The Bubble

So, I have recently been working on my latest project 'The Bubble.' I am keeping with my theme of the semester of working in the studio to build upon my experience (which is going much better than I thought it would!) I am really loving trying new things with my photography, after all isn't University the perfect time for experimenting (in a totally professional way.)

This project is based around today's technological bubble, something which I, admittedly, am a part of myself. I decided I wanted to work on this series in the studio because I wanted all of my subjects to be present within their own bubble, as if there are no other people that exists when their phones come into play. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I have enjoyed making it, putting aside the stress and tears that have occurred because of it.

This series will be part of my latest exhibition feature based in Carlisle coming to everyone April 20th! Very exciting!

M.

Practice Makes Perfect!

So, in November I was lucky enough to land myself a wonderful opportunity to do a works experience placement with the amazing fashion & editorial photographer Marie Harkness of Harkness Fashion Photography based in Newcastle.

I was absolutely thrilled when Marie told me I could assist on a male model's shoot to build up his fashion portfolio, & it was just as amazing as I expected it to be & an absolutely huge learning experience. As this is the type of photography that I hope to get into after graduating, it is great that I got the opportunity to get some first-hand experience. As my University course is more based around fine art, this is something I don't get the opportunity to do in Carlisle.

The other week Marie contacted me again asking me if I wanted to assist her on a shoot for a local annual Hairdressing competition & to bring my camera along to take some behind the scenes shots. It was a really great experience, & I'm looking forward to assisting her again soon. Take a look below for some of my BTS shots.

It's Been A While ...

Well it's been a long time since my last blog post. I have spent the last few months since Christmas focusing on my University work & experimenting with new ideas of how I present my photography. It's really interesting trying out new ideas & I'm having so much fun playing about with different concepts.

So, just to keep you informed, one of my modules for this year is called 'Photography & The Book.' This module challenges us not only as photographers but as crafty folk & designers (or in my case, as a friend of designers willing to bribe my flat mates with free meals in order for them to help me!)

I have been given a brief to create my own photography book focusing on a new project & creating a narrative through our images. I was so stuck when we were first given this brief, I won't lie. But finally, after days of soul searching and trolling through numerous websites and books I decided upon creating a typology of girls demonstrating the diversity in the female gender today.

I don't know why I didn't think of it early. WE GIRLS, ARE AWESOME! I think it's important that I get a range of different looks & personal styles into this typology to demonstrate that not everyone is just the typical idea of a girly-girl princess. I have a few different ideas planned for this book so keep an eye out for a post in the next couple of months. You will definitely be the first to know how it's going!

M.

The City of Love?

Recently I've had some post-Paris blues! Although it was this time last year that I returned back to the sometimes gloomy and uninspiring Carlisle, England I've always wanted to head back to the city of love and recently it's all I can think about!

Paris is such a stunning and stimulating city, I was never short on inspiration although I was only there for a few short days. While I was there I started (& have yet to finish) a number of projects; I already shared a project which I began, a typology of the infamous tour carts that litter central Paris with enthused tourists being cycled back and fourth around the countless attractions of the city. 

This is one of the projects that I was inspired to do while I was there.

M.

The Swinging 60's & The Blushing Bride

This is a lovely little personal post for you all to read about my favourite people in the world. 

My Grandparents are truly the greatest. In January 2014 it will be their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They were married in 1964 & honestly I have never known a better couple than Jennie & Arthur. They stick by each other thick & thin, & would do anything for one another. 

The other day I asked to see their wedding album as I had never seen any of their photographs (as a photographer I should have begged to see them a long time ago!) They are amazing, black & white film photographs, so I just had to share.

This is them on January 25th 1964. Obviously the real life prints don't even come close to comparing with the scanned in version but I still can't get over how beautiful they are.

I've definitely got something super special planned for these images involving their anniversary. I can't wait to share with everyone. But for now just look at how beautiful my Gran is!

M.

Experiments & Cigarettes

So, I've been wanting to share with you all what's been going on with my University work at the moment. I have been working on a few different projects here & there. Strangely enough the one I found myself most interested in doing was the one that I was feeling a 'crash & burn' scenario looming. It was so much fun and such a learning curve.

So anyone that knows me well knows that still life isn't exactly my strong suit, however it is a genre that I have wanted to develop on for a while now. I wanted to try something a little bit different with this project and experiment with new approaches to the idea of my 'studio.' I always think it's so much fun to try new things with my photography so here's what I did to achieve this image above:

I started off by making an executive decision to not use a professional photography studio, nor a still life table, (a decision which was very questionable but taught me a thing or two.)
I went to my local B&M Bargains (don't judge, there are some amazing finds there,) where I bought a very cheap roll of £2.99 wallpaper. I thought the Green colour was really odd but had some potential as far as an interesting backdrop was concerned, I loved the texture which looks pretty cool in my final prints; not to mention that there isn't anything I find more boring than a dull white backdrop in still life images.

(Stay with me, I'm nearly finished.)

I used some regular Blu-Tack to stick the wallpaper to the top of my bedroom wall and let it roll down to my chest of drawers below (which I decided to use as my still life table.) I also stuck the wallpaper to the surface of my drawers just so it didn't roll too much & rip.

For the lighting of this image I used regular table lamps (all in the name of experimental art, yeah?) something that my room seems to have in abundance! It was a real struggle at first simple because, as we all know, table lamps aren't all that adjustable but many chairs & suitcases & empty boxes, used as portable light stands later, I was actually really happy with how the images turned out.

Did I forget to mention that I didn't actually have subjects in mind so I went into my living room, picked up whatever was on the floor, & used it to photograph in my new make-shift studio! 

M.

London Calling.

So, as I told you all earlier, my sister Ruth & I visited London at the end of August just for a little getaway for a few days. It was amazing and I can't wait to get back there! We did so many fun things.

Although we had both been to London before we had never really seen that much of the City (& still haven't) so it was great to do a little bit of sight seeing while we were there. On our first day we were terrible tourists & visited Oxford Street to shop shop shop (but it's London, you've got to shop, correct?) It was a total change from our local shopping destinations because all shops had at least tripled in size. & of course when in London it's rude not to hit up Harrods where strangely enough we bumped into one of our childhood friends who is currently working there.

We did eventually visit the tourist attractions as we had planned & it was just as beautiful as I remembered it to be. We went to Camden Market & Covent Garden & walked around the city. We also went for a river cruise along the Thames which was amazing! I just wanted to share a few pictures from our trip.

Big Ben

Ruth waiting for our river cruise along the Thames

The river cruise before ours, with the London Eye making a cheeky appearance in the background.


M.