Sorry for My Absence....

First of all, I would like to apologise for my severe lack of posts over the last few weeks.  I have had a lot of work on, and I haven't been able to find the time to go out and shoot/develop film.  Also, my camera only came back from the repair man at the end of last week.  However, I have completed my first two uni assignments! Hooray!

Here are a few of the many photos that I took on my recent trip to York, to see Sarah.  We had a lovely weekend, going on walks, going shopping, watching films etc.  Sarah introduced me to quite possibly the best thing I have ever had.  A PINT of tea.  Yes, a pint of the stuff!  Perhaps not the most manly thing to order at the pub, but it was stupidly cold, and I felt like my insides had started to freeze.

At the end of this week, I will get a new brief.  A book making brief!  Exciting stuff!  And then on Sunday, I'm off to Berlin for 5 days!  I will be looking at loads of galleries and exhibitions, having tours around the city, doing all the touristy things, and most definitely looking like one!  I looked at the weather forecast today, and its -9 at the moment! and its going to get colder!  I hope my cameras will work at that temperature!  I'm sure I'll have lots of photos to show over the next few weeks, and I'll let you know what I get up to.

Enjoy!

G

Just a few.....

Just a few photos from last weekend.  I shall hopefully be making a project/book with these images, so I don't want to give too much away....

G

Away in York...

This past weekend I went to stay with the wonderful Sarah in York.  The day before I was due to leave (Friday), I learned that I would finish college early, so I changed my coach ticket to arrive a little earlier than planned.  I got up early on Friday, got some work done, then headed to the coach station.  After waiting for the coach driver to finish his lunch break, I was on my way to York.  

When I arrived in York, It was very windy and rainy, and I got a little wet!  I managed to find my way to Sarah's accommodation, and was met with 'What are you doing here, I haven't tidied my room or done my nails!'  I think she was surprised!  

Over the weekend, we watched films, went shopping, and just generally had an absolutely awesome time!  On Sunday, we went on a walk (which was where the photos were taken) and it was freezing!  Both our faces were hurting from the cold, and it was also rather muddy!  I was using a flash and a graduated filter (to darken the sky) for the photos above, besides the one of me.  That one was taken by Sarah, and I really like it! I do look a bit gormless though....

I've had a new idea for a project that will hopefully take a long time.  I will try to document mine and Sarah's time together as best I can, which will mean having a camera, whatever the size or shape, with me all the time.  I have a book module coming up soon at college, and I could perhaps use some of the photos I take for the book.  We'll see!

Enjoy!

G

Halloween!......

Oh my lord.  Halloween was mental.  The party in my block of flats was amazing, there were some very creative costumes, which is what I expected from art students.  These are just a select few photos that I took with my 7D, I was also using my 35mm camera, with the flash gun attached, which was new to me! I can't wait to get in the darkroom and develop them!

Tomorrow I have my first test shoot for my studio brief, which I'm really looking forward to!  I shall let you know how it goes over on my College blog.

Anyway, I suppose I'd better go and help tidy up....

Enjoy!

G

P.S Pinch, punch, first day of the month, No returns!

Radical Skateboarding

Met up with my good friend James yesterday, who I hadn't seen in a long time.  It was good to see him again, and we had a blast shooting these photos.  This spot is perfect, its quiet, the floor is buttery smooth, and it's easy to light too.  

I shot the top photo at 1/160th, f/3.5.  I had a 3 flashes, one to the left; slightly behind the block for a back light, two flashes to the right, one on a stand in line with the end of the ledge, the other on the floor nearer to me.  

On a different note, I've started to pack for uni! I'm finishing my summer task, and I'm packing clothes and other things.

Also, i'll be scanning the other film prints soon, and i'll be posting those up.  

Enjoy, 

G

The Man Behind the Camera

Here are a couple of self portraits I am working on for the task that Leeds College of Art have sent me to do before I start my course.  I also have to read a photography book and write a 500 word response to it.  

Anyway, lets talk about the photos now.  The top image, was shot through my Bronica, using my 7D.  I used a 28mm lens at f/2.8, and natural light.  I was looking all over the house to find a suitable place to shoot, asking mum if I could move furniture, which resulted in a look that said; 'Don't be silly'.  I took 2 shots, one to get the exposure right for the Bronica, and one to get the correct exposure for the viewfinder.  I then copied the inside of the viewfinder to the image of the Bronica in order to get a final image that most resembled what I saw looking through the Bronica.  

The bottom image took me most of yesterday to set up.  I had to empty the garage room, then move my kit to the centre of the room, and hang up a couple of white sheets on the walls to block out the shelves.  I then set up my flashes around the kit, and tethered my camera to my mac.  I set the camera to take a photo every 5 seconds, 15 times.  I set the flashes to sync go off when the shutter went up, and just before it came down again.  With a long exposure, the movement of my drumming becomes apparent, which is why you can see two of me in the photo.  By the time I got this shot, I was tired and sweaty, and on the edge of giving up!

Also, I should be getting my film back from jessops soon, which I will scan and post whenever I get the chance.

G

Universityyy!!

Just a short post today, got my A-Level results today, and I've been accepted into Leeds College of Art to study Photography! So Happy! 

Also, for the first time today I shot some photos (see above) with my camera tethered to my Mac.  Why have I not tried this before!? It's amazing! I can control everything from my Mac, shutter speed, aperture, flash settings, everything!

It's a good day!

G

Big Man, Small Chair

I was trawling through my hard drive today, and found this which I shot around last christmas.  I was helping to clear the loft out, and I found this cool little chair, and I just had to shoot of a photo of it!  I sat on it, and amazingly it held my weight, and I felt like a giant! I like giants.....

Anyway, I think I went a bit too heavy on the flash here, but I kinda like the contrasty-ness of it, and the fact you can't see my face.  

G

Addicted to lego

I took this photo for my brother yesterday, so he can have it printed A2 as a poster.  When it comes to lego, he is obsessed! Like a big kid! His related post can be found here.

It took me ages to get all of the bricks in the right place, so that there weren't any gaps, and the bricks filled the frame.  I started off using natural light with a 28mm wide open at f/2.8, and a home made reflector (chopping board wrapped in tin foil), but the light kept changing so the exposure was all over the place.  So I used two flashes diffused by plain white paper to add some fill light to get an even exposure.

Enjoy!

G