A few recent images....

Magazine shoot number 2

Network-098.jpg, originally uploaded by dnlk66.

Well, I've now two magazine shoots under my belt. So I'm getting there. Just looking for a few more with a little more freedom.

Being a little late

Mia's first day back at school. Year 2.
Yes I know its taken me a whole month to get round to this update images.

Pepper

I didn't manage to make any images this weekend. Was busy decorating my daughter Mia's bedroom. I have however decided to have a topic of the week perhaps making five images for each topic. Not sure yet, but we'll see, or perhaps you will too. The word (topic) for this week is 'Pepper'.

Last batch of family images

_MG_3915.jpg, originally uploaded by dnlk66.

Here's the balance of the images from my visit up to Salford, Manchester and the North West.

Blackpool family fun day

_MG_3932.jpg, originally uploaded by dnlk66.

Finally, managed to sit down long enough to organise the pics to post. I think I've managed a few nice ones among the usual snaps.

For those that care, Canon 5D, 24-105 IS F4L

Clicking the image should take you to my Flickr site where you can view all the images.

DK

Sunday 29th Shoot

Look out for some new Blackpool family images which should be up tomorrow.

Behind schedule

_MG_3906.jpg, originally uploaded by dnlk66.

All good intentions have become hidden in a fog of concern. I'm distracted, due to the current work situation. I'm getting there though.

Sunday afternoon

I decided to take a break from my 'resolution'. I'm in need of a regroup and refocus of direction. Not a problem, I had planned for this, if you've been following me you'll know too.

In the meantime....
Karen and I went into Islington this afternoon, to have a look around in the shops, for me to pick up a few bits and bobs for some photo ideas. I need to get some personal work done for the photographic portfolio. We got a cheap lunch at a Brazilian BBQ place, which was really good value and a nice sunday afternoon break from the normal worries I get sitting at home. The pic above shows the cards you get to keep the food coming or that you've had enough. On the way home, we saw some delicious looking iced muffins which you can see below. Mmmm!



I don't normally ask this, but if you've any ideas you might like to see me photograph or you could use my services, even if you know someone else who might, send me a message. I am open to all suggestions at the moment.

Resolution going wrong?

Taking photos each week seemed easy enough but I am beginning to loose momentum. The whole idea was to help me improve myself, but of late I'm becoming more critical of my work. Errr..... No, I'm becoming better. Improvement isn't always as one would hope to see themselves. In my case I think, I need to be a little choosier with my subject matter. Take the case of my last weekends shoot. I had two models, well one wannabe, and her boyfriend who thinks he can do it too. Well, she had a couple of ok images in her online portfolio of herself, I thought she'd be ok to work with for my portfolio.

Upon meeting her she looked ok, her boyfriend not so. Anyway, we went to the location she'd suggested, Regents Park, to which I thought, 'Don't we need a licence to take photos here, as we're not tourists?' Well, that should have made me think twice about the shoot. So, she has a change of clothes and well, it goes from bad to worse. it was horrid. a dress that looked, well horrid. Shoes that just didn't go with the outfit. Now I'm no fashion guru or anything but being a photographer, I read the fashion mags, well maybe not read, but look at the pictures to see what 'they' are all wearing. So anyway, I start with him, he's wearing jeans and trainers but he changes his shirt and has a jacket, it didn't help. Jeans were unclean, trainers were old and the jacket looked borrowed. He doesn't know how to pose, going rigid every time he thought he had 'the look'. She was even worse. Posing like a kid after they've just watched one of those 'next model' shows.

Anyways, after about three hours later it was all over. Upon reviewing my images, they looked ok. Lighting, Check. Exposure, Check. Composition, Check. Getting them onto my computer a couple of days later, Oh boy! What was I thinking. The photos were ok, but the models were too inexperienced. I know that sounds harsh but it was my fault. I should have been pickier about my choice of models rather than trying to get in my 'shoot every weekend' thing.

Ok, All was not lost, I did manage to get a couple of goodish portraits which could appear on my website and I've learned a lesson. Also, I should reconsider how I approach TFP work, being choosier in the future. Perhaps meeting the models first before deciding.

I feel better now.

Updates

Or the lack of. I've been falling behind on writing updates here, but I'm still up to date with my 'take some pics each week'.

I've a shoot booked for Thursday so I'll attempt to show the preliminary results here, if you're interested...or not.

My part time muse.

_DSC8651, originally uploaded by dnlk66.

This is the person who inspired me to pick up a camera to capture moments to share with others who cannot always be there too.

Another Shoot - every weekend

When I started in this industry, computers weren't used in the studio as they are now. You would create artwork with using tools made by brands such as Rotring, Magic Marker, Swann and Morten, DeVilbiss, not forgetting the trusty Letraset lettering. You had to have an attaché case to keep your kit in. I felt really satisfied with the finished artwork. It was something you could touch and hold, being very careful with it. Almost a lifetime ago.

