photography

Courage to Change

There comes a time in our lives when we need to concentrate on the things that matter. And for me, these past six months have been that time.

Photography has been pushed further and further down the pecking order of the things that matter.

My photography opportunities have become less and less, and I was becoming more frustrated with the lack of time with the camera. I knew something needed to change, so I had to decide. Concentrate on one thing at a time, and the photography will return.

I have made some changes to my life. I decided I needed a career change. With any decision, there needs to be action.

In November, I decided to go back to college to train as a counsellor. I knew there would be sacrifices and one of them being my photography.

Juggling photography with work, home life, and college was always going to be tricky. Something needed to change, and photography had to be sacrificed to put all of my free time into pursuing a change of direction.

Making the little changes have paid off as I already have a new job. It will be a significant change, but it is one that I am relishing.

Photography will always be that little piece of escapism that I need to keep the dark clouds away, but there comes a time when we need to step back a look at the bigger picture.

It is about changing the things I can and not worrying about the things I have no control over. Staying mentally and physically well will always be paramount, and if I'm to stay well, there must be the courage to change.

Keep the Faith

KV

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

Time for Change.

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If anything, these past 12 months have taught me to appreciate the small things. And that would include my photography.

Instead of looking for the things that I do not have, I have been grateful for the things I have now.

I have continued to look for photographic opportunities and used this time as a growth phase. It has slowed me down and made me look for new perspectives and try and see things in a different light.

Street Photography will always have its place, but I now understand it is not the be-all and end-all of my photographic journey.

Very soon I will be moving house. The area we are moving to will be closer to the countryside than the streets of Manchester. Plus, it will be a 30-minute journey to the coast. So as you can see, my progression is already there, and all I have to do is embrace the change. Change is good. It is the thinking that is overrated.

Keep the Faith

KV

Winter Walk

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The first snowfall of the winter provided me with an opportunity to get out with the X100F.

All images shot using the B&W + R JPEG Setting with the added grain effect.

Big Sky

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Taken from Southport Pier using my FujiFilm X100T

Somethings never change.

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With the lockdown restrictions beginning to ease, the homeless and the unfortunate are steadily returning to the city streets.

As a rule, I never photograph the homeless as they do not choose to be on the streets.

There was something about this scene that made me press the shutter button.

I could see some emotional upset and comforted each other; they are lost in that moment so much, so they do not even see me with the camera.

We will never know what was going on. It could be one of a hundred things.

Maybe it is the prospect of a night on the street or the realisation that they have no money for the simple things we take for granted like food and a warm bed. We will never know the truth.

This pandemic has changed the way we live our lives, but some things it seems will never change.

Lockdown Reflection

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As we slowly grind our way out of this never-ending lockdown, I have done a little bit of reflection on the past few months and tried to make sense of it all.

In the beginning, we witnessed the selfish and the self-centred of this world clear the supermarket shelves with no regard or thought for anyone except themselves. Greed was king as they believed this was the start of the apocalypse—shameful behaviour by people who should know better.

Early on, I decided to turn the news off and delete certain apps as my brain was melting with the constant bombardment of fear-driven information.

The Government failed to get a grip of the situation, which left many of us in limbo, and once the lockdown kicked in, it was too little too late. Granted, they have tried to keep business afloat with bucket loads of cash, but it will all need to pay back the taxpayer.

There have been some positives, especially our overdue appreciation towards the NHS and the overworked, underpaid key workers.

We have seen some beautiful acts of kindness from all walks of life, which have restored some of my faith in humanity.

Away from photography, my real job is Telecommunications, so I was classed as a key worker.

My colleagues and I had the task of “Keeping the UK Connected”,, and I am proud of what we achieved in these difficult times.

Its been a time for gratitude and being thankful for what I have.

There have been some tricky days, but we have come through this together and made our little unit a bit stronger as a family.

Photography wise I have used these strange days to start writing this blog which has given me some escape from the ongoing situation. I am fully aware that my writing skills are not that of Oscar Wilde or Shakespeare, but I have done this for me and my sanity, but if just one person gets something from what I have written, that will be a bonus.

Over these past months, I have delved deep into my back catalogue, and it has been pleasing to see some growth with my work. Progress, not perfection, is always key.

It will be a pleasure to see the streets of Manchester bustle with activity again as the one thing that I have missed is life itself.

Time to give 2020 a jump start.

Keep the Faith.

KV

CASTLEFIELDS MANCHESTER FUJIFILM X100F ACROS RED

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.

Under the Influence #4

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Jane Bown - Exposures

I was introduced to Jane Bowen’s work when a good friend of mine gave me his spare copy of the book Exposures. Each portrait is different, but they give us this little glimpse into the subject's true persona looking out from the page.

Jane Bown worked for the Observer newspaper for over five decades, and in that time, she photographed the great, the good and the not so good of politics, music, art, and theatre.

Observer editor John Mulholland called her "part of the Observer's DNA".

What can we learn from Jane Bown and the book Exposures?

She was uninterested in the latest camera equipment and mainly used second-hand cameras, with the Olympus OM1 being the one she favoured the most. There were no gimmicks to her work, no props, no glamourous studios or locations. Everything was done with the available light. The camera was already set up, and she could be done and dusted within 15 minutes.

Jane Bowen was extremely reluctant to speak about her work, and the quote “photographers should neither be seen nor heard” is a testament to that approach.

Jane Bown, photographer, born 13 March 1925; died 21 December 2014.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2009/oct/18/jane-bown-60-years-portraits

Keep the Faith

KV

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

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

Mental Mental Mental

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Keeping your mind fit is just as important as keeping your body fit.

Being creative is a great way of turning off the noise that rumbles around in your head.

Photography saved me from me. Street Photography is like meditation as it allows my mind to switch off from the mundane bullshit that we all have in our lives. Every now again, I can become lost in the moment. It is as though I am connected to something else, and that is me getting out of me.

Practising mindfulness is also a great way to get that connection. Tune in to your surroundings by listening to the sounds, and slowly you will get that connection. Try it for yourself.

The art of photography is not for everyone, but I honestly believe that we all have some form of creativity waiting to be discovered.

It is the little things that start big things.

Being creative will not cure mental health, but it will help you find some purpose in your life, and who knows, it may be the calling you have been searching for.

Keep the Faith.

KV

FUJI FILM X100F - MANCHESTER

Can't buy me Likes

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The hunt for likes and acceptance on social media is something that churns my stomach.

My favourite one at the moment is getting a new follower and seeing how long it takes for them to unfollow me!! Honestly, people could be spending their well-earned money on something more satisfying than buying likes and followers.

Do not be fooled into thinking that if you pay to get more Likes and followers, it will make you a better photographer because you are only fooling one person, and that is you.

Social media is a necessary evil. Treat your work as something personal to you. Do not get wrapped up in the daily bullshit of people-pleasing. Be you and the artist you want to be.

Better to grow it organically than to have it controlled by a robot.

Keep the Faith

KV

First Words

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So here goes on my first post.

I will be mainly writing about photography, especially street photography, but I will also chuck in a few life experiences.

If it’s gear reviews you want or a how-to-do guide, then you are in the wrong place.

I will be mentioning what cameras I use and probably why I do use them. Still, this section of the website will about me sharing my photography experience, what inspires me, who inspires me, and the things that motivate me to do photography.

I won’t win any prizes for my writing skills, but you might enjoy what I have to say if you can look beyond that. It is not perfection; I am looking for just a little bit of progress.

Feel free to leave a comment but don’t bother leaving anything negative, and if anyone starts being a dick, they will be blocked, and I will probably name and shame you on social media.

Keep the Faith

KV