An experimental day with the Fuji Instax

Hello everyone

I promised you some Fuji Instax pics on my last post and a few weeks ago I went out with a friend from Consett Photographic Society and we had an "experimental" day with the Fuji.

We started off at the Quayside and then walked to Ouseburn - a great place for old graffiti and fly-tipping !

Here are some pics from the day :

This is my favourite of the day 

If you go down to the Quayside, there are these outdoor fitness machines.  Great after a few pints !

Superb poster - very dada !

My attempt at motion blur with the Fuji !

My first attempt at scoring - a lot harder than it looks !

Love the bleached out effect of this building 

Fuji Instax practice !!

Hi Folks

I can't believe how long it's been since I have last posted something. 

Not to worry though, I am going out with a friend from Consett Photographic Society on Monday and we will be playing with our Fuji Instax cameras.

Here's a pic of my Instax below :



Hopefully, I will be posting something soon - watch this space :)

Tracy

People and Poppies

Hi Folks

It's been nearly a month since I posted anything so thought I'd get my finger out and put something up !

I went out to Durham with a few friends yesterday.  It was very hot, especially in the afternoon, but if you can survive the heat, it's a good place to get people shots.

I have been trying to get as many candid people shots as possible this last year, in the hope of getting better at this technique.  I think I have improved, I know that I have more confidence in this type of photography.

Here are a few of the shots I got in the town centre :

I had to take this really quickly as the girl was walking fast towards me !

 

I wanted to try and get someone coming out of the hair and beauty salon but it was becoming a problem with all of the crowds.  Nevertheless, I like this photo of a woman walking past.

Since everyone has a mobile phone now, it's getting easier to take photos of people without their knowledge !

These guys were taking a break on one of the roof tops.













After we left the centre, we went to a nearby poppy field.  This was the first time I had been to one, so was super excited !  I love poppies - and here was a whole field of them (with a few thistles thrown in for good measure !)

Fairground and Fuji Instax

Hello All

Yesterday I went to Marsden Beach with a couple of friends from Consett Photographic Society.  Whilst they were busy taking photos, I played about with my new toy - a Fuji Instax !

This is an instant  film camera - wide format.  The Kodak Polaroids are very similar. Apparently  the Kodak Polaroids develop quite quickly, but the Fuji Instax takes a while.  Once I took a photo, I had to wait about 10 minutes for it to totally dry and develop.

Having said that, I didn't really mind.  It was a bit like magic, just watching the film develop before my eyes, and the colours getting deeper and deeper.

I have discovered that it works best when using it for longer ranges...it doesn't seem to like close up work !  Here's one of my photos (which I have scanned in) :

We moved onto South Shields beach and into the fairground. 

I love photographing stuff in fairgrounds - you can get good people pictures, great candid shots and loads of pics where the colour really pops !  Here is a selection from the day :

Horses and People

Hi All

Went to Appleby Horse Fair on Friday with a bunch of friends from Consett Photographic Society.  This was the very first time I had been to this event, and to be honest, the first time I had been near lots of horses !

It was a good day, a new experience for me.  It was something different for me and it was an very enjoyable day.  

The day was very hot and the market at the Fair was in full swing when we arrived.  It was an opportunity for me to try and practice people shots, I've been doing a lot more of these lately and it's getting easier for me.

There was such a great mix of people at the fair, and I even struck up courage to ask a few people if I could take their photo :

Walking around the market, I came across this van full of carpets and liked the shapes and colours.

I took a lot of sneaky candid's also...this was probably the first one of the day.

I managed to take a few photos of horses, but to be honest, there were so many other photographers there, I wanted to try and get a few that were a little different.

I am partial to taking photographs of people working in vans.  Don' know why, but I'm drawn to them. This lady looked absolutely knackered !

In complete contrast I spotted this young woman watching the horses !

There will be more Appleby Horse Fair pics when I get a chance.  Check out my Flickr page to see more soon.

