let me say this.

Watching the Olympic torch make its way across Canada on television really didn’t mean much to me. It was not until I was lucky enough to have it arrive in Winnipeg while I was visiting. My sister and I walked out of a mall and saw a line of people gathering on a snow bank along Regent Street. Immediately I knew it was the torch. We ran to the street and ahead of the celebrations. The procession had not made its way yet and it gave me time to get ready with the camera. I noticed only 50 meters away from me a small crowd gathering. It was one of the runners with his unlit torch waiting and ready for the “flame off” - where his flame would be ignited by the finishing runners torch. I ran towards him.

When I reached him I was struck by one of two things. What it means to be Canadian or what it means to be a Winnipegger. I am not sure which one it is- maybe it’s both. Living in London,UK I have become accustomed to so much security around everything grand. Even things not so grand, one always is aware there is someone watching you. It is what separates the viewer and waters down any experience. Yet here I was standing inches away from THE TORCH. The runner had no security around him. People were making friends instantly with him for a photo op. He smiled and smiled and enjoyed his short lived fame.

As the other runner approached I was asked to stand back politely by Olympic officials - not police or hired security - guys in track suits clearing the way so the flame could be lit safely. Mobile phones freezing glows capturing history as cheers wailed in the air. Chills filled me. This was an act of celebration and even liberation - for me any ways. I was included in this process. This EVENT. No wall of security nor armed guards were quelling me from it. After the torch was traded I ran with it. 400 meters to the next runner and the next exchange. Running and taking pictures on my point and shoot. No one telling me anything. No orders given to stop.  I was truly free to participate.

Walking back to my sister and brother-in-law I couldn’t believe this had happened. How much I was able to be a part of a national event. How much we at that moment were all part of a national and soon world wide event. And it was the inclusion - the trust the city had in its people to have open access to this symbolic torch which made this for me a stand out celebration. I was not only celebrating the Olympics, but also celebrating liberation. That in this dark,cold Winnipeg night a warmth was found, not from the flame of a torch, but through a trust in the citizenship of a city.

Oh it’s a VERY busy autumn 2009. Classes sold out, classes added because classes were sold out and those sold out! Wow! Fabulous to see that so many people love photography as a visual art form.

Autumn 2009 the courses running are as follows:

Beginner Digital Photography

Intermediate DigitalPhotography

Learning to See in Photography

Working with Photography - From Blogs to Books

Art of the Snapshot

Photographers’ London

In addition to that,  our own Mango Lab Studio is hosting its second Saturday Club event and that has doubled in participants and we look forward to the October exhibition and open house.  Mix that in with building 7 books for clients and shifting into winter triathlon training and you have one heckuva autumn. I refuse to believe in winter this year. Being busy helps.

Congratulations to Alison Branagan for her monumental achievement of getting her first book published. Alison is an amazing woman completely dedicated to inspiring and educating entrepreneurs (especially those of a fine art background) in the mechanics of business. I had the pleasure of being one of the consultants on this book and have witnessed it grow. I wish every success to Alison on this project.

Buy the book.

Attend her workshop.

This is the second time I have seen Richard Wentworth give a talk.  So far I have not been disappointed. His approach and engagement with his audience is always so comfortable and unassuming - for anyone new to photography or learning about the art of photography I highly recommend going to a lecture of his because you can listen to an established artist sans ego. Last night at the most quirky and dare I say “fun” (?) locations in Wandsworth - The Stables, Ram Brewery in Wandsworth, he gave his presentation. When I listen to him speak I am left thinking - is it imperative that he is there to comment on his work ? Looking at his photographs you see a childlike wonder and document of the things which he notes arrange themselves around our existence and are there as gifts for those willing to step outside our restricting visual borders. He is quick to point out that what he sees is nothing special – he creates these “shopping lists” of the world around. “is everyone who writes a shopping list a writer” he asks? The writing, the list, still serves as a narrative, a purpose, a means to an end, part of a process and an individuality. If you analyze the production and content of a shopping list you can witness the greater connections that exist – the order that builds in such a simplistic task. I am sure one could go on for hours with Wentworth dissecting the links and observations that the shopping list represents. And it is for this reason that I appreciate his discussions so much. That he translates and brings to our attention the complexities that exist just below the surface. That life has these unlimited connections even in the most domestic of situations. It is simply that we have been entertained enough to forget about our primitive nature.

