camera

Walking Meditation.

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Open Space.

 

Something about the open space on a deserted beach brings a sense of calm to my mind and body. I get this connection to not only nature but also to something more spiritual.

Don’t worry; I’m not about to go all fire and brimstone.

Whilst walking about in this vast open space, I started listening to my surroundings and tuned in to the sound of the sea and the wind. I would like to call it walking meditation.

We all have busy lives but for me, I need some time away from that constant battle with the reality of life. And what can be more peaceful than walking on an empty beach or even an empty field with just a camera for company?

Practising a little bit of mindfulness now and again can improve our mental well-being and allow our heads to connect to our surroundings, and bring some temporary peace of mind.

Keep the Faith.

KV.

St Anne’s Beach.

Xpro2 35mm

It has been a while.

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Over these past few months, I have put my photography on the back burner.

This was not really through choice but more of a need as I navigated my way through a very stressful house move.

I did manage to get out with the camera but my mind and enthusiasm were not there and this was having an even more negative effect on my photography. So I decided to step back and wait till I was fully settled in my house.

Over time I could sense that I was losing interest in photography and I must admit I thought of packing it in. Thankfully that never happened.

What have I learnt from this hiatus from photography?

I do feel more invigorated and in some ways, this little break has given me time to press the restart button. But It has also shown me that I can spend too much time chasing the perfect shot and not enough time enjoying the process of photography.

I can sense a shift in my photography and I feel I’m on the cusp of a change.

My latest work “Wanderings” is something that I’m excited about as it is different from my street work and at this moment in time this is what I want to do. And who knows there may be a book to follow.

At the end of the day, it is about doing things that make you happy because we only have today as tomorrow is not here.

Keep the Faith

KV

Do not press delete.

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Over the years, I have learned many photography lessons, but the best piece of advice that I took on board was never delete your pictures.

I'm talking about the ones you took, and at the time, you didn't understand why you lifted the camera to your eye and composed that shot. There was a reason you pressed the shutter at that moment; you probably did not understand why, but in a few years, you will look at that image and understand the reason.

Things change, we change, and our photographic eye changes all the time.

In my previous blog, I mentioned that I would be taking a break from street photography. My gut instinct is telling me that this is the time to look for a new path. I must admit I'm enjoying the process, and I feel my photography is starting to take a new direction.

If you see something that is interesting, then take the picture, but most of all, do not press delete.

Keep the Faith

KV

Father in Law

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Happy retirement to my Father in Law.

It was a good opportunity to get the camera out and take a couple of portraits.

I think he will miss the working day, but I have no doubt he will soon get into the swing of having a seven day weekend.

Enjoy your retirement.

 

Images were taken with the FujiFilm XPRO2.

Goodbye 2020

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Goodbye, 2020.

Here are my photographic highlights from the past 12 months.

Keep the Faith people as nothing lasts forever.

Under the Influence #5

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Luigi Ghirri

When I visit the coast, I like to look for these big sky compositions with the clouds on the horizon.

My settings on the Fuji Film X100F are inspired by the Italian photographer Luigi Ghirri and the book Kodachrome.

Film Simulation Classic Chrome Colour -4 Shadows + 2 Highlights – 1 Grain Effect - Weak

Kodachrome was Ghirri’s first book. The photographs present Italian landscapes in tightly cropped images through its adverts, postcards, walls, windows, and people. His work is abstracted compositions with highly textured frames within frames. Ghirri’s work reminds me of Willaim Eggleston as it takes time to understand the photograph's narrative fully. With each viewing of the book, his work starts to click into place, and that’s when you can really appreciate the photographer’s vision.

Keep the Faith

KV

Print your Work.

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It amazes me how many photographers do not print their work.

We spend hours perfecting our images for it to be uploaded on social media to be viewed for 5 seconds on a little screen!! The connection between us and the image is still not complete as we only see the digital copy. It is like downloading music. Yes, you have it, but you do not own it unless you are holding the CD or Vinyl in your hand.

