Dance, movement, angry mums...

Today was spent mostly running about themothertown of Bedford with a camera, and a spring in my step. I had been commissioned by the council to shoot the dance festival, which had a broad range of dancing styles across a variety of displays - in various locations. The brief was quite straight forward - get some cool shots of the dances, show some diversity, a range of races, ages, styles...and let your camera do the rest. So I did just that!

It was a bit of a new experience as I was completely left to my own devices. Some of the displays were absolutely amazing, including some really funky displays from street dance outfits A-Pex and Two-Step - these crews had some moves, and luckily I got some tidy shots of them doing their thing. A few examples below!

The only downfall of the day was having a mum blow up at me all red faced and well spoken as I accidentally trod on her daughters sandwich when glued to my camera's viewfinder while moving gently through a crowd to get a good shot at the front of the masses. The conversation went a bit like this:

me: excuse me, sorry do you mind if I just get a shot from the front, excuse me...
woman: just walk through then why don't you?!?!
me: ok thanks
woman: no you can't
(by which point I already had)
woman: Oi you. Oi
(I took three or four shots, which was all I needed, then turned to her...)
me: yes?
woman: you could have said excuse me
me: I did. And thanks.
woman: well you stood on my daughters sandwich?
me: sorry did I?
(she reveals squashed sandwich)
me: sorry about that...I'm really sorry...
woman: yeah you should be!
me: I am. I didn't even realise...I'll happily replace it?
woman: you could have said excuse me.
me: I did. Twice. Why did you leave it on the floor?
woman: I didn't think anyone would walk on it?
me: on the floor?
woman: yeah!!
me: you didn't think anyone would walk on it on the floor...
woman: no. I mean yeah. I mean no I didn't.
me: do you not walk on the floor then?
woman: no!
me: No...

I shook my head and walked away smiling. She went very red, I thought she might actually go after me for a second. Or possibly literally explode. I got a good picture of her from the other side of the crowd though, picking her nose (not even kidding. If I was more evil I would post it up here...).

It's probably obviously clear she was miffed I had got in her way to take a couple of shots. Its possible I stood on the sandwich, but I think I would have noticed to be honest with you and it kind of sounded like she just wanted to move me on so she could get her place at the very front back.

It must be made clear that under no circumstances will I ever let anyone at any event I shoot get in the way of me doing my job. Simple!

If I ever meet that lady again I will buy her the best sandwich she or her daughter have ever had.

Despite this one little intrusion, I was delighted with what I captured today. I grew up in Bedford and if I'm honest, I haven't been back in a while. Because it's my hometown, I always get that weird sense of recognising nearly everyone I see, despite me not being back there in quite a few months. I made some great contacts at this event, including a dude called Rio who ran one of the street dance companies. You never know where future work may come from! I'll send them some shots through next week.

Mid Week Speak

Today I had a meeting with the council about covering a day of dance called Dance4All over the weekend. The event has been highly publicised across the region and there's a huge range of classes, exhibitions and shows throughout the day. I'm looking forward to it. Capturing movement...especially with something as artistic and dance - will be a great challenge I am very much looking forward to. I also had some great feedback from the guys in the band (Carnaby Street) about some proofs I sent through to them so they can get a gig poster together. They're pleased with what I've created so far, and there's a load more to come - but a few examples below for you to have a gander at. And this evening I had a meeting with a lovely couple who are looking to book me for their wedding next summer.

I am loving the diversity of things at the moment. It's great to be able to move from studio photography and portraits, to corporate, to bands, to weddings!

Just another random day at two-d photography!

Comes Around

Today I photographed a band from the Milton Keynes/Bedford area called 'Carnaby Street'. The guys had come to see me after seeing an advert in Rubies Shoes in Leighton Buzzard. A friend of mine Sara owns the shop and let me put a poster up and this was the first lead I'd got from it so was intrigued to see what kind of clients they would be. Their style was 60's blues. If I'm honest, as my client base for music has mainly this far consisted of younger bands - I was surprised initially they had chosen me to create them a photography portfolio. I have always considered my work to be quite edgy, contemporary and perhaps a bit different to what I assumed a band of this culture would be looking for.

With the help of my glamourous assistant Sarah, we headed off firstly for a location shoot in a field with a view. We drank heaps of tea first thing to ensure we were fuelled and ready for a what appeared this morning to be a very warm day indeed - not a cloud in the sky.

