James K Photography

February is almost over . . . . where'd it go?

2012-02-28T23:26:00.001Z

Creative Live is an amazing entity. I honestly cannot rave enough about them - they are awesome. On friday Sandy Puc was giving her 3 day course about photography as a business, giving back and dreaming big.

It was ( as you can guess ) awesome - Im so glad to have been a part of it. I have been so busy absorbing the information that getting a post done completely slipped my mind.

Now February is over, i know we've another day to go, but its effectively done and dusted. What a month, looking back over the posts has been fun, but as we're fast approaching March I'm not gonna dwell on it long.

Coming up in March will be my submission to attend Jasmine Star's next workshop, i've been a fan and followed her for about 2 years now and she has been instrumental in my photographic development. Also we'll have some more charity work with the Head Injured Society, some outings with the Cheez wiz and there will be client experiences talked about. All in all I'm really excited - so much so that there will be discounts for those booked in for March & April - they will be launched on Facebook on March 2nd so keep your eyes posted - get liking my page to be in with a chance of getting the discount!

Amazing news that also just came in this morning was from the RCMP. They wanted a photography to use for their "anti-bullying" campaign. As the idea developed I found myself designing an A3 poster - to be distributed to every school in the area - the result? Judge for yourself -

It's simple and clear (i hope). Today i got word that it has been successful and will be used. Woop woop!

As this transitional month has progressed we've seen harsh snowfalls and beautifully unseasonably warm days. To leave you with some final images - here are some from the cutting room floor for February

Remember to wear Pink tomorrow - in support of the Anti-Bullying campaign across Canada!

Love at the Maritime!

2012-02-22T16:00:00.002Z

Campbell River is a great city, located to the north of Vancouver Island - If you hit Sayward you've gone to far so turn back! In this city there is a lot of important events for the calendar. February 11th 2012 was on of these. The annual Silent Auction, to raise money for non profit organisations, is held at the Maritime Museum, this years organisers were the Head Injured Society. These gals are amazing, not only were all the tickets sold but the items up for auction were outstanding. There was even a canoe up for grabs - hand made as well!

Included in the event is a photograph to commemorate the event. Each couple are allowed (for one night) to make their way onto the BCP 45 - a famous restored trawler featured on the $5 bill here in Canada. People hold it with high regard and I had the opportunity to photograph each couple on it!

Having scouted the location, i decided on my "spot to shoot from" - i had good lighting (all be it overhead) but that was enough for me. Choosing the gear, was a matter of looking into my bag - i wanted to use the 50mm Prime but there was a problem - with the cropped sensor and room restrictions I couldn't get enough of the boat to make the image memorable. The 18-55mm is a kit lens so there is no way for a professional gig i'm gonna use it. This left the 28-105mm USM - shooting at 28mm gave me lots of the boat and worked well at f4.0 to keep the DOF good for the couple.

Dealing with approx 80 people - all wanting a picture - was going to be tough. But again through preparation I knew how to handle them. Apart from the lighting i chose my shooting spot as it allowed the clients to funnel from the dinning room over to me. Creating a buzz and allowed me to get each person recorded in the order which they had queued. Important for the post processing as it meant I could match up clients names to their images (which hopefully is 100% correct) :o)

In the end I got just under 40 images processed - as they are now in the process of being collected from the lovely girls at the Head Injured Society, so it frees me up to share the contact sheet from the night.

Massive thanks for all those in attendance - you guys were amazing to work with and I thank you for listening to my direction (even if the accent made it difficult) - hopefully you will all be pleased!

On a separate note I want to mention Roses Catering - these are the folks responsible for the tables, food and serving - you were all amazing on the night. I salute Karen for her dedication and my thoughts are with the Roses Family at this time.

Organized Vandalism

2012-02-20T15:00:00.004Z

For those who read the levitation piece, you will know of the idea, I decided to challenge it and capture more frozen moments. Deciding on a new subject I chose balloons - why? Balloons are great fun, especially when you fill them up with water. I wanted to see for myself if its true, does water hold its shape once the balloon is "popped"?

In preparation i went to the local store and grabbed some necessities: a pin, a stick, balloons, cello-tape and string. Upon returning, i got down to business, filling the balloons with water and sketching out how i want the shoot to go.

These ingredients, however, were not enough - how would i hang the balloons in an environment good for water runoff?

As my sketches suggested, it would have to be shot outside, off i went on the prowl. Finding a ladder and a shed I could see the shoot plan coming together. The only draw back....there were no external plug sockets, therefore no "extra" light sources. This one was gonna be natural light only - oh no!

I was in luck, the sun was making its way overhead and there were lots of clouds, creating amazing diffused light - i would need to be strict today with the timing of this and in choosing my equipment - although a good light day I would need a wider aperture to get in lots of light, i am trying to shoot fast and decide that after a few test shots i would need somewhere between f1.4 and f2.5 - just to get good exposure from the 1/4000 - 1/8000 sec i was planning to shoot with. Looking into the camera bag the only option i have is the 50mm 1.4 prime.

Gear chosen, next item on the agenda was making the special tool for "balloon popping". Comprising if a stick and a pin held together with tape. It like being on set with the A-Team when you're working on a concept.... :O)

It needs to be a long stick, as although I'm getting close to the balloon i need some distance to insure that i don't get me or the camera soaked from the splash back! As seen here:

Lesson learnt and with soggy trainers - i attack my prey - the innocent water balloon!

As a first strike the stop motion is fantastic, there are two shapes getting formed, the balloon and then the stick penetration, however interesting it may be, i don't want the stick to penetrate as it detracts from the idea.

Looking at the light I also felt the need to up the ISO to 1600 - and try an even faster speed than 1/4000th

The effect is now clear - the water does hold its shape! Now to get a funky shaped balloon and see if it affects the water, could it just be gravity that pulls the water in that shape?

Awesome! The theory was correct, water does hold its shape when the balloon is burst! Totally awesome!

Any comments - this idea is great, try it yourself.

Fairies at work

2012-02-16T21:40:00.000Z

Yesterday was surreal, what started off as a delivery job turned into something completely unique. Delivering photographs to clients is always a humbling experience - for me I take pleasure in seeing the reaction and getting the winning smile of approval. It's confirmation of a job well done and drives the hunger to improve and grow along the photographic path. Let's face facts here - if you're no good, clients will soon tell you, a constant improvement in results will always impress

With images delivered, i move on to the second objective, which is part of why i chose to deliver the images by hand, it gives me the chance to explore more the local area, my next deadline is for the lines theme at the Campbell River Photography Club and it has fast approached - I had taken several possible entrants but, as I've been looking at them for the last week, i decided to create more and concentrate on narration within lines - just as a challenge - the club is a chance to have fun so off i went.

You gotta try to picture the scene, its a foggy afternoon, I'm ascending a hill with cars coming towards me and there is no pavement to walk along. Whilst dodging cars who see me too late, i'm taking pictures and working to get that "unique" shot - it's part of what makes me do this, the freedom to actually go where you want and to challenge yourself in an afternoon - but nothing prepared me for what was about to unfurl.

One thing i should mention here, I was running late, not deliberately but i had had a graphic pen malfunction. I had put the bugger down and whilst packing up, managed to "misplace" it. I searched high and low, 15 minutes of frantic searching and still nothing. I literally had it in my hands and "poof" it was gone. I got to thinking that maybe the fairies had snuck in and stolen my pen! Turns out it was behind my ear and as i was wearing my photography cap, it was well concealed. I felt like a total moron, but now running late, was just glad to finally head off!

As i was late, this had a knock on effect for the shoot, as i headed up Peterson taking shots of my brief I didn't notice the police car pull up ahead. As the window of the car rolled down I began to think "oh sh!t, am i in trouble for taking these pictures?" The lovely RCMP Constable actually was interested to see what i was doing, not in the aggressive way you hear about but more to check, I believe, if i was actually any good with my camera!!

We got to talking about cameras and life in Canada and i was handed a pin badge. Apparently on February 29th, Canadians show their support to Anti-Bullying by wearing something pink to work/school/outside in general. In getting this badge i felt honoured, it came with a brief, i had to get a good image of the badge for circulation through the community and that it could potentially be used nationally - should it be any good. My mouth dropped, what an opportunity! So i'm working on a few things and wanted to share some news! Sometimes, in the most frustrating times, not being "on-time" can lead to a whole new doorway!

That really tickled me pink (no pun intended), the chance to help a worthy cause is always something I love doing - the chance to gain recognition is great but to actually contribute positively is amazing!

Anyway, those images will be off soon enough and, hopefully, will be well received!

Getting back to my agenda, i had some lines to get capturing, as the ideas come to me I started to think more about lines, lines and lines. It was driving me nuts, everything i was taking had lines in it, but i want my images to be better, different and a clever interpretation with limited - photoshopping, by that i mean image manipulation, copy and pasting to create drama, not so much amending colours.

So what did i capture from this "walkabout"? have a look see.... these are the ones that will NOT be submitted.

The first one is the only maybe i have, but..... is it really lines? i can't decide, the wood which dissects the image in half really annoys me, having reviewed it. Does it add to the theme..... i can't decide?

All taken on the 50d with the 28-105 USM - any opinions or queries, use the comment box or use the FB page!

Adios for today, and take note that sometimes things happen to get in your way (like loosing a pen) but its always for a reason, the higher path!

Sowing the seeds

2012-02-14T21:35:00.000Z

As a newbie to any area it's often exciting, some times daunting but mostly fun! Campbell River is no exception. Having wanted to get more involved in the community I took myself out and started to meet people. Getting to know the Head Injured crew has been just that - it started as an offer to cover a dinner for them and has snowballed into some great volunteer time. Through them I have been able to test myself photographically, some images have been linked through to my website - and I have now a regular fixture in the calendar to assist in covering their events.
Anyone who keeps an eye on my Schedule, will know that i recently covered the Silent Auction at the Maritime Museum. Having just finished the editing the final images are awesome and i gotta say "well done" to the guys and gals there, Roses Catering and the Head Injured Society for making the event a success. Everything sold and all the proceeds go to a great cause.
Hearing a shout out from the Toastmaster about my presence was humbling and getting the job done capturing each couple on the BCP 45 was a really enjoyable experience. Everyone I met appeared to enjoy the shoot and as the images are ready for printing I'm hoping to exceed their expectations and get some great exposure to the community. After all doing any job to the best of your abilities will reward dividends, even if only in getting the experience.
This however is not a blog about the night, after the clients have been given their images I will put a select few up - just to show the final product.
One exciting development has been the use of some of my images for the Vancouver Island Head Injured Magazine! They ran a piece on the Campbell River crew and they gave me a call to help "get a good angle". Here are some of the best bits - the place is a goldmine for the unusual. They have some amazing things for their clients - table football, a cracker dog and lots of caring and great people!

These guys do a great thing and I want to take the time to say thanks! Thanks for bringing me on board and showing me your ethos, you have educated and inspired me and I love every opportunity i get to come get involved!

PS - these images are not watermarked so don't try and ripe them down, the quality is set up for the blog and are not to be reproduced without permission from me!

Run with it

2012-02-11T01:40:00.000Z

Greetings on this wonderously overcast Canadian friday. Earlier in the week, the seeds of an idea started to germinate from a lifestyle shoot. Being the compulsive obsessive that i tend to be over ideas which inspire I talked Jen into, spending a few hours with me, developing the levitation concept.

I wanted to concentrate on freezing the point of interest into wicked and unusual poses. How should i set about preparing for the shoot? OK first thing was to decide on the camera body settings, bearing in mind that the camera will be rotated between me and Jen as we demonstrate ideas to each other, i decide to opt for TV mode (or commonly known as shutter speed mode). Its a bright afternoon and i want to keep the subjects frozen and set the camera to 1/500 and if possible switch to an even faster 1/1000+ (which we did) . Next up was the lens, bearing in mind we would be moving around to experiment, the prime was out. For me the 50mm is a great lens but not the all rounder needed for the shoot. In the end i decided to warm us up using the 28-105 USM and keep the f stop around 5.6 to give enough DOF to play with. After a bit we interchanged between the 18-55 kit and the 28-105 USM.

Next up to get arranged were the props, what could we use . . . . ? Deciding to raid the play cupboards at Grandma's house proved the most fruitful. We settled on a few things - a book, a broom, a football and a kids guitar.

Unsure quite how we would work these objects we headed to our location, which was fortunately for us, at Grandma's house as well. Having moved the props to the front door, so began our photoshoot. Now please remember this is an idea we are exploring and in no way am I declaring these images as "finished products".

the broom - although not authentic, definitely adds to the concept of floatation with a purpose.

next up I chucked the camera over to Jen and grabbed the football. Technically for this session Jen took all the images with me in them so, although I've stamped them with my watermark, they are Jen's!! Isn't she doing a great job!!

