Random Rally fun and a little-known fact about me...
Earlier this week I got the chance to go to the DayInsure Welsh Rally preview day. As many of you will know, I am also an automotive photographer - you can see more HERE - so I often get invited to this kind of things. However, this one was particularly special as I always wanted to be a Rally Driver, but never could because my eyesight isn't good enough! In fact, I don't actually drive for that reason (I know, I know - car photographer that can't drive, what a joker!).
However, there was also another good reason why this was special to me, as I got to meet a childhood hero, Nicky Grist, who had played co-pilot to some of my all-time rally heroes (and incidentally, nearly ran me over some twenty years prior at the RAC Welsh Rally with a certain Mr Juha Kankkunen!). All-in-all, it was a great day out and I would love to go back for the actual rally itself, but here is a little highlights video of my day....
Read all about the day at Dayinsure Welsh Rally
IgersBirmingham - World Photo Day
I have said it before but the photographic community in Birmingham is amazing! Igersbirmingham have played a huge part in developing this community, so when they arranged for a 'Picnic in the Park' to celebrate World Photo Day, I was always going to attend.
However, rather than taking photos, I'd planned to do a short film about the IgersBirmingham community and what it means to individuals to be part of that community. instagram has no doubt altered the course of photography and not only made photography 'cool' but also accessible to the masses. However, one of the most impactful parts of Instagram is the communities that it has spawned.
All across the world, groups of 'Igers' meet up on a regular basis to take photos, explore amazing places and socialise. We are very fortunate to have one of the strongest communities in the UK and I am very proud to call many of it's members my friends and close friends at that!
To celebrate World Photo Day, there were a host of events including a portrait session hosted by Martin O'Callaghan (@OCUK), a nature trail by James Benwell (@JimPanda) and access to the roof of the local landmark, Fort Dunlop. It was exciting to try new styles of photography and one-minute shoot models using smoke grenades and then on to Wild Ponies playing in the heather, topped off by a rooftop view of our amazing city!
Special thanks go to Fraser & Beth from IgersBirmingham, Martin & Jim for their expertise and Sutton Park/Fort Dunlop for being amazing hosts. Thank you to everyone that attended and made the day special and to the wider community for doing our city proud! I'm sure we all look forward to seeing were IgersBirmingham and photography in the city go next!
Don't forget to check out the hashtags for the day - #igb_meet_picnicinthepark / #igb_mett_fortdunlop / #fortdunlop100
National Freelancers Day
National Freelancers Day
I recently teamed up with accounting software company QuickBooks to share my tips for National Freelancers Day on 8th June. QuickBooks have provided their range of accounting software to small businesses and self-employed people for a number of years. QuickBooks will be sharing a host of tips and interesting insights into the life of freelancers via their Resources Page - Why not claim your free thirty day trial of QuickBooks Software - HERE - Below are a few of my tips, why not share yours in the comments below.
Ross Jukes Photography – National Freelancers Day
Ross Jukes is a freelance photographer based in Birmingham. Ross has been self employed for several years and has worked with large multi-nationals such as HSBC through to small independent retailers in his home city. Ross shoots Landscape and Automotive work and carries out all aspects of running his business, from the day-to-day client work through to the Marketing, Invoicing and admin of running a business.
Tip 1) Get Creative
This is probably an obvious one coming from somebody that works in a creative field but I always try to get creative with all aspects of my business. In particular, I try to think of creative ways to market myself. Thankfully, I produce a very visual product so it is easy to think of ways to distribute imagery, but I’m also not afraid to try a few ‘old classics’ such as giveaways and competitions.
Tip 2) Think Ahead
I, like many other freelancers, always have to keep one eye on the future. I always like to keep an ‘emergency fund’ just in case things go bad or a piece of equipment breaks and needs replacing at short notice. However, ore importantly it means that you generally don’t get any nasty surprises. This is particularly true when completing Tax Returns, it always pays to have an idea of what will hit you at the end of the year so you can start saving in advance. If possible, just deduct the estimate Tax after an invoice has been paid and leave it in a separate account!
