Portrait experience; Jane.

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to do a photoshoot with Jane, my partner's sister, as part of my portfolio building. This was the the first portrait shoot I'd done in the new style I'm developing for my work and wasn't sure how the images were going to turn out.
Jane wasn't sure about being in front of the camera either! So, it was a new experience for her too. But, I promised her cake after our session, so one Saturday afternoon, she came round to our house and got ready whilst I set up the background stand in the garden.

We ended up having a great shoot! The sun shone (mostly) and we got some great images! I was able to try out some new poses and test out my new reflector to use with the natural light available.

Our shoot lasted about an hour and afterwards, yes, there was cake!
I spent the next few weekends editing the images, using some wonderful new software I'd just downloaded and I'm really pleased with the results!
I can't wait to do some more shoots like this soon.

Here are some of my favourites, please let me know what you think!

FG4 by George Davies Fashion Show Launch; Durrington High.

Last week I was invited down to Durrington High School in West Sussex to shoot the launch of George Davies' new fashion brand, FG4.
George is the man behind Next, Per Una and George at Asda, so there's quite a pedigree of high street fashion there!

George is launching his new fashion brand in schools all across the country. This is an initiative created by him and his team in order to raise funds for schools at the same time as releasing his new venture. FG4 has stores in the far East but, here in the UK, the brand is currently online only.

I headed down after lunch and with an iced coffee in my hand; essential equipment for a 2 hour drive South!

After checking equipment and making sure everything was charged and formatted, we left for the high school. We arrived at about 6pm, in time to watch the dress rehearsal. This gave me a great opportunity to get some snaps of the models without having to worry about the crowd!

Doors opened at 7 and the show started at 7:30. It was packed - and very hot! But I got some great shots; I love doing this kind of work. Live gigs/shows etc. The atmosphere is always great and, with the stage lighting, you can get some really cool shots!

I met George after the show and was able to get a few shots of him and the pop-up shop which was hosted outside the hall.

For more info on FG4, click here:

Some of my favourite images from the night:

I've (re)Discovered Something...

I have been wondering for a few days whether to share this or not, but I've decided I should. It's kind of come at a pivotal moment in my career as a photographer and this story only cements in my heart why I do what I do.

On Sunday, the boyfriend and I were at his relative's with some of his family; we spent the afternoon eating in the sun and chatting about, well, mainly about Game of Thrones… Once the sun started to set and things got a bit chilly, we decanted into the sun room for more conversation. The talk turned to the babies of the family; the ever-growing brood and the newest member, a 2 month old little girl.
A photo was shared around and cooing noises were made.

Then, another image was brought out. It showed one of my boyfriend's relatives with their, sadly, late spouse. The spouse had passed away quite some time ago, a long time before I met my boyfriend and far too young. The photo, all sepia tinged, mottled and framed in a mount envelope, was a wedding portrait. Two faces smiling out; one of whom I had never met. But that didn't matter. When you hold a photograph like that in your hands, you don't need to have known the person to know who they were. The smiles said it all; the love was evident and, as such, the grief still remains.

The room became emotionally charged as conversation turned to this person and the memories and voids they had left behind. Time does not heal all wounds, but it affords us the capacity to accept life as it has become and is becoming.

As people reminisced, it hit me; THIS is why I make photographs. THIS is why I feel the urge to capture people in a frame. A fleeting moment that, in some cases, can be all too fleeting. And yet, that moment - THAT, EXACT moment, will be forever captured. Like a tiny spot of someone, a piece of them, of their soul, forever trapped between the edges of the frame. Forever able to be looked upon and to be looked out of. That moment will never come back, yet it is here, in front of me. THEY are here.

It is these photographs that, when the people we love are gone, bring us comfort and sanctuary. They ignite the memories we hold so dear and in doing so, are kept alive. They watch over us from their frames and, because of these photographs, will always be with us.

Capture your loved ones in their frames - as many frames as you can make - before you no longer have the chance.

This is why I make photographs.

Make Life Worth Living: Nick Hedges for Shelter at the Science Museum.

A while ago, I was lucky enough to visit Nick Hedges' exhibition for Shelter at the Science Museum in London.
This was a free exhibition and we were so lucky we came across it, as I had no idea it was on! It was one of the most moving, thought provoking exhibitions I've ever seen! Seriously, we had discussions around the dinner table about it for days afterwards!