Getting back to it, the football aspect is a really interesting avenue, and to be fair i really wanted to "suit up" in the football gear but as that is now back in belfast, it would take way too long to have it shipped over so you'll have to imagine it... :)

I must also stress the fear aspect involved in this shoot, jumping off objects is dangerous and jumping onto concrete is just plain painful when done from a greater height too. As a result of this it became difficult not to bear in mind the "impact factor" where your body naturally prepares for impact and so "letting go" becomes harder.

But we persevered, after all neither of us are "old" by any means.

The guitar really adds that rock and roll vibe and against a white background you could cut out the character and input into another scene, like this (awful result but fun exploration of a possible photoshop angle)

it really is bloody awful but as a conceptual idea there may be something to explore at another time. I liked adding the flames it brought to the table a unique motion.... maybe...

Let's not dwell on the photoshop route, lets get back to experimentation of objects to illustrate levitation. Next idea was to try the book approach - originally i wanted a newspaper but with motion of jumping it became difficult without cheating so changing to a book really helped fill the void of frustration.

pulling the body shapes is another important thing to remember, the actions in themselves tell a story. remember to use your angles effectively!

Having exhausted the idea of stair jumping we moved the shoot a whole 10 feet and tried out some different ideas, combining the environment and some more props. Starting us off Jen pulled this beauty:

Is she coming / going, rising / falling? the brain can't quite decide, we're getting something interesting now... so i revisit the book idea again

Not sure the environmental incorporation works, but we can but try and experiment - sometimes the ideas process can pay dividends others not so much. At this point in the shoot, the light is starting to really diminish, sunset is approaching and we are having to jump higher and higher to keep ourselves illuminated.

this is great, i feel like van halen or something,

in the end, personally i feel these two are the most interesting shots, we experimented with various props and kept coming back to the broom. I prefer the combination of the two props to tell more of a story but Jen does manage to give a good sense of movement from sitting on the broom.

Remember any thoughts or comments are welcome, if i've missed something or you have a question. Stick it in the comments below!

Thanks to Jenny P and the 50d for the great shots!

New effects and a lucky break

2012-02-08T21:24:00.000Z

Doing personal projects keeps me sharp. It gives rise to creative freedom and the chance to experiment and develop the photographic skill-set. Monday was no exception - Vancouver Island is beautiful, for people who live here, they know this, but honestly trying to capture the overwhelming size of the beauty is a challenge. As you know Campbell River is the current home for me and the family, and i put in a request to "get out there more" and Jen took me to her old "drinking spot" when she was a young adult.... :) and my god, its friggin beautiful. A beauty that was seen in movies like The Great Outdoors with John Candy. Its a place called McIvor Lake - about 10 mins out of Campbell River - and Jen used to have BBQ's down here and hang with her buddies. I was instantly jealous, in the UK I spent my youth walking around my neighbourhood looking for stuff to do and here was this massive, calm, private lake where you could easily have 5000 people visit and it wouldn't be overcrowded. To illustrate the sheer size I took this shot on the 18-55 (kit lens) from my old faithful 400d package at 18mm (i know the sensor crop means its actually 1.6 times 18mm but i'm not worried, it was still wider than the norm) and look -

This really just illustrates the lenght of the lake rather than the width cause its soo large. As usual the Cheezwhiz is straight off exploring and jumping around in the lake with her wellies on - its gonna be a good day!

It is over cast so i use the time at the lake (apart from shooting the size of it) to experiment with diffused lighting and positioning during portrait shots in the open. Bearing in mind, also that i want to try a new editing technique called Draganing an image. Which BTW if done correctly is awesome. Some of the earlier shots from the day worked out ok, but its gonna take a bit of practise to get it done correctly. To start off, Jen poses for me and I get the following:

It's an OK first attempt - for me the eyes are too white but the effect is subtle and by turning the subject 45 degrees from the sun I can catch some decent highlights and tones to give her a greater presence in the portrait. So on to round 2 - at this point the sun decides to break the clouds and I've direct light to work with and bearing that in mind I don't want too much hard light to hit her :

Again turning her 90 degress from the sun and using a reflector i can cast some diffused light onto her face with some rimlight behind and with the Dragan effect it gives the eyes and details in her face a better "presence".

At this juncture i decided to practise more, I wanted to compare the new technique against the older conversions i've been doing. Turing my attention to the Cheezwiz I caught this beauty:

The black and white works well, I like the contrast but around her face she looks washed out. To help mask this issue in the Dragan effect I cropped in a little tighter. It's still a great effect and I notice that it gives me the freedom to pull out more from the image and not only highlight the areas i want (like the eyes) but also to give more shadow and through that get better tonal range in the shadows. Again this is personal choice but I'm doing a personal project and once i nail this effect will be offering it out - It makes portraits much more moody and if used correctly can hold the viewer to wonder "what is (this person) thinking?"

As I cropped one image of the cheez wiz to illustrate the effect I feel i'm cheating the viewer into believing that the Dragan effect is better, which isn't necessarily the case, here's an uncropped image conversion that i took of Izz as we were preparing to leave. It was shot indoors with one window bringing in the diffused light from the clouds:

Putting the Draganized effect first you can really see (in my mind) how much difference there is in the two images. Feel free to comment if you see different, but please explain your reasons. It's about creative diversity and I love a good chat.

From one decision to get "out there" and allow my inner creative to step forward we can see some amazing results. Its all about inspiration - being inspired will always push you to do better or attempt new ideas, it doesn't always work BUT from it can spawn a whole new flavour of creative juices. Take for example this final image - I love it, although not shot by me, kudos to Jen, taken on the 28-105 USM, her brief was to capture an image of me practising the art of levitation and through this a whole serious of flavours are being prepared for the next post. Its so much fun to experiment and I'm so glad I did, check it out:

Side note - I'm not smoking, its supposed to be a dude levitating to the lake and trying to light his ciggie. His rocket firing boots are the propulsion needed for simpler travel.
Use the idea, run with it, I did and it's been crazy fun. Thanks Digitalrev!

In grown toenails like in grown trees

2012-02-07T01:42:00.001Z

Haig Brown House is a really funky place - built in 1923 the house is stunning and full of quirks. They have trees which grow indoors but over the years have managed to penetrate the original glass of the windows and now grow from the inside to the out..... bizarre right, see the proof

It's cool to see how nature takes back and cannot be tamed into submission. Mind bending stuff, right? This shoot was arranged by Steph as part of an excursion for the Island in Focus Photography Club in Campbell River and the current theme for submission is Lines. Now I've some ideas on lay away but when i came to Haig Brown House, I got lost in the beauty of the place, and decided to forget about lines and concentrate of capturing its beauty.

I'm just glad i brought a few lenses, there is literally loads to capture and changing the lens totally changes the viewpoint and message of the point of interest. Used the Canon 18-55 and the 28-105 USM for these.

Skirts and getting model co-operation

2012-02-05T01:44:00.000Z

As an avenue for other entrepreneur's, photography holds a massive key. It allows a product to be shared on the interweb and show others the glory of your work without the need for "being there". I was asked to shoot a skirt as part of a new line from Vivalamour - getting a child model to pose is..... a nightmare. It's frustratingly good fun - you have laughs galore and can forget about clock watching. Prepare for a good afternoons fun so clear your schedule!

Deciding on a location outside of a studio can help get you outdoors and into nature. Just be aware of the time of day and the weather. We lucked out with an overcast day so the light was nice and diffused, the only downside was the cougar - whom notices were posted as being "in the neighbourhood".

Here's some off the cutting room floor - check out the skirt!!!

All taken on a 50mm 1.4 USM

Random Brilliance of Vancouver Island

2012-02-04T01:08:00.000Z

Campbell River is a hot bed for the unusual. As a jolly foreigner i get to see everything with new eyes and attempt to photograph them from a fresh perspective. Having been on various shoots from January I have a few shots which i feel are fairly awesome and each for their own reason - we have eagles, snow and just plain different garden gnomes

So there you go - the monthly friday randomness - haig house tomorrow for a nature shoot - can't wait to share!!

Working at the workshop

2012-02-02T01:54:00.000Z

Getting smaller assignments is always really good fun with plenty of opportunity to test your skills in another different light source. This was no exception - meeting business owners and getting to see their into their world is exciting. At this workshop I met Pete, Pete - who is awesome, and as his career he gets to rebuild fabulous classic cars, whilst running a regular workshop with his number 2 - Nick.

As soon as i walked in I was dumbstruck, this place was a photographic haven! Everywhere i looked there was something catching my attention and screaming "dude, come get my picture" - how can i refuse.

I was like a kid in a sweetshop - check these out:

All scattered around the shop, and honestly it's not even a drop in the ocean!

But i was there to get some interesting shots of the workshop - and what better way than to sink into the background and try to absorb the atmosphere and translate the workshop into print format

As the day progressed we became accustomed to each others work ethic and i met this quirky chap - his name . . . Jack. He is a wonderful dude and didn't hesitate to check me out and determine that i was ok. Don't be fooled by his cute exterior, i imagine he could tear strips from any bone!

Another wonderful shoot, thanks for opening up your heart and shop guys. I had a real blast, as I'm sure you did, as the final image - check out this bad mother - a two man chain saw!!!!! <holy crap> :O)

Snow buddies the Jen and Issy day

2012-01-30T00:07:00.000Z

Jen and Issy are nuts - i need to declare that early. They are two peas in a pod and being mother and daughter they share a combined nutty gene. At the sight of snow, an idea is suggested that it'd be a "really great idea" to take Issy to a hill to experience tobogganing. As its her first time what better excuse that to capture her reactions forever?

So we arrive and Issy is relaxed and ready to explore but where is Jen? She arranged this shoot and then disappears off on arrival....turns out she took the toboggan and ran off to a hill. Who is this fieldtrip really for - i wonder?

It gives me a chance to work with my ever helpful model in Issy. She's bundled up, bewildered but yet still makes the effort to smile for the camera.

Even when mother won't share - issy focuses on sharing her wonderful side

Jen shows her daughter "how to do it" - and almost fails in keeping control only to wrestle the toboggan back under her masterful guide.

Next up Issabelle gets a turn - her little mind is blown to a new dimension in understanding the power of travelling without moving.

The cuter side of sharing:

all in all - a wonderful day. Spent sharing in a new experience with two wonderful models. Thanks for the invite ladies!

Shutter speeds, ISO & Aperture - the Dilemma in Sports

2012-01-27T23:17:00.001Z

Choosing which lens to take to a hockey game, is for me, a dilemma. As a rule, you don't want to spend anytime changing lenses mid game - its not about getting the sensor dirty but more about missing any action (even at half time) - as a photographer I look through the minds eye and try to picture (as close as possible) the conditions for the shoot.

What will lighting be like - the flash won't help with the plastic surrounding the rink - so I'll need a lens with a lower f number and a body with ISO boost.

Where am i seated - do i need to zoom - so my prime is out and the zoom is in.

How fast will the players move - the lens needs to allow me to use a high shutter speed whilst letting in good light to stop the images from getting dark. In ice hockey players move quick so to keep them crisp and I'll need to have the USM technology to allow for fast focusing during play (anything less can cause delay and thus miss the action) - for the body i'll need to have a high shutter speed so somewhere from 1/500 to 1/8000 will be utilised - just to be safe!

Decision tree followed - the EF 28-105 (f 3.5 - 5.6) USM - lens is chosen.

I get down to the rink and its a disaster - getting decent light will prove difficult as the plastic lining the pitch to protect the crowd is cutting out a lot of the light to the sensor. How to combat this? Boost the ISO - i went to 800 - still too dark for the shutter I need. time to experiment - open the aperture and lower the shutter.....still no good. In the end I'm shooting at 1600 - aperture 3.5 and shutter floats from 1/250 to 1/2000 - depending on the action I'm looking at. My problem with this is that at ISO 1600 you get a fair amount of noise, moving up further will destroy a good clean image, I'm fairly confident that at this point I can address the noise in Photoshop.

The results? Well the game was great, no idea who won - i needed to get Cheezwiz home for sleep so missed the final whistle - but the action was intense. Check out the images:

All things considered, I had fun, the players worked hard and the results are good. ISO noise i a pain, but can be reduced if needed.

Close encounter with nature

2012-01-25T04:45:00.000Z

As with all shoots, knowing your brief is vitally important. I set out last week to get a better understanding of the complexity within nature. Taking my 28-105mm EF lens with me, my decision was to take a "closer look" at how Canada differs from the native Irish lands.

Elk Falls is a fabulous place. Currently there are sub zero conditions, which brings everything into a new and unexplored realm for this photographer. Getting out and exploring has been top priority. Catching up and sharing comes a close second.

More to come later this week!

Oyster Bay

2012-01-20T01:31:00.001Z

Back in business, the power cord has arrived...... thank f***!

With the new year, has come the new attitude - setting myself little projects on the side, should defo keep me busy. Having not had the editing ability for 10 days I'm well behind in showing the latest creations. So far this year there are beaches, nature walks and hockey games. All yet to be processed!

