, this is how most of the social websites have grasped on to the fact and want people to have their devices in their hands at all times to get that image and load it up on there social network. Sadly something's are captured that can be devastating and upsetting with the initial view, but that can be used as a positive to help protect us from things or people that cause such things to happen that we sadly caught on our devices. This has only come about in the what last 6-7 years with the devices and social networks being as good as they are.

When someone holds up a mobile phone to take pictures, nobody really takes much notice, someone with a DSLR in there hands do stand out if there in an area where they are the only one taking photos so it does attract attention and takes someone to so bold to do so. But if your in a place where tourist are in their swarms with their DSL's or DSLR's, nobody takes any notice, strange isn't it. But as practice to do street photography, its a great place to start and importantly build your confidence in taking photos of people, children and animals.

In three ours you can capture around about 170 or more images, that's plenty to work on for a three hour session. If you take the part of watching people and using your camera to capture those moments or interesting people, you can build up those all important skills.

A street has not just the tourist but the shoppers and the people on their way to work, or on a lunch break and those benches filled with with the people taking the weight off their feet that I mention earlier. So when you spot something you have to time yourself lifting viewfinder to your eye and being in the right focal length that's near enough and lastly nobody getting in the way of the you pressing that shutter.

What I've learnt is a few things to that you can do to get things ready to be able to capture that shot.

If you have a camera that you can adjust the viewfinder to give what's called eye relief which is where you can see the info that's around the edge of the view that you see while taking the photo. Most people close the other eye when there taking a photo, but you can adjust it so that you can have both eyes open. The advantage is that when you see the image you want to capture you can see in front of you things or people that might get in the way, you can time it so that you can view through the viewfinder and then see when then object or person is going to pass so you can get that image.

The other thing is playing with the focal length so that you know roughly what it will be if 25 feet away and say another point that's only 15 feet away. So again when you see an image, you can turn the focal length up as you bring the camera up to your eye, it helps safe time in trying to get that focal length almost there and saving lost of time.

Just these two things can help and does take practice which you can do at home or in the back garden or in a park.

To move up your game to not needing the tourist to kinda hide behind just needs you to be subtle in your approach. Going up to someone and asking if you can take the photo can seem a bit daunting but what's the worse they can, no, so you move on. If your taking photos and someone asks you what you photographing, then be up front and tell them your doing street photography, but you don't have to go into the whole technical side about it all, if there that interested let them google it.

As it stands in the UK we don't need permission to take photos and until that day changes we should snap away, but if they ever did and this goes for the rest of the world, how do you stop all those people that includes us from not taking photos, its un policeable.

I hope that maybe someone finds this useful if its a thing that they want to have ago at but has never been sure on how to go about it. There is some great and interesting people and moments out there waiting for you to capture, so have fun and get out there and have a go.

Thanks for reading, AndyD

Vivian Maier The Unseen Photographer

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 08:48:00 +0000

This is my own personal tribute to a photographer that I think we all aspire to be as good as, I have no images to post with this or any writings, just my own personal thoughts after watching the BBC program called 'Vivian Maier: Took Nanny's Pictures?'

Firstly it's so sad that this wonderful lady never got to see how we the public that have had the chance to see some of her images have taken to her work as an amazing street photographer. Today we have the digital cameras and all the software to make our own works to stand out, she on the other hand would take some of her rolls of film to the local chemist that used to arrange the processing of images. Its seems like our world and her world have collided as her works that are still on negatives or even on rolls of films are being process by today's technology and post processed, I wonder how she would feel about that.

As we know that all her works were in boxes or suitcases that were in storage that she paid heavily to store all these items and then when she ran out of money the lockup buyers moved in and bought up these storage units with no idea what they had. What is so so sad is that all her work has been broken up and as the company that bought the storage units throw away her personal writings that probably hold the key to who Vivian really was and what she thought of the world around her.

Its clear that she was very much a lonesome person even though she worked as a nanny and the children that she looked after as a nanny really don't seem to know much about her apart from her roll as their nanny and at times she took photos with her Roloflex camera.

The thoughts of today is that she spent most of her money on rolls of film and the Roloflex camera only took very few images but her hit rate with no miss shot photos was amazing when you see how hard it was to use the camera that she had. Those of us that have had ago at street photography know how fast pace the street world around us is and how you have to instinctively see the image before it happens, for her it was almost like she had a third eye and was extremely good at seeing the image before she took it.

With the images she captured that are close up, it would seem that she almost melted into the street as she was able to capture that natural look and was able to see the thoughts that was going through the person mind as she was photographing them. She also had the talent to approach her characters to ask them to take their photo, she didn't have the untrusting thoughts of people as today's street photography has.

She was able to capture images of herself is so many mirrored ways that, but each one that I've seen she looks so stern and almost lost in a world that had so many different things going on with it. She seems to be in the right place at the right time, something today we wished we were able to do, but life was very different in her era and she showed the world of the streets from all sides from those that almost had nothing to those that had everything. Some of her characters could of seen her as an easy target to relieved her of her bag or camera to make a few bucks, but it seems that the people she approached saw her as no threat and was happy to be part of something, if only they knew what they would become in the images that Vivian captured.

