The blog has been sleeping for a while as I seem to have a lot on the plate lately!
I'm off work tomorrow afternoon so will do a proper update then !
For the meantime....
Monday 21 January 2013
New year, New Look
Hey guys,
The blog has been sleeping for a while as I seem to have a lot on the plate lately!
I'm off work tomorrow afternoon so will do a proper update then !
For the meantime....
The blog has been sleeping for a while as I seem to have a lot on the plate lately!
I'm off work tomorrow afternoon so will do a proper update then !
For the meantime....
Sunday 28 October 2012
Nearly november, it's been too long
Hey guys, this is a really quick update while I have access!
Things have been kicking off in all directions as far as photography career is going, let alone publishing a new magazine.
Things have been mental!
I'm going to get back to the blogging in November once the magazine is sent to print and deadlines disappear ;)
Hardly had time to get creative with photography projects but I sure as hell can tell you, a nice little personal one to work on until end of year is exactly what is needed right now..... There's work on the way.
Two days until printing submission date for www.videotxtmagazine.com
Will update more this week... Most likely after two days!
Things have been kicking off in all directions as far as photography career is going, let alone publishing a new magazine.
Things have been mental!
I'm going to get back to the blogging in November once the magazine is sent to print and deadlines disappear ;)
Hardly had time to get creative with photography projects but I sure as hell can tell you, a nice little personal one to work on until end of year is exactly what is needed right now..... There's work on the way.
Two days until printing submission date for www.videotxtmagazine.com
Will update more this week... Most likely after two days!
Saturday 21 July 2012
Model Portfolio Package: NOW AVAILABLE
Just a quick post to let you all know I have now put together a Model Portfolio Package Price list.
You can download it from my website from this page:
You can download it from my website from this page:
Monday 16 July 2012
on a sofa under the stars:
Just a quick Monday shout out for those with the Monday blues!
If you are looking some creative inspiration, check out my artist friend Ruth McM blog.
Lots of drawing, paintings, sketches, mixed media and photography on there. Some of it rather experimental.
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| Sandra Gr & Ruth McM. Polaroid by Suzi Taylor 2012 |
I've known Ruth for nearly ten years now. She is relocating to London next month to further her artwork and creativity.
I wish her all the luck in the world!.... and look forward to seeing what new work lies ahead :)
Sunday 15 July 2012
New Project....A Taster.....
Well, this week i have been struck down with feeling rather under the weather, but it hasn't stopped any photography progress. In fact, things are almost snowballing!
Maybe not quite image making, but ideas and creativity have been rather keen to make themselves shown the past week.
To make this a quick update and just a hint of the project ahead....I'll explain it simply.
1. Found a bunch of old negatives slides that belonged to my Grandfather two years ago. Chances are they haven't been looked since many years before he died. Unfortunately, there was no slide projector in sight.
2. I visited a bootsale on the off chance of picking up some decor for my new photography studio when I stumbled upon a lovely vintage slide projector!
The man selling it was quite old but to my surprise, didn't actually know what it was. I paid £7 for it and got the carrying case with that too. Bargain. Felt like it was meant to be.
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| A lovely find |
3. On my way home, I couldn't wait to get to a power socket to try the thing out, but I remembered to stop at an old abandoned house on the way home.
I wanted to stop at the house as I had been here easily 10 times before and knew there were some nice vintage signs left getting dusty. It seemed a sin for them to sit there any longer!
So, i went to the house and one of the garage doors was open. It had always been closed before. Curiousity got the better of me and I took a peak inside.
It was a pretty normal garage. The usual bits and pieces left behind getting rusty and a wide range of creepy crawlies had set up camp. Nothing that exciting. I quick scan around I found a few letters, mostly dated 1970. It was nice to be able to put rough time and a possible name to the person who lived there.
I had photographed two hats that were left on a shelf over a year ago and had always wondered who they may have once belonged too.
Aside that, I turned around and sitting, looking right at me (no, not a spider) but a rotary slide tray for negative projectors! I couldn't believe it and instantly was intrigued.
I thought about it for a few minutes then picked up the box and opened it. It was like new under the layer of dirt.
Upon opening the box I saw that every gap in the holder was filled. It contained photographs! I could hardly contain my excitement as I just LOVE old images and the mystery that lies behind them, especially in this case.