Having spent the afternoon editing the jaunt around Oyster Bay, here are the edits. What a beautiful place, full of wildlife and as you'll see birds. It was a sea birds paradise. I'm not in any position to identify them (i'm no expert) but they make for amazing additions to the shoot!

New year, new beginnings

2012-01-09T06:30:00.000Z

Clean sheet, empty page, next chapter, new dawn..... Whatever you want to call it, now is the time. Take a chance and dream bigger than before, you never know, if 10% comes about, that'll be 10% happier and better off you'll be!

Just set the wheels in motion, and start today!

2012 has started with teething issues but already dreaming that little bit bigger is making things happen. Got a slight technical hitch with my stop power cord and hopefully this will be fixed in 3-4 days. Can't wait to start editing again. I've some cool things to try out!

Watch this space.

Be who you ARE, not who you're supposed TO BE. . . .

2011-12-30T19:33:00.001Z

I could start this in saying yeah, my new strap line is this subject title and it's the stuff you should read understand and follow, but it's more than that. What do I mean?

In my photography journey I have travelled many roads in getting to where I am now. I have started with an idea, an idea that no matter what I do in my day job I am never, really, satisfied. I was living a dream that wasn't my own. When i was young, I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. Everyone around mkne hen asked could proclaim what they wanted the future to hold for themselves but I was always unsure. I just knew I wanted to live a dream where I was an important piece of an idea or movement that would greater enhance others as well as my own need to succeed.

12 months ago i stopped and examined my life and was not happy with what I saw. There was a nice car, a great family home and a reasonably good job for the area and the skills. BUT to me this felt unreal. Too easy almost and I was noticing that my life was being mapped to a direction I would not be happy with. I realised I was being what had become expected. Expected by my peers, tv and even society's collective pigeon hole.

A few years back I met photography, I should rephrase that, I was reunited with it. I've taken pictures (as you do growing up) of friends, family, nights out etc. but it wasn't until I decided to do something like a night class in something that I wanted to do that a new love began to emerge. I had failed a business related exam the summer previous and struggled to accept that maybe banking wasn't what I was supposed to be doing. I studied but still failed and it's not something to happen often to me, so I took it as failure. I felt my academic background was silently judging me for the underperformance, so something had to be tested. I needed to try something I felt I wanted to get better at.

I aced the program and got a great grade but more importantly was the fact that I was inspired. Not only was I making good progress at something I loved but that i could see a more "nature" aligned existence of not trying to be something I.m not. A small nuke went off in my head. I realised that I wanted to take pictures for money, but how?

Through that logic I went out and started shooting everything. Apparently thats what happens when you think you're "all that". It was my drive to be who I was not who I'm supposed to be that led me to start the website. I wanted people to see me for more than what was expected. In work, to my family, to myself I needed to see progression of an idea that was rapidly running away with itself. The issue? I had the skills but not the understanding of why I had taken some "lucky" good shots. I mean technically I knew how it worked, I work mostly in manual mode so you gotta know what you're doing to a point, I needed to focu and study again.

Then I did my first wedding early last year. It was a blast, I got full access and was pleased to be a part of it. I did a good job for a first timer. I took a chance on myself, I had taken off the work/life expectations and gone out on my own to see if I could do something that would allow me to be myself. Sucess! The results were well received and again, by being myself, I had achieved something greater. Respect. The expectation on my skills was much lower than I realised, when you start people don't know what to expect so don't expect much. But i had Ambition. It can really beat you up if you let it! But used correctly can dare you to take on more than you know.

And so I progressed, getting more weddings and clients but this time (with the help of some inspiration from people like chase Jarvis and Jasmine star) I could vocalise mor on what I was trying to do. My skill I in allowing people to be themselves. This s not a corny thing but infact important to digest. My best images are when clients relax and concentrate on themselves, forgetting the world outside. For an hour, or a day to not be the "expected" version brings amazing results.

But despite writing all this, If you're still reading, this phrase is not about me but more an illustration of the difference we all have and know exists in ourselves. When I go out on location I love seeing in the negatives, the moment as the clients open to the camera.

The great photos that you share are usually movements which show your real self. The smiles which aren't forced, the general emotion that is conveyed from that image which summarises a holiday. And that's it! The best work I have was when clients drop their guard and expose who they are and not who they are supposed to be!

The weddings, the models, even my daughter. Their best image are in the moment they forget I'm there and practise showing the world their true selves.

That's what 2012 will be about for me. A year when people who worked with me could be inspired to believe that being who they are is ok. Everyone is beautiful. All I do is show you the real mirror with which to see your collective, inner self.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

2011-12-24T00:38:00.000Z

Getting out into the wilderness of Campbell River transforms your view on how life once was. There are majestic trees who's presence not only inspires but intimidates - How old were they, what secrets have they seen, how can i get connected to the history of this place??

Walking around this forest had me in a daze, everywhere i looked there were new and exquisite plants to photograph. My imagination on this land was working overtime, how had this been used over the years? There is a piece of this picture i should point out, the further into the woods we went, the quieter and quieter it became. It is literally the most bizarre thing to be in the woods and your shutter firing being the only noise you hear other than wind rustling some trees gently.

All shot on 50 mm Prime - Christmas is tomorrow - so to you all, merry xmas. May Santa be good to you!

Christmas and the upcoming new release for 2012

2011-12-21T00:59:00.000Z

For a lot of people, 2012 will be a massive year! Some believe the world will end but I'm not so sure - we may be moving into unknown environmental changes but we'll cope - we always do and besides, what other choice do we have?

Having got over the worst of the jet lag (i hope!) I'm finally seeing with a degree of clarity on what i want from 2012. As everyone should do at this time of year - take stock of your successes, examine the weaknesses and reassess the work life strategy from the previous twelve months.

For me, in 2011, having Jen and Issy supporting has been paramount in our collective successes. We were all there spurring each other as we stumbled in the dark looking for a light switch.... here's the break down on how we set out our goals:

All - stay employed full time
All - research and apply for visa's/passports
All - save for possible move to Canada in September/October

Jen - start vintage clothing/accessory range online
Jay - start business organically in photography
Issy - Stay healthy and active

Successes include staying in full time employment for us both! Given the UK's economy at the moment, we were always thankful for having work and a steady income. Where we both struggled was realising how difficult it would be juggle the two and pursue our dreams - there were times we both felt we had bit off more than we could chew... if you ever feel this way - STOP - reassess the workflow and get a fresh perspective.

For us we realised we had to re-negotiate the timelines and adjust the priorities. Having realised that once the application was sent for the visa/passports - all we needed to then do was wait - so we smashed that right out. Objective met!

Whilst waiting for the ok from the Canadian government, we put aside part of our paycheck each month - look after the pennies ...... We then scheduled times when each of us would spend 4-5 hours getting tore into making our perspective business ideas a reality (kinda like the mad scientist working on Frankenstein). Jen sat down and designed handbags, jewellery and baby clothes, whilst I researched and listened to others before understanding the direction i needed to go with photography - getting 5+ hours became the normal time spent 3-4 times a week (after work) honing and perfecting the soft and hardware skills needed for both of us. All whilst baby Issy went down for her night time kip!

Before we knew it, with a little dutch courage, we had both seen success. Jen was getting orders from friends for bags and I had a website which was getting numerous hits each week. It felt great, this was the beginning, but was still not enough. Jen got her bags into shops and I was meeting clients and showcasing them online. This was better - then we realised that 9 months had passed - the visa's/passports had come through and we were edging ever closer to our departure date for Canada.

All the hard work with our "goals" came crashing down around us. We had proved them successful however - as we both worked full-time, we could not grow them as we had planned in the direction we wanted fast enough. Plus we had decided to firm up on leaving so the connections and industry friends were now obsolete (not in a bad way but Canada is too far to continue a close relationship with the Irish market, sadly)

Having decided to go to Canada as a main goal it was time to check the funds - did we have enough for flights, living costs or jobs upon arrival organised? NO - but we were in late August, early September. Could we make it work in late October or early November, if we really tried? MAYBE - so we stopped. Reassessed and worked harder than before but in a new direction - having reprioitised to now sell, sell, SELL everything!

We just about got enough scrapped together, and now we're here. Having looked back on 2011 - its been hella fun and tiring year, but we proved something more important to ourselves - we can achieve our goals! Just take baby steps. . . . 3 shared goals and 1 specific was all it took.

We have made it this far and we're still going. The business for me has taken a back seat for the last few months, I know that i can't afford to be complacent but needs must and now as i've no full time job yet, i can focus back on photography and make it happen in Canada, why not eh?

I have a good number of ideas for 2012 - the goals aren't set in stone yet, they will be come January 1st. For next year I hope if you read this, we meet and move forward together - the juice is definitely worth the squeeze - trust me ;)

What will your 2012 look like?

New Beginnings in a most beautiful spot!

2011-12-06T05:34:00.000Z

Finally we've arrived and as we landed the snow started! Welcome to a white Vancouver! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful . . . . There has been a mountain of things happen over the last two weeks that i'm flummoxed on where to begin...

Running on the facebook profile is a constantly updated flow of cartoon style updates. Showing exactly what's been going on - how we've coped and what new things the family is up to. Work wise things are going good, chased a couple of leads - worked a few angles and succeeded in delivering excellence and positive images. The Head Injured Societies annual dinner was a massive deal - these guys (and by guys i'm all encompassing the chicks here too) have worked long and hard at preparing and running an office and accommodation specifically helping those with serious head injuries! And what a great bunch they are - I met the clients and the sponsers and they are a loving and caring bunch who want only the best for everyone!

As you can see here the food was, uh, AMAZING. Everything was cooked to perfection, thanks to Roses Country Catering ( Campbell River ) for doing such an amazing job!

We're settled in a little better now - the jet lag has worn off and the kids are really going nuts after not seeing each other for 18 months they are certainly making up for lost time! As you can see in the below it was darn hard catching up with two kids keen on running wild in a store....

T minus 4 days and counting

2011-11-13T13:06:00.000Z

Possessions sold, bags packed, flat moved from. Now is the final countdown until our departure for British columbia!

Job is over snd done with the goodbyes have mostly been said. Ahhh I'm gonna miss my wee country but we're sure this is the best move for the greater good!

I will try to update but I'm super busy.

Neves and emotions are all over the place.... One thing I need is a foot massage and a good night sleep. Don't think it'll happen any time to soon though

Birthday Celebrations

2011-11-03T23:35:00.000Z

Birthdays come and go and every time they are cause for celebration - not just for the milestone someone reaches but its a chance to get together for a happy occasion and this was a combo night - we're mixing a leaving do and a birthday rolled into one.

How could i miss the opportunity to snap some of the girls before heading out for a few drinks and some dancing!

Check out the girls before tearing the night and the dance floor up!

Appliance of Science

2011-10-23T01:33:00.000+01:00

The album is finished and in front of me. My gosh its BEAU-tiful! Mario Acerboni and Parker Photographics - I thank you for the hook up!

There are photos and will go up after delivery and approval from Adam and Laura. I can't wait to see their faces, this experience is one i plan to savour!

Next project is designing a fairwell gift for mother, 200 images of the transformation of her granddaughter, from baby to infant - it will be a touching reminder of the fun few years we've had!

After refining the images down, I found this gem:

Maybe the highlights are slightly overblown in places however it allows the eye to really step out and sense her thoughts.

All that's left is to prep for the "BIG" move, the more we clear - the more we find. It feels like a never ending list of things to do, but we are making headway.

Focus and determination - two keys to our success!

Words of wisdom

2011-10-06T00:10:00.000+01:00

A lot of people say a lot of things, some of it useful most of it trash - however here's a few choice words that helped inspire me:

"Indecision is Death" - Me

"Procrastination leads to nothing - at some point you gotta take a deep breath, look into the abyss and leap right in!" - the dude from that extreme tourist show

One of favourites is from a character whom i have a lot of respect for, his phrase was simple . . . .

"Earn it" - Kris D

There you go. Some choice words - my reason for this random discussion? Vancouver. My time has come - 6 months ago Jenn's fortune teller said we would cross valleys and oceans in the fall - looks like she may well be proven correct!

Passports, visa's and other needed documents are in order, all that is left is to sell, sell, sell..... all the worldly goods we've collected and enjoyed must all now be sold ...... it's sad to see things go and for life to change but like i said earlier about procrastination - sometimes you just gotta take a chance and jump into living life. It's taken us 18 months to get this far but at last the date to leave has been set!

My heart is filled with sadness to leave friends, family and memories behind but i am also excited and inspired to find out what the future now holds - I'm sure it'll be a bumpy ride but the idea of the journey is what makes this soo exciting an opportunity.

Just got to take the hit on the tickets.....hopefully it won't be that bad.... :)

To keep this a bit more light hearted here's an image of Izz in her new cardigan - she loves it!

Walks in the wilderness

2011-09-25T18:18:00.000+01:00

Northern Ireland is home to some great places to get out and about for a photoshoot and today was no exception. With the autumnal change in the air the golden leaves and soft light can create some amazing moments.

