Barry Dawson Photography

Kirsten Preview

2011-04-26T15:39:00.001+01:00

Kirsten Preview, a photo by Barry Dawson on Flickr.

Keep whittling away at the work load (and at some points manage to get out in the beautiful sun we have been having!)

So for the time being to keep you updated here is another shot from a recent shoot featuring the beautiful Kirsten

Enjoy!

Whitby Shoot March 2011

2011-04-12T15:34:00.001+01:00

Whitby Shoot March 2011, a set on Flickr.

Just a quick update while I remember.
Here is some recent work of mine from a group shoot in Whitby.

Get what I feel is quite a variety of shots with very little equipment , a little patience and a model with a good sense of humour.

And to top it off, Fish and Chips and Ice Cream for all!

PS, should really show some updated work

2011-02-28T14:51:00.000Z

In case you have not seen my Facebook page or Flickr, or other hosting.
A sample of images from a recent shoot:

Challenge Me Photographically!

2011-02-28T14:36:00.001Z

Its no secret I am my own biggest critic, and some times I will really dislike what I have produced and never really know why.

Its been the recent big topic as I keep suffering down moments where I really think to myself "why bother". But fortunately I am surrounded by Kin, people who are talented, people who are critical, people who are perfectionists!
People who are also able to step back, identify problems and possible solutions and not just for their own work.

If it was not for these people, a desire to prove myself photographically and being set challenges I would have probably been down and out long ago.

This year I have set my self a few shoots well outside my comfort zone that I wish to produce work from, added in to that is challenges set by some truly amazing photographers.

One such challenge set was to limit myself to 30 shots, to get a set of quality images from, from an entire shoot.

And by today's standards where most people think that if they fire off 60 shots a second they will get something worth while (and even I do that though to a much much lesser extent), it is one hell of a thing to try and achieve, ever shot will count, every one has to be framed or framed in a way it can ideally be cropped, the exposure will have to be bob on the nose, the timing of taking the shot will have to be just so, the posing will have to be precise and to the brief set out before the shoot.

Put quite simply its something that excites me but in equal measure is actually a daunting task!

Oh and who set this task?

An amazing photographer; Paul Haley, Fellowship Holder Of The MPA (highest photographic qualification for work within any society).

Now to add jazz to this, I am also extending my arm in to areas which I have no experience, such as beauty and fashion/catalogue photography. The idea of creating big images with lighting set-ups that do not simply consist of a soft-box and "smile please" but various lights positioned and feathered to enhance certain aspects of the image, like the hair, face shape and catch lights in the eyes.

There is a saying, Aim High, Prepare To Fail.

My aims are simple ones, I want to be a brilliant, skilled and openly creative photographer.

Will I reach it easy? not bloody likely the standards I have in mind that usually come with 30 years experience.

Because I have such aims I am looking for like minded people with high aspiration and visions to challenge me.

Students are welcome to contact me too.

If you want to help me succeed, you know where to find me;

Or if you don't, my facebook fan page, I get notices to my personal one and seen as a vast percentage of society now uses it, its a quick fire way to get my attention:

http://www.facebook.com/barrydawson.thephotographs

New Project

2011-01-29T17:42:00.000Z

Hey everyone, right for an update on my planned projects for 2011.

Today, after a total panic when I both lost and forgot my plans for a shoot on Monday had a moment of inspiration and brainstormed some ideas for future shoots.

Now, what I am writing about this for is that I am looking for a team of people to make this happen as it really will need a team of creative people!

To best categorise the type of shoots I have planned would be Vogue - Teen Vogue styling, if you want to think "main stream media"

To achieve just 2 particular sets of images I have in mind I will be needing props which I think I have easy access to just in my own house (and a few things in the houses of other relatives), Make Up Artists, Hair Stylists, Stylists and some pretty unusual clothing so if any free lance fashion designers want to put their oar in feel free.