Her skills too me was to see the world around her, to take a step back and actually look. The very fact that most of her work was B&W she was dependent on the shop she would take her rolls of film to, would do a good job that she would keep the images. We don't know if she was able to process her one rolls of film.

I think from what I've seen that she was a very private person, the fact that know one knew who she was or her work, it makes me think how would she feel knowing what has happen to her work, the fact that people are paying thousands of dollars for one picture that would of covered her rent for more than that month, that she could have had a comfortable life, specially in her last years of her life. At the end of the program one neighbour says that she looked like a bag lady, is that how she wanted it to be, would she have been able to cope with the huge media attention that has grabbed the photographic community today, we will never know and maybe that's a good thing.

Now that we know of and her work, is it fare that those that have parts of it that they bought for a couple of hundred bucks should hold onto it and make their money from her silent and unpaid for work. Would it not be better to be put in a museum so that the world can see for free as she did in taking the images in the first place, she asked for nothing and got noting but the sole of the images that she captured over her lifetime.

Thank you Vivian Maier for being the person you were and bless you for capturing a world that many of us aspire to be able to do in our own lifetime as growing photographers that like you started with the minimal of equipment and have learnt so much from your personal images over your lifetime.

Thank you for reading, AndyD

The Spiral Bridge

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 03 May 2014 15:11:00 +0000

The Image - Spiral Bridge.

As photographers, we look through the viewfinder and line the shot up and press the shutter, or do we?

I guess that may have been how I used to take photos, but so much time has passed or at least it feels like that, now I look at images in a different way.

When I see an object or a scene, I look at it with my eyes so that I can see the whole picture and from different angles, it may take a minute or more because of other factors that either make the image or spoil it in someway. Things like light, rain and people, when I say people its more of a case that they just don't suit the image that I'm looking to create from the scene, let me explain.

Take good look at the image and then imagine that there are no people on the bridge, if you put a finger on each person on the image, you get an idea how it may look without them on there. It becomes an empty space with just the curve of the bridge and the building to view, it would feel like there's something missing that can make it more than just a spiral bridge, that's how it is for me, but as you the viewer, you only get a part of the image. You don't see how tall the building in the centre or right is, you don't get to see the bridge in its entirety or how wide the river below is, you see only what I've allowed you to see. So with that in mind, I need to make the image interesting that you will hopefully like it because of what I've done to create the scene as I've done.

The great thing about black and white is that a grey day just doesn't matter, in some cases it can add to the black and white because of the dull light. Then in post editing, you can add or delete effects of light and shadow to bring the image into a new dimension that embraces the scene.

Sitting at one end of the bridge looking towards the scene, I waited and waited as people pass me by with me making a mental note of how they were dressed or had with them, I would look through the viewfinder at people that I was interested in and did snap one or two, but many just passed by as they just didn't fit the scene. I've learnt you don't have to rush taking your images, if you relax into it then things become more clear to what your trying to achieve.

The image...

The gentleman had passed me and I could see how his hands was in his pockets of his trousers and his bag over his should and directly in the centre of his back, and the best bit was that he walked in the centre of the bridge, unlike other that stayed close to the rail like the women that is coming from the other direction towards me.

I had followed him through my viewfinder till the point that he was at the midway point between me and the other end of the bridge and then pressed the shutter, bang! I got the shot I was waiting all that time for. It's not perfect as I wished that the women wasn't on the bridge, but in some respect for me she doesn't do any harm to the image or scene if your prefer to look at it that way. This isn't a staged shot in that I had a model to walk in the central part of the bridge wearing what I wanted them to wear and so to hold that point till the bridge was clear of people, why, because this isn't an image for a magazine or advert, but life and a candid view that I waited for and so has its imperfections.

So I have a colour image that I know that will be revamped into a black and white, but I have to make it pop (the favoured word for making an image stand out), to do that I use Lightroom.

The first thing is to make a virtual copy of the RAW file so I'm not working on the original, I could do by working on it and then exporting the final image and then clicking or the reset button, but if it doesn't work then I've messed up the original for ever. The next part is to drop the contrast and make the whites and black slightly dull and add a bit of clarity, then I'm ready to begin painting.

I use a tablet pen when I work on a image so that I have full control, Bamboo is a good make to look at and very easy to use. The image is made up of black and white and then in the middle a mixture of different greys, so I decide to which of the greys to increase or decrease by using the slider for exposure and then paint in and once done, play with the contrast if needs be. Then the whites or lighter greys I brighten once painted with decreasing the exposure. So the image get's built up and bring the image more alive than a mono image look.

Just looking at the floor of the bridge, I've increased the exposure and then painted slight greys to add effect to the floor so give a kind of graining to the floor.

I had read about this technique from a french photographer, which is no relation to myself by the way, and I know some have thought that was done as an HDR, but know, its a single image and just worked on in Lightroom with no help from Photoshop.

For some people this might be interesting that it is all done in Lightroom as Photoshop is expensive yet you can come up with interesting looks on an image.

I'm still learning and more importantly experimenting with my images, to me that's what makes photography or part of it fascinating to do. There is so much out there and so much we can learn and do that it can never become mondain or boring in doing photography, I on wished that I had done this many years ago than now, but I do what I can and share with others, and if they enjoy my work then maybe I can be on par with my mentors and well known photographers that are talked about some day in my lifetime.

