Tuesday, 23 April 2013
I like looking for birds, and I like the waiting, the thrill when you find one, the rewards of photograph. I rarely leave my bird watchers book at home.
Whatever happens with my professional photography I don't think i'll ever get bored with photographing birds.
The night shift at the hospital
Monday, 20 June 2011
Bees
Just some pictures of bees which I shot in my garden. It was really tricky, bees tend to move about a lot.
My time at The Times
Thursday:
Photographer Stalking: Paul Rogers
I was sent an email on Wednesday saying to meet Paul outside the PowerPlate Academy in London to shoot some pictures of journalist Emma Bartley on a PowerPlate bike (PowerPlates being an intensive workout equipment which vibrates forcing the muscles to work harder etc) for her article on it. Another early day as I got in at 7:30 but not meeting Paul til 10:00, so wandered around for while, but didn't take any pictures. Went to the place, and rang Paul to check it was the right place, he said he didn't know I was supposed to meet him, but it was fine. We went in the academy, and waited for Emma to arrive. He also told me that there was a multimedia crew coming to do a video for the website. Turns out the video crew weren't coming because to staff shortages, so Paul said he could do it himself, telling me it would probably be expected of him. From what he told me he seems pretty experienced with filming and he had his own sound recording equipment and all kinds of recording gear (which is probably quite standard with contemporary photojournalists). Paul picked the best setting in the room, which had alot of natural light, but set up some flashes around the bike to make things more dramatic. when Emma arrived, she didn't see Paul straight away who was setting stuff up, and it looked liked she assumed I was the photographer. Once I told her I was doing work experience she said I "look like a photographer, you should do it", not sure if that's a compliment or what, but I took it as one. Paul let me hold the sound recording stuff, and I was meant to control how loud it was so it didn't saturate, I don't know if I had done a very good job, Paul said it was a very echoy room though.
After we left, we drove to the Royal Theater on Southbank, as Paul had another job doing some portraits of American comedian Reginald D Hunter for an article. as we had a few hours til we had to meet him and his PR, and that I had brought my mac, Paul said he'd have a look at some of my pictures. He was probably less vocal about some of the issues which are in my pictures, but he was nice enough. Before we were meant to meet Reginald, Paul wanted to have a look at the area, which was pretty nice, being along the Thames with alot of trees and a good flat natural light. Paul picked a few spots, getting me to act as a tester, and we met up with Reg and PR. He was actuallt quite friendly and pretty funny, and seemed fine with posing and moving around as Paul instructed him. I got to hold the light stand so it didn't blow away. After Paul had got the shots he wanted, he said I could do some, which Reg was fine with. I decided to shoot him with the Thames behind. He played up to it, clibing on the railings and generally being funny. we all joked that the Times could potentionally have a very different set of pictures if he fell off.
Photographer Stalking: Paul Rogers
I was sent an email on Wednesday saying to meet Paul outside the PowerPlate Academy in London to shoot some pictures of journalist Emma Bartley on a PowerPlate bike (PowerPlates being an intensive workout equipment which vibrates forcing the muscles to work harder etc) for her article on it. Another early day as I got in at 7:30 but not meeting Paul til 10:00, so wandered around for while, but didn't take any pictures. Went to the place, and rang Paul to check it was the right place, he said he didn't know I was supposed to meet him, but it was fine. We went in the academy, and waited for Emma to arrive. He also told me that there was a multimedia crew coming to do a video for the website. Turns out the video crew weren't coming because to staff shortages, so Paul said he could do it himself, telling me it would probably be expected of him. From what he told me he seems pretty experienced with filming and he had his own sound recording equipment and all kinds of recording gear (which is probably quite standard with contemporary photojournalists). Paul picked the best setting in the room, which had alot of natural light, but set up some flashes around the bike to make things more dramatic. when Emma arrived, she didn't see Paul straight away who was setting stuff up, and it looked liked she assumed I was the photographer. Once I told her I was doing work experience she said I "look like a photographer, you should do it", not sure if that's a compliment or what, but I took it as one. Paul let me hold the sound recording stuff, and I was meant to control how loud it was so it didn't saturate, I don't know if I had done a very good job, Paul said it was a very echoy room though.