Once we print our work, it then becomes a physical thing which in turn becomes more personal. We are then connected to our own work.

Now, I am not talking about printing huge gallery prints in gold frames, but small A4 prints or 6x4 ones; it does not really matter; at least we have that image in our hands.

This is a documentation of YOUR work which will be around a lot longer than storing them on a phone or a laptop. Basically, we are hiding them away in our little flies or uploading them into this imaginary cloud, and who knows what will happen to all that in the future.

We take the image, then edit the image we then present it to our audience, and the final stage of that image should be the printing of your work.

An online portfolio is good, but a portfolio than you can actually hold and see is priceless.

Keep the Faith

KV

Some of my recent prints.

Colour v Mono

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The colour v black & white debate is something that I had a good few years ago and I decide that colour was the way forward for me.

This was partially due to my purchase of the X100T. Once I set the camera to classic chrome and looked through the viewfinder it was like a switch going off in my head and I was sold, hook line, and sinker.

Black and white still have its place especially with my commissioned work like weddings and portraits but with street photography is was going to be colour. For me, it is the difficulty of the two as there is a lot more thinking required, as all the elements need to be spot on for colour to work on the street.

I am not disregarding BNW but there is always the temptation to cover up the faults of the image by clicking that black and white button in Lightroom. And I think we can all agree that you cannot polish a turd by switching it to BNW and pumping up the clarity.

This is not me saying all BNW street work is shit because that would not be right as there are some superb street photographers out there who are producing some beautiful images in black and white.

And this is the point that we go full circle. I recently acquired the Fuji Film X100F and I am in love with the Acros film simulation settings especially the Red & Yellow filters. It was like a déjà vu moment when I looked through the viewfinder and I was seeing this beautiful grainy BNW image.

It is just small steps back into the world of BNW, but I am enjoying the process, so much so that I have opened another Instagram account for my BNW work.

Have I missed working in black & white? Yes and no but if I can have a slice of both worlds than I am happy with that. At the end of the day it is all about doing the things that make you happy.

New Instagram Page - https://www.instagram.com/kv_mono/

Keep the Faith

KV

MANCHESTER - X100F ACROS+RED

Marinade Your Work.

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First thing first, I am not talking about smearing your camera or laptop with BBQ sauce.

How many times have you been out on a street walk, and you think you have a couple of keepers in the bank and then rush home, get the SD card out, turn on the laptop find your keepers, give them a quick edit and upload them on to social media? From the street to social media in a matter of hours!

In my early days, I thought this behaviour was normal until I started to see the work that I was posting was not that good, or my image choice was not the correct one. At first, I put this down to experience, but then I realised that I was still emotionally attached to the image.

Over time, I have learned to step back from that day’s work and put it on the back burner and let them “marinate” doing this has helped me critique my own work without the emotion and excitement of that day.

Having this system has allowed me to build up a steady back catalogue of work.

Ask yourself, why are you uploading your work that quick? It could be one of a hundred things, but I have a sneaky feeling that you want that added gratification of not only taking a fine picture but the rewards of likes on social media.

Slow down, and the true rewards will come.

Keep the Faith

KV

MANCHESTER - 20TH JANUARY 2017 - X100T

Under the Influence #3

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Kevin Cummins.

Kevin Cummins has documented British music culture for the last 40 years. From the Punk scene in the ’70s to the Madchester era of the late ’80s to the Cool Britannia days of the mid-1990s and everything in between.

As NME’s chief photographer for much of the ’80s and ’90s, he provided us with some of the most iconic images of that time, and I was an avid reader of the NME in them halcyon days.

 The images of Shaun Ryder hanging off the E on the Hotel sign and the paint-splattered Stone Roses, which both graced the cover, are now defining moments from that era. And let us not forget his work with Joy Division that will seal their legacy forever.

Kevin Cummins's contribution to British culture's historical documentation is something that we will probably never see again. That is why is he regarded as an icon of documentary photography.

