Tag: photography

Event Photography – The Pantomime

The British (or is it the English) have a unique entertainment form – the Pantomime – which is usually staged around the Christmas / New Year season.  This year St. Mary’s Church in Caterham, Surrey staged Rumplestitskin.  Men dress up as Dames, girls dress up as boys and everyone, including the audience, get involved, all in aid of church funds.

Getting through generations of pantomimes has undoubtedly contributed to the sort of steely British fortitude which ruled half the world and weathered the Blitz.

Photographing the show is a challenge – low lighting, definitely no flash, stationary position and some pretty erratic movement at times make it interesting.

Series of Four #9 – On the streets of Europe – Number 1

Series of Four

This is the ninth Blog in the “Series of Four” series. Each blog focuses on a different aspect of photography, either technical or creative.  To see the full set of “Series of Four” blogs, click here.

On the streets of Europe

Urban street photography is a favourite of many photographers.  Catching a passing moment, finding a space which expresses and exposes a city’s sole, seeing the unseen and the mundane.  Street photography needs to be approached with care, sensitivity and not a little boldness.

 Clockwise:

  • A dog in Stockholm
  • A man and a dog in Brussels
  • A girl in Moledo, Portugal
  • Horses in Geneva

 

Series of Four #1 – Symmetry in Composition

Series of Four

This is the first Blog I will be putting up on a Series of Four images.  Each blog will focus on a different aspect of photography, either technical or creative.  This first series is on symmetry in composition.  To see the full set of “Series of Four” blogs, click here.

Symmetry in Composition

Using symmetry in composition is very powerful but needs to be used sparingly and with care.  Here are four images taken in very different situations but all of which use symmetry as their main compositional strength.  Vertical symmetry usually brings a sense of calm and balance to an image.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The images are (clockwise from top left):

  • An historic home in Florida, USA;
  • St David’s Cathedral, Wales;
  • A construction site, South London;
  • A holiday cottage in Devon, England

Improve Your Image – Digital Photography Course

As an addition to my other work as a professional Fine Art Photographer, I am now teaching courses in digital photography. I am currently in the midst of a 4 session course entitled “Improve Your Image”, teaching the basics of digital photography to pupils at Croydon High School, an Independent girl’s high school in Surrey.  The course is great fun and has been very useful to the students, as I understand from feedback from the teachers, .

Improve Your Image Course Topics

Each session has a mixture of both technical topics and creative ideas and tips.  The topics for each session of the course are as follows:

  • Knowing your camera – We go through the workings of a Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera and look at the key controls.  The idea is that you control the camera and not the other way round.
  • Picturing your picture – How often do you take a shot but the results are disappointing and not at all what you expected?  We get an idea of how to look at the world with a photographer’s eye.
  • Adding a dash of Passion – The rules and guidelines for good composition are there to help and not stifle your creativity.  “Live adventurously”, experiment, express yourself.
  • Pictures with purpose – Every picture tells a story.  Here we explore how to capture the essence of a scene and convey a story, whilst at the same time producing images which have artistic merit.

Do you want to take the course?

I am planning to hold courses from time to time – if you would like to participate in a course, have a look at the “Improve Your Image” page on the Season Images web site or contact me at info@seasonimages.com.