Photoshop colour management workshop

On Monday this week I attended a full day of tutorials on colour management in Photoshop. I have done this before and sent off for profiles, fitting them into Photoshop and Lightroom and using them. But it explained a lot of things I use but didn't understand. It was really valuable.

Michael Grecco-"Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait" review

I have just finished reading this book and its good. There are plenty of hints and tips. He had an idea, a vision in mind on how he wants to light a subject and lights it as per his vision. He is not a "45°-lighting-to-the-side-and-above-the-model" kind of guy. He lights as he wants and it looks good. Evidently an artist. But I don't know what it is, and this is purely personal, I can't get on with it. I have learned that lighting doesn't have to be a cult kitsch kind if thing with standard lighting arrangements, but I don't know what it is. Maybe its the way he writes. I don't know.

An enlarging experience

Yesterday (Tuesday 4th December) I had a brilliant time in a colour darkroom at Uni! I have done black and white work before but this was my first colour. I really enjoyed it. It took me a long time to produce my first print with recalling the workflow, but once I had that sussed it took seconds to expose the image then into the machine with the print. I can see how creating a first class print is an art in itself. You could tinker with the colour for hours if you wanted to. Expensive, but you could do it. Dialling in the filtration is easier than using Lightroom. Its something I really want to do again with negatives from images taken next time though......I need some time in the studio!

Published in RPS Nature journal

I am in this quarter's edition, and,pleased with myself I am too!

Book Review-self-portrait photography

I am reading this book called "Self Portrait Photography, The Ultimate In Self Expression" by Natalie Dybisz (isbn 978-1-907579-16-5 Ilex 2011) and it is really good. I an about a quarter of the way through it this, morning and really enjoying it. It has covered the history of portrait photography and the reasons why people did it, into kit and now into shooting. They aren't just single portraits there are multiple images of the same person composed within it and they are surprisingly more interesting than I thought they were going to be. They are very tasteful and the history of the shots is fascinating. After this chapter she goes on to talk about processing, individual self portrait artists showcases and marketing. So, a lot to read and back to it!

Second of 2 studio photography days.

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! Four five minute shoots with 2 different models. We were left to our own devices today with supervision. Props were used, lighting was moved, tips were given, lots of check shots were taken. I an absolutely knackered! That is partly due to the anxiety the shoot created and the flushes which tend to tire me out anyway. The models were brilliant, obviously done it before and their help in what I was trying to achieve was invaluable. Initially they took the lead in posing and I and others didn't know how to do it or/and didn't have the confidence. They were brilliant. What did help was realising they were in role as a model and.I was a person with a camera. Experience and getting into role as a photographer began to be more helpful.
I will go again next year but will stay closer to the studio, the £8 taxi fare was a killer!

RPS 2-day studio course

Day 1
Absolutely brilliant! I am learning so much scout portraiture and lighting and directing models. Getting there this morning was an ordeal though! First the Harvester restaurant was short staffed and only Had one waitress on so it took 10 mins to order, and another 10 to bring it. Then I ordered a taxi. It was late due to the driver needing to pay  a call. However, he was a brilliant driver. When I Told him I wanted to go to photo studios he asked if I was filming. I said not, photography. Then he said the film studios were close by and took me on a tour! Then he pointed out something close by, what a fascinating place that looked and felt reassured at its function.
Got to the studio late and it had already started. A were being shown the effects of lighting placement. It was really interesting. We were told about the inverse square law, how to light the model, how to direct the model and liase with the model so, they know what you want to achieve and work to it. They were very obliging to us novices.
The audio was brilliant, it was was massive. It had lots of lights, lots of backgrounds. Very versatile, really good. The model brought his own props as did the tutors which was really helpful. I noted the model was more relaxed if gee had something to do which might help in the future for me.
The afternoon we had a nude female model. She was very confident, well I suppose you have to be if you get your kit off in front if 10 people. The tutor gave us the ground rules for dealing with nude models and the model herself chipped in which was very useful and informative.
I have for some good shots in spite of the difficulties trying to get the lights to work with a Sony camera. I will be writing to them. Because Sony don't have a genetic shoe on the camera things got difficult. The problems were solved by the RPS tutor who was really good.
I am looking forward to tomorrow.

RPS Studio Photography workshop

Reading around the subject as I leave for the course on Tuesday. The 'Portrait Photographer's Handbook', 3rd Ed. By Bill Hurter is good.

Vagjazz, The Menopausal Photographer

I have given myself a pseudonym name to reflect my current personal, physical and social  situation as a photographer. Weegee did it in the 19th century. I have just tweeted and due to the phone using predictive text changed his name to Refer which isn't so bad but Weegee is,better!

