Three generations

There are many reasons why I write photography blogs. Themes range from composition to the use of the colour or it could be effects like blurring. The subject of the photo may be the main reason for the blog or I could write about famous photographers, but in this case you will have to find the photos yourself because it would be their copyright.

For this photo I would point out the three generations of my family caught candidly. I have often written about the use of timer in order to stop camera shake caused by pressing the shutter button. On my camera the timer can be set at 2 or 12 seconds. Unless I am getting in the photo then 2 seconds is fine. This method is more hit and miss than just taking the photo and I wouldn't recommend it for portraits but you are more likely to get a candid shot.

Notice the branches coming into the top of the photo. You may like this as a 'frame' for the subject, you may have no opinion about it, but I have heard strong opinions expressed that do not like branches if you can't see the trunk. I think it looks fine.

Happy snapping

New Ideas

I like new ideas. Usually I get the groomsmen to walk in line. I understand this is a scene from Reservoir Dogs but all I know is it gives natural smiles when people are preoccupied with doing something else. For this wedding I was asked to take a photo of the bridesmaids and bride walking hand in hand and this is one of the photos to feature in the Graphistudio album.

These two pages show something else that is new for me and that is the use of poetry on the same page as the photos. I think it works really well and I will be using this technique myself. One of the Graphistudio techniques is to use blocks of black. I have done this myself and I thought it was my idea but I suppose that nothing is original. You can see one of my photos with this technique on the home page of my website at http://gradwellphotography.co.uk/

Graphistudio albums

I received my first Graphistudio album yesterday and I want to share it with you. The photo on the left shows you the main album and three copies of the smaller 'parent' book. This is an exact copy of the main album only smaller. I am really pleased with the results,and in the future I can show prospective brides and grooms how their photos could look in an album like this.

Getting these albums has also taught me about the complex nature of Italian pricing including a different VAT. You can see more detail about these financial lessons in my politics blog at http://politicsfornovices.blogspot.com/ The bottom line is that not only am I very pleased with the photographic results, I am also very pleased that I know the costs which are less than I had thought. Prices will come down for next year but you can see my full moral dilemma in the politics blog.

Happy snapping

Last two photos of Andy Bell

And so for the final two photos of Andy Bell. It is always nice to have a willing model and Andy was also willing to advertise his sponsor, Extremist. The name seems to fit. I wrote about Andy seizing the day which he has done for 29 years and that takes some dedication. He seized the day by working in the gym and by looking after his diet. I understand that the Extremist company make dietary supplements.

The photos have generally been good to show off muscle definition and tatoos. Neither can be seen in the last photo. I just liked it for the composition, which doesn't quite follow the rule of thirds but looks good to me. The other thing that I like about it is that your eye is drawn to his eye. There is a little more interest in the photo but basically it is his eye and then you are trying to read his thoughts. You don't need to read thoughts on the left as it is spelled out for you, but did you see that I superimposed another background? This is one way to get rid of the shadows as seen in yesterday's blog.

Happy snapping

More remarkable photos

I make no apologies for writing about Andy Bell again. It isn't everyday that you get the chance to photograph a former Mr Britain. Andy took 29 of his 43 years to get like this and this includes a setback involving afractured left arm and left leg. The scars have healed well but you can still see them even if they are not visible on these photos. In fact doctors told him that he would never walk again. This makes these photos even more remarkable.

As for the photos, I have increased contrast again and made them darker for the same reason as in previous blogs - to increase definition of the muscles. When I am indoors I generally point the flash to the ceiling. I started like this with Andy and although it stops the shadow, it does make the head brighter and because the fake tan didn't go on his head there was quite a contrast between head and face. It's not a bad rule to follow and my first thoughts will continue to be point the flash upwards.

Happy snapping

Andy Bell 3

If you met this man in a dark alley then you would think that all associations with dark alleys are over. Compare that image with the smile on the right and you start to see the man behind the tongue.

I heard the phrase carpe diem recently. You may know it as 'seize the day' and it means make the most of the time that you've got. Well here is someone who has seized many days and has so much self-discipline. It takes discipline to get into a gym and work hard but even his dietary needs require discipline as his supplements are fixed at regularly intervals. During the time I was taking these photos he had to stop for a moment and take a drink.

As for the photos, the darker variation and the increased contrast bring out detail. A close crop on the left ensures that you concentrate on the subject, if you weren't concentrating already. On the right the sepia has a similar role to a tan. Muscle definition is enhanced. The added benefit of sepia is that colour distractions in the background (not that there were many) have been reduced. An added effect to concentrate on the subject is the vignette. Basically you spend less time looking at folds in the curtain.

Happy snapping

Andy Bell 2

No there aren't two Andy Bells but it is the second blog. The obvious difference between these photos and my usual portraits is the pose. Andy knows how to pose. I didn't need to mention a thing. I just kept taking the photos.

Andy is used to different poses which show off different muscle groups. On the left you can see him pushing his fists together. The pectorals perform this action. If you don't know where the pectorals are then take a look on the left.

On the right the left hand is pushing upwards and so biceps is working. To some extent tricep is also working. The main thing about bodybuilding poses is that they are isometric - the muscles don't move and this makes the poses easy to photograph.

Happy snapping.