Jack in da box
There is no-one in my family I photograph more than my nephew, Jack. He’s 2 and a half now and you can really see his character growing. He’s a funny one too. You ask him if he’s ok and he says “Yes I am Peter.” He doesn’t call me Uncle Peter or Uncle Pete. He’s very formal and its quite funny. The other week I was in one of those odd random moods. Totally impossible to recreate what was going on in my head but I feel that I produced the best photos of him that I’ve ever taken. I feel that they’re slightly different to what I would normally do. There’s more emotion to them. At a guess its because instead of getting the camera out when he did something cute I followed him around for an hour essentially documenting him. I tried to ignore processing too. A solid black and white conversion was all they needed. I didn’t try and correct for things. I just went with the flow. I really love this set and it reminds me of what I can do when I’m so comfortable photographing someone and when they are completely carefree about the camera. He doesn’t change what he’s doing when I point it at him because he’s so innocent. Its wonderful really.
What am I?
The other week I photographed a rally, Families for Justice. They were protesting so that they could get justice for their loved ones. It was emotional as the people there had lost people they loved. People cried and some people were very vocal. I’ve photographed the Hillsborough Memorial event over the past few years and its always been hard to do. How am I supposed to point my camera and get a good photo of someone crying over the death of someone they loved? Its so intrusive. At least it feels that way. But I’ve read about war photographers, specifically James Natchway. He’s incredible. He reminds me why its important to take these photos though. Its to show the world that it happened in the hope that it makes a difference. You tell someone that this happened and its some words. You show them a photo of someone crying and it affects them. One photo can change the world. So its important to take photographs.
But then what am I? My main source of income is commercial photography, not photojournalism.
Am I an architectural photographer?
Am I a commercial photographer?
Am I a portrait photographer?
Music?
Landscapes?
A photo-journalist?
I can do architecture, landscapes, portraits, gigs, documentary and photojournalism. I would love to have Joe McNally’s job, who wouldn’t eh. Commercial work is fun because its often quite creative and allows me to flex those muscles. However, photojournalism is my passion. Its real. Its so damn real. Its all about life. The power of people. Our ability to be our best and worst documented in one single photo. But then I also love playing with architecture. Angles, contrasts, light, the precision of it all. I love, but am also scared by, portraiture. Capturing someone in that moment of their life. The simple beauty in a face. The story behind that person. Its great.
Its something I’ve struggled with for a few years now. What am I? Where am I going? Do I continue to pursue commercial photography? Do I give it all up and try to be a photojournalist? Do I just carry on in the hope that all these skills will give me something that I can use in some way? Maybe I can pour them all into something. Is it best to focus on something and be great at that instead of good at a few things? By focusing on one thing theres a risk of missing out in other areas.
I asked Twitter what am I known for. The response was something I expected. I really appreciated peoples replies but they confirmed a worry.
I’m known for 2 things really. Photograhping Liverpool and producing HDR images. Thats a worry. Bob Carlos Clarke is known for sexy erotic b&w photos. Joe McNally for fantastic portraits. James Natchway for war photography. Andy Rouse for wildlife. Even Edward Chambre-Hardman for portraits and scenes in Liverpool. My worry is that HDR is a technique. Its something that can be applied to many photographs. Its like b&w. Photographers are known for their use of b&w on a subject, like Bob Carlos Clarke or Ansel Adams. People want photos of buildings perhaps with the level of detail HDR can give you, but they’re not going to want someone who can do HDR. They’ll want someone who can photograph something well. HDR, b&w, etc, are techniques that are applied to a subject. Its the subject thats important. Architecture, landscapes, portraits, documentary, etc.
The other thing I’m known for is Liverpool. Liverpool is one hell of a subject. Music, street, architecture, landscapes, cityscapes, ships, people, documentary, everything. Its a city and it holds so many photos in it waiting to be taken. Its a fantastic place for photography and I love it to bits. However, as a photographer I wouldn’t say that I photograph Liverpool and do HDR. I say I photograph people and places. The classic response is “Do you do weddings?”
So to try and tie up these thoughts, what am I? A few years ago when I discussed turning professional I was reminded that you need to find your niche and own it. Over the years I’ve found what I don’t enjoy photographing and what I love to photograph. Thats why I love Liverpool as it has everything right there, besides dramatic mountains like Vancouver. I asked this question a few years ago and people told me to shoot what I love and be happy. I’ve been doing so and I love it but there’s always this worry. What am I? Am I on the right path?
A quick play with Nikon Capture NX2
I know a few people use Nikon Capture NX2 and rave about it. I’m a Lightroom fanboy though and my workflow is quite tied into it. I know how to get from A to B in it rather well. However, I am a sucker for sharp images and people have been telling me that nx2 is amazing for Nikon users. So I got the trail and had a play. My initial thought was eugh. Icons didn’t have a tooltip so I had no idea what was going on. Total trial and error. Oddly the auto-white balance setting was incredibly bad. I couldn’t believe how wrong it got things. I realise that slating a product I’ve only spent 5 minutes using isn’t the best thing to do. I’ve been using Lightroom since it came out so its 2 years knowledge vs 5 minutes. I just didn’t like the interface all that much. Anyway, that aside would a quick 5 minute play yeild a sharper result than Lightroom? In all honesty I didn’t see anything that screamed surpreme sharpness. Good yes, but eye poppingly sharp?