Jenn had wanted to get some shots with her daughter by me to send back west to the folks in Vancouver Island and we thought best to get out to the most beautiful spot on the coast from Belfast to Bangor at a place called Crawfordsburn Country Park - we chose it to set our scene and we were in for a treat!

The magic of these moments is totally complemented by the softer light brought by this season - the only down side are the storms that accompany the time of year, our path was blocked due to the previous weeks rain and the tale end of the hurricane that hit us (i can't remember her name but she was crossed the Atlantic) but we persevered and succeeded - check out some other light shots to see how class autumn is - possibly my favourite season to shoot in!! !

Donegal - a place of wonder, beauty and special memories

2011-09-14T22:46:00.040+01:00

Laura was organised and ready - 8.30 the arranged time to commence preparation and as i turned up she already looked like a million dollars and the girls in Syenna Hair in Derry hadn't even begun....had she been awake all night preparing? Maybe . . . this was after all the day when she would shed her old life and take on a new title as a Coulter.

Adam her loving and adoring fella was preparing his own way - a good hearty breakfast with family - he was indeed a cool customer, prepared and not fazed by his big day. In fact, i've never seen anyone so happy and content, he was turning his dream girl into his wife and nothing was going to change that.

The wedding dress was fabulous, indeed everything about this marriage felt right. the dress, the cars, the venues, the music - it was all perfect! People from far and wide descended into Burnfoot to catch a peek and share in their union.

Photography wise we had a really good day and lucked out with the weather, being overcast was perfect for diffusing the light inside and outside of the church. Whilst shooting at the top of Grianan Fort there were gusts of wind to remember, but this seemed to inspire Adam and Laura - they pulled out all the stops and worked really hard to make the magic from their day translate onto the page

Here are some of the best bits -

Guys, an amazing day - may your life together bring you wealth, health and lots of happiness!

Editing, editing, editing.....

2011-08-24T00:24:00.002+01:00

With the wedding finished and the images, downloaded and backed up, now comes the most fun part of the photography process. . . . . The editing!

What was 1300 images has been sucessfully reduced to 800 amazing images detailing Laura and Adam's big day. And what a day, it started early and finished late. There was no room for complacency or fatigue. With 2 cups of coffe I was armed and ready to depart for Derry, Donegal and the round trip back to Belfast.

The day was a-mazing filled with excitement and love as Laura and Adam made the biggest commitment of their lives to each other. I'll detail more of the day in another post including a few teaser shots too.

For now, photoshop and I are sharing many a late night but the results are worth every moment!

Been a while - apologies

2011-08-07T00:30:00.000+01:00

O My Gawd.... is it really August already??? what has happened to the time recently. It feels like i've been stuck on the star trek voyager and it's been travelling at light speed into the future and no one has been able find the break pedal!

Next week is the big shoot with Adam and Laura and the last few weeks have revolved around preparation. Dissecting the day to come, planning my method to shoot with minimum flash usage, getting together the necessary tools to complete the job (more memory, batteries, clean lenses, uniform for day, sat nav system etc,etc) - getting the names of family members etched into my think skull (one area of concern, calling people the wrong names) but whatever, it'll happen - i know it will but i just hope to not continually do it through out the day ... . . . :O)

Finally on the home straight for another successfully completed workshop I've been attending - it's been an amazing journey but one that will stick with me - i've learnt a lot from others these past few months!

Next up, after the wedding, my dear old mum turns the big 6-0 !! Mega treat has been set up for her and i'm uber excited to show the results on here! Trust me - we will all enjoy it!

So what else? Business is growing & I'm growing - i'm learning a lot about how far i've come over the last few years, in relation to where i am now and how lucky i have been to get even this far! I recently had a "stop to smell the flowers and enjoy the view" moment and really I am thankful to have had the support and determination to push myself to learn more and follow my dream as well as being able to give back to the wider community through photography.

Again, as a head's up, i may not be on here for a bit. The planning and arranging for the next 10 days plus working full time and raising Izbiz is taking it's toll on my blog time budget, but as the schedule becomes clearer after the 23rd - i want to get back to posting work up around the 3 times a week mark, that i had enjoyed up until June!!

As a treat - take a look at this amazing home made 100% cooked goodness - Jen and i want to get healthier and more knowledgeable about the food we put in our bodies so exciting times have been had in our kitchen, check out the below lovelies:

Belfast on a good day - Recap of Adam and Laura's engagement shoot

2011-07-23T00:17:00.000+01:00

For the last few weeks Belfast has seen nothing but grey skies, windy days and a distinct cold feeling considering we're nearing June.

However this Sunday has seen the straw that broke the, grey sky, camels back. The day started off miserable as normal, at 10 am the weather changed for the better. <phew> What a relief, I was due to shoot Adam and Laura to detail their newly announced engagement.

Happily I met them at the most beautiful location ever to shoot at - in and around the wonderful Belfast Castle. You'd think, and I'm embarrassed to type this, that'd I'd spent some time there before BUT for me this is another first time! What an amazing place, I can't stress this enough, truly, truly gorgeous and as we set out to do our shoot in the grounds the clouds parted and the sunshine stepped forth.

Usually shooting in direct sunlight would provide problems, like hot spots, over exposure and squinting from the subjects but not today. Adam and Laura were amazing, my perfect couple to work with. They had researched the style and we'd discussed how things would unfold and they were perfect. We went crazy for about 2 hours filling the 4GB card to bursting and truly deserved the coffee to keep us fresh and bringing the blue steel.... Thank you both for relaxing and opening up to my camera.

On the day of the wedding, which I'm thrilled to be covering, I know these guys will have no problem throwing up their "magnum" and "blue steel" faces!

These are some of the shots taken for the day. Laura is going to be the most gorgeous bride ever and I can't wait to see them again.

Here are some triptych's giving a flavour of the day and possible techniques to apply to your own images!

Capturing the details

2011-07-17T01:32:00.000+01:00

This is what i love about photography. Getting out there and learning new ways to use and apply images in the wider market. Below are the images requested by Damien for his iPhone to remind him of Cathy's warm smile.

Can't wait to see the results!

silence

2011-07-13T23:06:00.001+01:00

Taking a small break for the last two weeks, we have sunshine in Belfast and i'm making the most of it! I have image galore and will upload/arrange some shortly.

Thought y'all should know.

James

Day tripper

2011-07-06T23:11:00.001+01:00

For a really good change the weather here on the golden mile outside Belfast is amazing, the sun has been splitting the trees and there has finally been the feeling that summer might just have arrived... all be it late. Jen came up with the amazing idea of a picnic down at the beach and off we went, on the journey over I had a camera strapped to my face (honestly having been inside processing images, the opportunity to get out with the family and get snap happy was overwhelming) and look at the results - armed with the 50mm some lovely shots were knocked off - thanks Izz for being my patient angel and being yourself. you are a gem to photograph and i'm so proud you are my daughter.

4 Rules of Engagement - the prize - an iPad sleeve!!!

2011-07-02T21:52:00.002+01:00

You've seen the prize being given away in the previous post - now here are the details to get your hands on it!

1 - using any digital camera, take a picture
2 - convert that image to JPEG format
3 - mail it to me at: jameskphotographer@gmail.com (include details of your name and address to send the prize - should you be declared the winner)

It will then be uploaded to the facebook page James K Photography within 24 hours of receipt.

Lastly . . . . .

4 - get as many people (friends, family or randoms) to "like" the image

At midnight (GMT) on July 31st - voting will close - results will be calculated and the person with the most "likes" is the winner and will be sent the fabulous and unique - iPad sleeve!

That's it.

Small print - the prize is an iPad2 sleeve - only one is available and the iPad is not included. The entrant can be from anywhere in the world and i will cover the cost of shipping - your image won't be used for any other purpose but may be featured in a later blog post by me, maybe (also any inappropriate images will be omitted). So get the images to me ASAP and let the competition commence!!!

Good luck

wetting the appetite - trully amazing prize up for grabs - starting tomorrow

2011-07-01T22:10:00.001+01:00

Tomorrow is the super exciting time - the launch of the first official - JamesKPhotography.com competition and what an AMAZING prize have i got for the winner? Let's see if you can guess :

It's hand crafted, it's made from the most amazing material, it holds one of the latest gadgets on the technology market and it's uber cool !!

It comes with a magnetic fastener, it's an eye catching accessory that you had the very unique chance to win. That's right, it's a ONE of a kind iPAD Sleeve. Your iPad sits snuggly into the pouch and is cleverly disguised. As shown below. . . .

Now i must stress here, what is up for grabs is the sleeve that holds the iPad (Please note ** you are not winning an ipad. . . . sorry, maybe if these competitions take off I will build up to it but this is a chance to win an iPad sleeve competition only!)

Tomorrow the details of the competition will be put up and after the winner - and votes have been calculated - will be sent this amazing sleeve. They'll save you somewhere around $50 of your own cash and Trust me, as i have one in brown leather, they are amazing!!!!!

Thank you to Viva LAmour for the donation - I do the product shoots and in return i get throuwn the occasional freebie and can run these competitions - there will be other designs in the pipe line and you can check them out shortly on their website! Check out Viva LAmour to see other products too!

Rediscovery

2011-06-29T23:38:00.000+01:00

Thanks to showit and their crew I've been given the opportunity to get myself out there and network. As part of the ritual for concentration I usually listen to music and the information flows from me through the fingers and onto the web (sounds very bohemian).

Now i was watching recently a movie called "the King of Kong - a Fistful of Quarters" and it was amazing, by the end of the show you are hooked on Donkey Kong and celebrating the brilliance that the original game had. But watching the movie there were numerous references to the 80's - and i found myself soul searching - i wanted to rediscover some old time classics from my youth and explore them again. So the SNES has been located and is being renovated to it;s former glory.... the collection of games i found is staggering (15 in total!!!) some i barely remember stumping up the cash to pay for and others like STARFOX, that i waited for (what felt like) an age to be released and here i am 15 years later blowing the dust of the cover and am filled with that same anticipation to get it working.

Another golden oldie i've rediscovered this time in the music area is the amazing Nirvana - Live and Unplugged album that MTV released. If anyone is interested in reminiscing sometime, feel free to post up your old (recently discovered) favourites from your youth. It is honestly amazing how the memories come flooding back - some good, some interesting....some bizarre but still an awesome experience.

the appliance of the science

2011-06-28T22:13:00.001+01:00

After detailing diptych's here are a few images with a previous client. These are made to illustrate the power in sampling two images together, the idea is to provide a service where you show off your skills and flavour - Try it yourself, sample a selection of images and create your own story of the day, ask for feedback and refine the methods of connecting images. Remember that criticism is only bad if you take it personally - how else do people learn than from experience?

Location and the couple

Supportive and in love

Caring and strong

Fun and romantic

Together and united

Magical memories

Provider and happy

The Idea of Giving More

2011-06-25T23:57:00.000+01:00

Today has been a good day, getting projects finished and showcasing images is always a great feeling - the fruition of an idea really does lift morale and reinforce reasons for pushing yourself to be as good as you can be. Sharing ideas and educating each other should be free and for everyone (regardless of technical ability) and once again I want to take a few minutes to share how and what the below images about.

As part of telling a story through photography, it can be useful to use Diptych's to build on the foundations. Diptych images contain two separate shots (triptych's hold three) - usually it's best to inter link each set - this can be achieved through use of a colour, shape, theme, obscure detail etc.

Take, for example, the below - I want to condense a day's shooting into 2 images on the one page - if you can guess the day's activity then part of what i set out to achieve has been completed.

Breakfast

A Taste Sensation

Dinner Prep

Mask of intrigue

Each set of images is in some way inter linked. There are a plethora of different ideas/styles which allow the creation for continuity across your own images. Have a try and post a link for feedback.

Also later this week - I'll be hosting my first online competition - with the prize of a hand made - one of a kind - IPAD cover (courtesy of Viva Lamour). I'll post pics and competition details shortly.

Excitement!!!

DOF - please explain

2011-06-20T23:22:00.002+01:00

I got an email from John Jay (thanks buddy) after my last post and was asked to clarify further on what DOF was. So here goes, when talking about DOF, I'm referring to the depth of field within an image or the area which is in focus.

Depending on your lens/compact you will be limited by what it can do. Compacts are usually fixed between 2.4 and 16ish. DSLR's have the luxury of interchangeable lenses an will usually range from 1.2 to 32 or more.

What are these numbers and how do they relate? Ok so this is where is gets tricky. The numbers represent the size of the aperture and the amount of light getting to the sensor. For example f 1.2 lets in twice as much light as f 1.4 - although only one turn of the cog each turn doubles the amount. Which is why at f 22 the shutter stays open for much longer as less light is getting into the camera and it takes longer to capture the details. But i digress - we're talking about DOF (must focus...) all the elements inter link in a camera and we're only looking at one part of the equation.