It was a great beginning to the photowandsworth09 compitition which I will be one of the judges for. With a kickoff like last night I am very excited to see what sort of work comes our way.

(For those interested in “hearing” him speak here is a link to an interview he did with Anna Deseuze.)

Students in my Beginner Digital course  your assignment is HERE! Due next week - 5 images MINIMUM.

An excellent couple days photographing stock for CSM. Visiting a list of courses, my mouth was watering to get into some of them in the future. Silkscreen, Illustration and Oil Painting were the ones which stick in my mind.One forgets the experiences to be had in learning new crafts. I think this summer I will be in one or two of these myself to broaden my scope of design and aesthetic appreciation.

I really am diggin’ the new prospectus look for CSM. The magazine format. Here’s Misha, fellow who took my Toy Camera course. Apparently I’m a “funky monkey, kooky kind of kat”… Guess that’s a Santa Monica kind of compliment.

Sitting at my computer and reading through the New York Times, observing all the stories paying tribute to a year now passing, I - quite by accident really - came across their video section. As the one I was interested in finished - a lovely and inspiring short of 17-year old Naeelah Murray (born blind and unable to walk) found confidence and employment at Wagon Road Camp - the next one loaded about some media scrum in front of a restaurant in Harlem. Low and behold — there he was — wait for it —

Oh thank the Lord!

Can this be the end of the digital? Graflex and a Metz. Oh sweet mama I think there may be hope —   what’s next a Polaroid Resurrection? I wonder what the boys and girls with their new D3x’s were thinking?

I just love this. Whoever you are man — you gotta fan — Spank those digi boys - show ‘em how it’s done. You just gotta love the black trench and fedora. See him at work - its only a couple seconds - @ Video/ NY Times.

It was wonderful meeting you all on Tuesday and Thursday evening. The photography program has been growing year by year, moving from strength to strength. Beginner Digital Photography has SOLD OUT for the autumn term and the school is now taking bookings for the winter term. However there are still some courses to indulge in if you would like your learning to grow in the visual field.

The Art of Photography. This course is open to anyone who has a love or desire to visually communicate. Whether you are required to do so in your job or are looking to create more interesting photos for photo competitions and online photo communities, this is a course focused on developing an eye to see the picture. You will investigate your use of the visual language and through a series of exercises, in class crits and a gallery visit progress towards a personal style which will serve as your visual voice.

Intermediate Photography (link). Feel you know the basics but need a bit more of a challenge in the technical front? Looking for some practical exercises which require you to think not only creatively about your photos but also focus on the technical aspects of it? This is a class that makes you use the basic technical approaches to a higher standard as we will be looking at not only that you can complete an exercise, but its execution is done to a certain quality level. This is a course where you control the camera, not the other way around. Basic knowledge of shutterspeed, aperture, iso, meter reading, focal lengths and white balance is required. We will do a brush up class in the first, and if required, the second week. We will be introducing Photoshop in this class as the next step to shooting your photographs is digitally developing them. Students will learn about the Photoshop environment and how it can compliment the digital photographer.

What people said about this course.

Introduction to Photoshop (sample 1) (sample 2) (sample 3) (sample 4) (sample 5). You have your photographs in your camera but now what do you do with them. The digital capture has allowed many amateur photographers to move into the digital darkroom with ease. No longer do you need to renovate your bathroom to accommodate the chemistry and enlarging equipment of the analog technology - processing, retouching and project production are all available to the person who owns a computer and has the access to the software and a printer. Just like in traditional photography where darkroom knowledge helped produce better photographers, Photoshop can produce better photographers because of the way you begin to view and study images. From such basic tool as cropping, contrast control, burning and dodging and levels to more complicated applications such as filters and layers in combination with text use - you will learn about the creative milage you can get with a single digital capture. After this course you will see what a lab produces is for sale is something you can easily do at your fingertips. From funky portraits to greeting cards to calendar art — classes follow the format of a lecture focusing on a feature followed by exercises with a practical application.

So lots to think about. Feel free to contact me about any of these and I look forward to meeting you soon.

K.

There are times when you wake up and feel what you are doing. If you are lucky you wake up and realise the dream is a good one. And that the living day is still something that is fun to participate in. I look at this recent photo I took while on the way to an assignment - I think I was holding a workshop - and the spirit in this photo just sums up how I feel about the chasing of dreams, the spirit of pursuing your path. I’ll just leave it here but to those who I meet in my courses or as fellow friends in this industry and making it a fulfilling lifestyle — count how lucky we are to be here.

