Chris Hondros – another conflict photographer film
Come across this and thought I’d share.
Seems Chris Hondros was injured/killed in the same incident as Tim Hetherington. Wiki says he was a finalist for a Pulitzer on two occasions.
Just the trailer so far – so hard to tell how good/bad it might be.
The Trailer website: http://www.chrishondrosfilm.com/trailer/2015/4/9/hondros-teaser-trailer
UK Photoshow 2016 deals
Just been to Britain’s largest annual photography show in Birmingham NEC – these times called “UK Photoshow” but in the past “Focal”. I’ve been to it a few times over the years -usually just to geek out (hey I know good photography isn’t about the gear – but I enjoy that aspect anyway) but also occasionally to buy equipment.
There have been good deals to be had in the past – but I think less so in recent years. I’ve gone into the habit of photographing price lists to share them online so others can see if they want to go. This year though I’ve just been on the penultimate day – so maybe not so much of use – but what the hell.
I only photographed the price lists I saw that were easily photographed – a fair few only had prices on individual items – as I wasn’t buying – I didn’t go for them.
Past years:
2014
https://blog.dafyddowen.com/2014/03/02/photography-show-2014-prices/
2012
https://blog.dafyddowen.com/2012/03/06/focus-on-imaging-cameraworld-prices/
https://blog.dafyddowen.com/2012/03/06/focus-on-imaging-jacob-prices/
Sorry for the quality – taken on a phone.
I’m not one for taking my camera to photography shows.
Click on the picture to view larger, and then click on the “view in full size” bottom right to see the original.
Shoot for the jobs you want not the one’s you’re getting
Came across another fairly inspirational video – the post title is a line from it.
Take a look.
Like the fact he treated and shot school sports teams like full on pros!
Originally found via Strobist.
James Dean + Dennis Stock – by New York Times
Used to watch New York Times [Lens] videos on a regular basis. But as they’re no longer on Vimeo it seems I’ve missed them – but they’re on their own website.
Here’s a really interesting one I thought I’d share – on James Dean and Dennis Stock – the photographer who took “the” photo of James Dean – the one of him n Times Square in the rain. Rather than a quick snap – seems that there was a two month run up to it. Would be great to do something like this! If only I had the time. Maybe I should make it happen rather than hoping always.
I tried to embedd the video but as wordpress.com doesn’t allow iFrames – here’s a standard link:
Which Way is the Front Line from Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington
A film/Documentary about Tim Hetherington – the well known photographer who was killed in Syria – “Which Way is the Front Line from Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington” is currently available to view on BBC iPlayer for the next 22 days.
Likely UK only.
Not watched it yet but thought I’d share.
Which Way is the Front Line from Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington
Grunge & 90s Style Mags : Video
Been a while since I blogged anything – mostly as I’ve not had the time – covered (photography) a couple of London Music festivals and have other editing I’m way behind on. Will likely post some of these in time.
During my lunchtimes I often read photography (or related) blogs, news feeds and such like which sometimes include videos. One that’s not usually photography related (iD Magazine YouTube upload feed) has recently featured a video which covers photography and fashion of the 90s Grunge scene. Thought I’d share.
It’s part of a series on UK youth culture:
Episode 1: Grime & Emo – http://bit.ly/1eCWMxP
Episode 2: Jungle & Cybergoth – http://bit.ly/1UvT0XU
Episode 3: Grunge & 90s Style Mags – http://bit.ly/1K5gNL7
Episode 4: B-Boys, Ibiza & Acid House – http://bit.ly/1Dq3FIO
Episode 5: Soul Boys & Casuals – http://bit.ly/1Mk4xqI
Episode 6: Skins & Scooter Boys – https://youtu.be/5PpAWL1FVxY
Gig: Olly Murs, Ella Eyre + Bright Sparks
A set from my second event at The O2 Arena – this time Olly Murs plus guests.
This was the first event I’ve been to with a runway of sorts. We were warned initially that we’d have to stay at the front as pyrotechnics would be going off towards the back of the stage. Alas I missed photographing them going off – Boo! I just had my camera down for a fraction of a second.
