Is there such a thing as photographer's vision?

Ok so the name is a bit crap at the moment but I ll come up with a better term for it but can as you improve visualise the perfect shots in situations you know you are going to be in before actually being there with your subject in the location?

I had this epiphany on the way home from work today. Now it might have just been a simple matter of a good day and the thought of coming home for Christmas but I started thinking towards seeing my niece Isla. I was told recently that having just turned 1 she is literally finding her feet and getting pretty good at it and I can already visualise the kind of shots I want of her and my very proud sister.

This isn't just a blog for blogs sake either, I really do think there is something in it that since I've been taking photography more serious than I did, my ability or eye as people seem to know it for a good photo has improved. When you have an opportunity like me maybe you have an event coming up, maybe your seeing family over Christmas or friends for new year. Take the opportunity to think about some photos you might want to take situations you might want people in.

This doesn't have to be a regular thing you do everything there is a photo op because at the end of the day it is meant to be fun but pick a type of shot you want and a ideal situation to practise those shots. For instance im going home to see family and I am going to use quality time with my niece as an opportunity to practise a variety of shots of people. Here walking (or trying to) will give the perfect chance to experiment with different angles etc.

I will update soon with some new pics and a new entry but for now go experiment and enjoy.

Getting Started Part 2: Giving the guides a go!

Ok for those who are regular readers let me take you back a past entry Getting Started: Trial and error the Gilman way! which should have led onto this entry a while ago but as is the beauty of blogging and photography, I  got easily distracted and off topic. One of the things I love about taking pictures and learning how to take good quality photos is simply the fact that they are always so many different prospectives and techniques to learn from and experiment with. My next task was simply to have a browse and see what online guides I could find that would be useful.

So after spending a few hours doing random searches in google, yahoo etc I felt like crying but I quickly realised I had some friends who did photography or knew some people. A few facebook messages and texts later I had a few links of good guide websites and general tips.

Having been lucky enough to get a camera bought for me and have one suggested for me by a friend I didn't have the stress and worry of choosing my own camera or working out if it was good enough or not. Now this might actually be a bad thing and it means in time I will need to do a little bit of reading up on what camera types etc are best for different types of photos but I've been reassured by friends that for what I've got and for what I want to do, I ll be ok if I  read the manual back to front and inside out. So I did!! 

I will go through these and reviews theses and share the best bits of advice which of course I will test to check it works etc. I will also be giving you a chance to sample some of my tester shots (feel free to comment thats what they are there for)

photo.tutsplus.com

 This particular link is great for a very detailed website with guides for almost everything. The link here will take you to a basix section of the website and in particular I picked out this guide which tells someone like me (photo newbie) what I need to know to make a difference between a good shot into a brilliant shot. http://photo.tutsplus.com/articles/theory/the-basic-recipe-for-taking-great-pictures/ A lot of the information in this article is about the effects good or bad lighting have on your subject and after reading this and my cameras manual I can tell you I am a lot more aware of the how each of photo looks depending on the situation I find myself in.

See example of where lightning needed to be right : 

This photo was taken inside a shed! Yes a shed all for a good cause at a Christmas market event we recently had done through work. Anywho.... although bright and clearly taken during the day being inside with very little light meant I had to fiddle with the settings a little more than usual. By putting the exposure up manually and getting the right angle and making sure I had my camera in macro mode I got this shot perfect. Now firstly I wouldn't have done this without reading the manual back to front and making sure I tested different settings but also if your like I used to be the terms exposure etc might have gone over your head. I suggest you read this article and have a browse at the same time. Great website for beginners like myself.

This site was suggested to me and I think it is quite popular and I can see why. Digital Photography School is a great website that has everything from forums to sharing photos and as I mentioned a little bit about before in I needed this blog in my life, handy assignments that keep focus on practising a certain aspects you want to focus on. This site is fantastic when you like me know a little more about your camera and want to try out something new. The best thing about it is that it has a very big community feel to it. You have a lot of scope to share photos and see others but also read other peoples trials and tribulations with trying different assignments or simply trying out a new camera or piece of equipment. Here are a few of my new photos again feel free to comment and share. My blog is like a working document or work in progress it needs comments and direction to go forward as do I :)

Until next time (and in case I don't get the chance before xmas) have a great holiday everyone!!