Get up and go has got up and gone

Struggling with my Mojo. Just can't get motivated to read, return books, write or take pictures. The Masters restarts next month, don't know when. The start date won't make any difference to me anyway as there is no taught component to the course. I have a Royal Photographic Society studio course in a few weeks. It may help to get me going. Shutter fingers crossed!

Studio Photography Course looming-and its back to the Masters.

I am going on a course with the Royal Photographic Society next month. In some respects I am looking forward to it, in other respects I am not. It will take me outside my comfort-zone, thats the good thing....its also the not so good thing.

I find studio photography pretentious, I actually don't see the point of it so maybe this course will shatter those forgone opinions. I am hoping it will help me with portrait photography. I have borrowed a book about Studio Photography by way of preliminary homework and I hope it will give me some pointers


On the Master's front, it starts again in a couple of weeks. I am not really looking forward to it, I have procrastinated alot over the summer.

Damien Hurst exhibition at the Tate Modern-uugh!

I went to see this earlier in the week. I was on the South Bank and have been thinking for some time how seeing galleries, art, photography might help me to understand it more, that it might have an impact on my own photography as art. 

Well, it just wont do! After seeing this it is unlikely I will visit another artist's work ever again! What a load of old tripe! Having said that, if you like dead stuff, flies, death, attrition and a bloke with frozen animals to which a chainsaw has been applied, you are in good company!

it seems to me that, these days, because everything has been done to death, death is the only thing left to make something of. Its gross. Humans must have more creativity to them. Someone somewhere must have a different perspective on beauty that doesn't involve death and decay. It isn't beautiful, but it is necessary.

Underwater Groupon Photography

Its not for me. I think I need to rule out underwater photography as an aspect of my photography which will elude me-in terms of diving at least. Pain in my ear again on Tuesday after the pool practice dive on Monday. I don't want to risk a punctured ear drum and so I have,decided to withdraw. Hopefully Groupon will give me a refund.
Not to worry. In London for a day next week so I will check out some photography galleries. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Pool practice tonight

I am not looking forward to this. As much as it would be great to dive and take pictures I don't think my ears will cope. Since last weeks pool dive I have tried to clear my ears 5x a day and been unable to do it. I also had pain in my ear last Tuesday, the morning after the pool dive. I love being underwater and floating. Diving is great but I am getting older.

Practice pool dive

I went to the pool last night for a practice pool dive session-I need another and have been summoned for another underwater excursion to the shallow end next week!

The cameras will be compacts when we go on a 6 metre open water dive later in the month.
I didn't do very well and doubt I will be able to do the dive if I don't learn how to clear,my mask, ears and remove/replace the regulator for breathing. The latter is quite scary and I wouldn't try but will need to next week.

I am getting older, life seems more precious than it used to!
I don't get these problems with landscape!

Underwater photography session with Groupon

I had forgotten about this! On Monday I am going to a dive centre followed by a dive session in a pool. Later in the month I am going on a dive to take pictures underwater. It's a good thing I checked my diary. As far as I am aware the cameras are loaned out to us and I am hoping it will be a DSLR. It was a Groupon offer some months ago....which is why I forgot about it. I think it was booked almost 3 months ago. So that will be my next update.

Dereliction of duty

Not much to report on the photography front as I haven't been active. I am taking pictures for my menopause project for my Masters and I am booked onto a 2 day course with the Royal Photographic Society later this year. Its a glamour and portrait shoot in a studio, both completely new subjects to me and it will take me out of my comfort zone. It will do me good to do something different.

Malham May June 2012

I was at Malham last month with the Royal Photographic Society. I went with the Nature group. It was a really enjoyable weekend and one I would like to repeat again. We stayed at the Field Studies Centre, a beautiful old hunting lodge with several accommodation complexes for small groups. It was quite impressive and the rooms had 2 single beds which were quite large with good security.
Malham Tarn was visible from the lodge and on one of the days we walked down to the shoreline.
It was well planned and we had several excursions to Meadows and nature reserves where lots of pictures were taken.
Its good I took my 50mm prime Minolta lens and extension tubes as close up/macro was the order of the day. I have had extension tubes for a while and I know the theory of their use but  not alot of experience. On this weekend we had plenty if opportunity to practice and get images which is what I did and I am pleased with the  results. I think I surprised myself.
Being more of a landscape photographer I did not abandon, my genre and got a few shots which I am also pleased with.
I was so happy with my efforts I have put together a disk of images and text which I have submitted to the Nature Group editor for consideration of submission to the magazine.
We will see what the outcome of that is but I don't expect to hear the results I if that till next month.

Infrared! I'm cracking it!

