Bluebells
Bluebells 3294
Originally uploaded by BlueEyesPhoto.
Yes it’s nearly Bluebell time!
April 28th, 2006
Archive for April, 2006
Living in Hell
Catching up on some reading this morning I came across an article in the Royal Photographic Society magazine (the Dec05/Jan06 edition) about the show of Tom Hunter’s work referencing Old Master Paintings at the National Gallery.
I was drawn to the article because I recognised one of the photographs ‘Woman reading possession order’, but couldn’t remember where from. Still can’t, but that’s not the point.
I am just pleased to read that through this show the National Gallery’s curator of contemporary art, Colin Wiggins, began to build up critical faculties to look at a photograph and see what is good without having technical understanding of photography, in the same way he might judge a painting.
Given that photography is a relatively new art form – it’s only been around 170 years or so, that’s no bad thing. Neither is the National Gallery showing a photographic exhibition.
April 26th, 2006
Ordinary photography
There has been much discussion lately on a stock industry specific discussion forum about the images that actually sell. Every one posted their last sale, and what was revealed was that ordinary every day subjects starred in the images that sold.
All the images which sold had in common; good composition – often simple, but straightforward, clarity of intent, and of course a well-executed shot (good exposure & interesting to look at).
It’s changing my perception of what makes a good photograph. What I needed to produce to impress a camera club judge five years ago isn’t necessarily right for the stock photography market. And vice versa.
Just photographing ordinary everyday subjects well seems to be more rewarding financially.
April 24th, 2006
A perfect card
Now that Easter is gone I am ringing around the people who left me their details at the British Craft Trade Show. Not a job I love to do as I’d rather take photographs than sell them. And you just never know what people will say to you. Sometimes I wonder if I could possibly come up with a card that suits every buyer. What one person likes about a card another hates. So probably not, and anyway isn’t the choice of cards we have available to us part of the joy of sending a card? You can always find something that suits the occasion or the mood of the intended recipient.
April 19th, 2006
Article: Bagging the images
You’ve found the location, and you want to capture the image. In landscape photography it is very important to take care with composition. The image will work based on how well you have presented the image – how the eye wanders through the final image. Is the eye led into the image to the main subject or is it confused? I like simple compositions, placing foreground interest in pictures to draw the viewer in to enjoy more or controlling depth of field (the amount of the picture in focus) so the viewer quickly understands my visual communication of the image.
With landscape pictures, the huge majority are horizontally framed. You can still take great landscape pictures in the vertical format - and this is how many publications will publish them. Shooting landscape vertically offers a new dimension & encourages the viewer to really stop and look. One of my photographs a shot taken at dawn one Spring morning at Corteen Bay on the West Coast of Ireland is a vertical. I often display this one low down on my display boards at shows and because I composed from a low angle, it feels like you can walk into the sea and go for a paddle.
Light is an important aspect of the composition too. Consciously observe light before composing your landscape pictures. It’s worth waiting for clouds to move, showers to pass. I suppose you could say landscape Photography is “painting with light”. You choose which shade.
The more landscape photography I do, the broader my definition becomes. I used to think big scenes were the sole image, now I try to capture details shots, people if they are about, and abstracts too. For me, landscape photography is not so much about what is contained in the image, but what it portrays about a place. Capturing the energy, the spirit of place is what gives an image magic. Adding a dash of culture too adds another dimension.
I consider myself a photographic artist, not just someone producing landscape photography. And like any other artist I create images on a speculative basis, meaning the buyers for the images must be found by me after they are taken.
So why not take a look through my website gallery at the selection of limited edition prints on canvas & the greetings cards. It’s easy to buy prints in various sizes, and have the prints safely shipped to your doorstep.
April 8th, 2006
Exhibitor life …
A slow day. Fewer buyers around, but lots of students, all from the same college and all blissfully unaware of stand etiquette.
As I had time on my hands, I got to thinking about the annoying things that happen, as well as the nice, from an exhibitor’s point of view.
Annoying …
Other exhibitors who stand in front of your stand or otherwise block your stand. Either because they are speaking on the phone, want to chat with your neighbour or have just not planned their stand well enough to enable them to stand or sit near it without blocking it themselves.
Students who ask loads of questions, thinking they are at a careers fair.
Loud people – it’s a noisy environment anyway, but having to shout at prospective buyers because the guy behind is howling with laughter is not good.
Buyers who come out with no cards or refuse to give you any details. I always hope these are buyers from a major retail store. Most do come prepared and are happy for you to follow up, as not everyone orders when they see you.
Sales men who want to flog you website design, insurance or outsourcing services. Not a good time to catch me, as I’m focussed on selling, not buying.
Break down – chaotic usually. My car is never as neatly packed going as arriving. And usually I can’t get the car very near to my stand, so by the time I have carried everything I feel like I have done a weight training session at the gym.
Nice …
Time to sit and think, exchange idea and theories with other people in the quiet moments. Many a business strategy/idea is born in these moments.
You know your co-exhibitors life story, and have put the world’s to right.
Other exhibitors admiring your work and enthusing.
People watching – some fantastic outfits and handbags come to these shows.
Loads of stuff you’d buy, if only you had remembered to bring cash with you. Most exhibitors will sell to other exhibitors at the end of the final day.
April 4th, 2006
BCTF Life - day two
Lots of students today, but most observed the etiquette – a list of do’s & don’ts issued to them. Personally I never knew it existed, but I suspect the organisers have made it very clear to them that it does. Not actually sure why they come really. I used to visit the odd show in the early days to get a feel for them, and to suss out whether it was a show I should attend of not, but mostly I just booked them and got on with it.
I have had a lot more enquiries and interesting – potential opportunities today. Hard to know what will come of them. A few new exhibitors – promoting prints saunter by to find out how my day has been. They are not sure if the show is for them – not something I can really answer for them. Thankfully the weather is sunny.
April 3rd, 2006
BCTF life
First day of the Trade show. Lots of buyers, showing interest but no orders … yet. I sense buyers are taking more time to think, and a lot spend two days at the show before making a final decision & order. Plus the weather is shocking – heavy rain. It tailed of a lot in the afternoon, when the only visitors seemed to be students or photographers. Sometimes the conversations that ensue are useful to me, but mostly not.
It reminds me that last year student’s swamped the show on Monday asking all kinds of questions, and frankly that’s not why I’m at a Trade show. Most know to keep it short and sweet, and know not to take information that’s intended for buyers. And those that don’t just get politely told – disguised as a request.
The same exhibitors surround me as last year, so between waves of busyness it’s possible to have a good natter and catch up. The rest of the time I people watch. You get to see some great clothes, shoes and handbags at these things. People find the most beautiful & unusual things to wear. I’m told the London shows are better for this sport.
I return to the B&B to see their dog has stuck his head out of the cat flap to bark at me, a daft sight indeed. Made me laugh anyway.
April 2nd, 2006
British Craft Trade Fair
Drove to Harrogate listening to Radio One. And through all weathers. Sunshine and rain made for rainbow spray – a tad surreal. I arrived at the venue (attending BCTF at the Great Yorkshire Showground) with wild hair thanks to a sudden down pour and me being in the wrong place at the wrong time – I got soaked at Ferrybridge services doing the 20m dash from car to entrance.
Spent an hour trying to figure out how a new light could be fixed to the stand, before changing the stand design three times, and heading off to my B&B, which nestles in the hills surrounding Harrogate. Tranquil and quiet, lovely!
April 1st, 2006