So how can i illustrate DOF and f stops? I have, for the purpose of this post, created a visual explanation - as the best way to learn is to see the theory. Please note that all the below images were taken on AV mode (aperture priority) in order to keep the exposure the same and for me to work quickly (changing only the f stop). The is a fixed point of focus located on the right side of the image. I must state also that there has been absolutely NO EDITING done in Photoshop either and the images were taken tonight with ISO 200.

The images were taken at the same place and the only change was the Aperture (& shutter but that was to compensate the exposure) - hopefully you will see the DOF change with each image.

To start us off here is the f 1.4 shot:

At 1.4 the DOF is very tight. only part of the brickwork is visible and there is not much clarity further into the image. This is great for picking out specifics in a shot. Life brickwork, an eye or words of an page. BUT its a fine line to walk and if you rush this you will miss the details so please experiment to find out what works. Also at this aperture the shutter will be very fast as lots of light is getting into the sensor

By rotating the cog the f stop (in Aperture Priority mode) has now shifted to 2.5. You should see a slightly larger amount of clear detail in the brickwork and so the DOF has increased.

There is also a slight difference in the background where the details in the distance are slightly (and i do mean slightly) changed.

Again rotate the cog a couple more degrees and the f stop changes , when you get to 4.0 we are entering the norm for kit lenses and compacts. At f 4.0 there is still a good DOF and can you see now that there is more detail in the background and the DOF although sharp is larger again than at 2.5.

There is still plenty of light getting to the sensor so in daylight you should find a reasonably fast shutter speed of 125 ish.

At f 6.7 you start to really notice the difference in the shutter speed, there is way more detail in the immediate background and the DOF is so large that all the bricks now show much greater detail than at 1.4. there is still no real clarification on the background but this is where it starts to change.

At 9.5 you can now see all the detail in the chair and the bars on the balcony and even see some of the details in the houses in the background. The shutter speed is much slower now and to keep the exposure correct I had the shoot at 0.7 secs. At this stage, if motion was involved you would not see clarity but in fact motion blur and if capturing water you would see a smooth flow to the water.

Now remember that at 1.4 the aperture is almost at it's widest, as you get up to f 16 the blades in the camera (making up the aperture) are closing in and as a result the shutter speed has to be even longer to capture the same exposure (1 sec) - at this speed a tripod is a necessity. There is now lots of detail in the depth of the image and the roofs of the houses in the distance are much clearer to the naked eye.

f 22 - for this lens that is the smallest i can make the aperture. We're now running on shutter speed of 2 seconds (this is a great setting for good landscape shots (in fact anything over f16 is pretty sweet) you can see detail from the start to (almost) infinity at this length.

Hopefully at this point you can see the difference and relationship between aperture and depth of field. I only touched on shutter speeds (more to follow once i have a good example to show) - just remember this was all shot on a prime 50mm lens and nothing else changed by the aperture and shutter speed (which was a by product in maintaining the same exposure)

Thanks once again and keep the questions coming, if I've missed anything obvious let me know.

Toys - the obsession develops

2011-06-19T00:48:00.001+01:00

When i started into photography the first camera was a film loaded point and shoot camera, it was a long rectangular shape using a film that looked like this - o__o - it was awesome but the limiting factor was my cash reserves and as an 8 year old it used to take weeks doing chores to earn enough cash and i soon lost interest in using film. I would look through the viewfinder and just pretend that when i pushed the button a little gremlin inside had enough time to draw my image onto the negative paper (my imagination around how's things worked was awesome back then... )

It was a good few years after that digital became more popular and i could see the benefit of owning one. It had limitless film roll and didn't cost any more than the battery to keep it alive. Again this time i thought there was a little robot who could draw quicker in there.

Then there is the DSLR - it took years of humming and haa'ing over whether i was really into this hobby or if it was something fun to do on a night out. After much debate i invested - at first there was not much difference between it's results and that of a point and shoot - in fact point and shoots are now amazing quality and with the megapixel war that company's developing cameras are now in they even surpass some of the budget SLR's (my own point and shoot is 14.1 mpxl's ..... wtf!)

As the enthusiasm grew and my ability became more refined i could see the massive potential with the DSLR (that wasn't offered by the compacts) - i moved away from the kit lens and started to experiment, i invested in a lens which had wider aperture values and from this point on DSLR's completely come into their own.

My latest baby, that the stork kindly delivered, to the camera bag was the 50mm 1.4 USM - what a monster of a lens! Primes are a totally different fish to handle. You are the zoom (remember that - if you can't frame your object then get on your toes and shift yo @ss back... :o))

At 1.4 or even 1.8 the depth of field you can obtain is amazing. Here's a shot of a normal coffee cup, it is a rushed shot but illustrates the dof (the jug is approx 3 inches from the writing on the cup - the fall off is quite simply amazing - i use the word creamy)

The results are outstanding, if anyone is thinking of getting more involved in photography then take a step into the unknown, spend a little more to get the lens that you believe will push you and allow you to grow - you won't be disappointed. BUT it requires effort, patience, determination and a knowledge of what direction you want to go.

I used the lens for a client who was selling a ring on ebay. The ring is like any other normal ring but you can see a better example of how narrow the depth of field can get.

Again - great DOF, here's some work for Viva LAmour - my client from Etsy.com - using the 50mm:

When compared to the 28-105 i have you can see the difference that can be had from a prime lens

The bag is about 1 foot long and at 3.5 the DOF is great but it doesn't allow the opportunity to pick out details of interest that sometimes require that extra bit of care - for example, getting a shot of a specific word from a set text - or focusing on a subject's eye as the point of interest etc.

A wide aperture can open up so many doors to the right handler.

I'm super excited to see what the next opportunity will be to get it out. It's my new go-to lens and i love it.

Got an opinion that differs or agrees? leave me a comment and start the debate.
Do you agree SLR's still have the edge on compact point and shoots?

Quiet on Western Front

2011-06-14T22:46:00.000+01:00

It's been a few days since i last post anything and i know i'm slacking, however i have been busy.

There is a new version of jameskphotography.com now online! much more direct and in tune with the business model and what service i want potential clients to realise i bring to the table. Don't get me wrong here, it's not a perfect site, i know this, however it's much closer to what i have in my head than the last.

To personalise my site i had to get some portrait shots done of myself. OMG....what an experience, I have been photographed before, lots of times but not for a specific reason or as the point of interest for quite some time. I'm happier as the fly on the wall soaking up the room and watching the interaction - this was different. I enlisted the help of Jenn, who is in training as my second shooter and i gotta give pros to her for doing an Amazing job.

I was once told i had the perfect face for radio, and since then been a bit shy, but no more! Here are some of the results:

Having arranged the site and got my images online I decided to crack opena beer and have a well deserved rest. now here we are, Tuesday night. Already I'm working on the HTML version for Iphone users to gain access on their mobley's.... you'd think the to-do lost would shrink as i get things done but oh no.... it keeps growing - just like Issy, who had a haircut at home this weekend... it was so cute i had to use it on the opening page as my welcome image (come on - hands up all those who remember having their mums cut their hair at some point?!?!?! )

It's suddenly dawned on me that this image was encapsulating the power of the image. It invokes feelings and memories that each of us forget or file in a box under "childhood" and seldom hoke through.

Intimacy, honesty and gorgeousness - 3 words to describe the brand at this point - and this gets me every time....

Botanic Garden's Secret Beauties

2011-06-09T23:05:00.002+01:00

The Botanical Gardens in Belfast is a place famous for it's distinctive charm, unparalleled botanical extravagance and of course the Ulster Museum, home to Egyptian mummy's and mystical stones - however today i discovered two hidden gems.

Damien and Cathy are two of the most beautiful people ever. They did an amazing job listening to direction and giving so much more than was asked for. Despite declaring a lack in their creative department and surprisingly having never modelled before, they both stepped up to the mark and smashed it out of the park. Their love jumps right off the screen and makes up for any deficit (which i beleive they secretly have plenty of) in the creative department.

We had a bit of a stinker of a day to shoot with, don't get me wrong the light was brilliant, nicely diffused by the overcast skies but we had to shoot intermittently between the showers of rain which occasionally interfered with play -

Here is a snippet of what they have to give to the world and each other:

Check out the latest page I just posted using Showit: home

Check out the full site @ http://cathyanddamo.jameskphotography.com

Cathy & Damo should you ever decide to make that leap to take it to the next level call me - I had such a good time with you guys and wish you health, wealth and happiness. What an amazing day!

Why I do this

2011-06-06T00:26:00.000+01:00

Some people believe that in following your calling and not following the trend expected by society paints you as some sort of free thinker, conspiring to be "different" and yes it may be true. In following your dream you must set anchor, get your bearing And then set sail for a new destination and for me it's all about the journey. It's tough getting out of the corporate lifestyle but sometimes you gotta really apply yourself to do what you know to be true and right for YOU!

For the last week, as mentioned in another post, I've been working ridiculous hours to deliver a service that I want to set as the standard and tonight I feel I got some recognition for that, which not only makes the journey worthwhile but confirms my belief that I am better adding value to others and capturing moments that trully reflect my clients and their love for each other.

Adam and Laura are the most amazing people, who were a joy to work not only for but with. To get recognition for the work so far is amazing. Thank you both so much. I can't wait to share their photos on the blog to illustrate what I am talking about, but this will come shortly.

When I explain to folks that I actually enjoy and relish the opportunity to photograph weddings most think my head is cut. The reality is that I actually do enjoy the stress and the pressure, it pushes me to deliver my best and get better with every wedding shot. What I aim to do is deliver not only great pictures but add value to the day and the clients enjoyment on what is their BIG day.

If you get organised and put in the time to learn your craft and consistently push to add value at every opportunity you can't help but succeed. Adam and Laura have had a taste of what is to come and I hope they are as excited as I am. They also had an exclusive sneak peak at how the new website is looking and it's impact on their +site and their response has shown me what I was thinking.

If you want to succeed (in any line of work) you have to constantly see the bigger picture and reorganise the jigsaw pieces of your skills to get the best version of your ability out there.

Frustrations

2011-06-02T23:29:00.000+01:00

Having seen the need to make an adjustment to my life path, i have worked tirelessly to get to where i am. It has been long hours and overcoming frustration. Jenny has been so patient as she allows me the chance to eat my out of the cocoon I have become accustomed to. Last week I had a treat for my birthday week but i also lined up some clients and got down and dirty with running my business as i would in the real world. What a joy it was - I worked with 3 totally different sets clients and enjoyed every single moment with them, and for entirely different reasons.

I want so badly to put up some images to share with the world but until i have them finalised I will keep them under wraps. Needless to say i have their blogs written up but with out images, how will you connect! I wanted to take a moment to get a message out and acknowledge my amazing family, who allow me to come home from my shift and spend hours each evening applying myself to my trade, and get the freedom i crave to follow my path. They are trully amazing and i thank you for your support!

On the up side, i have one client finished but offline until given the nod to get the images back up! Another client's images are nearly ready, ETA this Sunday - so expect the blog with images then - and then my final set of clients images should be up by next Saturday.

I really want to get them processed and online quicker but working two jobs has its limitations and i want to ignite my flame for photography into a forest fire across the globe (obviously please don't take this literally) not overwhelm it into extinction.

In case you haven't seen it yet, rent Kung Fu Panda, an awesome movie, full of magical and honest dialogue where anyone wanting to get confidence should watch to get inspired!

To the past. . . . . .

2011-05-30T10:18:00.000+01:00

I'm going to open this up for debate - shot taken on Saturday 28/5/11 at local newsagent - does this image not belong in a museum?

Belfast sometimes makes me sad:

Vancouver 2012

2011-05-27T14:38:00.001+01:00

A lot of people are shocked to hear that I have plans to move to another country, it's nothing personal, I have friends and family out there and after our visit last year - Jenn and I decided we really want to go there to raise our family.

To give a scope and timeline, we are in the application form filling stage at the moment, if all goes ahead successfully then we expect to be En route to Vancouver sometime in Q1, 2012 - probably March.

We have set a timetable and a finish line for this project - This helps us gauge how we're proceeding against the agenda - all things moving as they should, then next year should be the time we travel over deep water to start a new chapter.

How will this affect bookings made in Belfast? Ideally it won't.

I have set a target for when we expect to go and at this point i am unfortunately sad to write that i am no longer able to accept bookings for Europe based clients after February 2012 - I am referring clients to professional first class photographers, whom I learn from and share ideas with and deal with first hand. I will be back in Europe occasionally and can make "special" visits for those interested in the photographic services.

Concentrating on the future I am able to take on initial bookings for April 2012 onwards for clients based in the Vancouver and surrounding area (including Vancouver Island). There is, of course, the possibility of hiccups along the way but I will be documenting it on here and will show how I overcame obstacles as they rear there heads.

On another note, I have hit the 30! What an awesome day, thank you to all that attended and helped share my day. I thoroughly appreciate the effort you all went to! here are some pics as the night unfolded:

A swift pint of the Black stuff in Neds - taken a panoramic of us with new cyber shot, very clever stuff - before we head into Belfast for some fine dinning

The man of the hour arrives and immediately strikes a pose with the gorgeous Jenny

Another panoramic of the table as we get down to choosing what we'll have for dinner!