Thank you for reading, AndyD

Getting That Buzz!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 17:58:00 +0000

When I tell people that I'm a photographer, I get asked what kind, and I explain that I'm freelance and don't have a set area that I work in. Living in a city gives me availability to photograph streets, buildings, people and events, but I also get out into the countryside which opens up into a whole new world of things to photograph.

There are plenty of interesting buildings and anchient ruins to photograph as well as beautiful landscapes and rivers to follow. You also have the different times of the day and weather conditions that can change a view to something new and interesting that maybe you've not photographed before. This could be said of the different seasons, which can change a city view but not as much the countryside.

I have this thing of looking at Google maps and choosing an area to go an explore by car, I would. Love to be able to ramble across fields and woods, but my chair and muscles just can't cope with that side of photographing in the countryside. But I don't let that stop me from exploring in my own and in my own unique way.

When I've found an area of interest, then I drive around in circles at times and choose a lane that takes my fancy and then drive to the end of it to see what lies at the end. Not always but sometimes I can travel a few miles with the lane getting more and more narrow and then, just when I think there's nothing to be found, it opens up to a gold mine of natural beauty. This is the buzz that I'm sure others that walk for miles get when they find something that maybe know one else has seen before.

I look at the English countryside as a place not just of beauty but enchantment and I feel fortunate to have access to it. Yes, I see photographs from around the world that I think I would love to cover myself, but the chances of that happening is slim, but I'm happy with my lot in that I can find beauty and anusual images that surround me and I don't have to travel hundreds of miles to find it.

At the weekend I went over the Severn Bridge to Chepstow, after doing some images down by the river Wye, it got me thinking that this is a long river and there must be some amazing views along the river that just maybe I might be able to find.

I'm dependent on my chair, but just as much on my car as it allows me to be independent from my family that support me in my love for photography, to go out like a kid going hunting for Easter eggs by driving around to find something interesting.

So I started driving up a winding main road and was watching the sat nav and found a turning that looked interesting.

I must of drove for 20 minutes with the lane getting close to a wooded cliff and pot holes all over the road. Then near the end, I came out of the woods to an open space where the land levelled out. There was a farmhouse at the end of the lane, but I could see that there was an amazing view by their farm, so after tooting my horn and speaking the owner I had the afternoon to explore the views. What I hadn't notice was they had a field filled with beautiful Highland cattle with some that were black and the others brown, they were amazing and did me a favour by coming near to the gate for me to photograph them. It was just a jem of a find that I forgot what I was there for, which was the view looking down at the river Wye.

Its fair to say I had a good afternoon photographing in a 10 mile radius of the landscape and the river and some animals as an unexpected find that I didn't think I would see locally to the area.

Photographing in the countryside needs time to take in the view, but to look beyond that. It's also helped me to think about my photography of the city that I live in, and to spend more time looking round corners just to see what's there as it could be a scene or an object that makes that interesting image that maybe others may enjoy as much as I do.

Thanks for reading, AndyD

Copyright - Right or Wrong?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 17:47:00 +0000

Firstly read the article below...

Dorset Police have to handover Paedophiles Laptop intact.

The pedophile’s laptop contains images of the girl he abused

Dorset Police officers have said it would be "unlawful" to delete intimate photos of a young abuse victim from a pedophile’s laptop.

The man was jailed in 2013 for nine years after admitting a string of sex offences, including assaulting a child under the age of 13.

He has now formally requested a laptop and a mobile telephone are handed back.

Liberty, which represents the victim's family, said photos of her in swimwear and leotards are still on his computer.

Dorset Police said they couldn’t delete them, as they are not legally classified as indecent or prohibited.

As a result, the sex offender, who is in his 50s but cannot be named to protect the identity of his victim, will have access to a large number of personal photos of the girl when he is released from jail.

The victim's mother says: "I am appalled that the man who abused my child can ask the police to hand over our family photos for him to keep for the rest of his life. My daughters struggles every day with the devastating consequences of his abuse and this will only make them feel more humiliated and degraded. Why should we continue to be traumatised further?"

'Violation of dignity'

Liberty argues the return of the computer and mobile would breach articles three and eight of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protect against inhuman treatment and invasion of privacy respectively.

In a letter to Dorset Police, Liberty said the prospect of having the photos returned to the abuser is "causing the girls a significant amount of distress" and would be "an enormous violation of their dignity and personal integrity".

The abuse has caused the victim to suffer "enormous psychological harm" and she eats very little, self-harms frequently and is at risk of suicide, Liberty said.

Rosie Brighouse, legal officer at organisation, said: "We urge the police to protect these victims' dignity. It's surely common sense that these vulnerable girls aren't degraded further?"

In a reply, Dorset Police said "present options" are limited as the legislation used to seize the phone and computer requires officers to return the property.

The force added: "Furthermore it would be unlawful for police officers to alter the computer and phone's memories by removing the disputed photographs before returning them."

British law at times can be an ass, and that's putting it mildly. In a circumstances like this, you have to ask why should these items be returned as they probably would have been used as evidence in the case against this bloke.

