to move up and down
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
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
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!
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
In Focus - Portrait Photography
Birmingham Loves Photographers produces a series of ‘In Focus’ features where photographers from around the second city can submit photos and a maximum four line description on the chosen topic.
This In Focus is on the topic ‘Portrait Photography’
Portrait photography for me is allowing the viewer to see something they wouldn’t normally see, be that a hidden character, inner strength or vulnerability. This portrait was shot in infrared hence the unusual colour shift and wax like skin, which is typical of IR photography. James Tate
Although I appreciate and like contemporary portrait styles, my own limited portrait work is very heavily influenced by the work of 40’s and 50’s portrait photographers such as Horst and Karsh. Their work, particularly their lighting, never ceases to amaze and inspire me. This was one of a couple images I produced a while back seeking to emulate their style. It was shot on film and then printed by hand. Richard Southall
As a photographer I feel the main ingredients when taking a portrait are trust and rapport with your subject. I want to convey my subject’s personality and spirit. This shot was taken when I worked with a homeless charity in Birmingham. Portrait photography is about building a connection with someone and understanding that person or place. Portrait photography should lead the audience into a silent narrative with the images. Maria Reaney
This is my father. He’s brought me up through my teenage years, and without him I wouldn’t be able to be the person I want to be. I took this photo because I’d caught him in a rare moment of calm contentedness. Lauren-Jade Gilbert
A portrait is the search for the essence of a subject. It often includes the face, especially the eyes, seeking out a naturalistic effect. This is a conceit: there is nothing natural about a three-lamp lighting scheme or silver disc reflectors. This image emphasises the constructed nature of portraiture through the medium of fantasy, while still endeavouring to capture that essence: a contradiction of poise, sexual confidence and, well…what exactly? Arrogance? Shyness? Karl Held
It’s important to me that portraitphotography is not intrusive or a display of technical virtuosity or an alienating and deforming construction of the photographed person (put your arm there, eyes left, now 3h of make up), but just focus on the individual as the individual is that very moment. portraitphotography should “go” to where the other person is with the photographer being as restrained as possible and photographing only what one is able to see. as a way of maybe getting to know someone, to appreciate the gift that the other person is, just a tiny momentary glimpse of at/into the life of the other person. [this is a photo of Stan (I asked him whether it’s ok to use it for this purpose and he allowed it), taken with olympus om 1 & rollei retro 100 film & developed by the better half.] Flowerville
Photographing friends is something I sometimes find challenging Jonathan Cherry
I love photographing people - it is literally my favourite thing to photography - problem is I keep running out of people I know to photograph. So I decided to take to the streets and photograph someone I don’t know. I got this rather touching portrait of a father and his baby. The power of father compared to the fragility of the baby made this rather interesting to me. Dave Cox
This is a recent portrait I took of two students visiting England from Germany. I love this image because it shows the girl’s natural beauty (as I haven’t really edited it too much). This image speaks to me even though there isn’t a lot of activity happening in-frame. It just shows that images can move people without being over complicated and that keeping things simple is just as effective.. Andrea Chance-Hill
UK Rap artist Diamond White wanted a few portrait shots for promotial purposes, he is a colourful character and has that ‘urban’ rap artist look. So the back streets of digbeth as backdrop we took some shots while talking about our different musical tastes.
I love doing portrait photography as you can get to know the person you are shooting, the more you talk the better the ideas and shots can get. Rob Farrell
I was pretty much brought up by my grandmother. This is one of her crazy stories. It was my first roll of black and white. Richard P J Lambert
This is Scrumpy’s favourite chair in his garden because he can keep an eye on everyone and everything - and only he gets to sit in it! James & Kat Crockford
I’ve never really liked photographs that are too thought-out or set up, the most inspiring portraits for me are those that capture a moment with the subject almost unaware, even at times the image can appear posed, there’s nothing artificial about them – simply people being natural, often in their own environment. I actually prefer more candid documentary shots where you get past the public persona, often showing something much deeper. Lee Basford
As I walked the streets of London, camera in hand, this chap shouted out to me; ‘You want to photograph something real then photograph ME, I’m the real eastender’. So I did. Lisa Doubleyou
I guess if there’s any truth to the belief that a photograph can steal
a soul, it’s through portraiture. Fran Lane
The reason I like portraits is that they tell a story. Sometimes that story is clear, sometimes not. Sometimes it’s about the person, sometimes there’s a bigger message; sometimes it’s about what that person holds in their hand or where they are in the world, sometimes the face speaks for itself. That said, what I love about portraits is that sometimes the story is totally ambiguous, and will be different for everyone who views the picture. Sometimes more questions are left asked than answered; who is this person? What are they waiting for? Where are they going? Where have they been? I like that we don’t know who this person is or what she is waiting for; in this case the story is in the mind of the viewer, and never answered. Jill Evans
He slowly takes off his clothes, folding them neatly in a corner of the room. We don’t have much time because he has to collect his daughter from a piano lesson in a little while. He asks me how he should pose and I ask him how it is he’d like to pose. After the scenario, he ensures everything is back in its neat rightful place. Helen Flanagan