At the O2 – you can’t take your camera bag into the arena – you have to leave it back stage. Last time I had a lens bag on my belt but I forgot it this time. A lot of photographers often have two bodies, especially from the main agencies – but I can’t justify that. The lens case I use for these things doesn’t really work well – belt loop too low on it – so I might look to buy some alternative option.
Olly Murs show was a great spectacle – great stage lighting/ background graphics.
Ella Eyre was great – struck me as a cross between Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill. listening to her on Spotify -0 sounds very Amy Winehouse but then there are lots of Housy remixes.
Olly Murs
Ella Eyre
Bright Sparks
All Rights Reserved. Images can be licensed from Photoshot.
Sundance Festival – TinTypes by Victorial Will
Just a quick share of some beautiful photography….
Have come across these Tintypes from Sundance Festival by Victorial Will and thought I’d share.
Have loved the videos of Ian Ruhter doing truck-sized tintypes in the past, surprised I’ve not blogged those! So have come to like the look. Not something I’d likely venture to any time soon – but I do love the look of them and the physicality.
Go take a look.
Video : Forensic Photography
Came across this interesting video about Forensic Photography on the Vimeo Staff picks feed. Thought I’d share.
Fascinating stuff – but don’t think it would be for me – I much prefer photographing people. The little challenges would inspire me though I think.
Gig: Rival Sons & London Souls
Haven’t put all my Gig Photography sets of late – been a tad busy, but thought I’d put this one up.
Continues the run of metal/rock events at the Roundhouse.
In the past I’ve said how much I enjoy photographing gigs here – lighting is usually great, or good at least, and there’s a decent sized pit. On this occasion though there was a LOT of smoke for the support act – The London Souls, combined with LOTS of blue lighting. Took a fair bit of tweaking both in camera Raw and in Photoshop to stop those shots from being a washed out blue mess.
London Souls were good – only a guitarist and drummer. He has amazing skill and reminds me of Hendrix (an analogy many people have likely made – on skill alone ignoring the hair). Alas the songs they have on Spotify don’t really reflect this. I couldn’t help think that it would have been better – a more full sound with more musicians.
Rival Sons
The London Souls
©2015. All Rights reserved. Images (these + more) can be licensed through Photoshot.
A video (not mine or from this show) showing some great London Souls music:
Photo Inspiration : Ray Collins Seascapes
I’m loving my inspirational videos at the moment. I tend to be going for two kinds really – the “just go out there and do it” type of video and also those showing something so simple and basic yet done so well and beautifully – and this is the latter of those two.
Sure we’ve all seen lots of surfing photos and videos – but this is a video about Ray Collins primarily just photographing waves. Something so simple and basic in concept – yet done so well and beautifully. Suggests any of us could go do something similar with a topic that we usually just take for granted.
Many of his pictures remind me of solid lumps of glass or obsidian.
Originally seen via PetaPixel.
Gig: Placebo + The Mirror Trap
A few photos from last nights Placebo gig at Hammersmith (Eventim) Apollo.
The last time I was there we had to shoot from the back as it was an all seater event – but on this occasion there was a barrier/pit so shot from there. Lighting was a little tricky – a spot pointing down at Brian Molko from a steep angle most of the songs we could shoot (only 2) – which meant out of camera the face was very bright and the rest very dark. Also did no favours with shadow in the eye sockets – but you have to go with what you’re given.
Placebo
The Mirror Trap
All Rights Reserved – images can be licensed from Photoshot.
Gig: Spandau Ballet
So photographed my largest gig to date last Tuesday, bar previous festivals of course – so my largest indoor venue at least.
Photographed Spandau Ballet at The O2 arena.
Was a good experience – however I think it didn’t have the impact it once may have since I’ve been doing gigs for a fair while.
I’d say there were approx fifteen photographers in the pit. Decent size although could been a little deeper – it was only enough for approx three people deep. So sometimes it wasn’t possible to get/pass to the optimal position.
All Rights reserved – no use without permission. Images + more can be licensed from Photoshot.
