photography

back to the beginning

(This photo of a chimney was one of my first photos. I loved it so much I had it printed and framed. It hung in my bathroom until 2022. )

The story of how I got interested in photography was:

I was experiencing being a victim of crime and I needed to be getting evidence, every time I went to the police to report each incident.  I was using my phone to take photos and the images were very much crap. One day I was in Dick Smiths and I saw a little camera (FinePix J10), on sale for $100 and something dollars, so I bought it in the intention to get better photos for the police.

Version 1.0.0

I started to use the camera for other things besides evidence and soon realised I enjoyed using it and I wasn’t half bad at taking photos.

To my surprise early on I got published by Apple for one of their apps. This is the photo…

I had a friend who was encouraging me and that really got me fired up. When I stated I was really into HDR. This was excellent for the abstract photos, but not so good for other stuff. I joined Flickr in 2009. My taste has changed a lot over the years. Bill Baldridge was one of the first persons I followed on Flickr. I still love the process of what my mind does when I think about when ‘seeing a photo’, and the satisfying ‘click’ that follows. Gavin.

Mr. Squiggle
Flickr

what photography means to me

I really think that anyone can take a photo of something…

i.e. a bunny

or a bird…

these are both excellent photos of a bunny and a bird but for me it’s not really photography.

let me explain

I remember watching this amazing nature photographer talk about this issue when he said: “anyone can take a picture of a polar bear, but it’s just a static image, no context”. In order to have a compelling image the bear needs to have some interesting context.

From day one I didn’t want to be just taking photos of ‘things’ I wanted to make ‘art’.

I watched a Netflix show about these people doing scary stuff on the top of very high buildings. skywalkers

When he meets a girl doing similar stuff, they end up meeting and falling in love. He says: “I was just taking photos of myself on the top of buildings, but when I met her, she was making art”.

Since the advent of mobile phones, everyone is now a photographer, and the need for professional photography is no longer needed. I’m not a purist at all, but I used to be when I first started. Now I like Instagram just as much as the next person.

Gavin.

photography tips for ‘beginners’ (and more)

I wanted to pass on some of the things I’ve learnt over the last 5 years.
yep. I’ve only been doing it (photoing) for 5 years.

1. the camera is not all that important these days. it’s the person (taking the photo) behind the camera that matters. cameras are pretty good these days. phones are also good. so use what ever you want.

2. take plenty of photos. if you wait for photos, you will end up with none or very little to work with.
sometimes I get photo-block. when that happens, I force myself to get the camera out and take photos.
it really works as it gets the mind into gear, and the creative juices flowing.

3. avoid hesitating. this is a big one, particularly if you want to take street shots. if you hesitate, you are sure to miss the opportunity(s). keep the camera a easy reach.
i use a shoulder strap.

shoulder strap

4. sometimes the biggest issue when you first start, can be: what do I want to take photos of?
one way to help with this block is to look at photo web sites. Flickr, Instagram, WordPress etc. etc. can really help one find a focus. these sites also offer feedback and can give you great ideas.
Flickr has really influenced what styles I trended towards.

5. do a course. they can be so helpful to understand all of the functions on your camera.
note: what may work for some one else, may not work for you.
so, there are no absolute rules with photography.

6. avoid taking yourself too seriously. this is a big one for beginners. if you are too hard on yourself/compare yourself to others/get too caught up on the ‘perfect’ photo. etc. you will end up unhappy.

there is an unbridled joy in taking and processing photos.

let yourself enjoy the experience.

7. processing. there are plenty of free software programs on the net like Gimp and they are all relatively easy to use and are great for beginners.

six tips for photoing people

# 1. i try to avoid sneaking around as this behavior draws attention to one.
u can be sneaky though i.e. i like to pretend to take a picture of something else, when i’m really taking a picture of a person.

# 2. even if u don’t feel confident, pretend that u r, as this stops others seeing u as a potential victim. often when i pretend, the confidence comes after a while.

# 3. have a coffee or a drink with caffeine in it. this helps so much. gives u nrg and the courage to get out there and snap snap.

# 4. when u can, get permission to take the photo. i do this animated thing by pointing to the camera and then pointing at the person. u can often get a nod yes. if u get into trouble, just delete the photo (while they are watching u delete it).

# 5. read people’s body language. this is relatively easy, with some practice. u can’t always get it right, but more often than not i do.

# 6. finally don’t run away once u have taken the photo. (this is very important). stand your ground, and act normal. this is this thing that has been crucial in taking street shots for me.

people