11: Just Do It

Yesterday I was asked at last minute to cover a PRETTY big event. Battersea Power Station launch party. Around 1000 people attending, I couldn't tell you how much they spent on the venure, nor on the bands, nor on the food, nor on the free beverages they supplied, which I took enough advantage of, hey, I was supposed to be there as a guest anyway, although a disclaimer, I did not get drunk just some dutch courage.

It was 3pm. I was attending the event anyway but more for the free food and booze flowing around. I had 1 hour to gather my things and my thoughts and take a couple of quick pictures as I have never done this sort of thing before, hell I've never really used my flash before and found out as I was using it that it's not compatible with the 5D MKII or so it seemed so I was winging it blind.

It turned out ooooookay. Well I hope so & it may be another bow to my string or is that string to my bow.

This is definetly something that really doesn't interest me, but beggars can't be choosers and if I can get these kinds of gigs to pay the bills every now and again then, that's what it's all about. I wanted to say no, I nearly said no, that was just the fear inside me. Fight or flight. As it turns out, it was a good night, I met some people, maybe made some contacts. That leads me to another thing, schmoooozing. Ooooh Man. I just can't bring myself to do it, but you gotta, you gotta just get out there and take all the opportunities that come your way.

I want to be an amazing respected artist/photographer but that is going to take time and I have to climb that ladder. As with most things, unfortunately, it really is probably going to be a case of who you know, not what you know.

So. To everyone out there. Just Do It. You never know where it's going to lead, who you're going to meet, yada yada yada. Now. If I can only take my own advice I'm laughing.

10: Introducing

Just quickly going to introduce another artist. Not striclty a photogrpaher but an amazing photoshop wizard.

Christophe Huet

Check him out, his work is absolutely amazing in my eyes and you've probably unwittingly already seen a lot of what he's done.

9: Colour Management

If your going to be printing your work, you are going to need to colour manage your monitor. I think there are software solutions out there that you use to tweak everything yourself, but nothing is going to be as good as using the real hardware alternative.

I use the Spyder Express 2 Dongle Thingy

Spyder Express

Attach it to your monitor run the software and hey presto, abrakadabra. You're done. Things may look strange after your done as you are used to viewing the colours differently.

If you send your work to the printer or to the printer, you are going to get a pretty good match as to what you see on the screen to what you see in yout hands.

So there you have it, Bobs your aunties sisters brothers friend.

It saves wasting ink, paper, money and time.

8: Studio Lighting Help

Look at me trying to give advice on studio lighting. Time will tell if I have a clue what I'm doing, but I am just going to share a few things that I know and some links.

What I do know is this. I don't feel I need to take any lessons, I think it can all be self taught, what you will need is equiment though, whether studio stuff or off camera speedlight setup. There is a wealth of information out there but the main thing you need to do is practice. I am against any courses because once you've done a course what are you going to do after that if you don't have equipment, nada. Different stokes for different folks though.

Here are some sites that will definetly get you going and will start that fire burning.

Strobist 101
Strobist Fickr
Studio Lighting Diargrams

There was another one I wanted to share but not at my main PC so will share it another time.

This will get you started, but like me it's just a case of practicing and practicing and trying things out. Imatate the masters until you become one yourself is my philosphy. Which is what I am attempting to do. So the months have been filled with deconstructing images, then trying them, then realising it's harder than I thought. Great. Why can't things be easy.

So. I hope this is enough to wet your appetite.

I've not gone through the strobist yet, but this is an amazing place for information.

7: Where Are We All Going

So. Where am I going I ask. Where will I be in the next year or two. Well. I'd like to hope I have an agent or at least I'd like to think I will be earning enough money so survive, not be a slave to the 9 until 5 and having the ability to do the projects or take the images I want to take, otherwise it's all pointless. Time will tell.

I'll update with the highs and the lows and the what the hell am I doings.

I forgot to mention, my partner is 7 months pregnant and I have no money, so the question I ask myself after just a few months of doing this is, what the hell am I doing.

Luckily my partner is an amazing woman. Behind (hopefully) every great man, is a great woman, and she is certainly that. She listens to me whine and complain but I keep the self doubt and fear to myself and just carry on. Whether I believe in myself of not, which I must, I carry on and she is behind me every step of the way with 100% support. So I thank her for that.