I'd moved on to Apple Mac, Radius Adobe and Quark. the buzz words were RAM, Megabytes and Syquest.

Today, some of those are still relevant. But the more important ones are now Nikon and Canon. Buzz words now being F stops and iso, noise and bokeh. Photography is my outlet for capturing the feeling of acheivement.

One of my colleagues had produced some very nice illustrations which they had printed onto mugs. Not your cheapo mugs neither, these are really nice, made extra special with their artistry.

They had asked me to take some photos of them, saying 'anything would do, just a nice clear picture of the mugs'. So I tried a shoot style I've been waiting for something that would fit. Nothing super difficult, just something I'd not had the subject to try out on. By the look on their face, I new they were happy. which in turn, made me happy.

Please take a look and let me know what you think. Click here

Come back and leave a comment

Emmanuel ARK first anniversary

Not great images, but my mum and mia are in them. They'll be a few more to follow.

A photo shoot every weekend

Not bad, managed to snag another shoot, this time a paid one, which is always preferred. It was a Christening, in North Chingford. One of Karen's friends wanted me to capture the day in pictures and actually appreciated that I'm trying to make some kind of income from photography, so was willing to pay for my time.

Now I know one should not mix business with pleasure, so as she was a paying 'client' for the day, thats how I treated the day. I was lucky it was a very nice day, which made me forget that I could not relax and just enjoy myself. I had to be as professional as I would be with someone I did not know who booked me for an event.

I was asked to capture the church ceremony in typical photos, followed by reportagé styled images at the reception/party venue. This was held at a pub near the church. It had a lovely garden with a play area which the other children were able to enjoy. My wife, Karen was invited but I was unable to spend any time with her, fortunately, her work colleagues were there as guests too. Karen understood that I had to be moving around unable to spend any time with her, as this was a paying gig.

Anyway. some six hundred images over 8 hours, I was able to pack up for the evening.

A friend of Karen who also attended had invited us back to there house for a late supper and a drink. Here I was so tired and hungry, I felt glad that I didn't have to go home to cook. We had chicken, mushroom rice, bread and salad and a drink or two before relaxing with them in front of the telly to start watching a nice movie. Half way through we had decided t return home as Mia had fallen asleep.

It was a wonderful day. Karen and Mia had fun. I did two things, one was to keep up with my plan to shoot every weekend and the other was being able to do what I like to do - make pictures.

This past weekend

Travelled up to Manchester on Saturday. One of Karen's nieces had their 21st birthday party in the evening. The weather was great. Made it even better. Nice seeing the in-laws.

As usual, I'd arranged a photoshoot. Sunday morning 11.30am. I had placed a casting call for a model in Manchester. It was a TF deal. I need to get more images in my portfolio which are different.

I love close cropped portraits. I like to be able to interact with my subject. Getting the best of them, all be it from my perspective, but that's part of the fun for me. I ask my subjects to show me who they think they are, then I try and capture who I see.

The model who offered up their time was someone who had little experience, but was absolutely brilliant. They were able to take my directions, being enthusiastic about everything.

My chosen tools were a Nikon D300 with a 80-200 f2.8 and a Canon 5D with a 24-105 F4L. I also chose to use an ebay hotshoe flash which cost me a fraction of what the equivalent Nikon or Canon branded flash would. As back up I did have a Nikon SB800. My son Aaron was my 'VAL' for the shoot and my lens man. Holding a reflector when needed too.

I'd planned to do the shoot around King Street, and St Ann's Square just off Deansgate. We were happily surprised to discover there was a flower market thingy happening along Kings Street and a food market going on in St Ann's square.

After getting the portraits I wanted for me, I attempted to get what my model was hoping to get for their portfolio. I had a really good time as did Aaron, who now wants to be able to help me on any other shoots where I may need some help. Him telling me that really made me feel glad.

Once I've had a chance to sort the shoot images, I get them up here. So stay tuned.

St Saviours World Book Day

They'd decided on having this 'World Book day' allowing the kids to dress as one of their favourite book characters. Mia had decided on Little Red Riding Hood......

Portraits - Portfolio building

As I've mentioned before, portraits are what I feel most comfortable at taking. Now, I'm not saying that I am great at it, just that I enjoy the interaction between the subject and me. I try to capture them as I see them. Obviously I'm subconsciously referencing classic views and light, but it's as I (want to) see them.

Ok. I'm setting myself a portrait project. One, two, three, four and five light portraits. Indoors and outside. As any good strobists should know, the outdoor images will or may include sunlight as one of the sources.

So, tonight....one light.

Pics to follow.

Ready for Church

Wow...I am so proud. My Mum, ready to take the kids to church. I just hope she is as happy.