If there was a case for copyright to be overturned, this would be in the top five, but surely cases like this should be taken by the police to high court, with a strong case for not allowing this guy to have his items back, or if not then for the hard drives to be reformatted so the images were no longer available.

I really feel for the family as they know that he will have images their daughter, that he can view at his leisure as a reminder of what he did.

Things like this, that are simple to resolve, make me sick to the stomach. He must be laughing his head knowing that he's had the last laugh and at the expense of child that he's already scarred for life.

Stories like this should be talked about on social networks to show the family the support of many against what has been allowed, not by the police as they seem to have their hands tied and I'm sure those involved in the case must feel as I and many do, which is angry at the law that should be there to protect the venerable and young.

If your feelings are as mine, then please share this story with others to show support to the parents of this young child.

AndyD

Sony A99 First Play

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 11:28:00 +0000

Sony A99 Camera

For most of my friends know that I started with the Sony A65 half-frame camera, and its done me proud in the images that helped me to capture. But there is a time I think when you get into Photography in a more professional level that you can out run a camera and the features that it offers.

The A65 is a great camera, the only downside is the flash fitting that we all know they changed from the universal fitting to a four pin shoe, this limited you to what flash you used and remote triggers, but putting that all to one side, its still a great camera in my view.

When I started looking at what to get to upgrade to a more professional camera, I didn't and couldn't afford to start from scratch in buying a whole new load of lenses. I have about ten lenses in my bag and they all do a certain job, from two telephoto lenses, one ultra wide and the prime lenses.

I know that the all the manufactures are going for the retro look, which is fine for that just walking around work, but for more industry style images you have to revert back to the normal andconventional cameras.

So the A99 was my choice after much reading on reviews and talking to people that actually own one, and the great thing is that my lenses fit this body, but they've stuck stuck to the conventional flash shoe, but for the fix for those like me that bought the HVL-F58AM flash, they supplied free of charge ahot shoe adaptor, which works fine, so no need to go out and get a new flash or remote trigger system etc.

While I was about it, I also got the battery grip but was slightly annoyed that for £300, they didn't include some batteries! The battery grip though is more that just a battery pack as when you do portrait images you have a shutter button on the grip and a few other buttons to tweak that image. The grip is so comfortable and when attached to the main body, with a lens and flash, its half the weight of say a Nikon. Everything is within easy reach, button wise and the LCD screen is far better set than on the A65, you can even do a selfy if you wanted to as it goes is all directions for great viewing.

I could go through all the different setting but you can see other blogs for that, this is just a personal view on the camera and how it feels and looks. But the the images have great colour and when looking closer at the colour aberration, there is very little magenta in the images, the ISO doesn't start to deteriorate till about 16,000 so great for low light shooting. The bracketing is great for that HDR work we do with Photomatix etc and does come with a HDR image if you wanted it.

The camera is full of great features, but like many have said, it is power hungry, so the battery grip is a good option to get.

The price of £2,350 or there about's is hefty, and I decided to go down the road of leasing the camera by using Culmanet which is a professional photography company and have underwriters that is just for the purpose. So no big loan with interest rates to worry about and a set monthly outlay and paid off in three years. Leasing photographic equipment gives photgraphers that are starting out to get the best with ease,I couldn't of afforded that kind of money straight out, but if I want to take professional looking images that then hopefully goes towards paying for the camera, then that's got to be a good thing and there is know reason not to pay off earlier.

I love the camera and starting to play and I think that because I've had one of Sony's A series cameras beforehand, does give that little heads up as most of the camera has the same layout of buttons with just a few new ones to learn about, but you can adjust while looking through the viewfinder with ease and none of this having to look where you have to place you thumb to click on a setting for those changes, its much lighter than other makes of camera which is a real benefit for me as I struggle with heavy gear. Yes the camera does look bulky, but once its in your hand then it moulds to you, so there is know struggling when it comes to taking an image even quickly.

Thanks for reading, AndyD

Composition of an image

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 18:09:00 +0000

First off, I'm no expert far from it but I'm learning that you have to build the image more than just pointing a lens at what's in front of you.

I recently visited the area where I was brought up which is part of the Cotswolds and has some of the most beautiful almost un touched villages around, but with that said, they still have things like satellite dishes, sun umbrella's and of course our favourite, cars in the way at times.

The village of Howell has about 12 houses that make up the village and a church with a mermorial cross that is centre of the village. When I arrived, one of the locals was out washing his car, while a lady was sat on a step of the memorial cross, and by the side of the church was a car parked up with a lady reading a magazine. Now when I point these things out it does seem slightly weird, but that was the scene.

I had a number of images that I wanted to do that would be worked into HDR, since I know the village well, I had an idea of what the composition was going to be. So I parked up and got my chair out and looked around. I wanted two images of the church and one of the memorial cross, but there was things in the way like the lady sat down and the car. So I put the camera around my neck and was about to go and speak to the lady in the car to ask her nicely if she could just move it back so that I could get the shot I wanted. The thing is, when you see an image but have a person that's in the way of the shot is not to be scared to go up and ask them nicely if they could just move for a couple of minutes and you'll be out of their way within a few minutes. Peoeple can be nice if you explain what your doing and why and when your done, you can show them the shot so that they can see why you asked if they could move.