The World Famous Winchester College Chapel

More pics from inside feel free to comment

Clickity Click: Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Clickity Click: Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!: "I love my job but what can you do when the snow you have been expecting for days suddenly falls over night and gives you a day off.... well ..."

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

I love my job but what can you do when the snow you have been expecting for days suddenly falls over night and gives you a day off.... well that's easy you take pictures! No particular focus or types of shots used here just a nice collection of photos of the snow both at night and during the day today. I felt like a little kid last night when I realised it was snowing and got very excited! But instead of running out and playing in I saw this as a great opportunity to take some great photos of my street (from my window obviously).

I particularly like this photo(Left) as I managed to catch a car heading down the road and the lighting looks great against the road especially in the snow. Its a shame that the picture quality wasn't better but not bad for a quick snap.

This is a nice festive picture of the only bungalow on my road and with a nice busy photo I would like to think well framed! Covered in snow looks great and I thought that the plant to the left makes a great focal point. Very similar to the previous photo I think it works well because of the one main colour with a few contrasting tones. Really helps focus your attention.

Nice picture of my snow garden!

Nice shot again, contrast being important here

Again more garden shots

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

So that's it for now, as and when I can get out of the house I will post some more photos. Feel free to comment and please if you get a chance send me a message or some photos of your snow adventures would love to here from you: ross.gilman@hotmail.co.uk

Until next time enjoy!

New Job, New Opportunities

Its been a while since I was last on here and I have very good reason why I've been too busy to do update people on my progress. I am in my 2nd week of a great new job as Community Fund-raiser at a wonderful charity called The Rose Road Association, a charity that works with and supports Children and young adults with complex disabilities and their families in the local area! (Please click the named link for more info) Now for those of you in the UK this is based in Southampton and for any international/oversees its down the south of England! :)



So now we have with the geography lesson out of the way (for those who needed it) there is a very good point to me mentioning my new work in my photography blog. I am in a great position at the moment to be able to take advantage of some fantastic opportunities with this new job and try out many techniques and tips that I might pick up along the way and I want to give those who might still be a lost an insight into what I am trying to get at.

The best way to sum up my new role is I will make new contacts and work with community groups we already have links with in the area to put on big and bold fund-raising events to raise money for our Rose Road Children's Appeal. With this comes a great opportunity to practise my skills and at the same time have a chance to showcase  the great work of our volunteers and spread the awareness of some of the great events that we do to show exactly how much of a good thing it is when communities get together for a great cause. Another interesting thing that occurred to me last week was at my 1st event, a charity triathlon. I got talking to the photographer on the day who was nice enough to share some ideas with me and I felt very inspired by the photos from the day that should be on-line fairly soon for those interested. But the one thing I got from this was a simple idea that I will have a chance to get tips of the many different photographers we use at these many vary events and in the hope maybe even get some advice and tips I could share with you lovely people.

This doesn't just go for me either, opportunities are open to everyone who is willing to get a bit of time as a volunteer for a good cause. If you are a budding photographer like me and you take random snaps of any events, nights out whatever it might be, going to fund-raising events taking snaps and potentially asking for tips off the events officially photography team might be the best bit of hands on experience you could get.

Already I have great ideas for selling good quality prints of my photos to any who are interested with the majority of proceeds going to the children's appeal. Some of which might be of our up and coming Santa dash and other events and some might just be other photos I take whilst experimenting. Details will follow in future blogs so watch this space. Oh and before I go need to point you in the direction of a fantastic blogger who really has helped a newbie like me to understand how to market a blog much like a business to get more and more hits and make sure that I can be found on the right search engines etc. If you like me need the help, you need this guy. Kris Beus

P.S. more blogs to follow over the next few days, as I am sure you have all missed my blogs..... your getting two or three in quick succession.