Now, sounds too good to be true? it is.
This and others this year are going to be entirely for portfolio enhancement and to stretch out of my own comfort zones and so because of this I am working to very stricken budgets because lets be honest, if this was actually being shot for vogue, it would be a £100,000 budget at least!

So I am going to have to ask with the audacity and cheek that people will work with me on my vision and purely for the benefit of their own portfolios and no financial reward, just the reward of creating some truly great images.

In return I will be supplying high resolution fully edited images for your own portfolios and to use to advertise your work as you wish and hopefully show yours and my versatility as a creative professional.

Now I have got past the shock kick in the knees bit if you will for a moment take the time to listen to some vagueness about what I am looking for in all aspects and to achieve;

The shoot will be on location, it will have a look of worn down glamour to it, it will feature props and will be extravagant looking for largely stylish clothing, slick and extravagant hair and detailed make up to add contrast and compliment the model as a whole.

The set of images will incorporate close up shots that can feature uniquely designed pieces of jewellery, and show off beautifully designed clothes and dresses (to clarify I have in my vision lots of jewellery including necklaces, bangles, rings etc and on the fashion I have sights of possible cat suits and flowing wavy dresses).

I also have in mind the use of mirrors to quite a big extent which to hair stylists and MUA's will allow to show off a wholly rounded image of the work done.

Models, I will be looking for several and where possible ones that ideally fit the idealised shared vision between the stylists, and myself.

Finally, I will have to leave you with this,

if you are any of the above, and you are interested in working to achieve this, please contact me ideally by email:

info@barrydawsonphotography.co.uk

I will be looking to sit down with everyone who wants to get involved, because of what I am asking each person to give I want to sit and discuss with you all what you all want to take out from it so it can at least be a fair deal and hopefully many will keep me on the right track to making these shoots and sets a success!

I thank you all for your time reading this and look forward to hearing from you and working with you.

Sincerely

Barry

2011 Projects

2011-01-20T11:48:00.000Z

We are now officially in to 2011, no denying it! we have all made resolutions, (many revolving around burning off the pounds gained and fitness), and being made in haste most have been dropped already!

Right about now is when I am starting to plan in which direction I want to go in life, and photography, as it happened since new year I have been extremely busy on all fronts and as such have not really had time to sit and mull over personal goals for the year, so while I have a day off I am doing so now.

This year I am determined to make obvious advances and improvements to the way I work and the work I produce and with that in mind I know planning is going to be a big part of the creative process (and probably the most difficult for me).

So to start off through a moments thought I had in the most unlikely place (the shower), I have a basis of themes I want to shoot and what I am looking to create from it.

The thought I had was that through my entire life I have in some way been submerged in one art form or another, I have done art, dance, played the piano and on the odd occasions writing music (though nothing aw droppingly inspiring!).

All of these involved a similar requirements to achieve end results, they all required practice and to learn from past mistakes to pave the way to improvement and better performance.

Planning what you wish to create, whether it be a mood you want a piece of music to create of an emotion you want a performance of dance to convey, or a deep thought of purpose through a painting or sculpture!

Finally, passion and experimentation, in any art form you have to have passion for it! a drive to make it something remember-able, to better yourself, to be constantly inspired and influenced and not to be afraid to break away from a comfort zone of what you know you can already do.

Because of all this I want to reconnect to some of my past and other art forms, so this year as part of my goal I am going to be studying, planning and taking passion from other art forms and incorporating them in to the way I work.

To start with I have plans of immortalising via photography some of these art forms closest to my heart, taking inspiration from them to create images and to study angles and how by changes of angles and context different messages can be conveyed.

One my plans for personal work and to enhance my portfolio I wish to work with dancers and musicians who if any in the UK (Ideally Yorkshire) are reading this I wish to collaborate with you!

I have a feeling this is going to be an exciting year for me.

And I hope you enjoy it too and look forward to working with any and all of you.

Heres to the wonders of humanity and Art!