Moving on - we went for a quiet pint after dinner to the Dirty Duck, and what happens? I meet my closest pals and we start some more celebrating! Me throwing up some hand signals that only G would know the meaning of!

Me and broseph practice matching poses - not doing to bad in this one!

Paul and Gerry strike their interpretation of a Vogue! Massively honoured to have buddies like this and to add a personal note PO'd - happy matching birthday my son, hope you enjoyed yerself too.

So after practising our facial expressions asked Chris to come join in - one word - awesomeness

ha, ha ha i love this one - is there a likeness here? I hope not...

Phony Pheeling

2011-05-23T15:30:00.000+01:00

Quiet times have struck me, this week is a celebration of my 30th year - mingling in society. Now i'm not overly pleased to be hitting this landmark but i feel now, more that ever, i am in control of where i want to be yet i feel a bit lost.

I thought i'd treat myself and book the whole week off (from my other full-time job) and get caught up on the to-do list that has been the length of my arm for so long. I woke up, took Izbiz to daycare and started getting ready to digest the day. I planned to get Fiona's images from the video shoot up on facebook - diarised to show over 9 pages the unfolding day - and then move on to other things - prepping for the engagement shoots with damo and then with adam, scheduled for later this week.

I feel satisfied that it has been a productive morning (although completely new for me to actually have time to put a mornings graft in) and now as i get caught up making the blog post i feel a growing sensation of being under utilised or dare i say it a sense of phoniness. i can't explain exactly but i'll try - to bring everyone up to speed, i have the website up and running and in reflection i now see more work to be done, i need to rethink my strategy in order to understand and develop my brand a bit better. My "message" seems more like a whisper when i want it to be strong and confident voice, my general inexperience at building a brand is what i feel is bringing me down, but then how do people learn? You take each task on one at a time and get it done - to the best of your abilities - now i'm seeing the issues i can research and work towards cementing the brand. My door is always open for a chat and if people want to proffer up some assistance i could sure use it about now.

To do list this week for the blog:

talk about Vancouver and what's happening there

dissect the photographic services on the website - detail the wedding package and it's contents.

share links to favourite wedding photographers and discuss their skills

Going Live

2011-05-20T23:37:00.000+01:00

Ok - so here goes - the website is up and running

www.jameskphotography.com

Go check it out!

Comment me or send facebook love!!!!

Treasure Sale - the mystery of a good sale on ebay

2011-05-18T21:41:00.000+01:00

I was recently approached to shoot some items for an online auction for ebay - when i saw what i had to shoot, i realised why - a pair of Dior Sunglasses and a Calvin Klein watch to name but a few items that these close friends were reduced to selling online. Their treasures were now being eroded inorder to stay afloat in the current economic climate. It was a subtle reminder that times are difficult for those out in the unemployed "real world" - the onus was on me to produce results which would sell.

At last i had the perfect excuse to get out the speedlite and softbox to get experimenting - we made a night of it, there was crisps and beer flowing and the craic was 90 - i mean this in a genuine way - if you can't smile and laugh it could soon swallow up your hope and through humour do we see hope!

Here are a snippet of the images used in the successful sale online - concentrating on using a shallow depth of field i kept the focus on the labels and highlighting details. Setting the aperture to 3.5 i wanted good fall off from my 28 - 105mm USM and by keeping the ISO at 100 i wanted to keep the detail in the tones.

Good luck to my online sellers, it was fun and i hope i helped get you more for your treasures - we got the descriptions on the money and the images should be awesome - maybe there's a business in this yet. Remember my door is open for a brew and a chat whenever you need!

New Member to the Entourage

2011-05-14T21:52:00.000+01:00

There is a new addition staying with my camera family at the moment. An uncle has popped over to stay with me for a while, in the shape of a Canon 580 EX Speedlite!

This monster will bring a new found freedom to highlight what i want and help build the narrative of future images and will defo lend a bolt of magnificent light to any dark rooms or locations i have to shoot in - such as churches and after hours receptions. I'm getting to grips with learning the manual and so far so good - the results have blown my mind.

Once i have images to share I will post them - so watch this space.

Also the website is nearing completion - FINALLY - I have it all written up, however it's down to selecting the images i want online.... that could take a while but hopefully i should be live by Friday.... eek...

System Down

2011-05-13T20:13:00.000+01:00

What's been going on recently on the interweb, my PS3 ain't been online for 3 weeks now and for the last few days my blog has been inaccessible due to issues with blogger!!
There's much we have to discuss - last night was the final of the club competition and the theme for the round was "Street" - cut a long story short i didn't win - however i did get some positive feedback on one particular image and placed very well from it - the judging was cast by a NIPA member and it was an interesting night - congrats to Donal and Barry for coming first and second - it was a great competition and you guys continue to inspire and raise the bar on how photography should progress

My total from the 3 rounds was 141 points out of a possible 180. I had set my target to break the hundred mark and am very chuffed with my scores! So what about the submitted images, you got any comments - which do you think got singled out as a top print?

As i've not had the chance to post much up this week i should be on again tomorrow to update with something a bit more substantial.

Getting older

2011-05-09T00:15:00.000+01:00

Admittedly we all get older but this weekend is a subtle reminder than no matter what i do, i can't pause time. Issy turned 2 this weekend and although i'm really uber happy to share this moment with her, i'm sad because i know, it's never to be repeated. As she's learning to talk, she's growing up and being her own character, all the time moving out from the "cute bundle" she was and becoming a young person. I'm somewhat scared by the task now facing me, of understanding and processing the skill of educating another.... i want her to have to have exposure to worlds i only dreamed of being involved with. I want her to do what makes her happy and i want to guide her as best as possible into adulthood, happy and excited by the opportunities as they come... my fears (i'm a bit of a worrier) are of course ill founded - Jen and i do our best and offer love and affection to guide her and will continue to offer her the best we can.

As you can see from the snapshots i'm sticking up she had a wonderful day and the sugar high has now (thankfully) worn off

Thanks to everyone who attended and of course we are humbled by the kindness and love shown

Izzbiz - you are loved and cherished by all those who know you, we hope someday you will look back fondly on these moments and understand how much of what we do is dedicated solely for your enjoyment, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Little presents . . ..

2011-05-07T00:30:00.000+01:00

do you ever leave yourself little presents scattered around your house, like if you leave chocolate bars in differing cupboards so a) you don't eat them all at once b) you find them later and feel like one won't hurt? I guess its the same feeling when you put your hand in the pockets of a pair of trousers and you find a fiver.... well i do this in photography.

I could be on a shoot and in the middle of my images i'll discover a nugget, completely random but just something that reminds me why i enjoy photography so much. Let me explain, i did the shoot a few weeks ago for Viva LAmour and the new bags and in the final edits i discovered this random gem:

I love these little gifts - random reminders of how i need to focus 100% but that i'm also noticing all the details in the shot location. I'm trying to capture not only the normal brief but the unusual and the often neglected details that we sometimes take for granted

So after a little bit of fun in photoshop i got to this.... ahh the joy of photoshop

Please tell me i'm not totally nuts.... :o)

Emily and Steve

2011-05-03T21:30:00.000+01:00

What an AMAZING wedding. We set off early Monday morning and arrived in Donegal Town by midday. The wedding starting at 2pm which meant Jen and I had some time to kill in this wonderful "wee town" - first things first, let's find the B&B.

The Arches is an wonderful B&B on Lough Eske, Jen and i had a blast finding it and meeting the quirky owner. Instantly we both noted the view this place has, it was fantastic - check out what greeted us from our bedroom window:

Even the motor is missed in the foreground as the scenery unfolds, it's a truly spectacular view across Lough Eske. Having settled and changed we made our way to the church - what an lovely romantic spot the ceremony was held at - in Donegal town and just off the main square.

Steven and Emily are old friends and to be invited to attend their big day was a proper honour for myself and Jen. A brief history behind their journey - Steve and Emily met at Appalachian State university and instantly clicked. Steve was attending the uni on a sports scholarship when they met - she was bowled over by his quick wit and sensitive charm, he was impressed by her beauty and down to earth honesty. Their two lives have been internationally intertwined and their drive to be with each other has only acted to reinforced their love and desire to be with each other.

Back to the ceremony - as Emily elegantly floated down the Isle there was not a dry eye in the house. She looked gorgeous. Her hair, that dress, the bouquet of flowers, everything was fabulous. Steven was obviously overwhelmed by her beauty as he fought to get out his vows. With the vows exchange, the two were pronounced husband and wife. I managed only to get a few snaps of the day (hey, sometimes we all need to distinguish between business and pleasure) and here are a couple of (unedited) ones you should see:

The reception was fantastic. The food was unbelievably good and we were surrounded by good friends and in the company of true love - how much better can it get?

A massive thank you to Emily and Steve for inviting Jen and I to come and take part in your amazing day. I honestly can say i had an amazing time, right from the journey from my front door to sadly making the journey home to reality. The god's had definitely shown their blessings for this union - i have not seen a single cloud in the sky from the moment i stepped into the car!

Big day tomorrow

2011-05-01T23:38:00.000+01:00

Last week (being Easter here in Belfast) i felt guilty on the Monday night. I had neglected my family in my pursuit of my passion. I met my client on Saturday, helped a buddy out on Saturday evening and then on Sunday went for a run, chilled at my mum's and saw Jen and Iss under, what i call, "stressful times" (i mean here a sort of pressurised situations) so in retrospect of that i decided to make some changes this weekend - this weekend was our Easter.

Yesterday Jen went to sell her vintage bags and me and Issy got to hang at Granny'. We assembled the paddling pool (due to the glorious heatwave we're having) and got to play all afternoon long - which was awesome, she really is the smartest, cutest, fearless little munchkin ever! As Jen works Saturday nights, i had my mum over for some dinner and a chat (i'm coming 30 soon and everyone wants to know what i want to do to celebrate). That was cool - I got quality time with my daughter and my mum, but still Jen, i feel, is not getting the pampering she deserves. But that's because of tomorrow - tomorrow we set out at 7am (knowing us it'll be 8 but you gotta set a goal timeframe to hit) to head for a celebration in the beautiful county of Donegal. One of my oldest friends is getting married to his muse.

In order to get to the ceremony we need to leave early but at least it'll be just the two of us, spending some time together. Not distracted by work, issy or the TV. I literally can't wait. It is gonna be a fab break for us!
The wedding also looks A-Mazing, the location is gorgeous, we'll be catching up with friends and each other. Expect photos! I've been given the OK to do my thing and get some test shots organised as i plan to shoot there again - It's supposed to be enchanting.

It's not all about me though. I'm hoping that this time away will help rest and recover Jen - she's a bit frazzled after the last week and the time we have will allow her healing to start.

Here's the place...... exciting! !! !

Appreciation

2011-04-29T19:32:00.000+01:00

The last few days have been very upsetting. Jennifer has lost her grandfather and has been devastated by the loss. I have offered support and continue to help where possible. Today i decided to spoil her. a couple of beers, her favourite magazine and some chips with a movie and hopefully she feels better.

Through the loss of others we often find a new appreciation for life - my thoughts and prayers are with you Jen, I am so sorry for your loss.

Etsy your global shop

2011-04-27T21:46:00.000+01:00

I was asked to take some shots for Viva Lamour's etsy shop and what a day out that was..... we got to explore the local country park, on the great down sunshine coast! We were two galavanting kids on the hunt for the best location.

We set up lots of different shots and tried to get the best of the available light (by the time we found the "right spot" it was close to sunset) We got all the bags and cushions covered and after some retouching in the lab Viva LAmour has some fabulous images for her new line launch - Good luck and i hope you sell loads of these cracker purses (being a boy - i don't really know the right vernacular to describe these well made, hand crafted beauties)

Check some of the latest products to hit the online shelves....

Talent attracts talent

2011-04-25T21:19:00.000+01:00

Hillsborough was today's venue. I was on location with one of the most talented musicians i have ever heard. Fiona Kerr blew me away. Having arranged to film a music shoot for her website, she contacted me to come down and take some stills of the day. What a professional!

We must have been at Petticoat Lane from 10am until 4pm covering a whole host of songs for her website! I'm still blown away by her acoustic version of Sam Sparrows "Black & Gold" cover.... trully awesome. In fact everyone was - the videographer was totally professional as well - getting all the shots she needed and getting more from Fiona - for a portion of the day i got to observe and admire how everyone worked together and the dedication and discipline shown in our respective crafts - It was great to work along side talented individuals and get through a massive workload with such fun and enthusiasm!

I am exhausted now - it's been a looong day and i have 300+ images to work through. I have one or two i can share now and the edited ones will appear on the website shortly . . .

2 peas in a pod

2011-04-23T20:41:00.000+01:00

Having spent my afternoon soaking up the sun on this lovely bank holiday weekend i come to write with great news, it's been a few days but with all that has been going on i feel now is the time to unveil our successes. Jen and myself have seized two fantastic opportunities.

