Ok tomorrow will see me completely over the midway part of the project in terms of time, but there is still the matter of the missing pictures, namely 54, and 74. I feel fairly sure that I did not miss them, and they are languishing somewhere on one of the various computers I use. I like to think they have bunked off, and are having a furtive ciggie whilst sneaking a look around the edge of a long forgotten spreadsheet to look out for pesky users, i.e. me. If I cannot track them down I will have to retake a couple more photos to fill the gaps. So you pesky pictures, if you don’t want to be replaced then you had better show up hadn’t you.
‘What about the other missing images’ ,I optimistically hope to hear the audience cry. Well they are not missing, but are in a state of self imposed censorship. There is nothing illegal, or morally reprehensible about them, but they are of a nature that I would prefer them to remain private until such time that I am either rich enough not to worry about upsetting my employers, or I am just plain brave enough to cock a snoot to society and say, sometimes I look like this OK?
So here’s to another 182 days of me. Hurrah!
Friday, 17 October 2014
Monday, 14 July 2014
This image from my 365 Self Portrait project was inspired by propaganda posters from the USSR. I had in mind doing something akin to this with some friends, but I thought I would try it out myself first. I really like this for a number of reasons. Firstly,apart from re-sizing, and saving to a different format, it was all done in camera. I really wanted to capture the blue sky and clouds, whilst keeping my face reasonable well exposed. I had toyed with the idea of using some neutral density filters, but I wanted my face to be against the sky, so that wouldn't have really worked without some post processing work. The technique I went with was to use the on-camera flash.I slightly raised the flash compensation hoping to win the battle with the sun. The feel of the picture is one of a studio portrait against, or with a superimposed background with the subject, i.e. me, being almost outlined by a shadow. Another reason I like this picture is that I'm not looking my best. I love portraits, although not exclusively, that show something of the character of the subject, and not just a record of how well they scrub up.
I am definitely over the halfway mark numerically, although I am still missing a number 74, and still have today's contribution to create. With 171 images still to create there is a long way to go. Having a sometimes hectic family life, and bouts of self doubt makes it difficult to find the will to continue on occasion. This is why there is often a glut on uploads after a period of nothing.Despite this not adhering to the accepted nature of this project I fully intend to have a complete portfolio of 365 self portraits by the time the new year has been rung in.
Monday, 16 June 2014
Fathers Day
Fathers day is a special day for me. Despite being the poorer cousin to Mothering Sunday in the realm of commercial celebration days it is a day when our children, and those we care for and about can show kindness, and appreciation for those properties a father brings to a family. My family is what is gently called a blended family. Jane and I brought together two families, and in addition created our on special son who has become a boy doted on by his older siblings. This year has been especially special for me as my two stepchildren both bought me a gift each, and gave me cards with such lovely sentiments that it was impossible not to get a lump in my throat. I really do cherish all the children in our busy, strange family, and love them all dearly.
Monday, 19 May 2014
Out in the fields…
I like where we live and work. It's not too rural so you have to drive a long way to get to civilisation, and yet close enough to the country side that you can get out and about away from the built up suburbs in a few minutes. Since I got my new tripod for my birthday this year I have been out every lunch time bar a very few times, getting fresh air, and looking for opportunities to get my camera out. Sometimes I come back with nothing, sometimes the results are a bit questionable, but the important thing is that I enjoy it. It excites me, and I think that if your hobby's and interests still do that then it's all worth while.
Today I really needed to catch up on the self portrait project so headed out to the fields near my place of work. As it was warm and the sun was still making an appearance it was refreshing not to have to wear a coat. I decided on a straight, everyday portrait rather than one of my more wacky pieces. I put the on camera flash on, and hoped for some catch lights in my eyes, and an even light over my face. It's not the best portrait in the world of course, but it kind of reflects me, and my easy going, laid back demeanour.
Thursday, 15 May 2014
Reflections on the 365 project so far
When I started this 365 project I was sceptical of these merits of this type of undertaking. Much criticised for stifling creativity, I do believe I have picked up, or perhaps strengthened some of the photography skills and knowledge I have picked up a long the way. Although I never really planned it to be a self portrait project, it quickly took on that mantel. I had planned recently to take a month off from my face to photograph a month of non-me people. Somewhere in my subconscious my ego has prevented me from doing. "No, it's mine, all MINE!" I can almost hear my Id screaming. So the self portraits continue.
One thing shocked me recently, and that was that I was missing two days, numbers 54 and 74 for those who might be counting. Some entries I have made private as they are not conducive to either maintaining a dignified social standing (I fell into this dress honest constable), or might have reflected badly if my employers saw them in a public forum (you mean there's something wrong being naked in chains with an apple wedged in my mouth?), however the missing photos are genuinely missing. I thought I'd been so careful with my numbering too. For the record today should be day 135, so I need to do one tonight.
Another thing I have become aware of is balance. I go though cycles of being straight, and boring only to swing to wacky, and way-out. Sometimes I try to create a narrative, other times my image may be, just because. It has helped to adopt sub-project, for example the popular Face down Tuesday, or my Vinyl Countdown, which spoof, or rather pays homage to albums in my record collection.
