Oops...

Wow - it has been a heck of a long time since I last blogged. Sheesh, what can I say, life and work and families all take it out of you. Sorry if you regularly read this and haven't heard much from of late. An injury, subsequent surgery and enforced recovery have left me in the sidelines...

It has also helped me to discover something new as well though. Several years after just about everybody else I have finally got an iPhone. I really wasn't quite prepared for how game changing this device is. As such, and long after being fan of Chase Jarvis' Best Camera work, I have embraced iPhonography. The camera is not that good but with apps like instagram and hipstamatic the creative and sharing opportunities are simply endless. It has certainly added a new, instant edge to my 365 project and enabled me to capture shots when I least expect them.

I am probably preaching to the converted but it was a revelation to me! Samples attached...

Day 70...

Damn... the full horror of Japan is slowly becoming apparent as the days roll by.

We have all been horrified recently at the images from Japan following the huge earthquake and subsequent Tsunami.  my thoughts and hopes go out too all those affected by this disaster and we can only hope that things are improving for them with regard to the problems they are having with their nuclear reactors.

I was having a discussion about the alarming regularity with which we hear about these types of things. Natural disasters, wars, unrest in the Middle East. Are things really so different now or are we truly in the age of information overload. With 24 hour rolling news we are subject to the full wonder and horror of the world and sometimes it feels as if it could be too much to bear. So many people have access to cameras on mobile phones, the internet, and sites like Facebook and Twitter that it could be said that everybody is now a journalist. In years gone by it could days or even weeks for the full picture to emerge following a disaster like the one we have just witnessed in Japan. And yet within hours we were able to see graphic images of the unfolding horror from amateur sources.

This must be incredibly difficult to deal with for those that produce the news. The stories come and go so quickly and nobody wants to be left behind. But equally it is difficult for us, the viewer, to process. It is very hard to imagine the suffering if you have not been subject to it but you can see it right there and it makes for uncomfortable viewing.

As expected the financial aftershocks of such an immense disaster have begun to ripple around the world. This is likely to continue for some time yet whilst Japan comes to terms with what has happened. The cost of reconstruction will be enormous. A world bank estimate today suggest that this could be as high as £145bn. No amount of money however will bring back the mothers and fathers, son and daughters, friends, lovers or neighbours lost forever. For  

We often like to think of the control we have over our lives – we make our plans and dreams – and yet we are at the mercy of events far beyond our control. We wake each morning ready to go about our daily lives but we are truly unaware of what is in store for us. That is quite a scary thought and one brought home with great clarity by recent events.    

I hope I never have to suffer such unimaginable horror first hand. Again my thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this disaster.

Day 69...

Bit of fun this one... self portrait! New sneakers so I couldn't resist...

Day 68...

A truly special place  - the Natural History Museum in London - photo opportunities around every corner. probably one of the grandest buildings in London - full of architectural wonder and interest. As for the contents - well - where do you start!

Slight different treatment to this one - I am getting the hang of monochrome in aperture now. A slow exposure shot - just over 3 seconds - and a put a slight blur on the immediate foreground for that miniaturisation effect.

Also... a slight re-edit of the London Eye shot following some kind tips about black and white in Aperture 3.

Days 66 and 67...

My son's 3rd birthday and pancake day!

Days 64 and 65...

Days 64 and 65. I managed to get lots of shots of the London Eye. Somewhat cliched, it is hard to take something which isn't overly touristy or over the top architectural. I tried to make it more arty by choosing a softer blue sky with some higher contract clouds before the monochrome conversion. I am still struggling with B&W in Aperture 3. I just don't get the same quality results as I did even in Photoshop Elements.

If anyone has any tips or tricks I would love to hear them.

Day 62 and 63/365

Day 61/365

An homage this one.

Probably my favourite photographer of all time is the mighty Ansel Adams. his mastery of Black and White is truly genius to behold. I have been lucky enough to snap up the beautiful 400 photographs book as the publisher has just re-printed it. Every page takes my breath away. If you have never seen his work I urge you to try and have a look.

Even if you are not really into photography or landscapes or monochrome please just do a Google image search on 'Tetons and the Snake River'. I defy you not to think that this is a truly special image and something that propels this craft of ours into the highest realms of art.

He inspires me to try and achieve greater pictures. When I look at taking a landscape style shot I always think of what Adams would have done.