Unfortunately, the Google Blogger I am using will not upload into this box using the 'Insert Image' icon and so i must direct you to Flickr at this link to see my most successful landscape black and white infrared image i have taken.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/57077316@N08/7233763268/in/photostream


I haven't analysed it yet with regard to the exposure notes I took at the time but I did follow a set procedure. This was to expose four stops more than the light meter suggested for this film-Ilford SFX 200. At iso 200 this is a black and white film, expose for a further 4 stops more with an infrared filter on the front and this is the infrared effect you get.


I am going to Malham Cove in Yorkshire soon and will be taking a film camera capable of taking infrared film. Now I know its a 4 stop exposure difference i just need to bracket by an aperture stop either side and I should continue to get good results. Only time will tell!

Infrared and BW 5x4 film received by the lab!

I got a message late last week from the lab stating my film had been received so now I am really looking forward to getting the pictures back! I am hoping I have got closer to exposing infrared film more accurately. It is getting somewhat crucial at the minute as I am going on a Royal Photographic Society weekend next month and want to take advantage of spring on the landscape so am hoping to take effective infrared images. I might also book out the Wista again! I might even go to colour film 5x4 too. Undecided as yet. I need to think more about the trip and what I want to do. I am really looking forward to it though.

Wista 5x4 black and white

10th April, 2012
On Tuesday I spent a pleasant evening taking 6 Ilford black and white images at Wollaton Hall and Deer Park of scenery.


I absolutely loved it!


It's a big camera and not light so walking throughout the park was not an option on this occasion.


We parked near the Hall and walked to the lake where I took 6 shots. It slowed me down, made me think more about composition and the steps needed to be taken to expose the negative.


A few mistakes were made, notably forgetting to take the dark slide out, also it took a bit of getting used to viewing the image upside down and back to front.


It looked brilliant on the viewing screen! So big! Like a telly!


I had to remember it was in BW though and I exposed at 125 asa instead of the 100asa that it was (I couldnt recall the film speed).


The light meter was an absolute necessity of course although on that particular day the sunny f16 rule would probably have worked.


All images were taken in the portrait format except the 6th which was landscape and a red filter attached, metered with the filter in front of it.


Loading the film wasn't particularly difficult. I had practised it with a single negative prior to actually doing it but it was more fiddly than I had imagined. I think that was because with all the stuff in the changing back (and I put this under thick blankets to try to ensure there was no light entry-it probably didnt need it though), I didnt account for the weight of the blankets on the changing bag. It was hot in there and I hope that loading the negative holders and removing after exposure, they will not be affected by the sweat on my hands!


It wont be developed for a while, when it is I'll blogit!

No signal!!

Last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday I met my Master's Photography colleagues on an awayday weekend for some photography. I set up this blog in order to record it but on arriving at Hartington Hall Youth Hostel found there was no signal and trying to log in to their internet (for a considerable fee!) was a nightmare! So, I was unable to record my thoughts.

We arrived on the Sunday and took dinner there which was really very enjoyable. I cant believe it, the rooms were en suite! I haven't been in a Youth Hostel for over 10 years but was impressed by the level of service and facilities at this, their flagship hostel. It was an absolutely fabulous base for photography.

On Monday we went to a local farm which started off well-with tea or coffee-priorities! Then we watched a short film of the organic produce which is sent to local schools. After this we went to look at some Hereford cattle ( a beautiful animal) which was fed as we took pictures of them. A wander down the lane passing the granite scupture of one of these beasts took us to a large field with sheep which hadnt lambed up to that point. The scenery was fabulous and I got a few shots even though I was shooting into the sun.

We then ambled over to another barn with more Hereford cows (a beef herd) and met with one of the farmer's hands and his dog-naturally a Collie-and an obedient one at that.

After this we drifted to the River Dove which served as a boundary to part of his land and we looked at a fishing cottage from the 19th century built for an eminent literary writer of the time. We took a few shots, the weather was bright and I got a really good composition of the distant landscape.

After this we made our way back then headed for Hartington village itself.

At the village we fulfilled our reservation at the local pub for lunch where good pub fayre and beer were served and enjoyed. The afternoon project was to go around the village creating a story. My colleagues asked local people to become involved but I didnt have the guts for that so i made a circuitous route around the top end of the town taking pictures of what was on the route. It started with a 20th century well. Beyond this was the Vicarage and interestingly there was a set of steps outside the walls of the house that presumably the pastor would have ascended in order to mount his horse-it was really interesting, especially the fact that they were still there! A little up the road was an 'Old Dame School' which caused some discussion at the Show and Tell in the evening back at the hostel. Beyond this was the church and the village hall. Coming back into the village I noted and imaged several houses with a date of the 18th century on them along with the initials of the owner or builder of the houses. In one of the windows of the houses was a modern hand written sign reminiscent of domestic economies of yesteryear-that of the availability of free range eggs from the owner. This then brought me back to the well and the village duck pond.