I decided to take the Tube back from London to Amersham yesterday. And then, without a car to shuttle me from station to home. I thought I would test out what it would be like if I had to rely on Tube and my walking “energy” to get me back. While the ride on the train in rush hour would be DREADFUL, and the walk through Amersham and onto the highway is not the quietest thing - although if there were less cars on the roads due to too high a fuel bill that would change- I did discover and opening along the road which led me onto a trail. Anxious at first about whether this was a private or a public path - I have been chased by an angry farmer before - I enter the opening into the woods and proceeded onwards. For about 200 meters there was nothing but dense forest, and the sounds of little creatures making a run for it underneath rusted leaves. Then the woods opened up and I was taken into a land silent of cars and full of music from wind and birds. The walk took an hour and along it I photographed my way. I thought - I have been stuck in rush hour traffic for longer than an hour, breathing in poisons and burning money while I stand still. But here I was on this earthy trail, the tight, hectic day of work giving way to the expanse of the landscape before me. And along the way I thought - could I do this if without a car in the future?

Anyways - I’ll let the pictures speak and I’ll step down for the moment now… while I think more about this topic.

Nothing to do with photography but my love for bike design — this is simply gorgeous:

© Trenton Oldfield 2008

The CPT Photographic Awards came and went. What a beautiful day! The weather was spectacular - and everyone enjoyed a lovely community event. I have to say that my experience judging this particular competition showed me just how much photography is loved by all ages. The enthusiasm that comes with the work is infectious and everyone working on the project gets a bit of the bug. I absolutely had a wonderful time. Thank you Ali for dreaming up this event and for asking me to be a part of it. John and Co. at Snappy Snaps Chiswick came up trumps again offering amazing prizes to the winners. And of course thank you to Julia for all your help and the providing the photographs of the event.

The event even attracted the local media —

The overall winner was created by Trenton Oldfield. A lovely image depicting a mood of what it feels like to be a kid again and discovering the river. It kind of reminded me of a Norman Rockwell painting.

A standing ovation to all those who entered the contest and hope to see you again in the next one.

Trenton receiving his award courtesy of Snappy Snaps Chiswick.

I have been asked to judge and award a photograph competition for Chiswick Pier - a riverside organisation that in addition to taking care of the Thames, west of Hammersmith Bridge, provides an educational service which introduces students to the river.

This is the first year of the competition and the number of entries has been good. It was a wonderful experience to see work which was done truly for the love of photography as everyone tried to answer the guidelines of “Summer Spirit of the River”, with the focus being this area west of the bridge.

The competition is over and the images selected so if anyone likes to take a peek at the work it will be exhibited Saturday June 7th between noon and 5 pm. I will be giving out the awards on the day - at noonish — and then giving a small talk about the work and how the winners were selected.

Location is the Chiswick Pier. See “A” on map. Come out and spend the after noon taking in sun, photographic art and a beautiful stroll along the Thames. See you there!

I apologise for the image if its looking a bit rough — a camera phone image it is and I had to shoot it on VGA mode.

Well this years BAPLA show came and went. It was in Islington Business Center, which was aptly named “The Greenhouse” for its brightly curved ceiling and warm humid air in the building. I have to say that I REALLY enjoyed myself there this year. I came away from stock photography and picture libraries feeling a great sense of community. Once you strip away the corporate image houses from the playing field you enter a world of people who seem to just really love looking and trading pictures. It seems like a nice place to be again. I am not saying the big guns have no love for imagery — I know plenty of people who have worked for them and love what they do. And Alamy was there and with their 11.65 Million images and counting — and that’s no small turkey. But there was this humility there today and that I really like. I felt hopeful — something which I haven’t for some time in this industry. It was also great to once again see catalogues and paper products dominating the display tables and not the silver coasters, known as DVD’s and CD’s, being handed out.

