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Birmingham Loves Photographers
Run in conjunction with the independent coffee shop 6/8 Kafé, this is a space to promote Birmingham based photographers all of styles, both amateur and professional. We will also be a running events for photography around the West Midlands. If you want your work featured on here, please contact by Ask Me a Question, or go to our Twitter @birmlovestogs
Photo Of The Week by Ian Winstanley: ‘Painted Priest - Kathmandu’
Kate Hook
How did you get into photography/what is your background?
It was when I was about 14 when my dad bought a camcorder where I started playing around with imagery, and then about a year later I got a compact digital camera. It was a really good camera to start with (it was a Fuji one but I can’t remember what model it was!) as it had manual settings so I taught myself the ins and outs of photography. I studied photography at Sutton Art & Design from 2006 to 2008, but due to personal circumstances I gave up photography shortly after I passed my course. Just over a year ago I was encouraged to get back into it and bought my first DSLR and never looked back.
How would you describe your style of photography?
Guess I’d have to say “fresh” as I’m still learning new skills with it and it shows in my work. I’m not known for having a certain style, just being able to do a small variation of techniques and being experimental. I’m quite edgy and starting to become a lot more risqué with my images.
What equipment do you use?
I use a d90 and I’ve started using a manual lens off an old Nikon SLR camera. Also I like to do Lomography so I use a Mini Diana and a Holga a lot too.
Who has influenced your work?
Terry Richardson & Ellen Von Unwerth I’d say were my biggest influences when studying photography. My friends are always throwing ideas at me for pictures, even models have given me some good ideas on shoots! I get a lot of my ideas from my surroundings, like I’ll walk into a scuffy lil corner shop and think it’ll be a great place to do a shoot. As well as different cultures, music, old books, even from old movies I get influenced by styles, colours, even just what an extra is wearing can influence me!
Do you have any ideas on how photography in Birmingham can be developed or ideas for events/projects?
There should be exhibitions that don’t cost a bomb to get involved with! Also maybe start up some workshops with different photographers so they can teach their own tricks of the trade.
BLP Portrait Project - Round 3
Below are the results of the third round of the Birmingham Loves Photographers Portrait Project. Snappers from around the Birmingham entered their names into a pool and were paired up to take portraits of one another and share tips and styles. There’s no prizes or competition involved, it’s all in the name of fun.
If you would like to know more or take part in the next round, then send an email to blpportraitproject@gmail.com and we’ll take it from there.
Kathryn Cartwright by Helen Flanagan
Helen Flanagan by Kathryn Cartwright
Maria Reaney #1 by Malcolm Brice
Maria Reaney #2 by Malcolm Brice
Maria Reaney #3 by Malcolm Brice
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More from the Portrait Project
Dan du Cros
How did you get into photography/what is your background?
I started getting into photography when I was 16. Like many people my age I was introduced to my first SLR via my parents - I wanted a camera to take some pictures of my friends skateboarding (offsetting my utter failure a being any good on a skateboard myself!). My mother had a Canon AV-1 and I started shooting on that. I remember studying the manual from cover to cover, and after a few test shots I was hooked.
By the time it came to deciding what to do at college I found myself at a fork in the road. During secondary school I had a really keen interest in travel & tourism, and was seriously contemplating becoming a ski resort rep! But I decided to go to Solihull College to do a BTEC National Diploma in Photography. It was a great course and really gave a solid grounding in the basics of photography - plus our tutor at the time (Emma Clarke) was fantastic and really supportive. She was also the resident photographer at the old Carling Academy in Brimingham, which is where I got my first taste of music photography.
After the ND I went to the University of Central England to do a BA in photography, but after the first year I had decided that it wasn’t really for me. It was very fine-art based, which is all well and good, but I wanted to be actively working in the industry - so I headed back to Solihull College and undertook a HND in photography. I owe a lot to the the head of photography Larrie Tiernan, because unlike how I personally felt at UCE, it seemed like he really was invested in getting the most out of his students - really pushing them to find work experience and get a job in the industry. Via the course I managed to get work experience with Automotive photographer Ed Lee, as my interest had switched from music to automotive over the past couple of years. I spent a week with him at Junction Eleven studios in Banbury, learnt so much and came away from it very focused and determined to succeed in this field!
4 years later and I am now working at Junction Eleven (and have been since finishing the HND course) as a photographic assistant and second photographer. The past 4 years working here under head of photography Manvir Rai has really moulded how I approach my personal projects - the intense attention to detail required when working here has certainly rubbed off! We’ve shot a huge variety of things from Range Rovers to kitchen room sets to multi-million pound diamond necklaces.
Over the past year or so I’ve found myself drifting back into shooting music at the weekends - more promotional material then anything else. It’s become my primary focus outside of the work at J11 and what I want to become known for - I really want to push it this year and get some stuff into magazines. That’s the side I’m concentrating on in this blog! My aim is to provide unsigned bands with affordable professional photography that’s going to get them noticed and on the whole kick their image up a notch.
How would you describe your style of photography?
I’ve got quite an moody/dark style when it comes to my music promos, but that’s not to say it doesn’t change from time to time! In truth I’m still expanding my knowledge and I’m always trying out new things (aren’t we all?) so I find my style of shooting does tend to flow and get refined from one project to another. At the end of the day I want to create images that stand out, that make people want to look at them in detail instead of just glossing over them. I’m definitely going through a ‘movie poster’ type vibe at the moment.
What equipment do you use?
I still shoot on my college camera - a Canon 1DS MKIIn! It’s my workhorse and I know it so well I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to give it up completely. It suits me fine for the way I shoot - I’m not looking to blow stuff up to billboard proportions! At J11 I use a Phase One / Mamiya 645AFD with a Phase One P45+ back, and a Sinar P2 technical camera.
