Studio Portraiture

Absolutely knackered! First time I have ever taken photos in a fully equipped studio. Incredibly intense but very rewarding experience. Processing all day tomorrow. The above was a quick RAW conversion job. Example of "High Key", though ideally the subject should have been wearing white.

Girl in a tub

Another enjoyable day taking photographs on the street and visiting exhibitions.

Into the Light

First day of portrait photography. General intro to the subject and lots of discussion. Different exercises in terms of composition, use of different light sources, getting to know each other, portraits of each other, and group shots.
"The most difficult thing for me is a portrait. You have to try and put your camera between the skin of a person and his shirt." Henri Cartier-Bresson, Photography Year 1980.

Mercy, Mercy, Mercy

Great concert to mark the end of the Jazz Festival. The music of Cannonball and Nat Adderley, played by:


Colin Steele - Trumpet
Martin Kershaw - Alto Sax
Dave Mulligan - Piano
Brian Shiels - Bass (his right hand and Bass featured in photo)
Alyn Cosker - Drums


Brilliant weekend. The weird and wonderful flooding into Edinburgh with the start of the Fringe. Lots and lots of photos taken on Saturday of audiences and performers to be processed this week.

The Exhibition Piece

The nature of signs:

• There are things that are just things, not any sign at all;
• There are things that are also signs of other things;
• There are things that are always signs.

Printing heaven

Does anyone want to off load a copy of Photoshop CS4 (PC version) or do you know anyone else who does?! Absolutely love it now that I have a better understanding of how to use it for photography, but balking at the cost.  
Have been in printing heaven today, and continuing to tweak and refine towards tomorrows exhibition. Take 8 photographers, an intensive week of thinking and doing nothing but photography - the results are absolutely amazing. So many different approaches and ideas. So many different ways of thinking and doing!
The above shot (not part of my final submission) looks brilliant (he said modestly!) printed at A4 on an A3 (semi-gloss) sheet. Smooth and soft as a babies bum!

Tiger in the Woods

Today at school was all about scanning and getting in about the Epson printers. I took this with an Olympus OM1 in April 1981 (who's a good boy that has all of his old negatives catalogued and filed - worth a gold star I would say). Even remember taking it in a friends parents garden at Tacket Wood Cottage, Totness, in Devon. The subject - one of their many moggies. It has been scanned using an Epson Perfection 4990 Film Scanner, then fiddled with in PS.

Happiest days of your life.

School day #2. Morning time spent in the studio exploring the effects of light. Enjoyed the theory, disappointed with my results. My take on a still life. Afternoon spent using more photoshop tools.

Where the rain gets in

Back to school today. Much fun was had by all. Lots of toys to play with. Took a little while for me to get to grips with using an Imac for the first time this century. So much nicer than a PC - and the quality and clarity of that screen for post-processing! The mysteries of B&W and photoshop starting to be revealed. Challenging week ahead. Also a nice (and varied) bunch of fellow students from all over the place.

Half weird guitar music.

Samuel Hallkvist Centre, Voodoo Rooms, 31 July 2010.

"Jazz for the information age. Guitarist Hallkvist's eclectic roots in ragtime, country, metal, noise and early digital electronics, inform music that's half weird guitar music, half the future of jazz. Boldly he's been made Jazz in Sweden artist of 2010. Want to hear something new? Check out this Nordic Quartet." http://samuelhallkvist.com/
I did, and it was good! 


My first experience of low light, high ISO settings. More band shots here. 

Masters of 20th Century Photography

At the WESTON/wegman opening last night.


WESTON - There just aren't enough superlatives in the bumper book of superlatives to adequately describe this. The original prints (not the later reprints by Cole) from the whole of his career. Early stuff, Mexico, still life, nudes, early and late landscapes. Most of the iconic images are here. Wherever you are, this is one worth traveling to Edinburgh for (City Art Gallery, 31 July - 24 October 2010). Am I inspired, or do I just want to chuck all of my camera stuff in the bin (trash)!?
wegman - one for the dog lovers. Technically brilliant (especially the large format polaroid prints) but for me no comparison with The Master.
Can I suggest if you go, do the wegman first, have a relaxing lunch (at the City Art Gallery restaurant or across the road at the Fruitmarket Gallery http://fruitmarket.co.uk/), then ... WESTON ... take your time ... get up close ... you won't be disappointed!
www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk

The Iphone Project finished yesterday. 365 images, 365 days, all taken and processed with my 3G. Link at the top of the blog.

Triptych - Sumo, Helmut Newton, 2010

In Glasgow this morning (Impland). Started to feel unwell on the train back. Not sure at first if the cause was the heat, or the father next to me who seemed intent on explaining everything about everything (loudly) in great detail to his small son. Hothouse atmosphere. Back in the office, grabbed some files and home. The sooner they operate on the Hernia the better, as I seem to be getting more and more uncomfortable days. Phoned consultant, answering machine, didn't call back. 

Split facade

Long day. Just watched a programme on base jumping. Think I'll stick to photography. On holiday from Friday (also the last day of The Iphone Project). Major snapping for two weeks. It can't come soon enough!

Sax Appeal

Quiet day in the office, as I was the only one in. Assessment time. Ordered some tickets for the Jazz & Blues Festival which kicks off on Friday. Some difficult choices as stuff same time, same day. Samuel Hallkvist rather than China Moses, Refuge Trio over EJFO. www.edinburghjazzfestival.com 
I do like the new toy (thanks to imp) though already feeling the need for more optics. More Sax shots here

New baby has arrived ...

... The first tentative steps ... more here

Answer!

They all produced work that that would have been unacceptable in the other place.


Please Note: Someone's behaviour has made the following action necessary. From now on any 'Anonymous' comments posted in this blog will be deleted. Anyone commenting who has an identity will have their views respected and will not be deleted.

Question?

What do the following photographers/artists have in common:
Robert Frank, Paul Strand, Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, Brassai, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Garry Winnogrand, Harry Callahan, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Arthur H. Fellig (Weegee), Merry Alpern, Helmut Newton, Susan Meiselas, Nan Goldin, Marcello Geppetti, Tazio Secchiaroli, Larry Clark, Sophie Calle, Shizuka Yokomizo, and Diane Arbus.
Answer tomorrow. (or more likely Saturday as I will be at the official opening of the Briggait in Glasgow tomorrow night and there will be wine!)

Scotch Mist

After a lot of research and some good advice from impoftheyard, ordered a Lensbaby today (Composer). This shot isn't. Taken a while back on a naturally misty night in Edinburgh with my trusty Fuji compact.

Disco Dancing

Day Surgery Unit pre-admission visit. Lots of forms to fill in, blood, urine (use of jam jar got a laugh - difficulty getting the lid off), blood pressure, weight, ECG, literature to tell you about before and after. No date yet. Hopefully soon as getting more uncomfortable!
Risks of surgery (common): bleeding; Seroma; blood clots
Risks of surgery (remote/rare): nerve injury; damage to blood supply; damage to main artery; infection; anaesthetic complications (heart attack or death); pulmonary embolism; injury to abdominal organs; recurrence of condition.
What a fun day, can't wait for the big one!

Of human bondage

Some days I tie myself in knots. This has been one of those days. The more you struggle, the worse (better?) it gets. Tomorrow will be different.