Visualization

I've got my work cut out for me. I've been writing an eBook about Visualization. It's quite a difficult subject to discuss, but there are lots of things to discuss about it - even if it is hard to explain.

My eBook about Composition was quite straight forward for me to write. I've had a lot of time to explain composition to participants on my workshops. It is the cornerstone of what we do I feel. But visualization? Well, it's less tangible really, more about imagination, more about realisation, being able to conceptually bring together in your minds eye what it is you see the final photograph looking like. It's also tightly coupled to Composition.

So what are your thoughts about visualization?

Creativity

For as long as I can remember, I've always dabbled in something of a creative form. My first endevours being with charcoal, pencils and paints. I kind of fancied myself as an 'artist' at the age of 8. Then it was music in my teens, and eventually it was all cast aside for photography.

I bring this up because I had a really interesting discussion with someone I met in a cafe today. Mike said that he felt a lot of people have creativity drummed out of them as they grow up. As a young adult or late teen, we start to realise that it might be hard to make a living from something we're creative in. I've certainly had people on my workshops who tell me 'not everyone is born an artist' or have claimed to have lead such an academic or scientific life, that they find it hard to tap into their creative side.

My friend in the cafe and myself agreed, that creativity is not dead or non-existent with most people - it's just dormant. At any stage in our lives, if we're fortunate, we find our creativity awakened. I think that's why people 'discover' photography at different ages and more specifically, why they enjoy it so much.

Photography gives us an excuse to exercise our creative side. It allows us to escape and for those that haven't done this since they were young, it can come as a very liberating, joyous experience.

Isn't photography wonderful?

Iceland & Bolivia Monographs

I was going to release a new eBook this month titled 'Examples - the making of 40 photographs', but things have changed in the last week. I'm shelving this project as an eBook for the time being as I feel it is going to be the basis for a physical, cloth bound book. It's very early days at the moment so don't hold your breath for a physical book anytime soon. But suffice to say that a project is underway.

Instead, I'll be offering a different eBook at the end of April about low-light photography where I cover all the technical requirements for shooting in low light with digital and film. More information about this later on.

In the meantime, I'm pleased to let you know that i've got two monographs now available:

Iceland - a photographer's monograph

Monographs by definition are about single subjects. In this case, I've put together a collection of my Iceland images with some short essays about my time and experiences whilst there in 2004.

I feel Iceland has been one of my most successful photographic endeavours, so it's great to be able to offer this eBook which contains high resolution images to be enjoyed on a 24" and even a 30" screen if you are lucky to own one.

Bolivia - a photographer's monograph

Likewise, I'm pleased to announce a monograph about Bolivia at the same time.

For me, Iceland and Bolivia conveyed the more alien aspects of the Earth's natural landscape. Bolivia went one step further because not only did it look alien, it felt alien too. With high altitude symptoms - headaches and breathlessness, I felt sometimes that I could have been on another world.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy these eBooks. I'll let you know when the 'low-light-photography' book is available.

Until that is available, you can buy the monographs here.

Visualisation

I was speaking to a friend of mine a few weeks back, and he mentioned that he'd love to see a book on Visualisation from me. So this is one of the many little projects I have on the go at the moment.

I've been working on a few ideas these past few months, one of which has just been released - 'Simplifying Composition'. But there's simply so much to write about.... Low Light Photography and the techniques involved in this realm, portraiture, and some monographs that I'm keen to release.

So tonight I've been considering visualisation. Ansel said that 'the negative is the score, and the print is the performance'. I couldn't agree more.

Torridon Weekend - Only 2 spaces left

I've got a weekend workshop lined up for Torridon this October - 15th to the 17th. The trip is now almost full - there are currently only 2 spaces left. If you want to come, more details can be found here. But be quick, as it's going to sell out :-)

If you want to reserve a space - email me.

So film is too expensive huh?

I'm sure this will fuel the fires of those that think nothing better discussing the merits of Digital vs Film.

Personally, I made my mind up a few years ago which medium works well for my style of photography. We pay our money, we make our choices and I respect anyone else's decision to go with whatever medium, be it digital or film.

But I'd like to talk about the false assumption that Film is expensive to shoot. I hear from a lot of people that they're interested in moving to film, but the cost of buying the stock and processing it is cost-prohibitive for them. Add in the fact that you need to buy a decent film scanner, and the speed at which you can turn around your images - and it rapidly becomes a no-no for most.

I think there are really two arguments to this. One is, I'm a bit worried about it costing me money and the other is 'I'm not committed enough to try film out'. Both are completely separate arguments.

I don't think film is expensive, if you consider that buying a new DSLR every two to three years is a reality for a lot of people. I think it comes down to the fact that people like buying cameras, like buying the latest equipment. This has nothing to do with creating art.

If you want to get into film, then buying a film camera at the moment couldn't be cheaper. Buying a decent film scanner will be a little harder as there are few to choose from and most keep good second hand prices on eBay. But I reckon if you stick with that cheap Medium Format outfit and a sub 1K film scanner for more than 3 years, you'll be just as cheap as buying a new DSLR, and you get the chance to try different film stocks with their respective look and feel properties. You may even find that you love shooting Medium format, Large Format, and wonder why you never made the jump in the first place. You may discover that this has opened up a new creative path for you.

On the other hand, you may be happy buying the latest digital SLR every couple of years - which is fine. Just consider that the argument about film being expensive is a moot point. If you really wanted to try film out, there'd be no stopping you.

Outer Hebrides

Last year I spent a week on the isle of Harris. I didn't quite make it to Barra, Eriskay, Berneray or the Uists. So this May, I will be heading out there for a few weeks to photograph the islands I missed out on last year.

I've travelled a lot. I've been to many countries and many exotic landscapes around the world. It's been an incredible journey. If anything, what I've learned is a deeper appreciation for my own country. Scotland is incredible.

I feel that my own photographic projects for the next year at least, are going to be Scotland centric. I know that this trip to the Hebrides is only one of many to come over the next few years. There's simply so much to my own country and I can't wait to get out there.

If you want to join me, I'm conducting a photographic workshop on Harris at the end of May. More details here.

Examples - work in progress

Many thanks to all of you who bought my new eBook - Simplifying Composition. It has been a great project for me to work on. I thought I'd let you know about the next title that I will be releasing. Titled 'Examples - the making of 40 photographs', I expect it to be out at the end of April.

This is of course, work permitting, as I have a workshop running on the isle of Eigg at the end of April, and one to one client time booked for this month.

But until it's finished, here are some tasters for the new book. It's got 40 high resolution images in it, so it displays beautifully on the largest of computer monitors.

The book contains images from my entire portfolio: Bolivia, Cambodia, Cuba, Easter Island, Iceland, Portugal, Patagonia, Scotland.... and is a combination of portraiture and landscape work.

Until then, if you don't already know about my latest eBook, it's called Simplifying Composition and you can find out more information about it here.

Finding your flow

I met up with a photographer friend last week in the Lake district in north England. I always enjoy meeting up with Peter because we have a lot of discussions about the art aspect of photography and most importantly, the aspirations that we all have as artists.

One of the subjects that came up while I was talking to Peter was about finding our own paths. I think each and every one of us is on a path. In creative terms I'm talking about how we progress as photographers, grow, move forward.

It's only when I look back at where I've come from, that I can see the path that I'm on.

If I were to dissect my photography and it's style, I'd say that in the past couple of years, it's been moving toward a more simpler form of composition.

The key to moving forward with your own style, i believe, is to remain inspired.

I find that the lucky chance encounter, the pleasing mistake in my work, often gives me a clue to where I should be going in the future.

So have you found your flow? Your creative highway?