After we left, we drove to the Royal Theater on Southbank, as Paul had another job doing some portraits of American comedian Reginald D Hunter for an article. as we had a few hours til we had to meet him and his PR, and that I had brought my mac, Paul said he'd have a look at some of my pictures. He was probably less vocal about some of the issues which are in my pictures, but he was nice enough. Before we were meant to meet Reginald, Paul wanted to have a look at the area, which was pretty nice, being along the Thames with alot of trees and a good flat natural light. Paul picked a few spots, getting me to act as a tester, and we met up with Reg and PR. He was actuallt quite friendly and pretty funny, and seemed fine with posing and moving around as Paul instructed him. I got to hold the light stand so it didn't blow away. After Paul had got the shots he wanted, he said I could do some, which Reg was fine with. I decided to shoot him with the Thames behind. He played up to it, clibing on the railings and generally being funny. we all joked that the Times could potentionally have a very different set of pictures if he fell off.
Sunday, 19 June 2011
My time at The Times
Wednesday:
Photographer stalking: Richard Pohle
Was sent an email about what I was doing on Tuesday. Meeting Richard at the Old Library on Uxbridge Road, which meant me trying to find it. Got the tube to Shepard's Bush station, and was early so I could find the building, walked around the station looking for No7. In the end I called Richard asking where abouts on the road it was, and eventually found it (I was at the completely wrong end). He was shooting some portraits of Francesca Annis for an interview, and got excited about the building. It was a old library, obviously, which was being turned into theater, and the play was a way of trying out different parts of the main room to see which bits worked best. Francesca was very nice, and cooperative with the photographs, and let me take some while Richard did his. It was a really interesting setting, one of the walls was covered in pages from books and it was generally quite a rugged place. It also had a really big window which let in lots of natural light. It was a really lovely setting.
After the portraits we went to the Crussh cafe place, where we waited for the next job. There was a call about an event going on at The Imperial Collage London, where a group of Eton boys were having physics lessons with a group of secondary school boys from around London. Richard seemed apprehensive at first, considering the fact that we knew hardly anything about what it was going to be like, just there were these 2 very different set of boys from different backgrounds going to be working together. So could be interesting. We met the journalist at the building and then met one of the London Headmasters, he led us to the room. It then became clear we weren't altogether expected. Turns out the Eton lot had no idea we were coming and refused to let us take any pictures of their boys or interview them. There also wouldn't have been much good taking pictures of them all together, as when we got there they were all sitting at computer desks, mixed up and in regular clothes (no fancy uniforms) and mostly working from the desks. In the end, the session finished and the Eton boys left, which meant Richard had to make do with what he had. He asked them to sit together with the head and discuss anything, and he took pictures from all different angles and the journalist jotted down notes from this and asked questions about the experience. I tried to take down the names of the boys, but richard finished it off. When we left he said they almost certianly wouldn't use the story, but it was important for him to get some pictures to prove he had gone and tried to make something out of a terrible situation.
Before I met up with Richard at 11, I had gotten in at 7:30, and I spent some time going round Covent Garden and the British Museum.
Photographer stalking: Richard Pohle
Was sent an email about what I was doing on Tuesday. Meeting Richard at the Old Library on Uxbridge Road, which meant me trying to find it. Got the tube to Shepard's Bush station, and was early so I could find the building, walked around the station looking for No7. In the end I called Richard asking where abouts on the road it was, and eventually found it (I was at the completely wrong end). He was shooting some portraits of Francesca Annis for an interview, and got excited about the building. It was a old library, obviously, which was being turned into theater, and the play was a way of trying out different parts of the main room to see which bits worked best. Francesca was very nice, and cooperative with the photographs, and let me take some while Richard did his. It was a really interesting setting, one of the walls was covered in pages from books and it was generally quite a rugged place. It also had a really big window which let in lots of natural light. It was a really lovely setting.
After the portraits we went to the Crussh cafe place, where we waited for the next job. There was a call about an event going on at The Imperial Collage London, where a group of Eton boys were having physics lessons with a group of secondary school boys from around London. Richard seemed apprehensive at first, considering the fact that we knew hardly anything about what it was going to be like, just there were these 2 very different set of boys from different backgrounds going to be working together. So could be interesting. We met the journalist at the building and then met one of the London Headmasters, he led us to the room. It then became clear we weren't altogether expected. Turns out the Eton lot had no idea we were coming and refused to let us take any pictures of their boys or interview them. There also wouldn't have been much good taking pictures of them all together, as when we got there they were all sitting at computer desks, mixed up and in regular clothes (no fancy uniforms) and mostly working from the desks. In the end, the session finished and the Eton boys left, which meant Richard had to make do with what he had. He asked them to sit together with the head and discuss anything, and he took pictures from all different angles and the journalist jotted down notes from this and asked questions about the experience. I tried to take down the names of the boys, but richard finished it off. When we left he said they almost certianly wouldn't use the story, but it was important for him to get some pictures to prove he had gone and tried to make something out of a terrible situation.