A master of monochrome - he truly understood that what makes a black and white image is that black should be just that - black and white should be white. The true mastery came with the subtle graduations in between.

Day 59 and 60/365

A slight departure to project one for these days - two very different images both taken with a cameraphone. I wanted to get away from the quality of the DSLR and use just what I had to hand. It feels so much more spontaneous in an almost photojournalistic way - it really is F8 and be there. No real settings to speak of.  Just composition and snap. It is easier and harder all at once to get a good picture.

The first picture was just a mood shot - a bright early morning and the opportunity to take it just fell at the right time.

The next picture was very much inspired by Chase Jarvis' Best Camera principle. Just a random image - something that caught my eye - an odd composition of an odd subject - it just looked sort of... right.

56,57 & 58/365

Feelin' kinda drained by current events... I will let the pics do the talking...

55/365...

Day 55 of the project one.

53 and 54/365...

Feedback...

I have only just really noticed the stats part of my blog. It looks as if people are starting to stop by and take a look  - even from across the world. I would love to see some of your comments, hear your feedback and find out where you are from?

52/365...

Personal pic this one... Had the realisation that my mashed up knee means I will probably never windsurf again. Decided that I will probably try and sell my gear and maybe use the proceeds to get myself some more photography gear if I can. Not an easy pic to take as it signifies giving up on something. I am having a bit of that going on at the moment - changes and accepting that things don't always work out. Not a bad thing though. Nothing is forever - one door closes and another one opens... C'est la vie.

51/365...

Total departure for day 51. I have a number mini-projects planned within the overall 365. One is a series of 10 black and white portraits loosely based around local characters that I know or have come across.

This first is a shot of a busker who frequents the Fareham shopping centre. I love buskers generally - I love the whole street entertainment thing - that confidence that comes with getting out there and performing.  Not only that they hold a special place in the bond between me and my son. One of our earliest and favourite storybooks is a book called Tabby McTat by the outstanding Julia Donaldson, ably assisted by the genius artwork of Axel Scheffler. It is the story of buskers cat who becomes separated from his master, only to settle down, and have a son who eventually becomes the buskers new cat. One of the key themes is the buskers old checked hat. This guy also uses a checked hat to collect his rewards. Every time I see it makes me smile and think of storytime with my son. Ironically Thomas is unbelievably wary of him and will always hide behind me when we pass.

This is a very early attempt at street photography and it was really rewarding. I was unsure whether or not to ask, but in the end just went for it. He was cool about the whole thing - letting me take a couple of shots. I will return with printed copy and a small token for his patience. It taught me something quite valuable though. If you don't do or don't ask you will never know. Sometimes you have to just get out there, ask, be cheeky - just go for it. Pretty much the worst that can happen is a refusal. The best is a shot that you never though you could get.

Technically - not the best pic - the composition is quite straightforward within the constraints of his location. I took a couple of shots and then slowed the shutter speed a bit. I wanted to capture the motion of his hand on the guitar. I don't use much motion in my shots but when used it can bring a picture to life. Convey a sense of speed, or action. In this case I wanted to just add a little life to the shot.

50/365...

Wow - day 50. I can't believe I have made it this far. I felt that it needed to be something special to celebrate this milestone and boy do we have it!

Today just happened to be the day we got to catch up with some good friends and their beautiful new daughter. Emily is simply adorable - I am a sucker for babies - and I wanted to grab a quick snap for the 365. I was dying for a cuddle and was privileged enough to get one but I will be honest - tiny babies scare me to death! I was lucky with my own son as he was a whopper and always so easy to just grab hold of and lug about. I think it is also the precious nature of children. Nothing is more important to a parent than their children and that overwhelming responsibility weighs heavily when passed to you.

They are now six weeks in and learning fast - new parents coming to terms with what is one of the most life-changing experiences anyone can have.

We wish them all the luck and love in the world on the start of their journey as a family.

As for the pic - just a grabbed snap! The depth of field is so poor that poor Stu is mostly out of focus. - the light isn't great and I have the feeling I have slightly over-sharpened it. But like being a new parent - you grab what opportunities you can.

46, 47, 48 and 49/365...

Nearing day 50 of project 1. This 365 has been a real eye-opener. I have had some times when I have wobbled and almost packed it in. But it keeps dragging me back in. I am genuinely falling in love with the process and the challenge. As well as this I am having to use my eyes in a completely different way. I am having to actively seek out creative opportunities - find beauty in the mundane - the everyday. I hope in some small way I am managing to achieve that. If I brighten or stimulate someones day even a little bit then frankly that is job done.