Gig: Idlewild + Sorren MacLean
My third evening in a week at Roundhouse (Friday last week) !
Was a lot quieter this time – relatively – only five photographers in the pit and no security (at the side instead) rather than Thursday’s fourteen photographers + security!
Sorren MacLean
Idlewild
All Rights reserved. Images (inc more) can be licensed from Photoshot.
Gig: Papa Roach, Coldrain, The One Hundred
Second of three nights I was covering at Roundhouse this week – all fairly heavy/rock-is too
This is the first time where I’ve seen bouncers actually in the pit of Roundhouse. Also was the most photographers I’ve seen in the pit for a gig – 14!
Papa Roach was more difficult to photograph because of the light being reduced and Jacoby Shaddix standing on a box or platform.
The One Hundred
Coldrain
Papa Roach
All rights reserved. Images not to be used without permission. Images can be licensed from Photoshot.
Gig: Halestorm, Nothing More, Wilson
My gig selection this month does certainly seem to be weighting towards the heavier end of the spectrum – heading towards Rock and Metal. Although I think the potential for sales for these gigs in mainstream media is considerably lower – I do seem to enjoy them more – plus they do tend to give more dramatic photography. I sometimes remind myself that I’m in this gig photography stint more for enjoyment of the music and the art of photography rather than financial gain. However seeing my photos being used does still give me a kick 🙂
So far this has been the heaviest gig (in terms of music style) that I’ve seen at Roundhouse. The majority of the heavier gigs have been at Brixton Academy. I have another couple coming up – one tomorrow in fact.
Upon coming home I’ve found a strange issue with some of the photographs – quite significant colour banding. In the majority of cases it reminds me of banding you get when shooting near flourescent tubes at a certain shutter speed. I think this is due to the fact that these lights pulse (usually too quick for the eye to notice) and the shutter speed or way the CMOS sensor is read i.e. a line at a time (this can also cause the “jello” effect in video when panning). However the drum-stick example suggests otherwise – because the banding should be the same across the horizontal axis – but the stick crosses these diagonally but the coloured lines remain the same colour. Strange! I excluded these from the sets sent in to the agency.
The strange colour effects
Banding
Strobe type effect
Wilson
Nothing More
Halestorm
All rights Reserved – no use/copying/downloading without permission please. Images can be licensed from Photoshot.
Professional Photographer magazine to end
Received the below E-mail last night.
I’m not overly surprised.
Each time I tried a subscription I was ultimately disappointed by it. There were some good articles – don’t get me wrong – wasn’t all bad. But all the bloomin time they would have poor articles about things like SEO. I realise that I’m not the main target audience in that I’m not full time pro and don’t do any marketing – but almost every single time they did an SEO/Internet tools article it would be a brief introduction not going into any great depth or detail. Each time they’d do this it would cover the same well trodden ground. It just smacked of inviting some SEO consultant in to do a free piece – each time they’d obviously start from the beginning and not have enough space (or want to) give specifics. This happened on many such topics not just SEO – woo this is branding, this is SEO, this is Twitter……. then a month or two later …… this is SEO, this is Branding etc etc
There is an alternative – I recently picked up a copy of Photo Professional up from the SWPP convention. From chatting to the guy there – it seemed like several of their staff used to work at Professional Photographer. I’ve bought and read one back copy. Seemed Ok. I did like the fact that they organises all the business into one section, all the gear into one section etc – so if not interested in that you could easily skip it.
But personally – I’m going to go for a digital subscription from the US Magazine – Photo District News a.k.a PDN. Unfortunately PDN doesn’t have a distributor in the UK (I’ve asked several times) and the US to UK postage more than doubles the price – so I’m going to go digital.
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Word Press Photo contest – 2015
The World Press Photo 2015 (best photo of 2014) contest has been announced again.
It’s showing up on my usual blogs and feeds for various reasons.
First off – that it’s been announced of course.