Before I met up with Richard at 11, I had gotten in at 7:30, and I spent some time going round Covent Garden and the British Museum.
Saturday, 18 June 2011
My time at The Times
Tuesday:
Photographer stalking: Jack Hill
Very slow news day, so once I'd spent some time at the office watching part of the editing process for images on the website (thrilling) I was told I could meet Jack at Westminster for a Cub Scout meeting, which turns out was the first in Westminster, which some MPS are going to. Not expecting much, but it's something to do. Got to Westminster tube station stupid early, so took some obligatory Houses of Parliament/Big Ben pictures and eventually met up with Jack. Got into the Portcullis building and had the derpiest picture ever on my visitors pass. The meet was cute, with lots of cubs and MPs joining in and stuff, but no one I recognised, and Jack seemed unimpressed. Took some SHOCKING pictures.
Turns out Jack was told a tip about Chantelle (Big Brother winner from about 5 years ago) who was doing some kind press release thing, and it was just down the road, opposite Parliament. Interesting, maybe. Went to have a look, and there was a crowd of about 15-20 photographers standing around and Chantelle in a dressing gown (funny quote of the day, Jack turns to me "looks like there's a good chance she'll get naked" oh right). Turns out she was painted like a tiger in a kind of protest publicity stunt in relation to PETA opposition to wild animals being used in circus'. Lot's of commotion, them all shouting at her to look at them, I took some pictures of the pack. Original, I know. Jack was told of by her PR for taking a picture of her from behind, and he told her "you can't tell me what the f**k to take pictures of" (later telling me that people will tell you not to take pictures of thing and you just tell them to f**k off, will do). The spent 3 hours, ish, in this cafe place called Crussh which has free wifi, sells soup and drinks and tasty things, and just a good spot, which seems to be a favorite with photographers. It's certainly a blokes game. Jack and his friend (who shoots for the Mail) wondered if Chantelle had any work done, I was going to say boobs (which is true) but said hair. I'm not gonna say she's had her boobs made bigger to a couple of guys I barely know, but I probably should have.
Photographer stalking: Jack Hill
Very slow news day, so once I'd spent some time at the office watching part of the editing process for images on the website (thrilling) I was told I could meet Jack at Westminster for a Cub Scout meeting, which turns out was the first in Westminster, which some MPS are going to. Not expecting much, but it's something to do. Got to Westminster tube station stupid early, so took some obligatory Houses of Parliament/Big Ben pictures and eventually met up with Jack. Got into the Portcullis building and had the derpiest picture ever on my visitors pass. The meet was cute, with lots of cubs and MPs joining in and stuff, but no one I recognised, and Jack seemed unimpressed. Took some SHOCKING pictures.
Turns out Jack was told a tip about Chantelle (Big Brother winner from about 5 years ago) who was doing some kind press release thing, and it was just down the road, opposite Parliament. Interesting, maybe. Went to have a look, and there was a crowd of about 15-20 photographers standing around and Chantelle in a dressing gown (funny quote of the day, Jack turns to me "looks like there's a good chance she'll get naked" oh right). Turns out she was painted like a tiger in a kind of protest publicity stunt in relation to PETA opposition to wild animals being used in circus'. Lot's of commotion, them all shouting at her to look at them, I took some pictures of the pack. Original, I know. Jack was told of by her PR for taking a picture of her from behind, and he told her "you can't tell me what the f**k to take pictures of" (later telling me that people will tell you not to take pictures of thing and you just tell them to f**k off, will do). The spent 3 hours, ish, in this cafe place called Crussh which has free wifi, sells soup and drinks and tasty things, and just a good spot, which seems to be a favorite with photographers. It's certainly a blokes game. Jack and his friend (who shoots for the Mail) wondered if Chantelle had any work done, I was going to say boobs (which is true) but said hair. I'm not gonna say she's had her boobs made bigger to a couple of guys I barely know, but I probably should have.
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