How successful I am being in creating entertaining images is difficult to judge. I post most of the pictures in Flickr, which gives me statistics on how many times my images are viewed, however there is seldom feedback from those viewers with the exception of the very occasional Fave. Unfortunately I think to receive adulation one has to actively seek adulation, and of course have some talent to back it up.
I'm over a third of the way through, and although I do enjoy it, I will be glad when this project is finished. I will come out of the other end with a great deal more experience with lighting, composing, retouching, etc which I will turn to good use in other areas of my photography. In the mean time I will continue to paint my face, play with props, take my tripod with me everywhere, and generally try to have fun.
Tuesday, 13 May 2014
Sunday night fun
Sunday nights are often a little dull. All the fun of the weekend has been had, and nobody is relishing Monday morning when work and school come around again. So what better than to break out the studio gear, throw in some silly costumes,blue plastic toy guns, and a whole heap of teenage imagination. Of course this mainly involved violent scenarios of shootings, stabbings and beheadings. Oh to be young.
My fifteen year old got right into the spirit of things, and as well as showing a great skill in acting, spent a good amount of time rooting around the Man Cave to put together this outfit. It does make him look a good deal younger than the ones where he is posing as a villan. The kids enjoyed it so much that they proposed we have a different theme each time, the next one being, yes you guessed it, Zombies. Expect face paint next time!
Not wanting to miss out on the whole thing Jane decided she wanted to do a bit of acrobalance. James valiantly helped despite having an injured wrist from a moped incident earlier in the day. There will be more images from this thoroughly enjoyable, and crazy session on flickr soon!
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Catch up
So I haven’t added much here lately. I have been mainly focusing on my 365 project. Things I have learnt.
1) A tripod is a very useful and important tool. I was fortunate to recieve a lovely Benro model from Jane for my birthday. It is much lighter, and easier to use than my previous one which I think was built from leftover from building the Forth Bridge. The new one is easy to use, and has a handy carry case. It is so great I have taken it to work with me nearly every day since I got it. Consequently there are many more outdoor photos in my project.
2) I am not great at studio lighting. I don’t like umbrellas for light modifiers, and if I could justify it I would buy some more softboxes. Unfortunately this would mean buying new strobes too. Much as I’d love a super new setup I just can’t spend that sort of cash on a hobby until the current ones die.
3) I like getting into character, dressing up, and painting my face.
Aside from this project I have done a couple of other things. I was lucky enough to get tickets to a secret gig by Chrissie Hynde prior to the launch of her solo album. Although the promoters didn’t want me to photograph her I did shoot the support bands. Sadly my camera seemed to operate itself in the crush of the crown, and take several photos of Chrissie Hynde’s groin. Although this one was more appropriate.
I have even got off my arse, and got out on a photo walk one sunny sunday morning. I haven’t done this for ages, so it was a refreshing change. Nothing too stunning, but it’s always good to get out and about.
Monday, 24 March 2014
Put my WHAT in a sock???
This image was prompted by an unofficial campaign in the Uk to raise money and awareness for Cancer Research UK, a charity which in turn raises money, to research for cures, and treatments for all manner of different cancers. The campaign encouraged women to post a selfie without wearing any makeup. The campaign was a roaring success, going viral and raising over £1million in the first 24 hours alone.
A short-lived, and by far less successful attempt was made by men to join in by encouraging selfies with items of hosiery suspended from the a small, and specific part of their male anatomy. The obvious good taste hash tag being #cockinasock.
Now, I'm a little risk averse, am not too body confident, and work in an environment where it might not be conducive to my continuing employment to emblazon the internet with images of my rather chubby, and pappy naked body with only a cotton sock to attempt to preserve what little dignity, and modest I might be able to retain.
Hence this image. i hope it keeps in the spirit of the campaign, and if it makes people smile along the way, then I am content with it.
(incidentally I did do a reverse selfie with me completely 'made up', but my level headed wife persuaded me that I would have to be braver than brave to post it. Maybe some large donations to Cancer Research UK might sway my decision!)
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63 of 365 Head
My photography is almost exclusively this blasted 365 project at the moment. I am currently about nine days behind where I should be if I was keeping to the spirit of doing one image a day. Sometimes life gets the better of you. Whether that be sickness, stress, or just too much going on, the creative juices do not flow, and the time to mop them up is just not available. Yesterday I posted a few pictures, as I did the day before. Most of them involved photohopped composites. Some are more obvious than others. The speed at which I produced most of them was not condusive to a quality image. The one featured here was an attempt at an homage to the cover of "The Miracle", and album by Queen. I used out-takes from another image to produce it. Although the digital work isn't too great I do think the picture has a certain quality to it that makes you want to pop your eyeballs out, wash them in detergent, and pop them back in the wrong eye sockets!
