Street Photography Now - Sophie Howarth, Stephen McLaren

This is a beautifully produced book showing some of the world's best street photography. It also explains what motivates and fascinates these 46 men and women contributors.

You close the book and still feel intrigued to understand more about the situations you've seen. Some are very amusing and uplifting, others leave you questioning and thoughtful. The pictures show you that wherever people are in the world they are consistently unaware of themselves and their actions. I thought the interviews were very good and editorially perceptive. So much better than the usual assembly of unrelated submissions. They give a real insight into the photographers and were suitably down to earth as is appropriate for street photography.

This is the most comprehensive book I've read on the subject to-date and it cleverly captures what makes street photographers tick.

Lyme Bay Photo Club Summer Exhibition 2011

Results are in for the favourite images with over 100 prints to vote for.  I was awarded a very pleasing 3rd place (of course, first would have been much better) with a Panograph image of the Lyme Regis Harbour Master who'se main task in life is to watch life going past.

The winner was a print entitled 'Towards Stonebarrow' by club member Jenny Wallis:

And 2nd place was awarded to a print entitled 'Charmouth Rainbow' by club member Ian Bolton.

Self motivation

I am now on my third level 1 module and have found it very difficult in the past to keep motivated, especially when I was working full time.  The worst time was when I was working through the Art of Photography which seemed to go on for ever.  The relief when it was completed was immense and I sent it on its way thankfully.

It seems that I was not alone with keeping myself motivated as I have picked up a thread in the OCS student forum site from someone who is going through the same problem and is asking for help.  There have been 13 support posts in 3 days with other students either expressing the same feelings or offering advice on how to get remotivated.  I wish the forum had been around when I was struggling through TAOP, it would have helped immeasurably.

Here's the web forum address of the thread on self motivation:

http://oca-student.com/node/65658#comment-34755

Lyme Bay Photographic Club summer exhibition

I haven't blogged recently as I have been working with a group of club members to put on our summer exhibition.  I never realised how much time it took to get it all together. The last club secretary did it all himself and complained what little help he got from the members.

We have five members working together with me, as programme secretary, directing and cajoling people along.  One of the hardest things to achieve in Lyme Regis is publicity in the local newspapers of which there are two main ones.  There are always so many things going on that space is limited and you have to do something special to get noticed.  But, the news is getting out, members who have email have sent messages round to their other interest groups and we have posted notices in the town and other local towns to let people know.

The town is holding a Carnival and Regatta Week (which is why we chose this particular time when there are many more visitors around) and we hope to benefit from their publicity as well. 
Everything seems sorted (bound to be some last minute hiccups) but there is time yet to unravel any problems.  Let the showing begin!

ELINCHROM LIGHTING SETS

In the mid-1990s I worked as a freelance photographer and had a set of lights similar to the Elinchrom BXRi To Go set which came with a big black carrycase which, if you were a bit inebriated, looked like a coffin. It was a great set of lights which saw me through a wide variety of situations and I was sorry to sell it when I gave up freelancing to get a proper job. When I was looking to buy a new car I even had to take into account the boot size to make sure the case would fit in it!


I was interested to see the thread in the OCA Students Forum where various lighting set ups were under discussion. Nothing changes, people want the best value for their hard earned money and it's good that others are willing to share their experiences before you make a decision and spend what is quite a considerable amount of money.

Here's the link to the forum thread:

http://oca-student.com/photography_film_digital/node/63694

Local Camera Club Print Exhibition

During the week of the Beaminster Festival, Saturday 25 June to Sunday 3 July inclusive, the Beaminster Camera Club displayed about 80 images representing the work of members at all stages of their photographic journey.  The exhibition, at the Beaminster Museum, was run in conjunction with work from the photographic department of Beaminster School, together with an exhibition of paintings and ceramics by Dorset artists.

It was a very wide ranging, eclectric mix of pictures that were very interesting to see.  All the prints in the main room were numbered and visitors were able to vote for their favourite print.  It will be interesting to see which print was the most popular.

If there was one fault running through both photographic exhibitions it was that the main subject area was not pin sharp.  I have the same problem with my auto focusing if I am not careful in that the main subject area which should be pin sharp is not. I tend to focus in front of the subject (especially when I go for a grab shot) instead of checking which part of the focussing area will be the main subject area.  It looks like I am not alone in this area as several of the prints had the same problem!

On Photography: Susan Sonntag

After reading various books on photography technique I decided to find books which covered the theory behind it all. It is a very good read and a facinating insight if a little dry.

This is best read by flicking through and reading literary snap shots of Sontags work. If you are about to do a photography course this is the book for you and if you have ever wondered about photography this book will inform you.