 "The thing about people living in slum housing is that there is no drama... It's about the absolute wearing down of people's morale in a quiet and undemonstrative way."

Nick Hedges   

The images hanging in this exhibition were taken between 1962 and 1978, mainly in the North of England and had been restricted from view for 40 years to protect the anonymity of their subjects.
The photographs captured life in the slums and tenements of Northern Britain; areas which were often forgotten and left to rot and decay by governments and officials. I guess it was easier to ignore.
Then, the charity Shelter (who aim to help and advise the homeless and poorly housed, whilst trying to tackle the causes of these situations) sent in photographer Nick Hedges, just 25 at the time and having just graduated from Birmingham College of Art, where his final project was based around the city's badly housed.

It was Nick's job to expose the terrible conditions that these people were living in; to make people stop and take notice and to get the authorities to do something about it.

http://lomokev.com/page/3/

Some images had excerpts next to them, written by Nick himself on the stories behind them. It gave a real humanity to the images, made the people in them seem more real. And most of these stories were harrowing.
One particular image and story which stays with me is the story of Mrs H. who, whilst living in a run-down tenement with her husband and baby boy and which had been deserted by all other families, one morning awoke to the noise and destruction of a demolition team in the process of knocking down the building. Mrs H ran out to stop the demolition; her baby was inside. The team replied that they thought the building was empty. After all, it was uninhabitable.

Mrs. H, Nick Hedges 1968-72

There were stories of government officials declaring lived-in dwellings unfit 'for human habitation' stories of families having to cook a meagre dinner on their open fire, in the dark because they did not have enough money to pay the electricity bill. Hedges himself once even gave a family one of his own lightbulbs. 

Mr and Mrs. M, Nick Hedges, 1969

Mr and Mrs. T, Nick Hedges, 1968-72

And yet, amongst all the desolation and devastation, girls still put on make-up, children still smiled, swings were still swung and games were still played. Even on the bottom of the pile, the human spirit still endures. 

This was definitely one of the best exhibitions I have visited. Sadly, it is no longer open, but you can find out more information about Nick Hedges, the exhibition and Shelter here: 

Nick Hedges

Make Life Worth Living

Shelter - what they do

You can also purchase the book to accompany the exhibition here; exclusive to the Science Museum, £2 of each sale goes to Shelter to help even more people. Because, as was stated at the exit to the exhibition at the museum, poverty and homelessness still exist in England today. While people may not have to endure the squalor of the slums of the 1960s, every 11 minutes, a family in the UK loses their home.

Drawn by Light: The Royal Photographic Society exhibition and London's Science Museum.

‘…photography...is used alike by art and science, by love, business, and justice; is found in the most sumptuous saloon, and in the dingiest attic—in the solitude of the Highland cottage, and in the glare of the London gin-palace, in the pocket of the detective, in the cell of the convict, in the folio of the painter and architect, among the papers and patterns of the millowner and manufacturer, and on the cold brave breast on the battle-field.’

Lady Elizabeth Eastlake, the wife of Charles Eastlake, the first President of the Photographic Society, 

The London Quarterly Review, April 1857

On Saturday, the boy and I headed into London to go and see the current Royal Photographic Society's exhibition at the Science Museum's Media Space, Drawn by Light. We were let in through the swish security doors and into the gallery space which was welcoming and well presented. 

The exhibition took us through the history of photography from the first prints to be classed as photography, through the evolution of the Daguerreotype and the Camera Obscura, to more modern transparencies and colour images. 
As we walked into the room, we were met with a large dark cube, which housed, in darkness, the earliest known forms of photography; Niépce's heliographs, printed onto metal plates using light sensitive materials. These looked more like engravings than photographs, but the knowledge and imagination to even get to that landmark is amazing!

http://britishphotohistory.ning.com

Moving on, images of ghostly figures showed you around the room as women and children in their 1800s' dress graced faint sepia toned photographs, hand printed and now over 150 years old.
There was a glass case of Daguerreotypes and its successors; something I was very excited to see - it is one of my hopes that I will one day stumble upon an original Daguerreotype in a tiny old antiques shop, which I will have to buy! Daguerreotypes preceded commercial photography but is a step up from the aforementioned Heliographs, being printed on glass and in colour.
This first section even housed the earliest forms of photoshop! - Albeit done by hand and in a dark room; much more impressive in my opinion!