But before I could get there, a 4x4 pulled up and the women sat on the step of the memorial cross was up and getting into the vehicle and then before I knew it, the women in the car had got out and locked her car and walked over and got in as well. Now the weird thing is that I had been there a few minutes and yet these two ladies acted like they didn't know each other, but got into the same vehicle and drove off!

OK, enough of the weird.

So I was left with one image of the church and this time round I had my Sigma 10-20 wide angle lens to take the shot. When you look at the image you could say I could of moved more to the left to get more of the church in the picture, but then the one of trees would of obscured the front entrance of the church which is a point of interest of the church. If I had moved more to the left, then all I would of gained is the side part of the church which is of little interest. So I stuck with getting the major points of the roof, the main entrance and 99% of the main window, and filling the main frame with the main point of eye being the church front with the trees filling the sides of the image.

The stone wall does a good job in that it leads away as you look from right to left, but still takes you to view of the church that's not an obscure view that you can get with a lens like this.

The thing to point out is that I had move from the right to the left of the church to see what kind of image I would get from being at a certain point along the wall. There is a lovely little white gate that leads to the front door of the church and I have done that image before, so wasn't going to do the same image again and it didn't work with the 10-20 as I did have a look just to make sure. With the use of the tripod, I feel that I got the best angle from my height position of the church and I can say that I'm happy with composition of the church.

So if you have time and space, its worth looking from right to left or either way through the lens to see what kind of image you can compose. Maybe you have a few different lenses to try and see what can be achieved, move to different possible positions to see what works and doesn't work. I personally think that there's no right or wrong shot if you've seen what you can do, someone else can go along and choose a different angle from me, doesn't mean that either shot is better than the other as its just a difference of angle to show in the image which I've done one or two others in the past, so I wanted something different for me.

This second image is obscured and now that I look at it, the seems like it lacking something as all your really looking at is a garden rock wall with a bush above, with some roof tops and at the front of the image you have some of the stone fencing from the memorial cross slightly blurred because I used a 35mm lens. But what you can't see is the vehicles that were parked at either end of the image and is why I went as close as I did. But as an HDR, its give me something to work on and so the outcome of that part of the image, I'm quite pleased with.

I guess what I'm saying in this is that its ok for you to be critical of your own work, it was a sample image that might have work, but I know I had little movement to capture the country scene that I was trying to put together. But if I go back (and I will), I know where I've gone wrong and work towards reviewing the angle that I can get next time to showthe lovely building that's there.

This image talks for its self in that its an image of the memorial cross and I think its clear to see that I used my 10-20 wide angle lens. With this image there are three points to the image, the road to the left, the road to the right and the cross its self.

When I set up the camera and looked through, I had more of the road infront of me and the front stone with the chain on it was dead centre. The image isn't about this stone and its about the cross, so I moved slightly right, but another part the image was the clump of trees to the right of the small stone building that I wanted to use to fill that space. The final part of the jigsaw was to have the building on left in view right to its own edge of the out building.

My final part was the height that I set the camera. When using a wide angle lens like this, is that it can obscure objects, I.e. The stone at the front is larger than the rest as they all look simular in size or a normal resize of looking at objects of the same height that go further away, and the cross looks normal.

Granted there are some things that I would of liked not to be in the frame like the pole line and the white lines in the road, but these are things that I can live with. As I explained these images were for the purpose of doing them in HDR, what I love about HDR is its effect to bring objects of the image more real in its contrast, exposure and colours. I would never of got the cloud formation that's there without maybe using a high density filter, but then the rest of the image would of been too dark. The sunlight comes about 10 o'clock from my left and brightens the sky from that area and shows the shadow of the cross falling across the road.

I think sometimes we can be too quick with the shutter when in reality we have all the time in the world, I often revisit a sight because I missed something that I didn't realise till I got home. I could of taken my laptop with me to check the images, but this was a day out and not a full on shoot for a certain purpose. We need to have fun in photography when its our own time and what we miss things, they can be redone in another visit as you know what you wanted in the image and can work to that point next time.

I thought I would show this image as this is about composition and how we can use space. I've been spending sometime experimenting in having subjects not dead centre of my image, but to the left to right. This is an example of how I've placed the person in the shot to the right, when you look at the image your drawn to this point, but to me it doesn't look obscured as you have the person walking pass in the foreground as well as the shop window, then to the far right you have this kind of wooden slats that at an angle. None of this matters as its just about filling space, what's nice in this HDR is how the stone that he's sat on and bottom of the object to the left of him blends together with his jeans. Then you have his jacket nearly the same colour as his lunchbox, neither of these objects have been coloured to make the effect, its totally natural. In that sense.

I could find more to talk about the image but again its just an example of composition and filling of space can work, and at the right angle and height.

I don't have at this point in my life of photography an area that I feel I need to be set in, I enjoy landscapes and city views as I enjoy people and and black and white, its great to be free and to express yourself in different forms of images. HDR is an area that enjoy and I have a burst over a few months at doing them and then move back to another form of photography.