Right now I tell you this. Every moment is a quest for the next shot, a step in the right direction, something that has to be done and hopefully if you want something bad enough you will work hard enough to get it and I'm working pretty hard right now to get it. I don't want fame, I don't want fortune, well, maybe just a little. I want my images and work to speak for themselves.

Without a strong portfolio, you have nothing. So that is the 1st step before any others can be taken.

I'd like to keep this blog informative. More about the process than another self induldent set of words. So I'll try and include a behind the scenes look at how things happened, in hope that it reaches at least one person. I'll also be posting inspiring artists, helpful links and whatever pops into my head at the time.

So. I will leave you for now with one last piece of information before my next update /shoot.

Zack Arias His story is also an ispiring one. He failed at his 1st attempt at becoming pro and went back to work in an office store. Now. Well. Check him out for yourself.

6: Photoshop: How To

I am far from an expert using Photoshop. 2 years ago I didn't have a clue how to use it. I still don't but I get by.

Photoshop is a tool like any piece of equipment you have and you're going to need it. The best way IMO to use photoshop is to to make it look like you haven't used it or at least not over processed. Less is more.

A great book and inspiring photographer to me at the time was Vincent Versace & his book; 'Welcome To Oz'

It taught me workflow. It does require some understanding of photoshop, which I didn't have at the time, but I picked it up and it was a great book that got me started. It taught me workflow, so if your reading this and you need some help check it out.

I also have a large number of video tutorials to finish off, some freebies, some paid for. Personally I never pay for anything. I believe you can pick it up yourself by practicing. Pefect makes practice as I once read and to this day have no idea what that means.

Join Retouch Pro or scour the internet for the hundreds of tutorials out there. You will always need to understand :

Curves
Saturation
Sharpening
Levels
BW Conversion

I use and play with Nik Silver FX for my B/W conversions, sometimes applying two filters and tweaking.

There is so much more I need to know, so little that I do, but it all takes time & 2 years ago I knew nothing, now I like to think I get by and I also like to think that in another 2 years I will know more than what I do when I typed this.

There is so much to bloody do, sometimes it overwhelmes me. If anyone has some tips for me, please, share them.

The best thing I can advise is : Practice, Play, Meddle & Ask As Many Questions As You Can To The People Who Are Willing To Answer.

When I'm feeling brave enough I'll put up some before and afters. I realise that I need to perfect my technique in the camera 1st, but if you are like me, I am always wondering what the image looked like when it came out of the camera and not many people are willing to share this.

5: Talking Pictures

There are two things I want to concentrate on. Well. There are multiple things but these two are in the forefront of my mind.

I am persuing some fashion work & I am persuing some fine art work. Splitting time between the both, although the weather has been awful, cold winter nights and I've not had any time apart from organising and stressing over studio work to continue. Actually, there are 3 things I want to persue.

The Fashion.
The Fine Art.
The Strange.

The images shown is my 5th or 6th attempt at some fine art work. An ND10 filter was used, a graduated filter, Manfrotto Tripod and a remote cable, actually no remote cable, just a steady finger for this one. It's not great but it's getting much closer to where I want to go.

Something I need to learn. Patience & Time. When I or you realise these are key components you'll get much closer to where you are heading. I still think I can rush the process but it rushes for no man.

I need to get off my backside in the next few weeks and play around some more with these typesof images,there is no excuse.

I am drawn to the tranquility of water.

Some info for you. When using an ND10 filter. A longish process, which as I say requires time.

Take the exposure of the ground, seperate exposure for the sky, calculate the graduated filter you need to balance out the scene, then you need to add the shutter speed for the final image with the ND10 filter screwed on.

This will be 10 stops more than your original exposure calculated above. There is a chart out there you can print off to acurrately assess these, but at least this points you in the right direction & it's late and my pregnant girlfriend needs to go to bed as do I..

4: Introducing

At various points, I just want to introduce more and more inspiring artists. This is where I want to be. I want to inspire others as others have inspired me. When I look at images like the ones I'll introduce you to, it makes me want to grab my camera and get to work, it also makes me seeth with anger and jealousy because I have such a long way to go. I hope they evoke some kind of feeling.

David Burdeny's Icebergs are so calming, so beautiful words can not do justice for what I feel when I look at these.