I am now longing for the lighter nights and the opportunity to get out there amongst the 'golden hours' - that magical time around dawn and dusk when the light is so pretty.

Also looking forward to knocking out some B&W street photography too. I hope to do a series of 10 in this 365 - a mini-project within a project if you will. A few character shots - mostly quite random day to day stuff.

 Day 49, above, is my favourite pic so far. As someone fortunate enough to live near the ocean, and who loves the surf, the sea and the tides - I feel a special affinity with the moon. This beautiful object sometimes treats us with a perfect full moon on a clear still night. Tonight was one of those nights and I was lucky enough to be there to witness it. Even 37 years in it's majesty and power still humbles me.

Well day 50 is looming ever closer... I feel like it should be something a bit special but I don't know quite what yet. As ever - hit me with your feedback...

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Limitations...

I found mine last night in so much as I found something I couldn't do to one of my images.

Do you know what I am going to do? Learn HOW to do it. Whether I have to approach someone, take a class, send a message out into the twitterverse, beg - however - I will learn it. And I will do it.

Limitation, like can't, is a word I am quickly learning (as I so often tell my young son) should not exist. We can do whatever we like. It may not always work out how we hope it might but if we don't try how on earth do we ever get anywhere and how will we ever know what we can ( and not cannot) do?

*no pic with this one - I "can't" work out how to do it... yet ;-)

45/365...

Special post this one. Dedicated to my Dad who turned 60 on Monday (how did that happen!?!?! How our lives flash by...)

We shared a fabulous weekend with my Mum and Dad and some close family. It was nice to be able to be there to celebrate this momentous birthday with the generations of our family. I was happy and proud that our boys were there. In their own ways they both adore their Grandad and I am sure he is very proud of them. My youngest Thomas holds him in that special place that only Grandad's can hold for toddlers. He is part giant, part superhero, part teacher, part care and love-giver and part plaything. I see the look in Thomas' eyes when he is with him and I desperately hope that one day I have grandchildren of my own so that I can get some idea of what that feels like.

I hope he had a great day. We learnt a large chunk of our photographic craft together and he doesn't take as many pictures as I would like. Maybe he will start again...  

Many happy returns Dad and thanks, for everything.

42, 43 and 44/365...

A few more days worth of shots. Had the opportunity to get away to beautiful Wiltshire this weekend and capture some shots away from home. I have some fun trips coming up so hopefully this will be the start of some more varied material.

This first shot is the famous chalk horse at Westbury. Sadly, budget constraints mean it is no longer chalk but painted concrete but it is dramatic nonetheless.  I had to endure near gale force winds and freezing rain, not to mention hanging off a cliff to get the pic but I hope it was worth it.

Next up is a detail shot of the brick built enclosure for the range cooker that I cooked Beef Wellington for 10 on. It was a special birthday meal and an altogether different challenge!

Finally my gorgeous son has sneaked on. I know that I am biased but he is so very photogenic. Far from my favourite or even best picture that I have ever taken of him but it has a nice ethereal quality and I am sucker for natural backlighting. Plus it was a nice quiet moment that we shared so more than an image it will become a treasured memory. I have little doubt that he will sneak onto the 365 again in some capacity.

41/365...

New logo...

Just Light Reflected has a new logo! I contacted the uber-talented Rob Luckins, photographer, illustrator, screen printer and all round gent to see if he knew anyone in his creative circle that was any good with graphic design and in particular logos.

I have been thinking about the branding for Just Light Reflected for some time now and one of the key aspects to tie all of this together was the logo. Following the advice of the likes of David DuChemin I wanted something that could be used with social media, business cards and the website amongst others.
 

I thought long and hard about but as creative as I feel I sometimes am I also know my limitations and I know that there are people that are simply better at this sort of thing than me.

Well in his own inimitable style and in practically no time at all Rob took on the task himself and did not disappoint. He sent me something which was a million miles away from what I was thinking. But that is far from criticism. I was trying to be clever with mirrors and anglepoise lamps - to be honest it was coming off as cliched and somewhat cheesy.  Sometimes it is great to see something through someone else's eyes and in a way get a sense of what they have in mind about you. I suggested a couple of very minor amendments - I wanted a monochrome version for certain work for example. I am thrilled with the final results and I am going with the gut on this one. It will not appeal to everyone, but in the words of Seth Godin we lose so much when we try to please everyone. It is always at the expense of those we really want to impress.