For further reading and prints, go to his website - http://www.kevincummins.co.uk/

Recommended Book – Looking for the light through the pouring rain.

Cummins has raised the status of his work to the level of art. - John Peel

Keep the Faith

KV

Comfort Fear.

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We all feel safe in our little photography comfort zones, but if we occasionally break out of it, then that’s when things can happen. We can get that lightbulb moment that pushes us on to the next level.

But what stops us from stepping out of this imaginary zone? And the simple answer is Fear.

Fear of being ignored, fear of negativity, fear of only getting a few likes on Instagram!!, fear that they will see your weak side or is it the fear of failure that keeps us in our little box.

Photography is about pushing our own creativity, and let us not forget why we picked up the camera in the first place. We did it for us, and we did not do it for likes and followers; we did it because we wanted to be creative.

I have always believed that if people enjoy my work, then that is a bonus, but if I start playing to my audience, who do I please them or me.?

This brings me on to my attempt at still life photography.

It was quite different from my usual work style, but I enjoyed the therapeutic process, and it got me out of this mental comfort zone.

Keep the Faith

KV

Under the Influence #2

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Alex Webb.

Magnum Photographer Alex Webb is best known for his complex and vibrant street photographs from Latin America, Europe, and Africa.

 It was in 1979 that he made the transition from black and white to colour and the rest you can say is history.

When I was taking my first steps into the world of colour street photography his image from Tehuantepac, Mexico taken in 1985 was the one that fired my imagination.

If you are not familiar with the photograph, then I will describe it the best way I can and hopefully, you will find it on your next search for inspiration.

There are blue and white stripes on the building and monument which match the children’s clothing. At the forefront, there is a boy spinning a ball that looks like a globe of the world. Within the frame, there are 7 subjects and each one is serving a purpose not only are they bringing balance, but they are moving the viewer’s eye forwards then backward. But the most remarkable thing about the whole composition is the basketball going through the hoop at the top left of the image.

What can we learn from Alex Webb?

For me, its to try and look a little bit deeper, be patient, and trust your instincts.

I will never get to Alex Webb’s level, but I use his style of photography as a guideline for what is possible. And in street photography anything is possible.

Recommended Books – The Suffering of Light is a must for anybody’s collection.

"I only know how to approach a place by walking. For what does a street photographer do but walk and watch and wait and talk, and then watch and wait some more, trying to remain confident that the unexpected, the unknown, or the secret heart of the known awaits just around the corner" - Alex Webb

Keep the Faith

KV

Fujifilm Love Affair

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I purchased the Fujifilm X100T about 5 years ago, and it was a game-changer for me.

The film simulation Classic Chrome opened a whole new way of seeing, and it was then that I decided to work more in colour.

My street settings for CC are quite simple.

Highlights -1 Shadows + 2 Colour +2

White Balance, DR, ISO all on Auto as I want the camera to do the donkey work.

Why the T? This is such a versatile little camera, and I have taken it to the limits, and it has never let me down. Even in trying conditions, the T keeps going.

I have shot a full wedding with it; my bare fist boxing was all done in jpeg, and probably 90% of my street work has been done with this camera. I have hardly ever used RAW, and that is because the jpegs give me everything I need.

But my love affair with the T is nearly over as I recently acquired the X100F, and this is a thing of beauty. It has renewed my interest in Black and White with the beautiful Acros film simulations.

It is just like the T but with steroids. ISO is better, the focus is sharp and quick, and it looks and feels good.

I also own the Xpro1 with the 35mm 1.4, again a superb camera that can be temperamental at times, but this camera can produce some beautiful images when it is on it.

Everyone is different, but I like to keep my set up nice and simple I do not chase after the next big thing in the hope it will make me better photographer as its practise that makes you better.

When things are not going right, always remember it is not the camera's fault. It is the idiot holding the camera.

Keep the Faith

KV

X100T Classic Chrome