Friday's recap to the past week

This past week has been quite eventful. At the weekend we traveled to Manchester, to visit my wife's family and my cousin who all live in Salford.

I stayed at my cousin's apartment which allowed me to be all tech'd up, having access to my email and the blogs I follow seemed such a relief.

As we'd planned to stay until Tuesday, I thought I'd arrange a model shoot. I had placed a casting call on a model website for a TFP (time for prints). As it was to be outside and it being Manchester, I needed a plan B, an indoor location. I had contacted the manger of the Lime Bar at the Lowry, Salford Quays asking for permission to shoot inside and in front of the bar premises. He was really cool about it, allowing me to set up in an area near the front which has natural light coming in.

We spent an hour in the bar shooting using a single softbox and a reflector. I need to have extra light as the natural light was not present as it was so grey and overcast, quite dark in fact. When we saw the weather start to improve I decided to take the shoot outside. Well, it was bright but freezing. Luckily no wind, but really cold. My model, Lucia was very professional, not complaining even once. We were on the canal outside the designer outlet which did have a cold wind coming through. My cousin Vishal was there taking a few images for me, recording what I was doing, for this blog (I'll have those images up at the weekend). It was a really good session. I had fun and got quite a few new shots worthy of the portfolio/website.

Monday I took Mia out for a photo-walk in Manchester. We went to the Wheel, the Print Works and the Arndale, Piccadilly Gardens and St Ann's Square off Deansgate. Mia ended up taking more photos than I did. She is starting to develop that sense of knowing what she likes to look at. Understanding that it might not be a great photo, but that the object is something she likes the look of. I found it fascinating to follow her and try to work out why it looked nice to her. I'm really proud of her. On the way back to my cousins apartment we reviewed the images she took. I really had a great time with her.

Eating out - Meat, Meat and more Meat

On Monday 1st my cousin took me to a Brazilian restaurant just off Deansgate, Manchester. I'd been to a similar one in London, basically eat as much as you can for £22.50.

It was great. They had a buffet which had the regular salad, rice and stuff, but also had cooked meats and some fish too. This would have been great value at just £12.50 without the roasted meat on rotisserie skewers. There was pork and black beans, stewed beef, among other meats. But we were here for the rotisserie meat feast.

Beef and Lamb. different cuts perfectly cooked. Chicken and sausages, ditto. Ham, sweet and succulent.

We ate ourselves silly, it was so nice and can't wait to return. If you're up that way, check it out, if you like good food. you won't be disappointed.

Macro Collection

I've started organizing my flickr site. So far, I have begun a macro collection as part of my shoot anything and everything attitude. That was last weekend taking some new images in the process. This coming weekend I plan to have at least three new portraits to add to that section. I'm also hoping to get a new 'strangers portrait' to add.

Setting your sights on a goal

Is it the journey or the destination for which you desire. Setting out on a route to your goal must be planned carefully. But are you enjoying the journey too much? This may cause the destination to be even further away, without knowing it, making it just a pipe dream.

Obviously this can, more often than not, be a good thing. It allows you to take stock of your current situation, fine-tuning the route as you travel. Take for instance the choice to get your body in shape. You may have your ideal weight and build in mind. But that goal is one to get more from the journey than actually reaching it. For in achieving your goal, you’d need to have changed your lifestyle to the point of it being your new ‘normal’. I believe the only way for this to happen is to extend the journey to a ‘stroll’. Making small adjustments here and there, until, eventually you realize adding up the small things you’ve made a massive change. Much easier to do than making drastic big changes. The goal however won’t be any closer, it’ll just look different. so you’ll continue to make adjustments on your ‘journey’.

The Point
Sometimes you have to make decisions which put you in the right direction, but won’t get you to where you think you want to be.

The Trick
The journey is the real goal. This will open up opportunities which may never have shown themselves to you due to your blinkered view.

Shoot anything and everything

Slipped into February without too much of a hitch, well, that was the plan.

The plot of this year started out with my 'list'. I'm not setting targets to hit, that as we all know can be more treacherous than a pit full of aggressive procrastinations (read snakes). Instead 'directions to travel'. Without being pretentious either. The idea is that in choosing directions to follow I am able to reassess what I'm doing at each 'stop' (read project).

Now, I know what I like to shoot and those that inspire me do so because I admire what they choose to photograph, well, for the paying customer. This had me at a disadvantage last year as I thought I should also choose carefully what to photograph. That was the big mistake. So I've decided to take every opportunity to increase the variety, basically shooting anything anyone wants.

Obviously, I'll be more into the stuff I like than what I'm not used to. That's where reassessing my photography becomes the important factor. There are many styles which I have yet to have a go at, so if I have the opportunity to try it, I'll do my best. TFP at first, until I feel comfortable with the style or subject.

Hense the headline of my list is 'Shoot anything and everything'.

objects and shapes - personal work