Jen has been offered a spot in a shop on our high street to sell her vintage, hand crafted clutch purses. Having watched her go through her pitch and offer advice to assist Jen scored a magnificent goal! Well done you missy - her preparation was great and she projected exactly as she rehearsed. Much Kudos my love!

During this same preparation time for her, i was also in deep thought. Today was the day, for my big pitch to Adam and Laura my latest clients - and OMG it was total fun. I (like Jen) rehearsed and made sure i covered all the points that would illustrate how i can be the right candidate for their needs. And they in turn were fantastic listeners. Everything clicked - without overwhelming them they got a crash course in the detail and how everything should fit together. To top it all they are the sweetest couple as well. I soon discovered that in fact these two were 2 peas from the same pod. From a very early age they had grown up together and now their love was blossoming into a declaration. Congrats guys!

Next is getting my website live - i can imagine that this will be a doozy. Just gotta keep telling myself - Slowly, slowly, catchy monkey!

Beach Run

2011-04-19T21:11:00.000+01:00

Hellish day in the office today, one of those - if i could have called in sick i would have - days..... having slogged it out - making some massive progress and some major successes i felt it right when i come home to try and air out the stresses before i sit down to get creative.

The afternoon view of the world from my desk was beckoning me to get involved, as 5 o'clock came and went so did the sunshine - only to be replaced with a smoggy haze which (if i'd had my camera) would have made for a great picture as the boats pass in and out of the lough. By the time i got home i made a decision to go for a good run, it was still sunny and i thought i'd take a chance.

What a reward i now feel - whilst out i felt compelled to run along the beach (the tide was wayyyy out) instead of hitting the towpath. It's almost as if i was being beckoned by some voice of reason saying "why run on a path when the memory of running in the sand along the beach will serve you much better in the long run" - and so i did! It was A--Mazin' no joke. I felt alive and all of a sudden the surroundings came alive - if i get the chance next time i'll grab my mobile to take some small shots to put up here!

So now with a calm head i approach the task of choosing how to lay out my website and which pictures will make the shortlist to represent my style - I do have one issue - i need a new Mac - i know that no one is following me or even reading this, however, i would still like to through it out there. I need a reasonably new one and i don't mind if it is broken - i fixed this one and its served me well for 3 years! I need a new one as i can't use the SHOWITFAST.com software as my Mac is too aged! ! and so in the mean time i have to find a way around it.

Here's a picture i took a few years ago - but it captures the essence of what i was taking about with the run i was on.... awesomness

Nerves . . . .

2011-04-18T23:50:00.000+01:00

Today has been the first day that i've actually started to doubt myself . . . . . why ?? i have no idea. I can feel the gremlin's chants starting from the sideline "you're not good enough, you aren't prepared, you're not . . . . " - BLAH BLAH BLAH

Heard it all before - it's just nerves - preparation has started for my next big job. Photographing a wedding - i can feel the knots building in my tummy, i haven't even secured the client yet so i'm doubly nervous that i make a mistake and mess up the pitch. but I can't think like that, i must focus, be the calm center of the world ( as i like to put it ) be the Glove!

After getting stuck into some preparation, i call the client and get a date set for our meeting. It's gonna be exciting, for me, being chosen to photograph anyone's wedding is a massive honour. I have the responsibility of providing memories that in 20 years time people will look back on and remember their "special" day fondly - with lots of secret forgotten moments, suddenly brought back to the frontal lobe by seeing a forgotten moment of magic - your parents kissing or the usher dancing his feet off.

My nerves are keeping me awake but also making me competitive, Jen has reminded me that i am a good photographer a 1000 times and yes i do believe her (she's very patient), she is also my rock to cling to in times of doubt. I guess i'm being foolish, but its a routine i'm learning to live with. When i get nervous it means i want to do the best job and not let anyone down! I think, if i wasn't worried i should be hearing alarm bells! So out has come the camera and some of my favourite work - the zen dog struck a cord with me.

The dog with the stick - i am the dog and the wedding is my stick. I made a conscious decision to give more to the world than i am doing - photgraphy is my gift to share.

I found myself wanting earlier - self doubt and resistance, 2 killers of inspiration. You gotta go with your gut and what feels right. I will secure the wedding - I am professional - I want this more, more than the next guy and i know i will deliver the results!

The power of the page . . . .

2011-04-16T20:07:00.000+01:00

Today has been another day when i achieved another first. I recently ordered a copy of "The War of Art" from amazon and after waiting what seemed like too long, it finally arrived. I came back from visiting my mother and found the envelop waiting for me by the front door. Issy (my next of kin) saw it first and ran to me "da -dad- dad dad..." i knew instantly what it was! First thing first though, Issy needs her afternoon nap - a bottle of milk and a quick song later, Iss was fast asleep and i had the freedom to open my overdue present.

For some reason (not normal for me) i opened the book and started reading - i didn't waist time reading the psynopsis on the back, just jumped straight in - WHAT A BOOK. I couldn't put it down, except for one short pit stop to the bathroom, i got this book read whilst Issy slept! The first time i've read a book cover to cover , voluntarily, for about 5 years! That is a really embarrassing thing to admit but it's testament to my passion to develop and learn.

The book hasn't changed my life but has reaffirmed my belief that i am following my calling. It's individual to each persons journey but ( as from my original post ) you know when you're following the wrong path, even if you don't know what the right path looks like just yet.

Also, great news, the music video shoot is definitely on the cards, with local singer - Fiona Kerr - I'm scheduled to take images for her in a wonderful part of Northern Ireland. AWESOME, can't wait!

Thought i'd drop this in here too - after judging the abandoned round - all the club members gathered for a quick photo. We at BPIC have been advised that we are the best club in Northern Ireland, having gained the most points from all the rounds in the country we won by 1 Point!!??!! I had one of my images in and am taking total credit for the points it scored causing us to win. I nearly didn't join the club as well, shows you the importance of plugging away. You never know how you will have an impact.

Here's a photo of us all celebrating the victory:

Judges Verdict

2011-04-15T00:03:00.000+01:00

What a day - there have been lots of first times today. I made a successful pitch, I was chosen to judge at tonight's Abandoned themed round, I linked my Twitter, facebook page to this blog, and i got my first positive response from an ad - all in all a good day

Where to begin - lets deal with the pitch - i still don't have my website up and running . . . I know, i know, i need it finished but as with all good things, it takes time. One thing I've learnt is to only go to market with a finished product. My website needs to be the best representation of me - and until i'm happy with it, it stays offline.

Currently i need to develop my porfolio, I have lots of great images but they are from the last few years - i want something new, sharp, a reflection of my skills and ensuring that the expectation of my photography is set from the outset - so i need inspiration, i need to get creative, i need to network.. .

I started to make some small talk in work and realised that i have an entirely untapped resource at my fingertips. My colleagues and their better halves - i was thinking about organising models and make up artists for the website pictures but what a MASSIVE headache, if i could get the people who know me interested - and provide them with a good service - they would tell their friends and so on and so on. So i took a chance - i heard my gremlin telling me not to bother anyone as they'll probably not be interested - but i ignored him, what's the worst that can happen right?

I asked one of my colleagues and he was not interested in the slightest - door slammed shut, right in the kisser - but then i think i came at him wrong - my pitch was waaaayy off - for a start i didn't take myself seriously so why should he?? I had a think, i wasn't so upset at being told no, i had learned something. For the next person i tried a new approach - i thought about what i wanted, what i could offer and found a USP (unique selling point) and BOOM - i got an email 15 minutes later - "what were you thinking we could do? My misses would love some good pictures of the two of us - send me a link and ill run it past her." - I felt like i had just hit a volley from the 12 yard box in a soccer game, and it looked like it was going in - but i had no website, so what to do. . . . . i consulted several websites for inspiration and then took my colleague for a cup of coffee - i explained more about what our deal would be and that i had examples of the style i wanted to do. Success, the volley i had hit was careering to the goal and was going in off the bar - 1 - 0 to me!!! i had taken a chance, refined my approach and done it - secured work - all be it for minimal amount but hey, it don't matter to me - gotta think of the bigger picture! Thanks to Damien - you won't be disappointed, my friend!

Next up was a little surprise, an email - waiting in my Inbox - all day it had sat lonely - bursting inside to tell me the good news. A few weeks ago, i had replied to an ad and offered my services. I got a response but nothing was happening, UNTIL TODAY - the response read that there was an opening to get involved and take some shots on a music video shoot. My God.... and to top it off, the singer wants to film in a wedding dressmaking boutique - is it me??? i asked for a sign and now this . .. . maybe i am reading into it too much but you gotta read the signs and decide if you want to read them. My eyes are open and i'm walking - i'm nervous, but excited - again, What's the worst that can happen?? Keep your eyes on here, i'll be putting my results up once ready!

Feeling pretty darn good at this point - my dreams are slowly coming to reality, just got to concentrate and get the job done - it's amazing - the buzz i'm getting from driving my own ideas, it's giving me the energy to do so much more and be the best person i can be!

I turn up to the photography club tonight to enter my images and low and behold I'm asked to judge. . . . I was flattered but apprehensive, who am i to judge others, what if i offend someone, what if my opinion is all wrong? what if, what if, what if, . . . . .ignore these pangs of fear! i took a deep breath and got focused. I wasn't allowed to judge my own work but there are 3 judges for each round so we could ensure an unbiased result would be enforced.

After getting through the images i gotta say - i learnt a lot - photography is a lot about the viewers interpretation but when judging you are forced to be more analytical, almost to cut yourself off from the emotion of the scene and judge on a technical merit. It was even fun!!

My own results were again decidedly above average but still not in the good category, does that bother me? not really, why would it, its supposed to be fun and that's how i treat these nights. I go to learn and discuss and enjoy photpgraphy, enjoyment should be the key.

So to reveal my result please give me a drum roll..... bbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrr - tish! - my top mark was for the Abandoned Bike portrait and i received 37.5 out of 60! so that's 37 in the first round and 37.5 in the second - at least there is improvement - gotta take the positives... :)

Lastly and probably the scariest first time of the day, is using twitter and facebook. I've become a technophobe - me, the dude who was using the internet when dial up modems were popular and downloading images took forever, the one who had a bebo page before his mates. I've been left behind - i don't know nor understand twitter and i'm trying to utilise facebook better.... one step at a time. Anyone want to help out? mail me - i'd love to have it broken down into manageable chunks!

All in all a great day - one i fully appreciate - a day like this adds more fuel to my inner fire, in being the best version of myself and more. I think i'm rubbing off on Jen too - it's infectious, when you start to see the opportunities all around and manage to take them by the hand you become better - but remember what's meant for you won't pass you by - like i said earlier if i loose a client its not the end of the world - as long as i learn from it - I have a formula which is reflective of my style - i just got to refine it each time i get rejected - dust myself off and try again!

and on that note i bid you goodnight - i go now to work on tomorrow's to-do list and plan for managing my new clients expectations. New Clients - I love it!

Reflection and rejection

2011-04-13T23:52:00.000+01:00

What have i done? Over the last few days i have had time to reflect on my posting. I've read it several times and have decided to stand by it. It's true that gramatically, there is a lot to be desired - but my message is clear. It's time to take back the whitehouse!

I'm totally scared though - what if i'm making a mistake, what if i end up broke, what if no one employs me , and worse still, what if i'm no good.... that is the big one - if i take the risk and suddenly i see what others see and in fact (reminiscent to the X-Factor) Simon Cowell tells me to never DO IT AGAIN....

But that's the gremlin in the system - there are a million reasons not to try - thats the wrong attitude. To try is to admit defeat - I'm not going to try to be a photographer. I AM GOING TO BE A PHOTOGRAPHER - i have several inspirations locally, Barry Lau and Donal McCann are my main guys though - i'm talking to them and constantly learning - but also sharing ideas. We all get on and each has a different slant on what they want from photography and how best to achieve the results. I have lots to learn (admittedly - but then thats the point isn't it?) and lots more equipment to buy and more importantly lots more people to meet!

I know my failings, i know my skills and i have a passion to do better - i am competitive, not in a beat everyone kind of way but in a "i must do better" way. And so it has begun. But enough of this - lets get on with the photography - i have lots to talk about.

Tomorrow night is the photography club's next round (BPIC). There are 3 rounds;

Tranquility - i scored 35/50 3 weeks ago - my best score was given for the image below

Abandoned - scoring tomorrow

Street - not scored until may sometime (check the BPIC link)

In the first round i got an above average score - but still there is work to be done. Let me explain how the club competition works - Each round we submit a selection of images, the highest scoring image is recorded. Once a score for each round is recorded they work out your average for the 3 rounds and rate everyone to decide the winner.

It's intense - but good! I like getting the feedback on each image - they see things that i don't - like distractions or for example in the above image, there are large dark triangles at 3 of the corners. I would never have seen it.

This is what i want though - i need to learn to be pressed to see more, once you view your work with a more mature eye your work gets bette, however it then it becomes harder to satisfy your desire to deliver your best.

