Sunday 31 January 2010

L3 Macro in Softbox

Had a go at taking some product shots with a soft box, a Canon 5D MKII  and Sigma 50mm f2.8 DG Macro lens, the trouble was because I was using a full frame camera I couldn't get close enough to isolate the shot, this resulted in having to crop in and could result in loss of quality. I will try again with my 70-200mm lens and an extension tube which will able me to focus closer thus getting a closer shot. I have noticed that I will have to work on my lighting techniques and as I'm closer make sure all dust etc is cleaned up.

A bit of edditing on this one all done in photoshop RAW, a bit of crop and increase in the blacks and saturation.

Same again a crop and increase in blacks and saturation

One of my first tasks I think is to find out how other commercial photographers  achieve the polished look that I'm looking for.

Saturday 30 January 2010

1.0 - L3 Start of new course City & Guilds Level 3 Studio

That's we've finally started the Burton College City and Guilds level 3 course, and...... I have already decided on what direction I'm going wahoo!

What direction are you going I hear you ask? ... well:

The Assignment  title is the 'obvious illusion' ref: SP306310 which a studio based assignment , and the units are 306 studio photography and 211 present images for viewing.

within the units you have to option to do your own thing so to speak so I have decided to do some product shots or commercial work, one section will be a shot of the product then the flip side will be a shot of the product being used. See below for examples from the web.

Saturday 23 January 2010

A picture a week for a year

mI started a little project at the start of the year, which was to take one picture each week of my children. I'm not sure how it will turn out? this week whilst watching my youngest daughter having her hair done by her mum, I took a picture and thought will I be around when she is having her hair done on her wedding day and will I take a picture then?

Imogen 2 years 10 months

And just to keep things even here's the other daughter


Amelia 4 years 8 months

Thursday 21 January 2010

BoTPS Jan Comp - Reflections

Hi all (or am I just rambling to myself, if not please let me know by following me) just got back from my local club meet and judged comp, got a good result again (blimey that sounds conceited) a joint 1st and joint 2nd place in the Projected section and a joint 1st and joint 3rd in the Prints section, the theme for this month was reflection, here they are:

Lime Street Station

Liverpool from the docks

Reflection in a place of reflection

All of the above and more I'm entering into the Midland Counties Photographic Federation (MidPhot 2010) Exhibition to see if they get selected.... watch this space! (or if it's just me in here, I'll watch this space)


Eyes windows to the soul

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Kelly shoots and model agency

Looking back on some my old photographs again, I keep finding little treasures ..... look see...











I've also joined up to a model search web site and I'm getting some good results, reply's from models hopefully I will be able to sort someone for the new studio shoot in Feb/ March.

Sunday 17 January 2010

Old Pictures

I've been going through my old film photographs recently, I have a project underway to chart my progression in photography, starting from when I got my first camera at 11 years old to the present day and putting into a AV for my local photography club, Firstly I had forgotten just how many photographs I actually had (and how many I have lost too!) secondly, whilst going through them I realised that the ones I had discounted years ago as not suitable are now worthy of putting on show... heres a few.


This is Paula in 1985




Cheltenham Shopping Centre Clock


Corfu 1988

Saturday 9 January 2010

Brewhouse Exhibition

The Burton on Trent Photographic Society has had their Exhibition at the Brewhouse open today, Please go and see there is some good stuff not just photographs, a local painter's work is also on display on the ground floor. the exhibition is on display until 6 March.







Monday 4 January 2010

Baby Sitting

I was asked to take some pictures for my sisters friends who were from spain and were over for the holidays, they wanted some portrait pictures of their baby and themselves to take with them before they went back home, so armed with two studio flash units, umbrellas and soft boxes and my trusty Canon 5D MKII and the 24-105mm l series lens I started. 189 pictures, four changes of baby clothes, two changes of mums clothes, three cups of tea, a swiss roll cake and two hours later we finished. here are a few pics to see .