Considering I only had an hour to do this I thought it was ok for the time spent in the village. I havent got the confidence to go asking people if I can take their pictures doing things.

Back at the Hostel in the evening and the Chinese students were to cook a very delicious spicy authentic Chinese meal! It was brilliant and the range of foods very varied.

On the next day-Tuesday-we had a very informal lecture from a colleague of the course leader who informed us of the geology of the area and very interesting it turned out to be too. He told us about the geological history of the area and how the surface layers were eroded away millions of years ago which is why there was no chalk areas locally.

After this we headed out to Wetton Dale and what a stunning place it was! I am sure it will look better when the stark trees have their spring dressing of leaves on it. I was impressed by the fact that the trail we followed was the old milk train line where milk was obtained from cows in the hills and transported along trains along the valley to Thors Cave where a station would have been situated many years ago but sadly, is now no longer there. It also followed a dry river bed, but maybe not so dry, as the knowledgeable man of geology said the water now ran beneath this stony bed, the water having discovered a sink hole beneath the surface rocks.

After this we went into Bakewell for a little shopping and R and R. After the obligatory Cream Tea I went to the river where I found an obliging tree in flower and a wonderful weeping willow on which to practice infrared exposures.

I duly set up and removed my light meter and proceded to meter and record the images making check images without a filter-exposing the film normally every 5-10 exposures so it would be easier to follow what I had done on the negatives when I get them back. Thanks to a colleague student who wanted to know how to use the meter I realised the meter was set to 'Battery Check'. I wondered why the readings didnt change much with the prevailing changes in light! I still had 5 frames left and did the best I could with what I had left of the film and also with the meter properly set. As it turns out the exposures were only one E.V. out so it may not be so bad.

Meanwhile, back at the Hostel it was the turn of the other students and staff to create dinner-largely Italian with and English pudding flavour of ice cream and cheese and biscuits with grapes. We had spag bol and that was really good too!

After dinner we showed our best image of the day after my tutors showed me how to work the 5x4 camera I had loaned out from the camera library/camera store. I still havent used it and I am still looking forward to using it. I just need good light and a good landscape!

St Patrick's day yesterday and I went into town with my partner. Nottingham was vibrant, buzzing and busy. We went looking for pubs we hadn't been in before and tried the Royal Children off Maid Marian Way. Cracking pub! There is a massive shoulder blade of a whale in a case in there which used to be painted as it was the old pub sign. The pub had been there since Charles II was on the throne. The pub is near the 'castle' and apparently the royal children were entertained by the landlord I think. It also had an old water font in there set on the bar, made of brass. No longer used but still there, I got a shot of it.



We then tried the Malt Cross-a pub we hadn't been in before and one we shall never miss out on again! What an absolutely beautiful place! It used to be an old music hall. It had a curved roof made of glass so there was an unbelievable amount of light in there!. There was a mezzanine floor like a landing which oversaw a small stage. It looked like all the old fittings remained in place-the support poles decorated by dragons heads and vines, and the old ornate radiators in brilliant condition, and working! What a stunning place!


This morning I will be packing my things to go to the Peak District for the next 3 nights. The weather outside is cold-wintry showers or rather, sleet, with big flakes of snow-so, it will be muddy!

Today I received some colour prints back (from 2 years ago!!!) and my recent 2nd attempt at infrared.


The quality of the colour film prints is good-really good.


Unfortunately its so long ago I cant recall which camera I used but hazarding a guess I'd say it was the Fuji GS645S. And there appears to be a light leak in it.


Still not happy with my infrared prints. Only 2 have come out and they aren't that good.


I went to Focus in Birmingham last week and spoke with staff on the Ilford stand. The Fuji GS645S film speeds will only go to 25. The staff on the stand said it wasn't enough. The film is Ilford SFX 200 so it has a film speed of 200. Put an infrared filter on it and it needs 4 extra stops of exposure which would even then, need to be bracketed. 



I did bracket but at  ISO 25 that wouldn't have been enough. The negatives are clear which would indicate that the images were underexposed (!!I think!!) which would make sense.


I am getting there slowly but it is taking time (and money!!).


My Minolta 7000 will also only go to 25 so I need to adjust for it, and find an extra stop plus bracketing.


I am away this weekend in the Peak District so I will be trying it again but with extra information. Maybe this time I can get more 'keepers'.

MA Photography-Actions

Last night our group of students on either year of the Master's Photography course had our picture's taken! As a photographer its not something I do as most photographers dont like their pictures taken. It was a complete studio set up with tethered camera. I took my cowboy hat for effect!