Lighting wise I use Elinchrom Ranger packs and an Elinchrom Deep Octa softbox, with a couple of strip boxes if I need them. Quick, simple and power when and where you need it! I used to shoot with flashguns like the Canon 580ex, but found that they just couldn’t give me the power and speed I was after.
Who/What influences your work?
We’ll stick the usual suspects here first - the Strobist blog was a massive influence when I was learning off camera lighting. I can’t recommend it enough to every photographer out there. Get the basics down and you’re set, you can apply it to everything - from shooting your cat in your living room, to CEOs of big companies.
Influence wise I’m a big fan of Dave Hill, Joey L, Adam Elmakias and Joel Grimes. If I end up being half as good as these guys I’ll be happy! It’s a great motivator to see the amazing images that they produce, and then watch the behind-the-scenes videos that they provide and realize that there is no witchcraft involved, just an intimate knowledge of their craft.
Contact Dan on his website:
BLP Meet Up - 1st November
We will be having our next get together at 6/8 Kafe on Tuesday 1st November at 6:30pm.
No guest lecture this time - it will be a friendly get together and a chance to meet other photographers and network.
….although we do have a couple of special things up our sleeves.
As well as showing the results from Portrait Project Round 3, there will also be announcements of several exciting new projects, events and opportunities.
I would also like to hear from YOU! BLP is all about inclusiveness and I want to hear about your ideas, what you think would be fun and what opportunities you would like to in order to engage and challenge yourselves.
This will be an open floor discussion, so if you have any thoughts then just come and talk to me after the announcements.
Look forward to seeing you there!
BALLET IN BIRMINGHAM
To mark the start of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s new 2011-12 season, the company has joined forces with a Birmingham-based photographer in a city-wide photographic campaign called Ballet in Birmingham. The campaigncelebrates the world-class ballet company in Birmingham, the city it calls ‘home’. Based at Birmingham Hippodrome, the company has resided in the city for 21 years.
Photographer Richard Battye captured images of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s thirteen Principal dancers, the company Director David Bintley, Assistant Director Marion Tait and Chief Executive Christopher Barron in areas of Birmingham that mean something special to them, away from their work with the company.
The sixteen members of the company photographed over three days in and around Birmingham, selected a range of locations that highlights some of the city’s great treasures, buildings and large and small-scale businesses.
Regulars of the Birmingham Loves Photographers blogs and meet ups will remember Richard Battye from the first ever meet up!
Visit the Website: www.balletinbirmingham.co.uk
Find out about Richard Battye here
Portrait Project - Round 2 Pictures
Below are the results of the second round of the Birmingham Loves Photographers Portrait Project. Snappers from around the Birmingham entered their names into a pool and were paired up to take portraits of one another and share tips and styles. There’s no prizes or competition involved, it’s all in the name of fun.If you would like to know more or take part in the next round, then send an email to blpportraitproject@gmail.com and we’ll take it from there
Andy Reeve by Matt Daniels
Matt Daniels by Andy Reeve
Craig Bush by Jon Bell
Jill Evans (B&W) by Jon Iles
Jill Evans (colour) by Jon Iles
Louise Holgate by Karl Stevens
Pete Sloan by Kathryn Cartwright
Karl Stevens by Louise Holgate
Kathryn Cartwright by Pete Sloan
Jon Iles by Jill Evans
Portrait Project - Round 2
The emails have now been sent out for the pairings in the Portrait Project - Round 2.
But theres still time to get involved!
If you want to take part in the Portrait Project then drop an email to BLPportraitproject@gmail.com and we’ll take it from there.
Don’t forget to check out Round 1’s photos and find out more information here:http://birminghamphotographers.tumblr.com/post/9555245871/birmingham-loves-photographers-portrait-project-round
Birmingham Loves Photographers Portrait Project (round one)
Below are the results of the first round of the Birmingham Loves Photographers Portrait Project. Snappers from around the Birmingham entered their names into a pool and were paired up to take portraits of one another and share tips and styles. There’s no prizes or competition involved, it’s all in the name of fun.
If you would like to know more or take part in the next round, then send an email to blpportraitproject@gmail.com and we’ll take it from there.
Alan Palmer by Karl Stevens
Alex Jones by Chaz Barnes
Andrea May Chance-Hill by Andy Round
Andy Round by Andrea May Chance-Hill
Chaz Barnes by Alex Jones
Claire Williams by Craig Bush
Craig Bush by Claire Williams
Harry Starling by Pete Sloan
Jennifer Peel by Jonathan Bell
Jonathan Bell by Jennifer Peel
Pete Sloan by Harry Starling
Rob Connor by Craig Bush
Library of Birmingham Self-Portrait - 1st October
One of the strands of the public art programme for the new Library of Birmingham, Birmingham Self-Portrait, builds on Birmingham’s tradition of self-portrait photography, including the seminal Handsworth Self-Portrait, which is part of the library’s impressive photographic collections.
Library of Birmingham Self-Portrait is a new project from Birmingham photographers Brian Homer Creative; Timm Sonnenschein, Emma Jo Tucker, Graham Peet, Community Artist and Photographer and Peter James, Head of Photographs at Birmingham Library and Archive Services.
During the autumn of 2011, seven photographic sessions will take place in a range of locations – in the city centre and in community libraries across Birmingham, at which citizens will be invited to take self-portraits in a studio setting, using a shutter release and a plain backdrop. Participants will be given a copy of their photo to take away. The resulting images will be used in a digital installation in the new Library of Birmingham, with potential for a future publication project.
The event is at Ward End Library on Saturday 1st October from 10.00am-4.00pm