But secondly – of interest to photographers – that it seems 22% of the final shortlisted entries were later excluded upon checking the original files! It sounds like they had quite strict rules on editing. This included hidding elements through dodge and burn, not just cloning etc. Usually I’d say that this would be pushing it a bit far – but I think in press awards I think this is fair – as press pictures should be as true to life as possible. More details in the press release below.
The winning picture (I rarely agree with the overall winner of such competitions but that’s not rare – likely the judges didn’t agree either) is one about Russian gay rights.
World Press Photo of the Year 2014, First Prize Contemporary Issues. Photo by Mads Nissen
Here’s an interesting video about the contest that I happened across. Nice little short critique on a couple of images. I do really like the table top picture.
Press release:
World Press Photo of the Year 2014, First Prize Contemporary Issues. Photo by Mads Nissen, Denmark, Scanpix/Panos Pictures
A photograph that highlights the difficulties facing sexual minorities in Russia has won the World Press Photo contest’s top prize. ‘Jon and Alex’, from a project called ‘Homophobia in Russia’, shows a ‘intimate moment’ between a gay couple from St. Petersburg and won Danish photographer Mads Nissen the Contemporary Issues category of the competition, as well as the first prize for a single image, netting him 11,500 Euro and Canon DSLR equipment.
The 2015 contest attracted entries from 5692 photographers representing 131 nationalities, and drew in a total of 97,912 pictures. Once again what constitutes an acceptable degree of digital manipulation has been questioned, with a spokesperson reportedly telling UK photo magazine Amateur Photographer that 22% of the short listed entries were rejected by the jury once original files were called in for checking. The World Press Photo foundation published Integrity of the Image (PDF), a paper dealing with the characteristics of image manipulation and the acceptable boundaries last year, which describes what it considers ‘minor/normal/subtle/moderate’ and which acknowledges that defining ‘excessive’ is open to interpretation.
For more information on the winners, the competition and to see a gallery of all the winning entries, visit the World Press Photo website. You can also hear the phone call in which Nissen was told he had won the overall prize.
Gig: Rebecca Ferguson
Just a quick little set of yesterday’s shoot – Rebecca Ferguson performing her new album Lady Sings The Blues live for the first time. Venue was tiny – four of us photographers at the back row. Standard stuff – 3 songs, no flash, then out. Should have asked to stay – she sounded wonderful – just didn’t think as the place seemed full.
All Rights Reserved – no use without permission. Other images in the set can be licensed from Photoshot / Retna UK.
Gig: Gaz Coombes + FURS
A new venue for me – Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank.
A really nice venue – all seated and tiered but quite large. The stage was really quite low – I’d say two feet high – so all the photographers (there were four of us) had to scrabble around on hands and knees! My knees/ankles weren’t happy about it. Was a bit tricky for Gaz Coombes since by that point the seats at the bottom had been filled and he kept swapping between the keyboard and standing guitar position. Possible angles were limited for the keyboard position with us all on the ground – I don’t think I got the best position.
The support band were FURS (who I really liked) and just before they came on their tour/manager told us that we could snap away and not adhere to the two songs only rule that we had to go by with Gaz Coombes (previously of Supergrass).
Really liked the lighting at the venue – a nice change from some past venues – although per usual it seemed better for the support than the main act! I guess they tend to prefer more mood/extreme lighting for headliners at most venues.
We (the agency) had been briefed that Gaz Coombes would have a choir for the finale and might be asked to cover it for him/the venue. No call came but I asked the venue if I could still cover it and they Ok’ed it. Rather than shooting from the bottom I went up to the middle tier to get a wider view.
Event was to publicise Gaz Coombes new album – Gaz Coombes – Matador
FURS
Spotify: FURS
Twitter: @fursfurs
Gaz Coombes
Spotify: Gaz Coombes
Twitter: @GazCoombes
All Rights Reserved. Images can be licensed through Photoshot/Retna (UK)
Gig: Gerard Way + No Devotion
Another Brixton Academy gig – which I enjoy as there’s lots of space and their lighting is normally good and professional. Although it can be cold we usually have to wait in a side corridor and usually don’t get to stay which is a shame.