I do have one beef though, so bare with me. I am going to vent here. Maybe eveyone was too nice, like sweet lambs in the field not knowing a wolf was among them — but there was. Amidst all the libraries and agencies who were respecting and contibuting towards the industry with a respectable pricing margin so that everyone wins, Mr. Microstock and his crows were huddled and waiting. Booooo to you Mr. Microstock guy!! You sit there with your polished image selling for a quid or less to the photographer and you think you have it made. I have words for you. You’re a parasite, coming in at the bottom of the barrel because you think cheap is better. Trying to collapse the market with your “let’s make loads of money by profiting off the less informed or the fame starved photographer” business ethos. Of course there are winners in the the micro stock market game. But those success stories are a head fake against what is really happening within the market - especially to those new to photography or to stock. The next “stepping stone” for young photographers is a stock library where you pay to be on their site and in return for an image “sale” is a byline. See how long you stay swimming in that pool folks. Had photographers known a bit more and refused to sign up to the microstock model then it would never have existed, and we would not see the next drop in the level of earning power for the working photographer. I hope this cockroach in the industry starves to death with photographers wising up. Otherwise we are all going down with it into the garbage where it came from. But I have been in the industry long enough to witness that there are too many photographers who are taken advantage of, giving away huge profit margins for whatever reason. I am sorry folks, but I cannot understand why a photographer would be happy with a 20p sale on an image they worked so hard for. Of course if the numbers are there and you rack up 2000+ sales then the volume saves you. But if its volume you want then I guess you approach photography from a different level than I see it right now. Maybe its the same as food. You go to a restaurant and have the food cooked right there for you, or you buy the restaurant’s brand straight out of the freezer at your supermarket and cook it at home. It’s then only all in the taste.

Now that that is off my chest. Stock is still being bought through the rights protected small guy and the rights protected big guy. This made me happy. VERY HAPPY. And people are wanting to pay for it - so thank you to those clients. So to you new photographers looking to get into the market — respect yourself and find a library that will give you a fair deal and what you deserve. If we all do this Mr. Microstock guy will be like some tumor which came and went. And so tonight I go to bed thinking that, hopefully, there is still a long way for microstock to go to be a serious pain in traditional stocks side.

Over and out.

2008 Biography

Well we are striding into spring. I am very excited. Already had the summer motorcycle out and enjoyed a couple of evening rides in spectacular weather. Great weather, great light, let’s get busy making some photographs!

Just to get you inspired here are some announcements around recent academic fronts as we head into this new season.

The summer schedule venues have been confirmed for our workshops (until July 2008). The following courses are available at Saint Francis Xavier College in Clapham South, London.

• Intermediate Digital Photography - 6 seats left.
• Digital Photography for Beginners - SOLD OUT.
• Intro to Photoshop - 4 seats left.

If you have any questions about the courses leave me a comment and I’ll get back to you.

We got signed on by a fabulous wedding consultancy in London - Tigerlily. Looking forward to doing some great projects with them in the near future. Our work dominates the site so if you want to take a peek click on the link and head on over for a visit.

Enjoy!

So I am at Brighton with my Toy Camera workshop and while they are out completing their assignment I came across this kid contemplating using the waterslide. He looked so mature as he stood there trying to figure it all out — like he was investing in a new car or a house. What were the risks?

Ok — raise your hands up if anyone of you out there has felt like this from time to time. Those of you who didn’t — you’re lyin’.

A while back a group of us got together to volunteer our time to Comic Relief. What an awesome night it was and it felt so good to be on the phones and help raise money for such a good cause. As an expat it was a great way to meet people from all over the UK and have a quick chat while filling out the forms for their donation.

Being Comic Relief I thought it was only fitting to put down the professional guard and expose the more comic side to my persona - thanks Julia for this great shot!

If you have not done so - I STRONGLY recommend getting involved with Comic Relief.

For Wendy and Sophie.

One of my assistants took this one of a lovely wedding we did recently. As I sit here, looking at pricing out a few jobs, I am thinking about the competition that is corrupting the market. People who think they know photography just because they are armed with the awesome firepower of a Nikon D2x etc. Indeed, on automatic, or even with those that have a manual understanding, good results are there to be made. But shooting a job is so much more than simply shooting a job. There are the directorial roles, the liason and support roles, the vision, the ability to trouble shoot and not come undone when the demands are there - and at all times, looking for the creative, distinctive image.

Digital photography, in some ways, has also changed the shape of the client. A belief exists that somehow not only should it make photography cheaper but it makes it is faster. But 1/125 of a second is 1/125 of a second. And recording is the same amount of time between film and digital. It is in the set up and organisation and flow of the events where the time moves seamlessly or hits brick walls. And it is here that the professional far surpasses the amateur with his pro camera. The pro can dance and tick boxes off at concurring moments. Or at least he/ she should.

Finally it is this expertise that one pays for. Not just in making the photographs, but in contributing to the execution of time management with confidence and understanding. The professional must wear many hats on a job. I am glad that there are still clients around who see and recognise this. Like the job seen here in the photo, when everything I speak about here comes together, it makes it all worthwhile.