Tip 3) Get Organised
I am a really busy person and lots of clients need everything done immediately so it’s really easy to get distracted and let things slip. Therefore, it’s crucial that I stay organised. A few ways I do this is keeping on top of my calendar, generally using the Google Calendar app which is really easy to use. I also keep a Whiteboard with current and upcoming projects. I also make sure that I keep my desk space tidy and regular clean and maintain gear, including making sure everything is charged and ready to go before each job.
Tip 4) Have Fun
I am very fortunate to get paid doing something I love. So most of the time it is great, but there are still the times that everything gets a little bit crazy and you feel like the pressure is getting a little bit too much. It’s times like this that I make a conscious effort to go and and shoot for myself, just take a long walk and grab some photos or maybe plan a trip to the countryside. It may sound counter-productive to take some time to yourself but it really helps clear your head and make sure that you are still enjoying things!
Why not claim your free thirty day trial of QuickBooks Software - HERE
'I Love Jewellery Quarter' Instameet with IgersBirmingham
If there are two things I love it's the local photography community and the Jewellery Quarter. So when the two things met, well 'instameeted'(?) I knew good things would come of it. The guys from IgersBirmingham teamed up with JQ BID to arrange a special kind of instameet that would allow 100+ local photographers access to some award winning businesses.
You can watch the highlights below but it goes without saying that it was a pleasure to see all the 'usual suspects' as well as a host of new faces who all added to what was a fantastic day! A big thank you goes to IgersBirmingham for putting on another amazing event, JQ BID for being great hosts, all of the businesses that opened their doors and Rebel Uncut for letting me steal their drone footage!
IgersBirmingham - www.igersbirmingham.co.uk
JQ BID - http://jewelleryquarter.net/jqbid/
Sunrise? I think I mist it...
Someone once said something quite profound about 'best-laid plans' and after planning an early morning sunrise shoot for the weekend, it suddenly rang true. The Friday had been one of those beautiful Winter's days where it was sunny, yet with a definite chill in the air to keep you on your toes! After checking my weather apps, Saturday look good around sunrise and when a couple friends asked if I would be up for an early morning shoot, the answer was a resounding 'Yes'.
Sunrise above Birmingham New Street Station from Grand Central
We planned on meeting on top of the Grand Central car park to get a shot looking back across New Street Stations spectacular roof, beyond the Rotunda and out towards where the sun would rise from. We agreed to meet at 7.30am and I got there for about 7.25, a good 40 minutes before sunrise. I started grabbing some images to capture the warm oranges and purples in the morning sky but couldn't help notice the big band of cloud across the horizon- a photographer's nightmare!
By 7.35am when Fraser, Jon and Martin met me on the top floor, the sky had lost all of it's colour and had been covered by a thick blanket of low cloud - it had literally changed that quickly! What had been intended as a nice glorious sunrise had now become a dull, grey washout. However, determined not to waste our early start, we planned on walking along the canals to Gas Street Basin in the hope of capturing some atmospheric images.
One of the biggest challenges with photography is the weather, learning to adapt to different situations is essential and we could easily have called it all off and gone for a fry-up, which was a mighty tempting idea indeed. When we reached Gas Street Basin, it was well worth our perseverance. The mist added a new layer of interest, by obscuring many of the buildings in the distance and adding emphasis to the things in the foreground.
Another added bonus to shooting at that time of day is how quiet it is, with the occasional jogger or dog-walking breaking the silence as they come by. The absence of people makes for a nice image but finding a solitary figure emerging from the mist makes for a very nice image indeed. We made our way around past the ICC, Barclay Card Arena and round to the Birmingham Canal Old Line. It always amazes me how a few minutes walking can seemingly transport you out of the City Centre and into a typical 'rural' image, if you look beyond the maisonettes and concrete walls that line the edges of the canal.
