1000 Words

Twenty Eight

2007-01-12T13:03:00.000Z

Oh dear, over 6 months since the last post. I've not taken many pictures lately, a combination of less time on my hands and lack of inspiration.
This one was rather hastily set-up. I'm reasonably happy with it - it conveys the message well enough - but it's hardly ground-breaking.

C+, must try harder.

Twenty Seven

2006-07-10T11:15:00.000+01:00

I haven't taken many pictures lately; hopefully that'll change soon.

In the meanwhile, have this little thing: Into The Darkness. And yes, it would have been better with some glowing eyes up there, but I didn't have time to set those up...

Twenty Six

2006-05-03T19:59:00.000+01:00

Long overdue, both here and in general, but it seems at the moment, I finally have a kid who's happy to pose for me.

Twenty Five

2006-01-25T12:15:00.000Z

More from "Song Titles".
Had to quickly change my plan on this one. I thought the song was called "Fade Out" but then discovered it was "Street Spirit (Fade Out)". Thankfully, the new idea worked out better than the original one.

Twenty Four

2006-01-24T10:34:00.000Z

I'm learning to love Black & White when done properly. It's good for setting a certain mood, I feel.
The challenge: "Song Title".
Title (in case you can't work it out): "Paperback Writer"

Twenty Three

2005-12-18T14:46:00.000Z

For a change, I'm going to talk first.

I've been doing this photography thing "properly" for a little over 2 years. In that time, it's remarkable (to me) just how much I've improved.

I've been enterting an informal challenge for most of this time. There are no prizes - just the reward of deciding the next topic - but it's a good opportunity to get some reasonably honest critique. These are all "strangers" so it's easy to explain what's wrong with a picture. Of course, it's also nice to get positive feedback.

When I look back at some of my earlier efforts, quite frankly they are appalling, and I'm a little ashamed of myself for submitting them. But then, I guess, I wouldn't have had the negative feedback which has helped me grow.

In 56 challenges, I've been placed in the top 10 just 4 times - and 3 of those have been in the last 8. So, in the previous 48 challenges, I only achieved a top 10 (actually a 6th place - for reference, the image is here) once.

Not good really. But something has changed. I've said before that I think my creativity is on a high, but more importantly, I'm no longer prepared to submit an image just for the sake of having something there. In other words, I'm applying quality control to my own pictures.

And about time too, you might think.

I'm also taking more risks. Exploring subject matter that might be uncomfortable - "Hostage" was a good example. It didn't place, but it got lots of positive feedback. Most notably, it made people uncomfortable, and that's just about the perfect reaction.

"Unidentified Male" placed 5th in the same challenge as "Hostage". I then placed 7th for "View from"

Finally, in the most recent challenge, I placed 2nd, missing out on the top spot by 0.2 points.

The reason for all this waffle? Because I'm not posting the image here. As I said above, I'm taking risks. Some of you might find the image uncomfortable to view - especially those of you who object to seeing me on screen without a shirt...

I should add that the image is perfectly worksafe, before you worry too much. However, I must caution that anyone who glances across at you when you're looking at it might assume it's not worksafe, so be careful.

So, for those of you wishing to be brave, the image is "Missing Pieces". Enjoy.

Twenty Two

2005-12-09T10:30:00.000Z

Been meaning to do this for a while. Quite fun, but space was a little limited.
"The Gathering".
It's all about attention to detail. No, I didn't grow a "beard" especially for this, but yes, I did shave mid-way through to change my appearance.

Twenty One

2005-12-01T11:16:00.000Z

It's been a while, sorry.
So consider yourself rewarded with an arty-farty Minimalist image.
Called "Staring into the bottom of an empty cup". How pretentious is that?
However, depending on your screen, you can see different detail if you look at it from different angles. Apparently.

Twenty

2005-10-04T17:06:00.000+01:00

"Fork Handles".
Thank you Ronnie Barker. And it's goodnight from him.

Nineteen

2005-09-26T12:00:00.000+01:00

The creative juices are still flowing. This is "All That Glisters..."

Mrs Flipper, who rarely comments on my pictures, says this one reminds her of a perfume ad, which I think was a compliment. She also liked "Hard To Bear".

Eighteen

2005-09-19T10:02:00.000+01:00

More from the lighter side... "After the Bath".