David Burdeny

I'll mention another artist. To me, these images are pure genius, pure photography & pure art at it's best. There are so many, but Jerry Uelsmann site is a site I don't look at often enough.

Jerry Uelsmann

I hope these two artists give you enough food for thought & I'll mention many more along the way. There are so many great photographers & artists out there, it really puts things in perspective as to where I am and where I want to be.

A Never Ending Journey.

3: The 1st Shoot

I've had my equipment for some time now. I've been doing some headshots over the few months whilst I had been working, this was my only practice. I say practice, I never got the chance as these were paying customers and I had no time. No Time, No Time...

The 1st test shoot took place in my living room. about 8ftx8ft the results were okay. See 'Funky' on the website : State Of Mind Photography

My next shoot was with a local fashion designer. I wanted to try more setups, but as usual I was trying to do too much. It ended with some images I am pleased with, considering this was only my 2nd time using the equipment in a proper environment and not in my living room, it was a lot of work but it paid off, yet I still want more, never satisfied, I don't think I ever will be & this is the driving force.

So the image shown is 1 of the results of the shoot. Great models, great MUA's and hair stylists really make the job easier, but organising all of these components is a real pain in the ass for me, maybe it will get easier, maybe people will be clambering all over to work with me.

We can but dream....

I had never heard of Model Mayhem so this is me introducing it to you, just in case you didn't know, without it I would never have got started and I'm pleased some people wanted to work with me. Be warned, they can be a flaky bunch.

My next shoot will hopefully be a beauty shoot. Im aiming to get various images to fill the portfolio, so have ideas ready and waiting and nodels and MUA's at the ready. I'm trying to build a reliable team, because this is important and I am finding people as flaky as I thought they would be.

2: The Kit

The Kit. Aaaaah The Kit. Most of the images on my website were taken with a Canon 350d I bought way back in 2007. This is where it all started. (Be sure to check out my personal site for a remainder of the images, whilst I build up the new site.) I had been meaning to start photography for a while and a chance meeting with a new work colleague started the fire. Digital has made it so much more accessible and I just went out and messed around, Im still messing around, I think I experimented more then than I do now.

Aaaaaanyhooooo. The Kit.

My job has allowed me to buy some kit and I still need more. I can't afford any more, anymore but I became addicted to getting equipment, not that that makes you any better I just wanted it. You can get good results and I've seen good results with less equipment than I have. As someone once said to me. 'All The Gear & No Idea'

So...The Kit :

Canon 5D MKII - Which Has Given Me No End Of Problems Compared To My Trusty 350D
Some ND Filters
50mm 1.8 Canon (Cheap Lens)
24-105 Canon L Series Lens
Remote Release Cable
Elinchtom D-Lite 4 Studio Kit
2x 140cm Elinchrom Quadras (Which W-Express Gave Me For £500 Cheaper Due To A Mistake) I've Used These Once. I Thought If They Were Good Enough For Rankin. I'll Ave Em.
2x Elincrom BxRi 500's
1x Elinchrom Deep Octa. Doubles As A Large Beauty Dish.
2x 20deg Reflectors & Grids
White & Black Paper Rolls With Background Supports
Boom Arm
Couple Of Stands
Couple Of Small Stands
Some Large Insulation Boards Painted Black & Silver
Duct Tape, Masking Tape, Clips
Sekonic Light Meter

Now. If somebody wants to tell me how I use all this, please let me know..I'd like to get a few more cheap modifiers but time will tell.

So that's the equipment in full I think & I have no real excuse for not getting great shots,I'm working on that.

1: The Middle, The Beginning. Maybe The End

22nd December. 2 days before my xmas payday. Redundancy has been looming in the air and I've been looking over my shoulders for months. I'm a bored software developer, the pay is great considering I don't do any work. That's bad management for you. Anyway. I waltz back into the office to find out the company has gone bankrupt, no money left, no payday, xmas has now been cancelled.

So. This is the beginning. My baptism of fire into professional photography. This blog is an attempt to document it, inform others and just serve as a stream of consciousness. I'll try and share the ups and the downs, the technique, my inspiration and maybe a bit of what I know. Others know more than me & I know more than others. In no way do I think Im a pro. I have a lot to learn and unlearn.

I Take Pictures. Thats About It!!