Henry Peach-Robinson, Fading Away (1858)

Looking at the image above - even when it's hanging on a wall in front of you(!) - you would never know that it is made up of 5 different negatives. 

Further along, there were more glass cases sheltering things such as a book with the hand-written minutes from the first ever meeting of the Royal Photographic Society, a booklet with the rules and regulations of the RPG, early types of commercial cameras, which came in wooden boxes with their own chemicals and even Henry Fox-Talbot's experimental cameras; variations on Camera Lucidas and Camera Obscuras which he had had made to further the evolution of photography; the process of which he was a pioneer. 

The great thing about this exhibition was that it wasn't just photographs hung on walls; there were objects and paraphernalia to wonder at, things which have to be seen to be appreciated. 

It was, however, fascinating to see some of the most important and seminal images from the last 160 years. 

Roger Fenton, Looking Towards McKenzies Heights (1855)

Images that made you think and put you right in the heart of the image,

Harold 'Doc' Edgerton, Milk Drop Coronet, (1957)

The onset and popularity of colour film,

Colonel Mervyn O'Gorman, Christina by the boat, (1913)

And my personal favourite, one of a set of photographs taken by Colonel Mervyn O'Gorman in the summer of 1913 on a beach. It shows a golden haired girl, sat in front of a boat, deep in thought. To me, she looks almost mermaid-like, as if she's just shed her tail and crawled onto the shore. 

This image was backlit, highlighting its beautiful colours, and is almost ahead of its time in terms of colour photography. O'Gorman, who was an aircraft and electrical engineer, caught on to this new technology and seemed to favour it; allowing us to see a certain period in time in its stunning, subdued colours while also giving it a sense of romanticism and wistfulness. 

For further information about this exhibition and to see the trailer, visit here. 

As an extra note, the quotation at the top of this blog is why I love photography! It can comfort, and convict. Be the truth, but also a lie. Is accessible to kings and paupers. It is the past, present and future. And I am a geek. The end!

David Bailey: Stardust at the National Portrait Gallery

'David Bailey has made an outstanding contribution to photography and the visual arts, creating consistently imaginative and thought-provoking portraits. As well as new work, this landmark exhibition includes a wide variety of Bailey’s photographs from a career that has spanned more than half a century.'

                                                               National Portrait Gallery

It was my birthday a few weeks ago and as a birthday treat, me and the man took a trip into London to see David Bailey's new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. 

I was particularly interested to see this show as Bailey had curated it himself: chosen all the images and put the exhibition together. 

I've always been a fan of Bailey, particularly his 'Box of Icons' series. He managed to capture a whole decade of celebrity and popular culture. I've always loved the classics, such as Mick Jagger, John Lennon and Paul McCartney and the Cray brothers...

but, I also discovered some others I was less familiar with but have become new favourites, like Rudolph Nureyev (who you just can't NOT look at!) with photographic legend Cecil Beaton.  

A great section of the show was the room filled with portraits and photographs of Bailey's family. It was a real visual timeline of their lives together. His young, model wife…pregnancy…even intimate photos of birth...and then his children growing up and becoming adults. A lot of these images were displayed covering a huge wall, all in different frames, all different sized prints. It was a real family, homely kind of feel. These images had been taken over decades, using different cameras, different films, different processes etc. and it was beautiful to see the ever-changing nature of life reflected in how these photos were displayed. Definitely a highlight of the show. 

Other stand-out photos for me included his self portrait with his dog, Pig Bailey, and the skull and roses series. 

(I would have this on my wall if I had a spare £35,000!)

However, I think the most impressive photograph for me, the one which has stayed with me since, was a shot from Bailey's Democracy series. It was a photo (a huge photo!) of a naked, pregnant woman, throwing her hands in the hair and screaming, or shouting with joy (or so I like to think.) It was an image so full of happiness and buoyancy and was so carefree. She looked so happy in her skin; something we should probably all feel more! A brilliant image! 

In conclusion, David Bailey is an absolute legend and I love him now even more than I did!  

Project Wild Flower

It's been a while, blogging friends! 

Since my last post, I have moved house (yet again! …We're planning on staying in this one for a while now!) so have been sorting out finances etc. and all these things that life throws at you…

Hence, this project has been on a bit of a hiatus recently. 

However, I can now reveal what I have been doing for Project Wild Flower (not its real title, just sounds a bit more exciting!) 