We made our way back through the ICC, passed the library and spent a few minutes capturing images by the 'Paradise' development. A solitary man in a hat made for a great street image as he crossed the path behind the Paradise development and must have felt like a celebrity as we all rushed to take his picture, shutters firing away. Breakfast was calling though so we decided to head back towards Grand Central and grab some food on the way.
Victoria emerging from the fog in Victoria Square, Birmingham
There was just time for one final shot and probably my favourite from the day as we passed Victoria Square and saw Victoria herself standing proud with the Council House shrouded in fog behind her. The image looks very nostalgic and if it were not for the crane in the background, it looks like it could have been taken a hundred years ago. As we devoured our breakfast we flicked through our cameras and were generally pretty pleased with the outcome. It just goes to show that a little perseverence can often pay off.
Street Photography in New York
Street Photography in New YAs you may be aware, last week I was very fortunate to go to New York. It was my first time in the city and to say that I was excited was an understatement. New York had long been one of my ‘must go to’ places and I was pretty Certain THAT I might take a picture or two (thousand) while I was there.
Laura and I arrived late on the Friday night. On leaving Penn Station and making our way to our hotel, I caught tantalising glimpses of New York and as I turned the first corner, was confronted by the Empire State Building. It felt a little surreal seeing it. At that point, it started to sink in, I was finally in New York!
The next morning, I woke up early, grabbed all three of the cameras that I had with me and hit the streets. It was eerily quite considering this city never sleeps. However, it felt amazing to have the city streets pretty much to myself. I was approached a couple of times by people looking for a small handout, a dollar here and there, so I thought it best to be a bit more discreet whilst walking the city streets alone.
I only used my ‘small’ camera, a little Ricoh GR, which became my best friend over the course of the week. Perfect for covert little shots here and there. I had to be ninja like to walk into a scene, grab the shot and leave without detection. That first morning alone was two incredible hours as I familiarised myself with the block layouts, the subway and later in the morning, the hustle and bustle of the city streets.
Throughout the course of the week, I found myself more inclined to shoot ‘street photography’ capturing the everyday scenes as I walked around completely smitten with the busy city streets. I rarely used the ‘big camera’, only for the larger landscape images. There was something to be said about being discreet as I feared that getting caught taking a picture of someone may result in a typical New York style abusive tirade.
With a mix of good light, heavy showers, day and night shots, I was pretty pleased with some of the images I captured. Overall, it was an amazing experience and one that I will hopefully get the opportunity to replicate sometime soon.
West Midlands Wildlife Instameet - Brandon Marsh
It's no secret that I'm a fan of the occasional Instameet. It's an amazing community full of people passionate about photography (now that can't be a bad thing!). However, one of my favourite things about Instameets is the sheer diversity of the locations and subject matter.
The latest meet saw us travel to just outside Coventry and more specifically, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre. The event was organised by James Benwell from West Midlands Wildlife - https://www.facebook.com/westmidlandswildlife - and the highlight of the day was to be a murmuration of Starlings, a sight I was really looking forward to seeing.
James (aka @JimPanda on Instagram - well worth a follow, as is WMW -https://www.instagram.com/westmidlandswildlife/ ) organised the event with @IgersBirmingham and set about explaining more about the wildlife that we could expect to see. Now I'm no nature photographer and had already planned on just shooting a few 'landscape' images, but James quickly dashed any hopes of me seeing a Bald Eagle!
The day in the whole was very enjoyable and made a stark contrast to my usual City Centre based antics. Unfortunately, the murmuration did not materialise, yet I couldn't help but feel the faintest nip of the nature photography bug! There is certainly something enjoyable about walking around the countryside, treading lightly and challenging yourself to a new genre of photography. Though I think I might have to stick to the city shots for the time being, or at least until I learn where Bald Eagles come from!
An Evening with IgersBirmingham on a very tall building!
I love trying to find new angles of the city that I have never shot before. SO when I was very kindly asked by the guys at IgersBirmingham if I'd like to come and take some photographs from a very tall building, I jumped at the chance!