I would love to get some feedback on the design and I hope that you will start to see it in lots more places.

36, 37, 38, & 39/365...

Wow - all this photo-editing is really tricky when you have a 'real' life too!

Had my first real wobble this weekend and nearly gave up on day 35. Not for lack of inspiration I hasten to add - I still have that in spades - more a lack of time and will... Anyway just a little wobble and I have managed to drag myself back out of it. I hope to get some decent portraiture done this weekend - I have some captive subjects and this weekend, somewhat surprisingly, may see the first appearance of my son in the project.

I hope you are all still enjoying it and as always would welcome any feedback.

34/365 Xin Nian Kaui Lai

33/365 Day 33...

...of Project 1 and my thoughts turn to world events rather than the matters closer to home. The aim of the 365 photo a day project was not to politicize or even scrutinise world events, just include them in a creative way as a record of what is happening at any given time. For example I did not look at floods in Australia and draw inspiration from that. There are plenty of people reporting well on that and in the face of the incoming cyclone in Queensland our thoughts are with them.

Sometimes things occur though that can truly be considered world-changing. I think that what is happening in Egypt and by proxy the wider Middle East is one of those times. Justin Webb on the R4 today programme this morning suggested that there was a domino effect likely to ripple through the Middle East. Already today we are hearing that the president of Yemen, in power for some 30 years, will not be seeking re-election and will not be looking to hand power to his son.

When a million people mobilise to express their opinion, rage and feeling you simply have to listen, the world has to listen.  And it is. As I speak there is a tense stand off between the protesters and supporters of the beleaguered president Mubarak. I hope it does not turn more violent. With protesters stopping for prayers (imagine the May-Day rioters or student protesters dong that...) it all looks like a very civilised democratisation of parts of this region albeit with serious question marks hanging over the likes of Israel.

I think this will come to pass as one of this years defining moments and I have chosen to demonstrate that with a screenshot of the Al Jazeera English website. Not a lot of post processing work done - even shot in jpeg rather than RAW - just a little cross-processing and some tiny exposure correction.

BTW the Al Jazeera new service really is quite good. Historically described as having a manic style of reporting and largely ignored by the West, in recent years it has shown itself to be a voice for the Middle East. Their style of reporting is contextually objective and oftentimes at odds with the hysteria and jingoistic approach of our own media - Daily Mail - I am looking at you...

Project 1...

Apologies for lack of blogging again...! Well that is it! Month number 1 is done and dusted. I really did wonder if I would actually make it but it is flowing quite nicely now. 334 days to go so lots of ideas needed yet but I think that it has been pretty varied so far. I know I need much more people and to be honest I fancy adding in some street photography too.

It really does push you creatively, especially on the days when you aren't feeling it.

Anyway, not feeling that wordy this evening so I will let the pics do the talking for now!

This is my statement of intent...

...that is all.

Three days in...

and the creative juices haven't stopped flowing yet! Project "1" continues to gather pace and I now have a little side project planned as well. The basic premise remains but with a little twist...

In the meantime here are the first batch of pics from project "1". The main idea behind all of this is that from a certain date 1.1.11 (I guess this date is sorta palindromic given that you can read it in any direction at all...), I will be be taking one picture every day for one year. Each image will be very different with the main rule being that other than one shot each day for one year there are no rules. Working on the principle extolled by Chase Jarvis that the best camera is the one you have you they will be taken on whatever I have to hand. It maybe a high end DSLR with studio lighting or an iPhone or whatever - a pin-hole camera if that is all I can make! When I am inspired or my vision hits me that is the moment to strike! I cannot guarantee a great or world-changing image every day but what I can promise is a deeply personal look at a small chunk of the world. People or places that I love, things that tickle me, things that enrage or disgust me. Seemingly small or insignificant things or epic world events. I hope to encompass all of these and so much more than this. It will become a narrative on the coming twelve months - something to enjoy as a process - after all the best part of anything is the journey - but hopefully also something to appreciate reflectively.

The end product  - to be completed in January 2012 will be a short movie (6 minutes and 5 secs) of the images interspersed together. At this stage I have no idea how it will turn out - I hope it will be fascinating. If you want to be part of project "1" then let me know. I have another 362 images to take so plenty of room to squeeze you all in!