What ever we do, we are always experimenting with different images set at different angles, and by re tracing our steps by going back we can fix the problems that we've found at the monitor that we missed when looking through the viewfinder. The viewfinder is a small area to look at the scene in front of us, I've found myself spending time not just looking at the centre point of what will be the image, but what else is there that maybe I don't want and by moving slightly, I can get rid of that so less work in cropping the image that might make it seem awkward in the finished post processing.

Thanks for reading, AndyD

A New Semesta

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 20:39:00 +0000

One of the assignments for this samesta is reality or unreality image. This may sound slightly weird but when you look at what's being done by a lot of photographers by taking images and re sampling them into one for another, there is a touch of unreality.

The first thing that came to mind for me is HDR. HDR has not made much impact in the world of galleries or billboards when you look around. There are some amazing images that have been reconstructed into HDR by some real talented people. For myself, I've done a few and had good feedback, specially in the last six months or so.

I was reading a post by John Lang who is the chair for the NPPA's Ethic's & Stanards Comminttee on the Natianional Press Photographers Assocaiton website and they had what I guess was an example image by the well known HDR photographer, Trey Ratcliff, but it seems to have been taken down but the spot still is still there. But the subject was about several photography directors and picture editors asking about the ethical consideration of HDR photography and using HDR images in their publications. The short answer was no they couldn't be seen to be used because of the total editing of an image to make it more dramatic or less dramatic of the event that it covered would be un ethical in journalism of newspapers and such like.

Personally I get that, as the public have the right to see the actual image in its entirety, but with that said, HDR could be used in some advertisements to promote a product, but not to show it as a copy of a product but as an external support to a product, not sure if that makes sense or not, but it could help to give adverts that WOW factor which is what HDR images do.

The crazy thing is that maybe some photographers don't like HDR, same could be said that some don't like black and white or digital. But if you show an HDR image to a the general public alongside the normal, they will go for the HDR as the one they like, there is testimonial to this on the net.

Graphic art has made it to the galleries and exhibitions, but why hasn't HDR, what is so wrong that exhibitors aren't crying out for photographers work to be shown, I guess that's a big question that's been asked for sometime now and know one has done an interview or publish why they don't show HDR images.

When you start out HDR in our form, you get your five or seven images depending on what you doing sorted with different exposure at increments of +1 or -1, you need to them into a software that can batch images and use the tools for HDR like Photomatix. Photomatix has just released their latest version which is 5 and at first hand it looks good with the improvement.

The thing is that when you start out, its so easy to over cook an image as you keep moving sliders to get more dramatic than maybe a simple look that does the job. As you learn and read, this kind of software is only the first stage and you have to take the HDR into Photoshop and start working with some of the other exposures that you've taken as part on the main image. Layering, masking and painting with a tablet pen is what will give that rich and fine image that you've been working on creating.

It's where photographers can become artist with the canvas being the RAW images and the tablet pen and the paint brush.

It' s one of the great things about digital is that you can work all day on an image and then sit back and look to see if you feel its turned out how you envisage it to be, sometimes the vision can get obscured or something that you didn't think about can come into the image. But there is a flip side in that you can look at the finished piece and then decide that its not got what you were looking for, but you don't have to be totally dishearten as you can start from scratch as you have the original images to begin again.

Question - is HDR reality or unreality?

There are today two forms of HDR that can be a bit confusing. Some of the latest camera's or phones have what they call HDR capability, what they do is take three images at different exposures and then tie them together by the camera software. I have to say images done by camera like this do look real sharp and great colours. So that's one HDR.

The other is as mentioned using a software like Photomatix or NIK HDR and this turns the image into something that looks completely different to the camera version and takes the format to another level and produces an image that is very different from the camera version.

So you could say that a camera version is more reality and a software version is more unreality.

The unreality version has that great colour, contrast and look of depth, but then its also includes a look of fantasy or in some cases cartoon like as the colours and look are more pastel coloured and look more like a watercolour, this is a great look in itself, but the photographers that can make the images look magical and keep that realism of the image can create a fantasy and you could say stylish look to an image.

Google+ has a stepping stone for photographers working in HDR, they even have their own HDR software which is part of the NIK collection. So more has to be done to push this new and great photography or art, depending on how you see it.

When I spoke to my tutor about this assignment and using HDR, it was a question of why and how did I see it being part of unreality, the only word is that I can create a fantasy image with the use of the camera, to give the subject that fantasy look, I will then work on to create the unreality look in the image that I will put forward. I have to say I didn't get a feeling of enthusiasm from them, and maybe because they aren't a fan of HDR, but I hope that when done, they will see pass that and see through the process that I put into the raw image to finish with the edited image that will be unreality as its obscured like any other unreality image that's pulled apart in Photoshop to get the final look.

Thanks for reading, AndyD

Foundation Degree in Professional Photography.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 09:37:00 +0000

A Degree in Professional Photography

Website: Foundation Degree Website for Students and Course Info

Back at the beginning of 2013 when I started doing photography in a more productive way and began to show my work on Google+, I was surprised by the support of people that I didn't know, in telling me that they like what I did.