This time – Gerard Way – of My Chemical Romance fame
And No Devotion – the band formed post Lost Prophets
No Devotion
Gerard Way
23/01/2015
All Rights Reserved. Images can be licensed through Photoshot/Retna (UK)
Gig: JD McPherson + The Cactus Blossoms
A nice Rock and roll/rhythm and blues/country/Rockabilly gig at Islington Assembly Hall. Was expecting it to be more lively – but it was fairly relaxed. Would have been a great place to photograph the crowd too as there were lots there dressed up in a Rockabilly style.
There was only two or three of us photographing the show so plenty of space to move around. Lighting was good too with no crazy smoke etc.
22/01/2015
The Cactus Blossoms
JD McPherson
All Rights Reserved.
Images available to license through Photoshot/Retna (UK)
Gig: Die Antwoord
Going to try to catch up with publishing pictures from some of the gigs I’ve covered.
This one was a gig that I’d looked forward to and specially requested. Although unfortunately Brixton Academy are fairly on the ball at escorting photographers out of the building once they’re done. This isn’t unusual so not something to be upset about. It tends to bee the all seater or larger venues which do this, smaller venues are usually Ok if you behave yourself i.e. put the camera away.
The Die Antwoord show was fairly tricky photography wise – lots of UV and back-lighting. Had hoped the results would be better. Ah well – the other photographers would have had the same issues.
All Rights Reserved – No downloading, linking or use of images without permission. Images available to license from Photoshot / Retna (UK).
SWPP Convention + Trade Fair 2015 : London 14-18 Jan
Another year another SWPP trade fair…..
Hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas/Holidays/New Year etc etc. I’m not one for new years resolutions (I believe that if something is worth doing – it’s worth starting now) so will get straight into standard posting.
The SWPP or as it is now called “The Societies” Convention is a standard fixture in January.
SWPP was/is the Society for Wedding and Portrait Photographers.
The convention is part training event/convention part trade fair. I have only really gone to the trade fair part (which is free) and not the rest – training courses, portfolio reviews, etc which are paid.
For the free Trade Fair – registered by Sunday 10th January 2015 after this time it is £6.00.
Full Convention: 14-18 Jan 2015 (Wed-Sun)
Trade Fair: 16-18 Jan 2015 (Fri-Sun)
Hilton London Metropole, Edgware Road, London, W2 1JU
http://www.swpp.co.uk/convention/
I’d say the Trade fair is “Ok”. It has grown in recent years but isn’t anywhere close to the size of Focus on Imagine / “The Photography Show” held in Birmingham NEC. Still – there is a mix of things there – equipment manufacturers, training courses, accessory suppliers and so forth but a cut-down version.
I’d say that there is a significant percentage of album/print suppliers showing at the trade fair – but since the Society/show has it’s roots in wedding photography – it’s understandable. This just may not be of interest to some (such as myself).
There are some free demo/training courses at or around the trade fair – however these are most likely to be biased at software or equipment the stalls are trying to sell and may be overly busy. One year there was one free seminar area. This year Adobe seem to have a seminar room which sounds like it’s free. See the Free Demo links below.
Some additional info:
Trade Show Exhibitors: http://www.swpp.co.uk/convention/exhibitors/
(Canon is there but no Nikon – as previous years)
Ticket/Registration form (Free and paid) : https://swpp.co.uk/secure/conventionform.htm
Free demos
Fri: http://www.swpp.co.uk/convention/exhibitors/Friday16th.htm
Sat: http://www.swpp.co.uk/convention/exhibitors/Saturday17th.htm
Sun: http://www.swpp.co.uk/convention/exhibitors/Sunday18th.htm
Paid Courses
Superclasses: http://www.swpp.co.uk/convention/2015/Superclass.htm
Masterclasses: http://www.swpp.co.uk/convention/2015/Masterclass.htm
Location Seminars: http://www.swpp.co.uk/convention/2015/Location.htm
Business School: http://www.swpp.co.uk/convention/2015/BusinessSchool.htm
I’m not sure what the difference is between a Superclass and Masterclass – it looks like duration – Superclass is half a day while Masterclass is an hour and a half.