I love taking long exposures so I asked if we could go around sunset, knowing that I would use the Aston Expressway, one of the major roads flowing through the middle of the city as my prime subject. We all met up, everyone was in a good mood and a lot of fun was had trying to get long exposures in (what felt like) gale force winds!
However, I did also start to grab some short clips of video with the intent of starting to create weekly video logs, or as they are called on the street, vlogs! Now I'm no looker and I really, really don't like being in front of a camera. However, it does add a really useful view on what I do and how I do it (apart from the fact that on this occasion, it was just too windy to talk about settings etc.)
So here is a very quick video from the evening, look out for more of these n the future! And before anybody says anything about quality, it was all shot on an iPhone - which to be honest, blows my mind! Thanks once again to IgersBirmingham and Aston University.
IgersBirmingham & Ikon Gallery - Mendelsohn Instameet: Balsall Heath
I had the pleasure of joining the amazing people from IgersBirmingham and the Ikon Gallery for a Janet Mendelsohn inspired meet in Balsall Heath. With the aim of showing Balsall Heath today and how things have changed in the near 50 years since Mendelsohn's original 'photo-essay' of the area, the day would see us explore some of the highlights of Balsall Heath.
Starting at the endlessly interesting Old Print Works, we had an inspiring introduction to Mendelsohn's works and a brief insight into Balsall Heath's past. Groups of around twenty took turns to explore the Moseley Road Swimming Baths - a beautiful Victorian building kept mainly in it's original splendor with a rare opportunity to explore many areas that would normally be closed off to the public.
After exploring the baths, we had an interesting route to follow around Ballsall Heath taking in the area and a chance explore the rich mixture of cultures living side-by-side. This was where I had promised to challenge myself and to delve head first into the world of 'Street Photography'. The challenge would be to approach interesting subjects and witness everyday life in the area to immerse myself in the culture of Balsall Heath.
This is certainly different to my normal style of photography, I was well and truly outside of my comfort zone. However, very much like the area I was exploring, my initial reservations were soon replaced by the sheer excitement of exploring new areas and challenges. It is fair to say that I barely scratched the surface of Balsall Heath . However, I think Mendelsohn would be pleasantly surprised by the modern day area and it's inhabitants.
Thanks goes to Fraser and the team at IgersBirmingham, Emily Luxford from the Ikon Gallery, Ian Francis from Flatpack Projects and all that helped organise a very enjoyable day.
Why do we still buy prints?
A friend and I were discussing photography the other day and I was explaining that I had recently launched my online shop via my website. My friend turned to me and said, to my surprise, 'who still buys prints?'. Well, at first I didn't quite know how to answer, it took me a few seconds as I had not really considered it, I just thought that it was fairly obvious. They continued, 'isn't it a bit old fashioned, don't people just look at your pictures on your website?'
My immediate response was to start questioning my choice of friends, but I quickly started to explain that there is so much more to owning a print. Firstly, you don't necessarily have to appreciate 'art' - a print can be something that brings back a memory, that inspires you or simply puts a smile on your face. I'm no interior designer, but I do appreciate that a really special image or piece of art can make a mediocre room feel amazing! It is what that image means to you that is the important thing!
I started to describe that a print does not necessarily have to feel 'boring'. I have produced images of cityscapes on aluminium for large businesses that take pride-of-place in extravagant board rooms. I have also produced small prints that simply remind homesick 'brummies' of, well, home. There is also something hugely satisfying about having something 'physical' that you can look at rather than staring at it via a screen.
Whereas I like people to appreciate my work on the web, nothing compares to walking into a room and seeing your favourite image or catching it with a passing glance and it reminding you of a special memory. I asked my friend if they had any images of friends or family framed at home, to which they responded with a resounding 'Yes!'. I asked why, and they said 'because they are special'. I watched as the disbelief was slowly replaced with understanding.
The truth is, prints are still very important. I'm constantly amazed by images that I see on the internet but my favourite images, the ones that truly mean something to me? They belong on my walls.
If you see any images on my website/social media that you would like to purchase as a print or have a special enquiry (i.e. printing on aluminium) please contact me with your requirements.