It got me thinking one day on the way home from taking some photos locally, where am I going to take this photography? I guess that's when I started to look at photography in a different light and wanted to try and make what I had already learnt myself better and with more professionalism that might lead to a day where I could promote my work in an exhibition or something along those lines.

Google+ has been amazing for me, as I've made some good friends that I've met and others that I communicate over the net via messages on work and the Google Hangouts with video conferences that helps put a voice to a face. But I felt that I wanted to learn more and explore photography more in depth and the only way to do that was some kind of course.

The City of Bristol College runs a foundation degree course in partnership with Plymouth University, so in part we are students of Plymouth but doing the course via the City of Bristol College.

When I was researching for a course that would suit me and came across this one, I thought great, this is just like what I'm looking for. When I applied I had to go for an interview and was told to bring a portfolio. Portfolio! just the word sent me into overdrive as I didn't have such a thing, all I had was the images that had been seen only on Google+. So with a quick email I asked if I could bring my iPad down and show some of my work off on that, luckily they were OK with that.

Being that this was a college, I knew that I would be one of the older students that they'd have around and not sure that about having screaming girls all over the place, boys being boys trying to show who was the cool guy to hang around with, but I know that would not be bothering me and I was going to be there for a purpose.

I decided to apply for the part-time course as it gave some leeway, and when I had my interview, it was mentioned that you have a bit more time to take things in. The senior tutor Mr C is a great guy and so is Mrs B who is the other tutor on the course. I had my interview with Mr C and as he looked through some of my stuff, the comment that came back was 'you've got some good stuff here'. Mr C has been around in photography for sometime and was a warm welcome in his thoughts on initial work that I had done with no help what so ever, so I was offered a place and then it dawned on me I'm a student again!

I think we are all students, students of life as we learn new things each day and help to pass those things that we've learnt onto others.

The course is a really good one with equipment being available to borrow and a reasonable studio to work from. I say reasonable because Plymouth has it all and makes ours look slightly more like a personal studio, I personally think that since the course is a Plymouth course and we and the tutors have to follow their guidelines, that some investment from them would go a long way to making life a little easier.

If your looking to do a photography course, you have to be aware that means that you need to use and learn how to use such software's as Lightroom and Photoshop as you can't get away from that side of thing when producing high quality images that you hope that will go into an exhibition or for sale. In 2013 Adobe announce that its new CC software was going to be on a monthly licence, this is OK if your going to use this software day in, day out, but for the hobbyist is a real expense. So students have to get the software which at the beginning was done at a reduce rate, how long that will last is to be seen. Students also need to have a laptop or if possible a MacBook so that they can work on the same line as the college.

The course does have a lack of Mac's to teach students in a classroom environment, even thought that there are Mac rooms around, the course seems to be left behind on this side of things as the courses like media get first bite at the cherry. At the moment our course is dependent on students bringing in their laptops or MacBooks to go throughout the lectures. This is not ideal as some have not got these things or have only a PC. As a student rep, I've made a point about this and ways that things could be done until the course can get what it needs to teach students that valuable information. I don't see why Plymouth University can't put some investment towards the course so that there were at least 10 MacBooks for use on the course. Cut back in education and other factors are all part of this, and when the tutors are out under pressure to meet targets etc, its hard work if you don't have the tools tone able to meet those targets, which is unfair in my view as these tutors put a lot of effort and work into teaching their students so that they can go on to be people that the course can say this is what this person has achieved by doing this particular course.

To Show how much the tutors believe in their students and the course, they started up their own website. The website is to show students works and to give information on the course itself and news on what things are going on. The official Gov. website gives very little in trying to sell the course with no images and just text, some other courses does have visual aids to help promote their course, it's a shame that all courses aren't given the same web space.
But the FDA website has a lot to offer and is kept up to date and has its own blog as shows some great work that's been done by pass and present students. I totally recommend that you have a look and if you're a photographer that might have some hands on work for a student, then to contact the website and they will pass on the info to the students.

Exhibition of Students Work
In May this year (2014) an exhibition of students work will be on show and a great chance to come along and meet the students and ask them questions about their work and answer questions about the course itself if its something that you're thinking about doing.

I'm having a ball in the course and have a good group of co-students that I get on with and even that they are all old enough to be my own children they don't see or treat them that way, and they've become very except able of myself and my situation so we can have a good laugh now and then. Mr C and Mrs B are great tutors and do a great job and put a lot of time into what they do and are very passionate about their work and the course. Having that makes the course more interesting and worthwhile.

So check out the web site, the link is above but you can click on it from here.

Foundation Degree Website for Students and Course Info

Watery Sunday :(

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 17:33:00 +0000

The UK has been hit by the worse rainfall for decades and its not good to go out with a camera unless your happy being in the wet, which I don't!

So I've spent most of the day in Lightroom making up some more galleries for the website. I have to say that I think Lightroom is a great piece of software, I know some prefer Adobe Bridge but I don't think it can do things with ease like Lightroom does in makeing it easy to make galleries.

I use the Collections Set a lot and you don't have to have multiple images of the same to do different things as it all ties in with each other. The presets for your images are quite good but again you can taylor that as well, if you've got images taken on the same day then you can set the contrast etc directly for all those images and then just tweak them, but its a lot easier than going through individual ones.

