Honesty may not be the best policy.

Let's face it.

Im no world famous photographer. Im not sure id even want to be one. 

I go through phases of picking photography jobs up. Im happy with those that i get through word of mouth. Theres nothing better than being told that so and so said your good and so can you shoot this for me. 

Thats a good feeling.

Times before I've really wanted to go full time but i feel that id have to shoot a lot things that i don't want to shoot. Im not that person. 

This is my passion, no one else's. 

My photography speaks to me. 

If it speaks to you, then i thank you.

What does it say to you? Speak your mind.

What it says to me;

This is who you are.

Seek to find beauty in everything.

Strive to stay positive but embrace the negative because it's always going to be there.

You will never be someone else.

So

I can shoot weddings, i like to, its one of my favourite subjects. 

I want to capture the beauty of someone else's moment. They've chosen to share this day with me and put trust in me to show them beauty in image form in return.

The ultimate challenge. Find beauty.

Sometimes it's the sunset behind the couple, sometimes its just that moment of contemplation when the bride thinks that no one is watching.

That moment.

Photography is capturing light. 

The light will be there if you look for it but why take a photo if its not 'That Moment'.

How does this read to you?

Have i said too much?

Have i put you off?

Now there is no link to the above and the imagery below.

The above is my mind, my honesty. Ive let you in. 

The reasoning for why i go out and capture strangers, dereliction & darkness.

If i didn't, where else are you going to see this?

Boston, Lincolnshire.

Fujifilm X100T.

Richard; a Street Portrait

It's important to challenge yourself.

Force yourself into doing something your uncomfortable with.

Doing this will hopefully lower your inhibitions and make you grow as person and it should be easier next time.

Ive been really busy lately, by advertising myself. Ive released that not everyone is going to come to me just by word of mouth, though its proven very successful. So those local to me will no doubt have seen my adverts popping up on various Facebook pages. Result, more business.

Because I've been busy, I've let my blogging fall behind. Its not like i don't shoot regularly, i have a camera with me at all times, though today walking the dog in the hail i didn't feel like getting the camera out.

So, a mental note to keep blogging.

A time recently where I've challenged myself is to talk to a stranger and ask if i can take their portrait.

I spotted Richard sitting on a windowsill on St. Benedicts street, Norwich, nursing his cider. At 1st i thought about grabbing a candid shot of him. I walked away with my tail between my legs. After going in a shop looking for bargain CD's, i noticed that he was still sitting there, i just had to talk to him.

Go for it, whats the worst that could happen, he might just say no.

Very politely Richard, told me his name, told me that he lived just up the road , told me his story and agreed that i could take his photo.

I gave Richard my card and my details, to which he replied he doesn't have a phone or a computer and so wouldn't be able to see the photo. Now that i think about it, i should of took his address and sent him a small print as a way of saying thanks for his time.

Some people in a worse position than you, may still be willing to give you a hand, just for a little bit of time.

Window shopping in Cambridge

The best weekend of street photography yet.

I cant help it, im totally hooked.

I want to go out and shoot more street.

Its the challenge, finding something quirky, how close can you get to get that shot?, its the waiting game; waiting for someone to walk into the shot.

I've started to manual focus more; using zone focusing, knowing that anything in the 'zone' will be in focus. That way I can set up my focus zone, step forward and take the shot. The last thing I need is for the camera to hunt for focus!  I don't want anyone turning round wondering what im doing!!! LOL

If anything, im becoming more adventurous, im not shooting so many peoples backs anymore, im photographing people walking right towards me.

Often all you need is a smile after taking the shot, no one questions a smile.

This weekend ive started shooting with windows in mind; reflections, advertising, shooting through the window. Life is lived around windows, windows are everywhere.

Sale shopping

Just look at the similarities

This guy saw the funny side

Or walk on by

Im looking into her world, she's asking me why.

I cant wait to get to a city again.

Photography is my life and I want to live it!

Being a kid and the ghosts of pigs

Its funny that ive just explored a building once owned by members of my family.

I remember going to this place as a child with my dad, I think he used to store things here.

Everytime I drive down this busy road, I see the old Piggery and think of long ago walking into this cold, dark and dirty place. Im not sure how long its been 'empty' for, im not sure who now owns it, im now 30 years old and my memories of the place probably date back around 25 years.

I was itching to go exploring December 30th, I woke up and its all I could think of, I didn't go, a little bored I was that day. So New Years Eve I climbed out of bed, put my exploring coat on; its just a dirty old duffel coat, and drove to Long Sutton with 2 locations in mind; both locations approx. 1 minute from each other on the same road.

For this explore I used my newest camera; Fujifilm X100T and the WCL-X100T wide angle lens converter. Since buying the X100T a couple of weeks ago, I haven't had a real chance to use it. I would usually explore with my Canon but I thought id see how this lens Fixed Lens Compact fared in a low light situation.

Image quality from Fujifilm cameras are known to be superb, a statement I agree with since previously owning an X20 and X-Pro 1 cameras. My X-Pro 1 is usually my carry everywhere camera but I think the X100T will now replace this title.

Urbex means low light, for me, its either a 'tripod day' or a time for high ISO, large aperture usage. I don't like tripods; they're too restricting so ISO ranged between 400 and 1600 and apertures typically around F2-2.8.

Muddy track led the way; a job for wellies

 

Early worm catches the early sun

A little dangerous this one

 

 

Mouse hole

 

Love the shadows on the door

Bones

 

My next blog post, coming soon, will be the 2nd location from this explore session.

 

Keep shooting!