A Trip to South Shields

Hello All

Last week I went out to South Shields for the day with my friend Chris from the Camera Club.

It was a bit of a funny time for me...just found out that my work is undergoing yet another
re-structure, which means I have to re-apply for my job.

So, a trip out was just what the doctor ordered, and even better, I took my Kodak Brownie out on it's first outing.  Still have yet to get the negatives developed, so fingers crossed they come out OK !  I even tried a deliberate double-exposure !

I also took my little ol' Olympus SLR out with me.  South Shields was very very quiet and the weather was a bit dull.  Having said that, it was good that it was so quiet as it gave me a chance to practice some camera techniques without feeling too self-conscious.

This was a practice of water shots - I haven't really had much experience of capturing waves, but I don't think I did too bad a job on this one.

We then moved onto the fairground - apart from a few people, it was totally empty.  I did spot these women trying to keep warm - typical British Summer !

It's amazing what catches your eye !

Being empty, it gave us the opportunity to get shots we wouldn't normally get :

This is part of a face advertising the Ghost Train 

Moving away from the fairground, I asked Chris if he wouldn't mind blowing a few dandelions so I could capture the seeds flying in the wind.  God knows how many attempts we had before I got this shot !

We also spotted masses of snails on the walls of an old building,,,,

Walking back to the car park, I couldn't resist taking a photo of this stained knackered air vent....

Streetley Pier, Hartlepool

Hi All

On Tuesday, a couple of friends from Consett Photographic Society invited me out for the day to go to Hartlepool.

I've never been to Hartlepool, so I jumped at the chance.  You're probably thinking why ?  Well, I wanted to go and see the old pier at Streetley.

I've seen loads of photos of it, wanted to go and see it for ages....

The weather was great - nice and sunny.  It was great spending time on the beach.

Here's some pics of the pier :


I like this one - I haven't done anything to it - came out like this in the camera so was really pleased.  The only thing I don't like is the slant of the waterline - but I don't know how to straighten this in Photoshop yet.  One of the many techniques I have to learn !

I love wood in black and white...I like the grittiness of it.  Here's a section of the pier.

Here's a shot of the underneath of the pier.  I tried something on Photoshop on this shot.  I changed the sky in the corner, it was extremely light so changed it using selection tools.  I know it' not perfect, but I'm still learning :)

Some of you may know that I always like to take some shots of patterns or textures.  Here's a lovely pattern made by the sand.

I have a lot of other shots to look through, so will be posting some more on the blog and of course, you all know about my Flickr site !

Practice, Practice, Practice

Hey Folks

You know I'm not into the technical side of things when it comes to photography but I've decided that to get better, I do need to start to practice a few things.

The first thing I've decided to do is if I am not "out and about" on a Tuesday, then I will use the time effectively and start to practice one technique each Tuesday. It may be something in camera, but it also can be using Photoshop.

I've never really found this software easy to use, and must admit I tend to "switch off" really quickly anything to do with this package BUT no more - I have to practice !  So, today I started on the technique of dodging and burning.  Even the names get me mixed up !

Dodging is used to extract detail from darkest shadows. 
Burning is used to darken any overexposed areas.

I've included this explanation so it can re-enforce in my mind - as I keep getting them mixed up.  No hope, I hear you cry !

So, here is my very first attempt. Not great I know, but it's a start.  Could be a little too subtle, but then I think the dodge and burn tools have to be used in a gentle way anyway...I actually found this difficult   

Not sure whether this is the best example to use either, but as I said, it's a start 

This is the original photo.

This is the photo that has dodging and burning on.  

Background seems a bit lighter plus the wood seems less blown out and a tiny bit more detail can be seen.  

So, need to practice this technique more, I can't just assume I know how to do it after just one go !

Ambling around Amble

Hi Folks

Here are few pics I took recently on a trip to Amble, starting with gulls !

The rest of the day was spent walking around the beach - it's amazing how much crap you can find :

 A message for the police force ?



After that, some harbour and boat shots :