Seventeen

2005-09-16T16:50:00.000+01:00

Just to reassure you all that I'm not just seeing the world in black & white, and that I'm not feeling all morose and sad...
This is "Sledgehammer".

Sixteen

2005-09-14T10:38:00.000+01:00

More from my creative period: "Unidentified Male".

You may have noticed the lack of colour recently... and perhaps some "darkness", but no, I'm not depressed or suicidal. Most of these images fit a "theme" that was proposed elsewhere, I just happened so see these ones in monotone.

Fifteen

2005-09-13T10:54:00.000+01:00

I'm having a bit of a creative spell. For the first time in what seems like ages, I have a head full of ideas. They've even been keeping me awake at night as I lie there thinking about how to set them up, how to get the lighting right.
My biggest problem is that some of them require assistance. Either from someone to model for me, or for someone to trip the shutter once I have everything set up. I've managed some on my own that I thought I couldn't - like "Hostage" - but others will definitely need a helping hand.
This one, of course, was easy. It's called "Hard to Bear".

Fourteen

2005-08-31T08:31:00.000+01:00

I've been exploring the darker side... I call this one "Hostage".

Thirteen

2005-07-12T11:41:00.000+01:00

In light of recent events, this seemed appropriate.

Twelve

2005-06-25T20:01:00.000+01:00

Ok, so the first image here was taken from the same place as the yellow Jordan below, but using a different lens (a 24-70 rather than a 70-200 for all you tech-heads). It was also shot at ISO800, but f/2.8 and 1/4000. The difference is obvious, though it's still far from perfect. But you can see the problem I had with the angle, as the fence is just intruding on the right.
The second image, taken from a completely different location, I was able to pan, but the car was travelling at about 50MPH (or so) (ISO800, f/6.3, 1/2500)

I don't just do people...

Eleven

2005-06-03T18:20:00.000+01:00

Another in my infrequent series of "It doesn't have to be perfect to be worthy".
I was no more than 10 feet from this as it flashed past.
It was going quite fast, I think you can tell.

Ten

2005-04-14T17:56:00.000+01:00

I'd like you to meet Joe.
Joe is very special to me, and always will be. We're not related, and we'll probably never meet again.
Today, for the first time, I think I can call myself a Professional Photographer.

Nine

2005-04-12T11:28:00.000+01:00

Been a while, been very busy.
It's OK, you can laugh: I fell out of the bath.
I'm not that old really, just stupid. The towel rail was never going to hold my weight as I leant on it.
I've another bruise on my side, it's not as impressive though it hurts a lot more.
(Edit: This is a better picture... yes, it does go all the way to my knee)

Eight

2005-03-11T23:33:00.000Z

To catch the essence of a child, it's not always necessary to capture their face.

Seven

2005-03-04T22:19:00.000Z

Been absent for a while, much like everyone else it seems.
Major new project underway... this is going to be make or break.
But Sshhh! Secret Squirrel.
Could this image be a clue?

Six

2005-02-22T20:48:00.000Z

I have been known to complain that "there's nothing to photograph around here".
Until I was reminded of the history of the area. Things you pass everyday, or which have a mundane association (such as shopping) tend to be overlooked.
The key is not to look, but to see.

Five

2005-02-10T09:24:00.000Z

A slight change from the norm. I had my real camera with me, but didn't take it on the one opportunity I had for some pictures, so I had to resort to the camera on the phone.
These aren't great, and neither was my visit. But there are worse places to have lunch...

Four

2005-02-05T10:25:00.000Z

I love High Key photos. But I hate self-portraits.
This is very extreme high-key, and a very close crop. It's been colourised too, to a blue/grey tint. Except the eyes. The eyes have had nothing done to them.
Artistic? Not really.

Three

2005-01-25T20:48:00.000Z

Determined to rid myself of the mindset that everything has to be sharp and perfectly focussed, I ventured out on the streets with my cheapest and smallest lens and shot from the hip.
I had a blast.

Two

2005-01-23T10:03:00.000Z

One from the vaults.
It seems I was better at this before I started thinking about it so much.

One

2005-01-19T18:28:00.000Z

January 2005, bitterly cold, Woburn, Bedfordshire.
Does anyone still use phone boxes in these days of mobile phone saturation?

Yes, apparently.