4. I made the decision (which probably upon reflection, was not the right thing to do) to take the slide holder.........
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| My inspiration to a new project. |
The rest is to follow :)
However, it will be similar to my last previous project "Then & Now" - Check my website for info:
Thursday 12 July 2012
STEP RIGHT UP & SEE: The Amazing Instant Photography!
As I write this, in July 2012, instant photography is something that is taken for granteed in the time we live in.
Digital photoraphy changed the world when it came to instant imagery, but although viewing them on a screen is fun, it doesn't quite have the same excitment that the instant camera first produced in 1947 as Polaroid's 'Land Camera.'
In 1947, Edwin H. Land created the first camera to give you a dry print just 60 seconds after you snap the shutter.
The process of delevopment involved ordinary chemicals, but the negative was not transparent and did not require any light for printing.
Land developed his method after his daugther questioned him on why photographic developing took so long.
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| Image by Popular Science Magazine |
Sales of all types of film photography dropped by a large 25% at the beginning of 21st century.
It seems now the format is used by those who are passionate about photography and the work they create.
Most people who want to take holiday snaps, events and days out now use devices wuch as their mobile phones, ipods or compact digital cameras to capture their own piece of history.
To me this method is convenient, but not quite as much fun as analogue photography involving film. It's nice to have the option depending on who you are and what you use your photography for.
Upon it's release in New York in 1948 the first Polariod was sold for $95. A year later Polaroid were assisted by legendary photography Ansel Adams when designing new products and film.
Over the next ten years, the company grew and Polaroid extended their products to Canada and Europe in the late 1950's.
By 1963 they had produced 5 million cameras and business was blooming. A range of camera serieses were to follow including the popular SX-70 and Sun 600.
Time produced many models of camera from this company, but in 1991 founder Edwin Land dies at the age of 91. Polaroid also recieve a sum of $925 from Kodak on the basis of Patent Infringment.
Stepping into the new millennium the company's sales of instant cameras and film dropped, thus reducing their need for manufacturing, and eventually ceasing production of all instant film.
Polaroid announced they were stopping their production of instant
film in February 2008. They closed three factories and around 450
employees lost their jobs. A sign showing the economic climate and the
convenience of digital photography that had taken over the world and
become readily available to every budget in the last 8 years.
A sad time in photographic history.
Fast forward to 2011, and I find myself personally hunting down expired pack of Polaroid film on ebay for an extortionate price. All for the sake of being able to try out the world changing format of instant images for myself.
After discovering these 2 Polaroid cameras in my Grandfather's loft, I felt compelled to put a set of film through each one. My Grandfather would have been the last person t use these and I felt it only right to see if they still worked. I'm sure he would be been proud to see them in action!
(I will be posting an review article on the Polaroids during July)
Fast forward again, and now we are in 2012. Current financial climate and cost of living has risen to nearly an unreal amount. The cost of photography can be very cheap if you want it to be. Personally, I like to experiement and try new things. A keen photographer friend and artist, Melyssa Shannon introduced me to the range of instant cameras produced by FujiFilm.
So fear not those wanting to give instant photography a go, FujiFilm is the answer!
Fujifilm began producing film for the Japanese and Asian markets, calling their inevention 'Fotorama.'
In 1980 they began selling their cameras to the world, and during the 90's developed a camera known as the Instax.
This is now poerhaps, thier most famous instant camera. With the eleimation of Polaorid film and production, Fujifilm took over the market and their Instax camera became availible to countries outseide of the USA.
I recently purchased an Instax Wide 210 camera and after nearly two years trying trying to get some Polaroid results, Fujifilm's Instax has solved all the problems.
(Article / Review to follow on the Instax Camera)
Overall, instant photography helped change the world. The fast paced environment would not be where it is today without the likes of these (what seems now as) simple developments in technology and science.
If you are interested in giving instant photograpy a go, I suggest checking out ebay for the best deals on new Instax cameras. It is also good if you want to pick up an original Polaroid camera to try out, or just add to your collection shelf.
Currently I am using my Instax camera out and about in the city as I am scouting potential models for a continuation of work on my Fashion Portfolio.
It's a great way to get a snapshot of the person and scribble their name and number at the bottom of the image.
If you want to read more on instant photography, it's history, The Polaroid company or Edwin Land himself, check out these few links:
Wednesday 4 July 2012
Annie Leibovitz - Inspirational Photographers
Firstly, as a photorapher, I cannot stress the importance of constantly embracing the works of other photographers. For both inspiration and personal growth in your work.
Todays photographer I encourage you to check out is the famous Annie Leibovitz.