Little Treasures

2011-01-03T15:53:00.000Z

Quite often when ever I get some time spare (or often make some) or even when I am researching in to ideas and themes for a shoot you some times come across little gems!
Often drawn together by people who have a great love for something like fashion and write their own blog, have their own website or write articles.

And when I find these I can jump for joy!

Now, why should I get excited by some one who is not a photographer when I am looking for inspiration.
Well the answer there is quite simple, if you look for something dedicated your vision is narrowed, if you generalise like I often do you get such a broad spectrum of photography, fashion, and sometimes creativity even in the text of the person writing such a blog that it opens my mind and eyes to possibility's beyond what I would normally want to achieve should I for example go searching for "fashion photographers UK" I would get a list of people who just happen to be or think themselves fashion photographers and each would have just 1 practised and honed style.

Where these blogs and sites come in is they feature so many people, the fashion, the models, even their interpretation behind those images of what they may have been trying to achieve.

It keeps me away from the straight and narrow, keeps my mind fresh and mind open to all posabilitys, to try new things, themes, styles.
to collaborate with different people who themselves have their own creative visions and aspirations.

This is what I love about photography, because in reality it has no rules, no boundrys, it extends well beyond its medium and conveys far more then just a pretty picture.
Photography is in itself a language with which a unique feature of the human race, their imagination can spark, create and flourish.

So to anyone out there, let your imagination fly! your creativity prosper! dont be afraid to be different or try something new, break your own boundrys, grow, learn and then finally;
Take joy in what you have created.

Models and Portfolio Photography

2010-12-27T12:45:00.000Z

Featuring Amie Grace, a particularly natural model from Sheffield.
We hooked up (just before the snow got crazy!) and got some amazing shots in the snow.

When we did the shoot it was on a time for pictures basis and sometimes this is a great arrangement as when you have to like minded people who want to get some great images things start to come together nicely and ideas start bouncing all over.

A Special Thanks to both Amie and the Make Up Artist Lex from Mayhem Makeup.

Update

2010-10-11T15:07:00.000+01:00

Hey folks, let me start with an update of how things are going.

Firstly, as I mentioned I donated blood for the first time last weekend and generally speaking I cannot understand where the fear comes in to something that is so simple!
From what I saw nearly everybody was relatively unaffected and some went skipping out the door afterwards!

I on the other hand, I donated blood, started having a drink in the recovery area then passed out, so if anyone wants to imagine me on a recovery bed with my legs in the air feel free to have a laugh at it, god knows I was for some reason giggling!
Though I have to admit I was well looked after and once I could get back up have not had a single problem since.

As you hear they are constantly in need of bloody donors and for what its worth it costs very little of your time and offers a world of good to many people who need it, so its just a thought for anyone!

I'm Donating Blood!

2010-09-26T17:36:00.000+01:00

Ok, not quite relevant to photography but after a long while, various illnesses and other knock backs I am finally donating blood!

This upcoming Sunday I its due to happen and I am writing now to apologise to who ever gets my donation,,, in all likely hood you will start loosing your marbles shortly after, drool at camera shop windows, see various opportunity for photography around you and get told off my the husband/missus.

So for that I am truly sorry!

On a serious note I have been looking to do this a long time but circumstances mean I was advised not to.
But now I am doing it I hope it goes to help some one truly in need and helps them turn their life around.
For something so small and simple it really can make all the difference to a persons life and for the time it takes I hope many others offer their support too.

2 Posts in 1 day, must be a record!

2010-09-14T22:15:00.000+01:00

Talking to a Videographer

2010-09-14T15:05:00.000+01:00

When ime photographing a wedding I try to talk to all those involved as it enlightens me better as to how they operate, like the caterers or make up artist!
And I usually use this knowledge to better choreograph a wedding with my clients.

A week or so back I was chatting to the videographer, a very nice fella who had been doing it some time and as usual I was asking questions and having a good conversation and he made one unusual comment that no other videographer has made before;
He told me that I shoot very much with an old way of thinking, and admittedly at first I did not know whether this was a compliment or an insult but it turned out to be a compliment!

