Need some inspiration?

I find inspiration in most things but I have so many ideas buzzing around my head I sometimes don't know where to begin with them and a little direction never goes amiss!

 I had this delightful little number bought for me recently by one of my constant sources of inspiration, my other half! This book is excellent! It has lots of different ideas that anyone can have a go at and I would recommend it to everyone to have a look through, if you are 'photo crafty' minded.

I'm going to try and do one thing a month out of this book and then blog about it. Why not get yourself (or someone else to!) this book and do the same!

Photoshop Tutorial: HDR Images

I think amongst photographers, HDR is a bit like marmite, you either love it or hate it. I have seen some amazing landscape shots enhanced with the use of HDR but it's never been something that has massively appealed to me…. Until now!

HDR stands for High-Dynamic-Range imaging and to put it simply, it gives you a better range of highlights, shadows, colours than you can capture with real world scenes.

I read a couple of tutorials on it after looking at some album artwork that I thought looked really cool and that I wanted to have a go at recreating (The Amazing Snakeheads, Amphetamine Ballads to be precise).

The technical bit:

• You need to take 3 images, one a stop or two under exposed, one correctly exposed and a third image one or two stops over exposed. (In order to get a seamless free image, it's best to use a tripod, unless you want a more ethereal, dreamlike or ghostly final image.)
• Open up Photoshop and click on file, then 'automate' and 'Merge to HDR pro'

• You'll then get a pop up box with your HDR image and now the world is your oyster! Play around with the settings and see what you get!

NB If you can't see the the save or OK button if you edit on a Mac, move the toolbar to the left or right (apple -> Dock -> Position on Left/Right) and it should come up. For some reason, on mine, the bottom of the box gets cut off meaning you have to force quit and lose your lovely image!

Like I said previously, if you want a crisper image, you'll need to use a tripod, but I was so eager to try the technique out I didn't bother! Serendipity prevailed once again and I love the softer edges and the more eerie feel of the photo by not using one.

And just to add a bit more spookiness to the image, I did another edit but this time I made the eyes completely black. Thoughts?!

The Photography Institute

So yesterday I showed you some V images I took about a year ago, well here are some more recent ones...... I've recently embarked on a new photography course with The Photography Institute (hence the lack of blog updates lately!!!) so my posts for the foreseeable future will be the work I have submitted as part of the course. First up, here are the 3 images I shortlisted to submit. You can chose whatever you want to take a photo of but using techniques learnt. Always keen to get my 'V' in, I decided to take photos of him for assignment 2 (first module did not require a submission); we had to find an object of any kind around the house and think of a 'different' way to photograph it. 

This was the image I decided to submit, the following two are the other ones I was considering. I decided on this one because I liked the 'mood' of it most. I like it being dark and mysterious, I love the warmth of the photo after using a red backdrop and I love the reflection in the glass (which was what was at the forefront of my mind when initially thinking about the photo). I got 8/10 for my overall assignment score which I'm very proud of. Would love anyone and everyone's thoughts on the images! Which is your favourite?

'Windows' Exhibition

'Windows' exhibition Jan-Feb 2013

So another exhibition has been and gone in a flash! Due to the size of the venue, it meant there was more than one private view. I, unfortunately was away for the beginning (unfortunately for some anyway, I was living it up in Goa!) but it meant I got to do my own night to showcase my work and it was great fun! Here are my exhibition pieces and one or two from my night itself.....!

        

So, as you can tell, my take on the theme was that our eyes are the windows to our souls. And then I thought about what you might see if you looked in to my soul et voila! I used my eyes and my boyfriend's because I thought that together and with one eye of each pair made up, it would look even more eerie, which was definitely what I was hoping for and what I think I managed to achieve. 

So there we have it. Third exhibition under my belt and something I feel very proud to be a part of!

Man Ray: My Way

Last weekend I was lucky enough to go to the Man Ray Portraits exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. One of my most favourite photographers and a big source of inspiration for me, I felt truly privileged to be up close and personal to some of his originals.

With that in mind, it made me think back to last year when I was again looking through his work and decided to do my on take on some of his images, I suppose you could say as an homage to his great work. I have only done a few and this is an ongoing project that I will keep adding to, but it seemed like a good time to share!

I've included his images for any of you not familiar with his work and then mine.

So, different, yet similar. I loved the idea of the mask in Man Ray's image but I didn't want my attempt to completely mirror his, so I added a bit of me to it by using the V mask. The lighting is very different in my image too, it's much darker but again, I feel that reflects me better. The shadows are still there and the composition is obviously really similar. Obviously it's not a patch on the work of a photographic genius but I would like to think that he'd see it as a compliment to him that I want to try and make images similar to his!

Today's modern man?! Man Ray's photo is of Pablo Picasso with his paintings in the background. Again, composed similarly but instead of the subject having their work in the background, I have mine. And spot the V mask making another appearance!

Lee Miller, another one of my most favourite photographers, collaborator and muse of Man Ray. She was the subject of much of his work. Another Man Ray inspired photo from me. My image is heavily solarised so the differences are quite apparent but once again, you can draw the comparisons.

So, what do you think of Man Ray: My Way?! Think I might do more of this with some of my other faves! 

Goan nature

There are so many beautiful plants, colours and textures in Goa so that's whats up next in this post.
To the left is a tree trunk, I love how it's spindly and twigs wrapping around in each other. No prizes for guessing what the one on the right is!

The 'man monkey' scaling the tree effortlessly and our guide Martin, showing us all the spices they grow in India. 

Ewwww, I hate spiders! But this was massive and I couldn't not take a photo. I'm not joking, it was the size of a dinner plate! 

Flotsam is natural apparently, jetsom is manmade. Every day's a school day huh?!

Don't forget the Exhibition!

Just a gentle reminder that my night for the exhibition is fast approaching! 

'Windows' Exhibition 

Friday 1st February 2013

7pm

The Roisin Dubh (Kingsbury)

Click here for more information! Spread the word!

Another trip to the Cemetery!

I know this isn't the most Christmassy blogpost given the time of year... But, maybe it is? For some people Christmas is about churches and these were taken in the grounds of the church so that counts, doesn't it?!

This photo is the real reason I went back to the cemetery!

'Windows' - Exhibition Time!

Its that time again! I am taking in part in my third exhibition with La Société de la Petite Voix at Roisin Dubh in Kingsbury.

'Windows' is the name of the game this time round with lots of different takes on this theme so there really is something to appeal to everyone. And once again we have a whole selection of international photographers; Brazilian, Spanish, Anglo-Irish, Polish, English and Indian! We want to raise awareness for local artists and show people that you don't have to be rich to own some amazing work, while at the same time your purchase helps us fund our dreams! And there really is some excellent work for you to lay your hands on at really affordable prices. 

So, most importantly, When!?! From 14th January 2013 19.30. There is a Private View on 15th January and thereafter the exhibition will be open to all during the normal working hours of the venue. The venue is an intimate pub with cheap beer and a great atmosphere. Also located 1 minute walk away from Kingsbury tube station (Jubilee Line).

Please be sure to put it in your diary and show your support for us by sharing the event whichever way you can! Please click here for more info. Hope to see you there!

Street Photography

On Saturday I took part in a photography workshop with the British Photography School. It gave me a chance to check out some really cool locations in East London and give me even more inspiration (like I need more ideas floating around in my head!). I took over 200 photos in 2 hours so bear with me while I edit them! Here are a few to get me started. Despite the terrible weather, I still managed to get some really good images and the weather didn't win in dampening my spirit! As always, feedback is very, very welcome!

This is definitely my favourite from the shoot