Archive for April, 2009

Calendar Project: Studio Update

Friday, April 24th, 2009

I’m pleased to report that all three studios I contacted replied promptly and with positive attitude. Unfortunately, one of them (Dave Kennedy Photography) is not currently hiring out his facilities to other photographers. However, I will be meeting with him soon to discuss and compare projects and opportunities (I realize that’s pretty vague!).

The other two, Pauls Studio and Fleetwood Film Studios have both invited me to visit and view the studios and to discuss the calendar project. Paul at Paul’s Studio has recently completed a calendar project for a client and has some feedback to offer, which could prove quite handy.

Keith Hicks at Fleetwood was surprisingly cooperative (why “surprised” – does that say something about me?), considering I told him up-front I thought the studio was a bit beyond my budget!

Three new contacts, three positive responses. Result.

I’m really looking forward to visiting and reporting back.

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Why Are Some People Still Using Film?

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

Film or Digital

That heading (“Why Are Some People Still Using Film?”) probably sounds a little confrontational and it was meant to. However, I am not actually trying to criticize anyone who is still using film, I’m just really interested in the reasoning behind the decision to go one way or the other. Not that it is necessarily down to reasoning, it could be emotional or perhaps financial.

(more…)

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What Makes a Photographer “Professional”?

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

Credit/Copyright: www.sxc.hu/profile/abcdz2000

In the graphic design studio where I am found during normal working hours, the studio manager recently had a requirement for a photographer to take some specific shots for a project. A photographer was recommended and my colleague studied her website and all seemed well – she had her own local studio, decent gear and the evidence that she could take a great shot.

(more…)

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Calendar Project: Investigating the Local Studios

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

A little time on Google has turned up several local photographic studios which I think would be worth taking a look at. From what I can tell from their websites, they vary significantly in respect of size, equipment available and (perhaps most important of all!) the hourly rate.

Although I already have all the lighting, background and so on that I need, I can’t help feeling that I should take these pictures in a proper commercial setting. After all, I’m going to be booking one or more models to pose for me wearing little or no clothes and requesting they do this in my living room while my wife is out with the kids; it seems a bit unprofessional. Well, downright dodgy, to be honest!

The contenders so far:

Next step is to contact the studios and see if I can pay them a quick visit. In the meantime, if anyone has any working knowledge of any of the studios, or any suggestions or advice, I’d love to hear it.

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Sorry You Missed The Sixties… Philip Townsend Photography Exhibition and Book Launch

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

Philip Townsend Samples

I managed to sneak away from the beach during Easter’s family visit to Swanage and popped round to the Photographers Lounge. After fifteen minutes or so of chatting with Kate, apart from leaving with the usual inspiration to grab the camera and go be creative, I also learned some exciting news…

The Philip Townsend Archive, a collection of photographs taken by celebrated 60s photographer Philip Townsend, documenting Sixties London in full swing and capturing some of the most iconic faces of the era, will make a rare public appearance at the Photographers Lounge in Dorset throughout June and July 2009. His unique collection of shots includes rock stars, society darlings, models and the political movers and shakers of the day. The rescued works, hidden for forty years, are now being sought by magazines and newspapers throughout the world, by galleries like the National Portrait Gallery, and by collectors. The reason is simple: Philip Townsend’s pictures are the Sixties.

(more…)

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Calendar Project: Why Has Nothing Happened?

Saturday, April 11th, 2009

Pathetic excuse first – I had bronchitis and really could not be bothered to do anything for quite a few weeks! I’m not a “man-flu” kind of person, I was just so tired and devoid of motivation – honest!

So essentially nothing at all has happened, other than a lot more thought and (during a long drive with friend and colleague Charlie) a lot of discussion.

I am seriously concerned that time is going to run out for getting the calendar produced in time for 2010, but the truth is that this is not a massive issue, just a minor setback. The project is about doing something I have always wanted to do and the timing is not that important.

This week I have a lot of time to myself (kids and wife away on a jolly) so perhaps I can catch up a bit. We will see…

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“Darkness” iPhone App Tells You When The Sun Will Come Up

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

iPhone Darkness AppI have many times crawled out of bed early in the morning in an effort to be somewhere in time to take photos as the sun came up. This usually involved a certain amount of homework to establish exactly what time sunrise was going to be; leafing through newspapers, asking locals, occasionally even getting up early the day before!

That works fine when you are already in the place you are going to be taking the photos, but might not work not so well when you are preparing for a trip abroad or are planning a trip in the future.

Of course, now we have the Internet and there is not much going on in the world that I can’t find out from Mr Google, with a little bit of effort and judicious searching.

(more…)

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Spicer Hallfield Calls In The Administrators

Thursday, April 2nd, 2009

Spicer Hallfield, the Haddenham, Bucks-based presentation solutions company has appointed administrators to find a purchaser for the business.

The business’s owner, entrepreneur Mike Smith, said in a statement today (2nd April 2009):

“The worldwide banking crisis has created critical financial challenges for the company. The board has been involved in ongoing and intense discussions with the company’s bank, RBS, to obtain funding to secure the company’s future.

(more…)

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Calumet Focuses on Hasselblad Solutions in the Medium Format Marketplace

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

Calumet Photographic has announced that it will stop selling Leaf cameras and backs in all its territories worldwide – and will focus solely on the distribution of Hasselblad high-end products in the medium format marketplace.

The decision has been made following high-level talks with both Leaf and Hasselblad and will come into effect at the end of March. Joe Clark, Calumet MD explained: “The decision has been taken to focus exclusively on one high-end supplier in the medium format marketplace – and we believe the Hasselblad solution best fits our strategic plans for the future in this segment.”

(more…)

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