What he meant as he went on to elaborate was that as a videographer who has been around nearly 2 decades he has seen the evolution of photography from film to digital and the changes in attitude of photographers as well as there being many many more photographers then before!

And it was interesting to hear this point of view from an outside perspective as realistically it put many things in to perspective as I will in a moment explain.

When he said I shoot in a traditional way of thinking he meant I obviously was looking for particular shots, especially when it came to what would nowadays be called reportage photography, that I was looking for emotions, what made people tick, and waiting for punchlines of jokes by other people before I took a shot of the subject being happy.

Truth be told I did find this a little confusing as I thought; "well why wouldn't I do it this way?"
But he continued by saying many new people come on the market claiming to be Reportage and they just shoot frame after frame after frame and that from his perspective never seem to actually look at what they are shooting, rather take many shots and hope for the best that in a flood of images they get one right.

So, why is this a compliment to me? well on average I will take 600 shots at a wedding, and 80% are usually keepers, meaning they may have slight errors in some but they still clearly show a moment so are put to the bride and groom anyway.

The other type described above takes 2-3000 photos and throws away 80% of the chaff.

So to me if I am able to have such a high success rate on a full day I must be doing something right photographically!

Should leave people with some thing to mull over, and in the words of David Bailey in an interview on the BBC (don't quote me exactly):
"I only used to take 20 shots on film and spend the rest of the time talking to the model"

Holy Moley Its August!

2010-08-09T23:11:00.001+01:00

I cannot help but feel that this year has come to pass in the blink of an eye! so many things I have done this year and yet so little time to talk about them.

Anyway, to keep you up to date on the news;

For a while now it has been posted that my portrait photography section of the website has been down for maintenance, well upon doing this I have been going about thinking how I could possably make the service better, more fun, easy and also cost efficient to myself and then being able to pass the savings on to you!

It hasn't been easy making all these decisions, there have been many factors I have had to take in to account and decide which is the lesser evil as it were, but I feel now with the portraiture section I may have hit a niche which would suit me and you my clients best.

Also I have been considering whether I should also offer other services as a photographer and again the answer has had to be yes!

Recently I have been undertaking various different photography challenges away from my normal practices and for that I have become a little bit more clued in areas I would have otherwise continued with ignorance in terms of my photographic skill and technical competence.

So now I am also offering the options of portfolios (fashion photography), boudoir which I am planning on further education to get the most from the shoots, AND, product photography aimed at the small trader with a tiny price!

This is what excites me most, aimed at sole traders and small businesses to sell their wares I am offering a basic image package for small items of just £1 per web sized image (minimum of 5 images to £5), which I think will not hit any small business looking to get a boost on the internet market too hard in the pocket, and quite simply, if your busy, so am I!

Next on the agenda is the new website, among the many things I have had to decide whether to continue with separate sites for each section or put it all on one site, and the other problem was I have gone through some 40 designs and disliked every one of them!

But I think I have finally designed one I like that would show off my photography and services to their best while not inundating you with information!

Must leave it at that for now once again, if I am ever to get these things finalised I must get my head down.

Thanks for reading!

Barry

Wedding Photographer Kings Lynn and Norfolk

2010-07-24T19:50:00.000+01:00

Hey folks,,, recently ive been spending time down in Norfolk and Kings Lynn in particular.
And ime not suprised the queen as a residence there,,, some truly beautiful areas and history to behold!

Anyway, to the point, I now have connections and family down in Norfolk and after taking a tour of the area I cant help but want to offer my services down in your region!

So from today I am starting to SEO my website to target: wedding photographers in Kings Lynn to examine the results and see if I can get a fond reception down there.

I am actually pretty excited about this!!!!

Common Frustration

2010-07-08T23:04:00.000+01:00

Everybody thinks photography is easy, that you just point and click and a beautiful image comes out at the end, that there is no real mental thinging involved in a photograph, just point and shoot.
I also here frequently how great it must be to be doing something you love.