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
59 of 365 Rib tickler
I'm running out of energy at the moment. My mojo is missing, so if anyone finds it please can you send it back to me. There's a free photoshoot in it for the finder. This photo kind of happened as an experiment. I wanted to do a back lit shot either with a guitar or the sword. As per usual Charles, my faithful but painfully thin model, acted as my focusing aid. Snapping a quick shot, i liked how his ribs lit up from the rear strobe. That's when the cogs started to shift slowly into action. I'm not totally happy with the final result, but it is a result all the same. As per, the post processing is hurried, and suffers as a consequence. However a problem made is a lesson to learn from.
Monday, 24 February 2014
50 of 365 Mini figures revenge
So behind schedule again on the project. This one was quickly taken, and badly executed. I do think it's a lot of fun though.
Friday, 14 February 2014
42 of 365 Shattered
This started as a desperate experiment to keep up to date without adding too many vanilla portraits. We live on a very busy road, and from time to time a wing mirror will get clipped by speeding cars. This image was created using a damaged mirror discarded in the gutter outside our home. I clamped it, and after some experimentation using Mr. Fluffy, my faithful stuffed assistant, for focusing, I settled on this image to post. The lighting was a single source through a soft-box. The positioning was a little tricky as I didn't want the flash to spill onto the mirror.
I like the way the distortion on the backing has split my face into the wrong order.
I like the way the distortion on the backing has split my face into the wrong order.
Thursday, 13 February 2014
38 of 365
Yes I do sometimes have weird ideas spawned from the most innocent of events, this one, or rather the original one (see flickr) was triggered unwrapping a wiifit board I had ordered for my wife. It must have been the tactile feel of the bubble wrap, and the slick, dark shininess of the black plastic wrap that fired up my imagination!
34 of 365 Ofspect
Our school recently had an ofsted inspection. This led me to a train of thought about who inspects the inspectors. So OfSpect was born. This is a bit of a cheat, as the original image is two inspectors. However I don't think the world is ready for a composite of me in drag at the moment so just the drab me for the time being ;)
28 of 365 I'd forget my head if it....
A nice idea poorly executed. Still it was fun to do. No light bulbs were harmed during the making of this image
26 of 365 Wascally Wabbit
Bad bunny. Inspired by the pixar short. I happened to be wearing my tux after leaving a party early. I grabbed the opportunity to snap a little scene. Hop(e) ya like it!
23 of 365 Life thru a lens
This is a composite, however only to get both the inverted me, and the frame of the little lens nearly in focus.
This sweet little piece of glass came from dead projector. Have you ever dismantled one of those? Loads of great little trinkets in them.
This sweet little piece of glass came from dead projector. Have you ever dismantled one of those? Loads of great little trinkets in them.
22 of 365 If You Want To Get Ahead....
The 365 project has it's ups and downs. i often get behind in the project. My ideas dry up, my energy saps, sometimes I just can't be arsed. So not a photo a day, but more like 365 portraits sort of squeezed into a year, mostly trying to do one a day.
This one was a rushed one, well aren't they all. If I had taken more care I would have arranged the hats better. I can't believe we have so many hats to be honest. I am particularly taken with the little tequila hat.
This one was a rushed one, well aren't they all. If I had taken more care I would have arranged the hats better. I can't believe we have so many hats to be honest. I am particularly taken with the little tequila hat.
Friday, 31 January 2014
St. Albans Trapeze
I was recently invited to photograph the trapeze/acrobalance group that my wife belongs to. I have done this before, which I have previously blogged. I have deliberately not read my previous posts, as I would like to see if I write similarly about the experience, and if I actually learnt anything from the previous time.
The group is now run by a different leader, Kate who welcomed me to the first session of the evening. The premise initially was to get shots for their website to help promote, and then to get shots for people to use for prints, social network profiles, that sort of thing. Now regular followers of this blog will know I am not a professional photographer, however I do take like to achieve results I can take pride in, whilst giving those who are kind enough to pose a set of images that make them smile.
I unpacked my eclectic array of gear, and set about getting some shots of the class in progress. We decided to try and get some shots of trapeze moves that started at the basics. I could not dream of doing even the moves that they assure me were the simplest to achieve. My setup was my trusty Canon 60d and 17-55mm (ish) f2.8 combo with a 480ex flash on camera. I try using a lastolite eazybox, but neither me nor my camera really gets the exposure right doing this dynamic sort of shooting. As a consequence these shots had massive shadows, and were a little harsh in places. More practice needed I think. We shot for about an hour, before the members of the second session began to arrive. This session was to be more structured so as to be able to improve and control the lighting.
I set up a background behind a low trapeze. This was the single biggest mistake of the evening, and I regret doing it. The cloth was far too small for the performer to keep within, and so I have ended up with numerous shots of people bisected by the backdrop. Some I have been able to salvage in Photoshop, but this is time consuming, and to my self critical eye not the most appealing way to present the work of the performers. If I get the opportunity in future I will not use a drop at all, and keep the environment as the background, despite it's busyness.
Having said that we did have a lot of fun as people had brought stuff to dress up in. This added a dimension to the shoot, and the images which was a lot different to last time.
I had a fantastic time with the group, and we did make some great images together. If I was asked to go back again, I would in a heartbeat.
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