I have been observing the amounts of Polaroid people shoot on various Polaroid host sites - like Flickr and Polanoid.net and I have been adding up some numbers. There are people with online portfolios costing easily in the region of over a thousand or more dollars or pounds. For many, these portfolios simply do nothing extra curricular but be online, self initiated exhibits.

The source of their dedicated artworks is a company which is slowly dissolving their product line despite a growing number of individuals who enjoy using it. The reason for this from my perspective is obvious — the professional world who would have in the past shot through thousands of dollars in Polaroid in month now have the laptop as their mainstay. As for most professional job use, and I am talking bread and butter work like editorial — from the 35mm Nikon with a Polaroid back to the 4×5 Polaroid processor —the film has slowly become extinct.

From Polaroid’s perspective I am sure they are watching with a keen eye as to what they should do next. Private individuals are a cottage industry and cannot, unless the numbers are incredibly significant, replace the profit margin Polaroid lost due to the digital territorial dominance in the battle of the instant image.

But when looking at this cottage industry, a Polaroid revival to say the least, I am left wondering what is the motivation behind each work. From the highly manipulated square little art works to the bleached out, hardly noticeable documenting shots of the urban vernacular, there is this movement which is willing to pay quite considerable fees and time in order to practise their own art although there is a knowledge that the film could soon disappear. There is a connection to the medium that I am curious about. I question what are peoples motivation behind it.

If you could leave me a comment as to how/when you came across Polaroid, why use it, and why it is so important to yourself I’d be much obliged.

Thank you.

I struggle with this. I really do. I struggle with the politics of photography. And when it comes to evaluating wedding photography/ photographers I seem to have the most struggle.

I was shooting a wedding a few months ago when a car advertising photographer came up to me and said - “You know, I was supposed to be photographing this wedding. The couple are friends of mine but I just couldn’t do it…. way to stressful… I’d never shoot a wedding” …

“But you are car advertising photographer”, I said, “this should be easy for you!”

“One chance and that’s all you’ve got — too stressful for me” he said.

Ever since then I have been thinking about the value of wedding photography, and how in the past, from within the industry of photography, that to mention you shoot weddings is like the kiss of death if you wish to obtain work in other markets.

I’ve never understood this. In fact I think its arrogant to think that wedding photographers are a lesser form of photographers. In fact, wedding photography is certainly a testing ground for the ability to match creative with interpersonal skills and problem solving techniques within an extremely limited time frame that is given to you only once. There is no reshoot or second chance, no “that looked good but can we do it better just this once more”… Nope… It’s fly by the seat of your pants or die (in respect to future business) trying.

I came across an amazing photographer in the States — John Dolan — and I have to admire him for his ability to be selling himself as an advertising, art and wedding photographer while participating at the higher end market on all fronts. He is up front and celebrates his ability to accomplish all lines of work — from a Lexus ad to a private wedding. And so it should be this way. Isn’t it in the end all photography and all creative solutions made to satisfy the different demands of the client. It shows a successful photographer — not one who is not “making the grade” because he shoots weddings.

There is such a fear factor here of admission to shooting weddings in the photographer community. I see it more in the UK than in the States. And an assistant of mine says its worse in Italy. Commercial photography/ editorial photographers think wedding photographers are the crows of photography.

The truth is - as far as I can piece it together - is that photographers participating in other markets participate in wedding photography but under another name. This way they hide themselves from the “judges that be”. A web designer friend of mine told me she sees ad/ stock and magazine photographers coming to her saying “I need a wedding website but I need to have it under a different name”. While it can certainly be a business choice most do it to protect themselves from having a label placed on them and this costing them future work. Silly. Really. I mean because you lecture in photography does that make you less a photographer too?

In my opinion if your practicing photography in any form than you are a photographer and are learning and honing your skills. Balancing it in a way that you can promote a style which transcends throughout the markets you pursue is the secret. This certainly has been John Dolan’s strength and success.

Walking along a path in the woods I came across a series of items which startled me. Awakened me. Their relation to the environment, the abstraction or intersection of context left me feeling slight uneasy. I often retreat into the woods for solice and release. But on this day I entered a space unsettled.  Simple items dislodged from my context. It made me recognise and consider how effective context can sway our appreciation or experience of an item or moment. How important context is to our belief, our idea of self and the surrounds of self.