Well here is the thing, love has its ups and downs and in no small doses either I might add.

As photographers we experience such a range of emotions;
from soaring highs when we are pleased with what we do,
periods of depression where we feal we just cannot do anything right,
continuous self doubt in our abilitys which we cover with a false air of confidence for clients,
obsession with any particular subject or style,
frustration when we keep hitting brick walls and dead ends trying to achieve a particular image,
confusion and sorry when what we achieve is not what we aimed for.

The list can go on and on, but if you look,
the vast majority of the time its lows, and this is from my personal experience, and its the same with many other great photographers I know and have spoken too.

So, why on earth do we continue? well it affects different people in different ways.
Some people will just give up, sell their equipment on and move to another outlet.
Others will fight on trying to make it work.

But, in a very very cruel way this is a good thing, even though mentally we suffer (and some times physically!) we keep picking our selfs up and aiming to do better.

I myself am prone to periods of depression and not just around photography but my entire life!
And I go and find something new and intresting to give me a spark to get moving again and continue climbing.

Some times a good source is simply another creative.
Some one to pick you up point you in the right direction and give you a bloody good kick to start walking.

But, sadly in this industry having friends in the same business is very rare, I also work on the coaches and have done for years,
and you could go up to any other person in the same industry and talk, about anything and everything wether you knew them or not!
In photography this is not so, for years I could not get talking to any professional photographer as all doors were shut and curtains closed and coming from the one industry I grew up in to one where I could not ask for help off some one more experienced then me was such a culture shock!

Quite fortunatly now I have many good friends who are photographers, and we network, talk about photography or anything else and its brilliant!!
And like right now when I am once again in a rut and dressed that I am not going any further they pick me up and help, and in return I will happily jump up to reciprocate the same should they need it.

I am hoping that with this we are producing a new fresh era, where we can all help each other to improve to be the best we can, also through this we would be able to fish out those that do a terrible job or just run off with the money (2 serious hates for other posts!).

I dont think a client could ever understand what goes through a photographers mind when they hire them.

Its such a mix of emotions I dont think they would honestly want to know either.

But I hope this provides a little enlightenment and a whole lot of confusion to any one reading.

I will be back soon as ime out of my current slump and showing some more of my work and thought process.

Best wishes

Barry

A Photographers Kit Bag

2010-05-31T14:13:00.000+01:00

You know, it never stops amazing me how many people have a keen interest in photography when I get talking at weddings or used to.
And their all pretty knowledgeable as well!

But the one thing I get asked the most is, what kit have you got? yeah its one of those how long you got questions, and I suppose it depends on what kind of job I'm doing and what challenges I am likely to face, is it going to be a wedding, portrait, sporting event? or even a newspaper job?

So simply I have bought (and still continue) to buy anything that I think will get some serious use or simply prove usefull to certain unusual situations, and my cupboards are packed full!

So how do I know what to take with me to a job? well I like to gather as much information as possible on what I will be facing.

In the instance of a wedding this starts with my site evaluation a month prior to the wedding where I go to the location's of the wedding and reception take one of my cameras and a general purpose lens and get a feal for what is required.
Examples being; how bright is the ambient light at darkest in the rooms? how much space is there? how does a typical wedding run here (a question I ask the managers every time)

Now at a wedding I like to travel as light as possible while carrying the right kit for the job (hence the evaluation before hand), because I dont want to be lugging around 2 extra large kits bags while taking photos and then have to fish through them (again loosing time) to find the right lens for the job.

So does this meen I only bring the kit I think I need? nope! The kit bag I will be carrying will have what I have concluded to be the best kit for the job but I will bring just about everything just in case.

May sound insane bringing what I may not use but, when so much responsability is hanging on my shoudlers to do a good job do I really want to take the risk? only 3 weeks ago my 2.8 28-70 got broken by some body bumping in to me! and if it wasent for the other kit in the car I would have been without a lens to do wide angle/zoom shots in darker situations.

Anyway, all for now

Barry