JULY 2019
15/07/2019
Additional Products, Craft Fairs/Events & learning more!
So, I’ve now joined the ranks of the full-time retired and finding in the first two weeks that life without work is still very busy! Good, I can’t stand being bored. Despite two visits to attempt to photograph hot air balloons in Thirsk I failed! Well, I didn’t fail, it’s just that there were no balloons flying at the times I went.
In the meantime I’ve uploaded many of my images in a new ‘Store’ area which I’ve labelled ‘MORE PRODUCTS‘ in the navigation menu above. This page details the products available in more detail, but in summary they are: Canvas Wraps, Framed Prints, Giclée prints (Fine art prints larger than the A3 size I can print myself) and digital downloads of my images for personal or commercial use. All of there are provided by a third party provider called Picfair
Now that I have more free time I’m hoping to make the most of local Craft Fairs and events and there are two coming up. The first one I’m going to try is a regular Friday Country Market in Northallerton Town Hall. This is held every Friday from 10.00am until 12.30pm, I’ll be giving that a try on Friday 2nd August. On Saturday 10th August from 1.30pm I’ll have a stall at Thornton le Beans Village Show. Then at regular intervals I shall hopefully return to the town hall.
Last Saturday I attended an event at the Joe Cornish Gallery in Northallerton led by Professional Photographer Mark Banks. The morning session was a one-to-one where Mark reviewed eight of my images and gave constructive critique. Thankfully my composition is OK! Mark also had time to edit a couple of my original files and pass on a few Lightroom tips. In the afternoon there was a group session where we learned quite a bit about printing techniques. I also received some tips on choosing the right paper to print images on. It was clear though, seeing some images from other photographers, that I still have some way to go!
I’ve retitled one of my images (above) Landscape in Sandstone. Looking round the gallery it was clear to me that titles are as important for images as is the paper and mount.
Making money!
10/07/2019
There’s no way that me, as a journeyman amateur photography is ever going to make any real money out of my hobby. Some people do though. Even though this article on the Canon Website I’m sharing here is based around a Wildlife Photographer I guess the principals are the same no matter what type of photography you do. It’s also clear to me as I visit craft fairs and galleries around the county that photography is a mass hobby and lots of photographers want to sell their images. That’s why you have to be brilliant at it to really make any serious money.
In Northallerton, the main town near where I live, there is a fantastic photographic gallery owned by the renowned Joe Cornish. It’s what I aspire to, not owning a gallery, but being able to take landscape photographs that sometimes make your jaw drop! What time did he get up to take that? How long did he spend waiting for the right light? How many previous times did he go there before getting the shot right? How much time is spent getting the image right before printing? How much!!!!!!!!!
When it all boils down to it though, it’s really having the eye for the scene that is in front of you. One of my favourite images form the last year or so was taken on my iPhone, as was the one above and the one below. It’s called Last Light and was taken one evening when we headed off to Whitby on a whim and I didn’t have my camera with me. So no matter what type of camera you have, or how much it cost, it really is down to the image that you shoot at the time and most importantly whether you like it! It’s great if other people do too, and even better if they’re prepared to buy it for their wall, or as a notecard to send to someone else.
Why not visit the SHOP where you can buy prints and notecards? Any image on this site can be supplied as a print, even if it’s not currently listed in the Shop gallery.
If you would like to comment on this or any other post in my blog, please scroll to the foot of the page and add anything there. Thanks!!
What is Mirrorless, poppies and balloons…
02/07/2019
In my June post I mentioned that on holidays I often take my ‘Mirrorless‘ camera as opposed to my DSLR. So what’s the difference between these?
Well one has a mirror and the other doesn’t – obviously. In a single lens reflex camera there is an internal mirror which reflects the image through the lens up to the viewfinder. When the photo is taken the mirror moves up and lets light onto the sensor.
A mirrorless camera completely lacks such mirror mechanism (hence the name), which means that the light passing through the lens always ends up on the imaging sensor. Since light is no longer reflected on an optical viewfinder (OVF), mirrorless cameras typically rely on electronic viewfinders (EVF) and LCDs that basically project what the imaging sensor sees. Because of lack of a mirror mechanism and an optical viewfinder, mirrorless cameras can be made simpler, lighter and less bulky when compared to DSLR cameras.
Typical the sensor in mirrorless cameras was an APS-C sensor, smaller than the sensor in a DSLR. Recently the major manufacturers have introduced full frame mirrorless cameras. This article on the Canon website explains the difference. Other full frame cameras are available from Sony, Nikon and Panasonic. I’m a Canon man myself and could see myself at some point trading in both my camera systems for a full-frame set up to save the hassle of deciding which system to take with me. I find on long days out on holiday the DSLR is too heavy but when on a photographic day or workshop when I have my tripod with me then the DSLR is the best option. The full frame mirrorless cameras are good in-between solution.
Poppies and balloons…
Whatever you photograph in July, the high sun can create awkward lighting situations. It’s a good time to consider and observe how the light at different times of the day can change the feel of a scene.
Right now there are wonderful displays of wildflowers bursting up all over the country. From vast poppy fields to a little wild orchid, the floral displays on offer this month offer a great subject to creatively explore.
Not only that there are many events on, local and national, at which photographers can attend in the hope of capturing that right moment, event or scene. One I’m looking forward to is the Thirsk (White Horse) Balloon Festival on 12th – 14th July. This, weather permitting, should provide spectacular opportunities for photography.
Wherever you ramble or roam this July I hope the weather and light is kind and the photographs you take will please you and those who view them.
Why not visit the SHOP where you can buy prints and notecards? Any image on this site can be supplied as a print, even if it’s not currently listed in the Shop gallery.
If you would like to comment on this or any other post in my blog, please scroll to the foot of the page and add anything there. Thanks!!
Summer Sale now on
01/07/2019
Well it seems that July is the month of summer sales, certainly in my local high street it is! So to celebrate the summer I’m offering a 20% discount from the full price of all prints during July and August.
It came to light that there were some pricing inconsistencies of prints and I’m pleased to say these have now been corrected. So why not visit the online SHOP have a browse and take advantage of the offer.
New Print sizes added
One other change made recently is the addition of two new sizes of print. Prints are now available in 5 sizes ranging from 6″ x 4″ (in an 8″ x 6″ mount) right up to A3 print size mounted in a 20″ x 16″ mount. All prints are mounted onto a high quality Ice White mount board and are complete with a backing board and come in a cellophane bag to protect them.
Why not visit the SHOP where you can buy prints and notecards? Any image on this site can be supplied as a print, even if it’s not currently listed in the Shop gallery.
If you would like to comment on this or any other post in my blog, please scroll to the foot of the page and add anything there. Thanks!!