I guess that I'm lucky on that I know CSS code and how to read it as the pages that it makes does need some twerking if you want your website to run smoothing between pages made by Lightroom and your web pages that you've designed.

I know that for most people when they visit a website that they don't like adverts coming up, slow loading and having to go round all the houses to get to one thing. So with that said I'm hoping that viewers will find my site easy to navigate and if anyone has some ideas, I'm always open to suggestions.

I've loaded up five galleries and some of the images people will have seen before or different versions of them, but in between are ones that I've not shown before. Nearly all of them are taken in and around Bristol, the city has so much to offer and to capture. One of the galleries is of the St Nicholas Market, which is a great place to go round, and if you spend some time there you can capture the essence of the market and what it represents.

There are two parts to the market with the indoor one that use to be Corn Exchange and then the what use to be the courtyard that has little sort of shacks that are no bigger than a medium garden shed (the image above gives you an idea). There are businesses that have been there for decades while others have moved in and help transform part of it into a kind of open food hall, with food from nearly all four continents to choose from. You can imagine that the smell of different dishes of food being cooked near to each other fills the air which helps build an appetite for your lunch.

Last year saw the closing of city centre roads on a Sunday and open to the public to basically do anything from sitting around on sofas or getting involved in street games. It was an idea that was put forward by Bristol's new mayor who does at first come across as a bit of an oddball with his thing for wearing red trousers every day, I guess we would all like to have a signature of somekind that makes us stand out, mine is my white and orange wheelchair with its spiral like spoke guards. But what he did brought people into Bristol's city centre and just have fun, I'm guessing that it will be done again this year and maybe with some cool extras as the word has got around on how well it was last year.

Well a new week is about to begin and time for me to get stuck in to the second semester, one part is about digital imaging which involves the idea of altered reality / surreality / hyperreality, talk about pushing the boundaries of imagination! The second one is all about legislation, ethics on intrusion and business practices, see its not all about taking photos but getting an understanding of everything to do with photography in the professional view and workplace.

Thanks for reading, AndyD

Welcome to my blog

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 15:55:00 +0000

Welcome to my blog
I've had other blogs but I figured that since I'm coming to the stage where I need to have a website and to be able to tell people what I'm doing and events that I might be involved in, this would be the best way to get information out but link to my main website.

Getting Myself Out There
I've been on Facebook and Google+ and a few others, but what I like about Google+ is that I can tie everything in at one place. Having a Behance account, I didn't realise was part of Adobe till I starting to link things up. I use Lightroom to catalogue my images and do some of the work on them before publishing them onto the web, being able to automatically upload to Behance is very useful and saves a lot of time.

I've just about finished building my website for people to view my work in a more professional way, this is so that they or you can see what my work is like and if theres something that takes your interest, then we can talk about that.
Anyone that sees my work will know that I don't have a set area that I work in, I guess it's about keeping my options open and having the freedom to look at everything in photography.

As I've mentioned in my bio, I'm currently doing a foundation degree in professional photography that I started back in September last year, and I'm so glad that I decided to make that move as it's giving me the chance to learn new and old skills. In the first semester I did feel a bit of a fish out of water with being the oldest person in my group and most of them being the age that they could be my own children, but there a great bunch and I get on well with them all. I have two tutors and they are great in that they want everyone to not just learn but enjoy and to explore photography in a wider way by learning about photographers that have made a name for them selves and to get us as photographers to push ourselves to try different things and to be open minded to all that photography has to offer.
I'm just about to start my second semester, but the first one was really interesting as I got to work in 35 mm black and white film. Its open my eyes to the world of film and I was surprised that film is still very much used in different industries of photography today. I learnt the processing of the film and then the work of printing images that is a skill to learn how different grading and exposure to light will give an image. A lot of the time is spent doing test strips and calculating the amount of time that's needed to get the brightness and contrast for the final print.
Once the assignments were completed, it did feel a bit nerve racking in wondering if you had got everything that was on the checklist and how the work would be seen by the assessors. Since the other students had be taught in a very different style to how I was taught at school, and their presentation of their assignments where done with a more art feel to them, where mine seemed a bit clinical as I presented it all in a A4 binder and pocket sleeves. I'm glad to say that I passed both assignments and was extremely pleased with the final scores that I accomplished, and that the rest of my group also passed.

So we are in a new year and as I think back to this time last year, I had just made the transition into photography by investing in a good camera (well I think it's a good camera) and number of lenses, I buried my head into my iPad to watch YouTube videos on how to use the camera in a non scene mode and just got out there and snapped away at anything and everything. Today I have the confidence in knowing my camera and have done a fare bit of work in the studio, now I'm just looking forward to the year ahead and the ever growing assignments.
I do know that in May sometime that I will have work that will be part of an exhibition and I hope that friends and fellow photographers may want to come along and see what I've been up to, but I will give more details on that when it gets closer.

Photography by Andy Dubreuil - this is my new website and I must stress that its still in the making stage as I only have one gallery loaded and of course this is the first post, but it's a beginning and we all have to start somewhere, so I hope that you might follow me and visit every now and then to see what I'm up to.

Thanks for reading, AndyD