Born October 2nd, 1949 and from Connecticut, USA - Leibovitz led a life on the road as a child. Her father was a US Air Force Lieurentant and her mother, a dance instructor.
Her Father's career took her and the rest of her family on many journeys across American.
She often talks about how the window of the car they traveled in became like a frame as to how she saw the world outside.
Liebovitz first began taking pictures as a child when her father was stationed in the Philippines during the Vietnam War. She used the darkroom facilities on the army camp to create some of her first photographs.
She became interested in art during her time in high school and studied painting several years later at the San Fransisco Art Institute. From this, she developed her photography and supported herself working various jobs.
Leibovitz briefly lived on an Israeli kibbutz and returned to American in 1970. She made a break in the photoraphy world when applying for a job with the up and comoing, Rolling Stone Magazine. Within two years she was promoted to chief photographer.
Many opportunities became of her positition with Rolling Stone Magazine, including an assignment to accompany rockstars, The Rolling Stones, on their 1975 international tour.
Her experience with Rolling Stones magazine helped Leibovitz develop her style pf photography and had many famous cover images with the magazine.
Perhaps one of the most famous images was the last ever photograph taken of John Lennon, from the globally succesfull, British band, The Beatles.
Annie was the last photographer to capture John Lennon before he was tragically shot four times outside his New York apartment in The Dakota Building on 8th December 1980. His killer, Mark David Chapman is still on death row to this day.
Chapman waited at the scene of the crime reading (what is now) a modern classic - 'The Catcher in the Rye' by Jerome David Salinger.
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| The last photography of John Lennon, featuring his wife, Yoko. By Annie Liebovitz - just hours before his death. |
Annie progressed her magazine work and was employed in 1983 by entertainment magazine, 'Vanity Fair.'
Her images here took a very creative turn, with her subjects being photographed often provocatively or in a striking setting or location.
Perhaps the image that is most famous from her Vanity Fair career was that of Demi Moore, featured as Vanity Fairs cover photo for the 1991August issue.
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| Another famous cover photo from Annie Leibovitz |
Another clever image put together by the photographer featured Whoopi Goldberg submerged in a bath full of milk!
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| Whoopi Goldverg - By Annie Leibovitz |
Annie's photography began to capture the characters and personalities of the people she photographed. A true talent for those in the world of portrait photography.
Annie has been photographing constantly throughout her career, not only the style of images I have featured here, but many personal works of her own too.
In 1999 she published a book entitled 'Women' which feature an essay from her partner and novelist, Susan Sontag.
The book featured many portraits of women, as it's title would suggest.
Susan Sontag played a large role in Annie's life, not only as a partner, but as an artistic inspiration and someone to relate to. Her relationship with Sontag was slowly to come to a tragic end when Susan died of Acute Myeloid Leukemia - which is a cancer of a line of blood cells. This illness lasted and was chronicled by her son, David Rieff. Annie also played her part in documenting the writers life through her camera lens.
The couple had spent fifteen years together and in the days after Susan's death, Annie began collecting photographs of her for a small book to be given out at her memorial service.
Leibovitz said in an interview that the work, titled 'The Photographers Life 1990-2005' was her most important work.
"It's the most intimate, it tells the best story, and I care about it"
Leibovitz is still working to this day, constantly expanding her (already massive) archive of photography.
She currently still works for Vanity Fair Magazine and frequently features cover images still.
One of the latest being of the music, fashion, art and overall globally a successful artist - Lady Gaga.
Here are a few other famous images you may recognize, all down to the talent of Annie Leibovitz.
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| Johnny Depp and Kate Moss |
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| Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" cover |
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| The late Michael Jackson - Vanity Fair Magazine |
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| Artist Keith Haring - NYC 1986 |
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| 7 times Tour de France winner, and Cancer surivior Lance Armstrong |
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| President Obamas Family Portrait |
You can see Leibovitz work ventures into many different styles of photography, all f which is successful creates no matter what the style, campaign or people involved are.
If you are interested in seeing more of the work from Leibovitz check out Vanity Fair magazine.
Alternatively, do a bit of browsing in the internet, there is a world of information on this female success of the photography world.
Some of her most recent images were created for Walt Dinsey, and I really recommend any photographers out there looking for their work to have a different approach, to check these ones out!
That's all for now on the wonderful work of Annie Leibovitz.
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| Annie at Vanity Fair |
There will be more inspirational photographers to follow on the blog soon!
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