I was invited to the Jubilee Celerbrations at St Marys Community Centre in Leyland.
All images shot with the Fuji Film X100F using Classic Chrome
fujifilm
Barcelona Airport - Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport
A few shots with the Fujifilm X100F in Barcelona Airport whilst waiting for the flight back home to Manchester.
The Darwell Wedding.
31st October 2021 was the day we finally got to celebrate the wedding of Abbie and Matt.
And what a day! I do not think I have ever been to a wedding that was such an emotional rollercoaster as this one. There were tears of joy and tears of relief that we finally got here to see the new Mr and Mrs Darwell tie knot.
Over the last 12 – 15 months, there have been ups and downs and questions of whether will it happen or will it be cancelled. But just over 12 months on from the original date, it was all systems go. And what a celebration it was.
Admittedly I have a connection with Abbie and Matt as they are both good friends of mine who I love dearly but to be caught up in this flowing tide of emotion was something I have never experienced before.
Seeing Abbies Mum and Dad in tears when they finally got to see their daughter in the wedding dress was something I will never forget.
The one that got everyone was the wonderful poem read out by Harriet, the eldest daughter of Abbie & Matt. In the end, there was not a dry eye in the house. As a photographer, you try to detach yourself from the day's emotions, but even I had a lump in my throat.
Hopefully, I did them proud with the photography as I tried my best to capture the day's emotion.
It is a wedding that stay with me for a long time, and I have no doubt it will stay with everyone who was there to finally see the new Mr and Mrs Darwell.
Good luck for the future, you beautiful people.
Keep the Faith
KV
Walking Meditation.
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.
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.
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
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.
Rivington Country Park
Goodbye 2020
Goodbye, 2020.
Here are my photographic highlights from the past 12 months.
Keep the Faith people as nothing lasts forever.
Big Sky
Taken from Southport Pier using my FujiFilm X100T
Woodland Walks.
A few images from my recent walks around the local country parks.
All images were taken with my FujiFilm X100F using the Classic Chrome film simulation.
Under the Influence #5
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
Street Photography is Weird.
I wouldn’t say I like street photography – Not my words but the words from a friend.
At first, I was a little bit confused by this statement because I am a street photographer, and this is my thing, but then I realised it is not the like, but maybe its the understanding of street photography that he doesn’t understand.
Street photography from an outsider looking in can seem a little bit strange. We walk around open spaces and take pictures of strangers. Sounds weird.
Some use street photography for documentary purposes, and some use it to express their creative mind.
To get a real understanding of street photography, we need to delve into the back catalogue of those that have gone before us. I have made it my business to study Gary Winogrand, Joel Meyerowitz, Cartier-Bresson, Saul Leiter, Harry Gruyaert, Alex Webb, and Tony Ray-Jones, Ernst Haas and many more. It is not about emulating them. It is about seeing the possibilities.
What I love about street photography is not knowing what you will see. You cannot go out there and think I will get this or that because it does not work like that. You must go with the flow, and if it happens, then it happens.
I go out there with a blank canvas, and sometimes I will return with what I think is a masterpiece and then there are the days that I can come back with a bag of shit.
Slow down, take your time and get some decent footwear.
Keep the Faith
KV
FUJIFILM X100T CLASSIC CHROME -MANCHESTER
The Moment
My style of photography is all about the moment.
This image of my Mum and Niece captures the true essence of my approach to photography.
There is nothing staged. It is just a natural interaction between the two of them, and luckily, I was there with the camera. They will both age, but this image will always be locked into that moment, which becomes timeless.
Keep the Faith.
KV
Shooting the Bride and Groom.
One of our friends asked me if I could photograph their wedding, and they got a swift thanks but no thanks. When I was focused on my street work, and to be honest, I thought wedding photography was beneath me. Talk about being narrow-minded.
It was a decision that I soon regretted, and I would like to say sorry to my friends for that swift and final no. The wedding went ahead. We all had a great time but looking back, that was probably the push my photography needed. But hey, we live and learn.
Since turning down my friend’s offer, I have gone on to photograph numerous weddings either independently or as a 2nd photographer. So why the change of heart? It became noticeably clear that if I were to progress, I needed to challenge myself and see what I could do.
Once I broke through my own ignorance barriers, I started to open my mind to other photography work offers. All have had there own learning curves, and I have gained some valuable experience on the way.
There is something about the energy of the wedding day that gives me this buzz of excitement. Everything from the bridal prep to the first dance is pure energy, and we all get swept along on this wave of emotion, and I am there in the middle of it, trying my best to stay sharp and keep focused.
My coping mechanism for all this nervous energy is to stay tuned in to my environment, practice some mindfulness, and treat the day as one long street photography walk.
Like I have said before in my previous blogs, why be something I am not when its easier to be me.
In October, I will be shooting the wedding of Abbie and Matt. They are a wonderful couple, and I have known Matt for many years and regard him as a good friend. It will be an absolute pleasure to photograph their wedding, especially after everything that has gone on this year.
The wedding photography industry is a tough nut to crack, and there are thousands of photographers out there all chasing the same clients, breaking into the industry takes time and balls of steel.
Is Wedding Photography something I want to pursue as a full-time business? Maybe in the future, but I am simply happy being the street photographer who enjoys shooting the bride and groom.
Keep the Faith
KV
Colour v Mono
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
Comfort Fear.
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
Fujifilm Love Affair
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