The end result is that I’m not leaving Lightroom any time soon. I saw some samples that made me think about Capture One but the interface on that is hideous. I think the level of sharpness I’m getting now is good enough. (Click the images to view them full size)
Hello 2009
So 2009 is here. Plans, resolutions? There are the obvious ones like lose weight, get in shape, eat right and such but I feel that they should be more of a life long goal than just something to aim for this year. So just a quick list of things I’d like to aim for this year.
- Photograph more of Liverpool outside the city center. The surrounding neighbourhoods of Liverpool are quite a contrast to the inner city and I’d like to document that more. It means getting over fears of the area though. People telling me “Oh I’d not go round there with a camera” etc. Have to get over that.
- Photograph more personal things outside of just my nephew because its expected.
- Try and do more self portraits that aren’t taken at my desk, or at least self portraits that are a little more fun or different.
- Do more portraits. I’ve had ideas for over a year now and they’ve been on the backburner because I can’t find the right model, or perhaps because I’m too shy to really go for it. Screw it. I’ve got ideas that have to be played with.
- Do more actual landscapes. I’ve got North Wales at my disposal and the Lakes just in driving distance. I should use them.
- Try and do a themed body of work. Most of my photos are just 1 shot wonders as I’m passing somewhere. But I’ve got ideas on some projects that I’d like to do.
I guess that they’re not really resolutions but more of 2009 thoughts. I would love to get in my car and travel around Europe. I’d prefer to take up biking and do that. I get the feeling that with a bike its easier to stop at the side of a road and get photos. But thats a whole load of expense I can’t afford. Lessons, bikes, and new limbs.
So anyway, to start 2009 I’ve decided to do a couple of self portraits. I really need a shave though. It was on the cards but the darn shaver battery was dying as soon as I turned it on. I didn’t fancy the half shaven look. As a bit of a joke for Xmas someone got me a mask and a hat. Apparently I’m the forum villain over at Talk Photography and as such they figured it would help in my villainness.
Quick thoughts on the Nikon 14-24
I finally got a chance to use the 14-24 yesterday on a shoot. It was for Liverpool University’s Material Discovery lab. Excellent place to shoot. Very clean, lots of white panels reflecting nice white light. I was using ISO 2000 for most of it and the shots are so clean. I was also amazed by the 14-24. Its incredibly sharp. The fact that its f/2.8 is amazing too. I could focus on one person with the rest of the lab out of focus.
Below is a 100% crop from the 14-24 at 24mm. Its insane.
Going Nikon
So this week I went Nikon. Ya, crazy eh. But why? How? Why? For the love of god why?! I hear someone cry from the back of the room who doesn’t know whats going on but wanted to join in. Well a week ago my 30D’s shutter died. £200 to fix. I was left with a 10D, 24-70, 10-20, 70-200 and a 50mm. I pre-ordered a 5dm2 back in September and that was meant to ship at the beginning of December, it didn’t. It was then updated and meant to ship on the 11th and who knows if it would. So I thought to myself, to get back up and running I would need to spend £2200. 5d2 and 30D shutter. I needed the 30D for a shoot next week so I’d would have needed it fixed, £200. In an odd moment of clarity on Monday it hit me. D700 + 24-70 was around £2500. Only an extra £300.
Now I really liked the look of the 5d2. Brilliant camera. But 3.9fps was always going to be slower than the 5fps I was use to on the 30D. I could get used to it and planned to. But in my heart I wanted a “Canon D700″ and I have done for months. Everything was just so right, just what I wanted in a camera. So in a way the 30D breaking was liberating. If I had gone with the 5d2 I would have needed a new grip, batterys, and wide angle lens. Just as I would on the D700. It seemed like a no brainer. Spend a bit more money now and get that awesome kit. Sell Canon gear and its not that expensive really.
I’m now the proud owner of a D700. A 24-70. A 50mm f/1.8 and a 14-24! If I had stuck with Canon I was going to get the 17-40, a great lens but its no 14-24 and I do love wide angle stuff. The 14-24 is an amazing lens and I can’t wait to play with that. A whole 2mm wider than my 10-20 on the 30D and at the wide end thats a lot. Plus 2.8, should be interesting.
Oh the other good thing is that the D700 works with Lightroom right now. 5D2 doesn’t yet which would have been annoying in some respect. Plus the file sizes aren’t stupidly large.
Observations so far.
+ Awesome viewfinder.
+ The eye cover thing isn’t going to fall off like my Canon ones have, sooooo nice.
+ Lens hoods lock better.
+ I keep breaking the lenses when taking them off because they come off the other way to Canon.
+ Shutter sound is very cool
+ Love the customization stuff
+ B&W in live view!
+ Settings available from the rear display not just on top, awesome
+ ISO25,600! Grainy, but fun
+ Auto ISO. Brilliant stuff. Set the lowest shutter speed, highest ISO.
+ AEB does 9 photos!
- AEB only goes up to 1 stop either way, not 2 unless you take 5 photos. Thats going to take a bit of getting used to and hopefully it won’t cost me any possible HDRs. When I get the grip it’ll go up to 8fps and should be fine.
New Blog
Welcome to my new blog. Unlike Vanilla Days this is going to be an actual blog. It won’t be daily. Its going to be about things that don’t fit into Vanilla Days as that is mainly a photoblog about Liverpool. I want to split my work from it so that I have a place to show and discuss professional work. The obvious issue is dupicate content. Vanilla Days has over 650 subscribers to the RSS feed alone, this has none. So if I want to let people know about my new book do I discuss it there or here? I think for now I’m going to mention it there and talk in depth here. That is the point of this blog after all. Its about my work.
So please subscribe to the feed via an RSS reader or via email. I’ll update when I update.
