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.