Equipment:

- trusty canon 5d mark II
- 3 x speedlights
- one softbox
- range of attachable gels
- stands

The guys also brought along their instruments. I had a few concepts in mind for the field location. Sticking with the 60's theme, I thought I might try and recreate a Beatles shot I'd seen online a few days before. It involved jumping simultaneously. The majority if the group members were 50 + and I was aware of a couple of dodgy knees. Be assured, I wanted to get the shot within 3 takes. Second take we nailed it and moved on to Stewartby Brickworks. There was an old abandoned entrance way with a big heavily weathered wooden door I had seen while driving past a couple of weeks before. I loved the building as it has obviously been abandoned for some time. It had a lovely rustic feel to it. The weather had done it's job well.

We finished the day with a couple of hours in the studio to ensure we had some decent individuals for them to use as well. I used a selection of low-key and high-key lighting here. I tried to really exaggerate the moody shots.

All in all a great day and it was awesome to get creative shooting creatives! I love band shoots as more often than not, being artists, ones creative license can be given license to run a bit more wild. I started off shooting a band for free when photography was just a hobby. My passion for this kind of shoot has not, and I am sure will never leave me. I have a few ideas for the editing suite so check back soon for some examples from the shoot! I lookforward to your feedback.

Cheers,

dD

This is my camera. There are many others like it, but this one is mine...

I thought it was about time I got back on the 'blogging train'. My girlfriend has a blog and raves about it all the time. Plus the constant pings on her iPhone from numerous comments she gets on her posts are something I quest for. If I'm out and about, with my phone constantly going off - I'll look more popular.

Ahem.

Right.

Well.

Where to begin? If you want to skip all the reasonably boring stuff like where it all began, how I became a photographer in the first place, check out my very first and very ONLY blog insert to date. It was made over a year ago and at the time I was just starting off two-d photography. If you have the time, give it a read. You'll see where I've come from (sorry the pictures don't work! The blog is so old they have fossilised into question marks...).

Now for where I am. Because a lot has happened in the last year.

Not only has my client base and range of projects increased quite significantly, I have a good friend and investor come on board...and we have built a studio!

Needless to say, with two-d photography Ltd. (HD Video, weddings, bands, corporate) and two-d studios Ltd. (family portrait photography) now running simultaneously, my project scope has increased and we have some very exciting things in the pipeline. I have included below a brief overview in absolutely no particular order - of some projects we have done this year (with a picture of each - to keep with the theme....ha!) to bring you up-to-date in a flash (pun definitely intended).

KENNY BAKER - The bloke who was R2D2. We photographed him at Collectormania at Stadium:MK in Milton Keynes back in May. He told so many stories!!

RICHARD DEAN ANDERSON: The bloke who was Macgyver and in Stargate SG. He was taller than I thought he'd be. He was delighted with the work we did for him and to be honest, it was nice hearing this for a guy who has had his picture taken for nearly 40 years!

IMAGE BARBER: A contemporary hair stylist based in Bedford. Mick wanted some images for a portfolio he was submitting to a national competition in London. We had a shoot with a vehicle and in an old-school American diner in Northampton!

PATHFINDERS - AMERICAN FOOTBALL TEAM: This shoot was on location and in the studio. The lads wanted some portfolio images for their website, roster sheets and publication and marketing purposes.

AUDI: A HD video for a client information day undertaken back in September.

A few weddings and other bits and bobs have taken place ongoing, including some regular work I do for thecentre:mk - one of Europe's largest shopping centres.

The studio continues to flourish, and bookings are steadily increasing. The biggest job over the next few months will be finding the time to pursue the photography I love, as well as what pays the bills. For those budding photographers out there, or those of you who are making an income from what you love - you can no doubt relate first hand. Being able to balance the highly creative and spontaneous photography that we all yearn for is one thing...but creating imagery that sells and pays ones bills is quite another. I am lucky enough to have a good mix going on at the moment, as well as a few video projects. Ironically perhaps, I am doing a shoot tomorrow that takes me all the way back to pretty much the literal day one. The day it all began for real. If you have read my previous blog entry you will know that I started all this photographing a band for free just to get out there and indulge in an opportunity to play with my camera and some lights.

Tomorrow I am photographing another band in a very similar set up, but this time I am being paid for it.

It's funny what can happen in the space of two years. two-d philosophy. Never give up on what you really want to do. If you are creative and love being so, you'll find a way to do it every day. Whether it be an imaginative doodle while sat behind a desk in a stuffy office, or a photo shoot with a celebrity personality.

Keep going.

Pick. That. Camera. Up.

Keep checking in to see how we're getting on, what we're up to and feel free to fire any questions over.

Band shoot entry coming soon!

dD