So tomorrow is the big day - i'm putting myself on the line - trying to show my understanding on what the word "abandoned" means to me - so far i feel i have a good selection of images, my feelings may change but this is what i've "locked in" as my choice. Here they are:

Abandoned Egg

Abandoned Bike

Abandoned TV

Abandoned Juvenile Prison

4 images - each one a different variation - The Juvenile center was by far the creepiest experience though. Its lying dormant in Bangor - government funding dried up and so did it. There is a real evil presence about the place. Not only are all the windows smashed in but the place has been vandalized really badly - the different building in the complex are all burnt down, with sprawled graffitti all over the place - there's also a secret war being waged - nature is taking back what it originally owned.

Its an awesome sight - a true juxtapose - i just hope i managed to convey this with the image of the door. The glass in the doorframe had had white paint poured though the smashed glass - it looks like the building is crying - perfect for what i wanted!

Lets see - fingers crossed the judges see it and score high!!!

You should always start off with a confession.....

2011-04-12T03:13:00.000+01:00

Ok - so its 00:49 and i can't sleep. Why can't i sleep? For weeks i have been confused and frustrated by this - i have a nagging feeling inside my brain. I have tried everything - I thought maybe I'm overtired, i'll hit the sack earl, maybe i'll not drink tea after 7pm. No joy, i tried the same principle with video games, TV etc trying to find a solution to my problem. Still nothing..... so I tried pills, they did nothing except make my head cloudy in the a.m. - in fact if possible they made me feel worse. So i decided there was more to my issue - a sense of self discovery was needed - and so it began:

I've lots of issues in my life, at the moment (who doesn't, right?). I'm sure everyone says the same thing and you've read or heard it somewhere a thousand times but here goes - i've come to the conclusion I'm not happy!

There i've said it. I've been feeling this way ever since Christmas of 2010. Let me break things down here, it gets complicated (..ish) - imagine the scenario. I work full time - my partner works full time - we have a beautiful daughter whom we are trying to raise. In order to save cash for our pipe dream of moving to Vancouver we work alternative shift patterns (Jen works nights while i work days) and maybe 3 times a week we'll see each other for more than a few short hour long intervals. THIS IS TOUGH!!

It's tough on her, me and the baby. But that isn't my issue - I'm not unhappy with this. Before our beautiful bambina showed up Jen and i were madly into each other and our own style. I was an enthusiastic and active sportsman - i was playing amateur league soccer and on my Sundays playing amateur league American Football. As you can imagine I was fairly athletic. So i thought maybe my issue was that i'd gained a few pounds since the baby had arrived and that had in turn lead me to a lower self esteem and there was my problem for feeling unhappy.

Problem solved - i started exercising and getting fitter - i even went back to the American Football and the soccer. But still there is a nagging in my head and now its saying "dude, you'll never know until you stop, look around and change, this is not what you need". This annoyed me - i'm fiercely competitive, sometimes stupidly (ie i once dared myself to see if i could get my phone to fly across the river Lagan - i succeeded but my phone didn't survive - prime example of my misguided competitiveness in proving i was right) - but i digress

Deep down i know the problem - and it wasn't until i was sitting in work when i realised that in fact WORK was the issue that had been grinding me down. I know times are tough at the moment - people are loosing their jobs and money is scarce. The cost of living goes up, petrol seems to endlessly get more expensive and ultimately i need to feed my family. But there was and is a huge problem - i can't continue on a path that i believe is not leading me to a fulfilled existence - There were three battles that i needed to realise:

I was comfortable in my bubble (first mistake - no longer competitive),
I thought i was doing a great job for my company (second mistake - believed the hype),
I thought i would get recognition for my service to the company - it is more profitable than ever (third and final mistake - don't count your chickens!)

Turns out i got screwed - not only did i not get a bonus or a pleasant thank you handshake but it turns out i had an attitude problem, correction i had an attitude problem for 3 months at the start of 2010 and this observation had caused them to call into question the much improved remainder of the year. I was shocked and gutted - not once had anyone pointed out these flaws - i had always turned up and done the best i could - i had detailed e-mails highlighting my abilities which were highlighted to my seniors and i was even given a pay rise half way through the year, to confirm i was indeed doing a good job - what had happened??? The impact of this earthquake sent reverberations around my skull - I needed a plan and i needed to understand what makes me happy.
I am not one to BS myself into delusions of grandeur so to get a bad rating was taken very personally and i was mad, devastated and confused (ever see the movie Network - i wanted to open a window and tell the world i wasn't gonna take it anymore).

And then it hit me - that niggling feeling i've been having recently. It's the same feeling i got when i chose my a-levels, the same when i chose my GCSE's and i realised what was happening.

I HAD MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE

Throughout all the major pivotal moments in my life - i had caved - i had capitulated not to peer pressure but to social disfunctional pressure - in order to be accepted i decided not to buck the trend. My father wanted me to have a classic education - latin, sciences, religion and economics, I had not. I was always a dreamer, always thinking up schemes or ideas to refine or improve and somewhere between the bullying and puberty i had conceded.

I had allowed myself to be subjected to the needs and wants of others. My fathers need for a sense of achievement and the schools desire to rank highly in league tables - i lost my path. As a kid with no real vision , i was up the creek with nothing but the current and my hands to guide me.

Now here i am - 29 and wondering where the time went and why I am not able to sleep?? I knew after my meeting that I had the the vision back in my hands. I knew that my disappointment from work would be hard to swallow and i have made peace with it - i took it on the chin - there is no point in being angry over a situation ultimately i had caused - i had to use the fuel and drive myself to be the person i am meant to be! But what to do, how can i adjust my path?? Could i really make the sacrifice into the unknown and go it alone?

I have to change my job situation - that much was obvious but (as usual there are a million reasons not too) I have only ever really banked in my professional career, i need to feed my family, i need to be a success etc. Now, I'm an intelligent guy - if we meet you will see this - i have done pretty well for the career that seemed to choose me - i work for the 3rd largest bank - i make enough dough to put food on the table and occassionally take my family out for a few hours to enjoy each other and you'd think i'm happy but i'm not - it doesn't FEEL right....

I WANT MORE - I want to push the boundaries of living, why should i accept, any longer, the clothes that no longer fit?
Secretly i've been having affairs - I been cheating on my current employer, there has been another interest, not one that pays money but one which will unknowingly prepare me for what i want to do.

Let me explain - All my life i've been around camera's - my dad is an awesome photographer - he sees shapes and lines in surroundings, that make for some really astounding images - he always let me fiddle with the cameras he no longer needed and taught me to get behind the viewfinder. I was comfortable there - i could quantify what i saw and capture what i wanted others to see.
So there it was - a secret passion - completely unknown to me - COMPLETELY UNKNOWN - it wasn't until a stag do in Prague in 2007 that i would suddenly realise that i was actually pretty good ( as a novice) with a camera.

I was a nightmare in my single and more youthful days - i drank too much, smoked too much and generally practiced a Live Fast Die Young approach to life.
Let me set the scene - I had just been bought a portable camera by an ex. We'd finished the relationship badly and an opportunity arose to go for a weekend in prague with "the boys" and blow off some steam. Of course, this was something that had to happen. We get there and the sun is shining, the beer is flowing and the craic is 90 - I'm asking the guys to pose in group shots and everything is going swell. But as with all things on a stag do - the nighttime comes and we all become seduced by exploring the seedier surroundings. We ended up trawling the nightlife and watching girls dance, whilst we drank until only a few remained...
I was one - I was young and i was wayyy out of my depth - I got chatting to some locals and didn't know/realise to be careful. Long story short - i woke up outside an ATM - skint - no phone, no money and worse no camera. I could replace the rest but the memories.....what was i to do?

That's when its started - that's the moment i realised i actually enjoyed something - looking back i don't know how i didn't know but i remember being more upset about the camera than the cash. So i set my mind to getting a new camera - i researched, i talked about it (endlessly), i tried to talk to my friends to learn more and more and find out how i can take my desire to record events to a new and better level than before. Then it happened - a moment i will never forget.
I was expecting my Christmas 4 years ago to be the same as any other one - good craic but more about family than presents. This was one of the few instances when this wasn't the case. My folks decided to shut me up and i received my first digital SLR - OMFG.... i was stunned, trully stunned.

That was it - i was in love - i had in my hands a tool, which would ultimatley take me places and show me the world. I would use this light box to capture people and places. I took it everywhere, training sessions, on walks, to parties and tried my best to learn. I was thinking and trying to understand the art - i was eager - i was convinced that one day the world would take notice of me like the greats like Manray or annie Liebowitz. I was a mug - i know the value of work but what the heck, i was happy.

So after a year of playing and learning i wanted to test my skills. I took a nightcourse. Myself and 3 friends all wanted to do a course which we'd never had the opportunity to do in school or in our professional lives - photogrpahy was the common interest so thats what we did.
Remember earlier i said i was competitive - well sure enough, out popped my alter ego. I had to prove i was good - in fact i had to prove i was better. And so i did - i got an A and was happy - but what next. I had a hunger - a desire to now take on other projects.

My passion outside work was starting to become noticed. People were saying it'd be great to do photography full time and in fact i took it to heart. I jumped on board and went on an Invest NI course (to develop my business idea) i went and did the course but as this continued i realised i hadn't the faintest idea what i was going to do - how was i going to focus my skills to one subject - photography is vast and once you learn one item - ten more issues become apparent that you didn't know... its a crazy but involving hobby!

I decided to try out my skills in the market and do some freebies. I was number 2 shooter for my dad's remarriage - it was good, i learned alot - how to get the lighting right and how to create canned imagery very effectively.
Next i did some coverage of the American football. This was foreign to me but after a couple of games started to really get to grips with how to capture a fast paced environment. Then i moved into rugby game coverage - it was great fun but for me i couldn't see a business in it.
I was asked to come in and cover a work colleagues wedding - What could i say??? i was honoured - albeit as second choice but still. I was determined to make it work. And being first shooter i had to get to grips with the task and succeed. That's when it clicked with me - here was my business opportunity. Do it right and more work comes - i set about to study. I was insatiable, my thirst for knowledge knew no bounds.

It was very stressful come wedding time, it was hard work too, but more than anything entertaining. I produced great results and my client was moved to tears (with joy!!) because i had delivered above the expectation. From this i learnt several lessons - planning, communication and commitment are the key to success. I drove back from Donegal a happy man - i'd done a 12 hour day but it didn't feel like it.

So what's the issue? Getting back to it - i feel i have digressed too far - i have a problem with sleep, WHY?

Two nights ago i was surfing the web - passing the time until Jen returned from her night shift and i could finally get some rest knowing she was home safe - when i stumbled across a live Webinar. A cute girl by the name of JASMINE STAR was talking about photography and in particular wedding photography. Now its been 6 months since my last wedding and admittedly i have let things slip - i am still crazy interested to take up the gauntlet and make this business work - but with the normal commitments (a young daughter, doing overtime and feeling so darn low) i forgot to chase the business. Might i also add that i had joined a new photography club (BPIC) where i was now learning how to do studio shoots and get to grips with more demanding things like networking and understanding what pitfalls to avoid in the photography world. But this webinar was something else -

I was listening like never before and within 5 minutes of hearing her speak i knew i had to jot every god darn word of it down - what she was talking stuck a cord with me - she had issues and demons who had confined her from her passions. Through her words i found solice.

I realised i had taken myself out of the game and that i wanted to get back to giving to others something precious - A MEMORY lasting and standing up in time. I realised i'm not a number and that i'm not going to accept what others tell me about what is best for my life. What I can and can't do is up to me. I was back in the driving seat.

In fact i have re-found my Voice. The very next day i made a choice - I'm going to get this business started - in order to do it though i wanted to return to a zen like state so I decided to go for a run and think things over and see what is what. And like forest gump i took my mind and body out for a drive - man, it felt good - i was gone for 2 hours - i googled my route and covered 7 miles... wtf???

So here i am - no longer disillusioned - I'm focused. I have the belief and the discipline to succeed. Now all i need is the work. I have plans - big plans. I'm going to go live with a new website and push to be free of my demons and to pursue what makes me happy.

I will update here frequently - possibly not for as long as i have here but i wanted to start any relationship with honesty.
I'm going to build up my brand and a new way of living. It all sounds very wierd but what choice is there. It's better to get playing than sit on the sideline! But in order to get there you have to know yourself.
"Without knowing where you're coming from you can't know where you're going to" - Bob Marley

I am living proof that indecision equals death (not literally) but in a spiritual and career sense. I paused and didn't make a decision in my youth and now i'm here BUT i will turn this around - i want to share my skills and knowledge with those that will listen and accept. We all need to show some love to get some returned.

It's now late - i have sat here downloading - it's now 03:10 - i feel at ease, i have started the ball rolling. Finally I feel like i should go rest - I know that i'm still going to be mulling over what i've said but at least know i'm ticked one more thing off my to-do checklist.

Good night and good luck

Jay