Project Wild Flower is a project very close to my heart and one I have been thinking about and working on for the last 3 years. It will comprise a series of fine art, studio type images of British wild flowers and will eventually be a photographic coffee table book and prints available for sale. All of the profits from this project will go to a charity, which I shall announce once the project is complete. 

Here is a taster of what I've been shooting so far and the look I'm going for. 

So far I have shot 4 flowers and I'm hoping to get at least 24…so quite a few more flowers to find and shoot!  

This was today's work:

Some more research to be done and onto the next flower!

Photoshoot; Sapphira, Brighton, March 2012.

Last week I did a photoshoot with Classic Lolita Sapphira in Brighton.
The weather was perfect for it! Sunny and hot but with a bit of a breeze. So the images had clear skies and the breeze gave Sapphira's outfit more movement, which was more interesting for the final photographs.

I took nearly 300 pictures during the afternoon and we tried lots of different locations and poses. Sapphira was a brilliant model; I barely needed to tell her what to do or how to stand at all! It was great that things ran so smoothly and we could just wander round, find a shooting site and I could let Sapphira do what she clearly does best!

When I got home, I wasn't too sure about the pictures as I thought the ISO had been too high (My fault: left it high from some late-night shooting and hadn't reset it!) but after looking through them a few times, I think the grain only added to the effect, especially as a Classic Lolita is heavily based on Victorian style - this just added to the old, classic, vintage feel the photographs have taken on!

Here are a few samples of the finished photographs.
Please visit my Facebook page for the full album!

And if you want to find out more about Classic Lolita, please visit Sapphira's blog!

Wedding test shoots!

Ok guys, I need your help!

I'm planning a couple of wedding test shoots over the next 3 or 4 months - hopefully with one being next month! - And I need models!

I'm looking to hire a wedding dress - or if anyone's got one I could borrow, any style, that would be brilliant!

So I also need models to fit said dress. Ideally the female model would be size 8-10 and at least 5 ft 5 inches tall. I'm also looking for a guy of medium build and at least 5 ft 9 inches tall. If you are one of these people - or know anyone who would be interested, please let them know or drop me an e-mail on facebook or my website with their name, details and preferably a picture so I can start booking people!
The shoot will be unpaid but any model is free to use their images for their portfolio.

The first shoot planned will be in Sussex, near or in Brighton. I'm thinking of taking the shoot to a forest to get some high-art, glossy 'trash-the-dress' style images and also hopefully to the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.
The second shoot location is yet to be decided.

Ideally this shoot will be completed by the end of March so please do let me know if you or anyone you know is interested soon!

Can't wait to hear from you! This shoot should be great fun!

Lauren. x

New books!

I got a couple of photography books for Christmas!


This one: London Street Photography 1860-2010; Mike Seaborne and Anna Sparham; is a great look back on London through past decades.
It's not quite in linear sequence which can be annoying but the images really make you think what London must have been like all those years ago! As the cover suggests, London was a very different place in the 1860s; the fashion, the transport, the commerce...  its fascinating to piece together how it changed and became what it is now. I find it intriguing that some of these people could be yours or mine relatives!
I love historic photographs and hope to do something involving my family's ancestral photographs soon.


I also received this book:

Microworlds; Marc Valli and Margherita Dessanay; a collection of images from different artists. I have a bit of an obsession with 'micro photography' at the moment so loved looking at how different artists and photographers have interpreted this genre in their own way. Even life-sized humans feature!
I really want to have a go at some micro photography myself very soon. I have some ideas whirring around in my head and they need to come out!

Check out more on both books here (London Street Photography) and here (Microworlds)

Christmas cookies.

I've been trying to get in the Christmas mood...even though I haven't been feeling very Christmassy this year. I can't believe it's only next Sunday! I'm just looking forward to my boyfriend staying for a whole 4 days over Christmas and opening our presents together!
It's all gonna be weird this year...

Anyway. Yesterday I made some Christmas cookies. I was going to just decorate them but mother had the idea of hanging them on the tree - so I did! Decorated not to the highest standard, but in a fun way! With silver dragees and chocolate stars!

And then I photographed them!
Hope you like the result. Please comment if you do!

And Merry Christmas!

P.S. I'm planning some exciting things for next year, so please keep a look out!

xx

New Project.

Introducing my new project!

I want to talk to people who have lived through the Second World War and get their stories and memories.
This is a photographic project so I will be taking photos of them and conducting casual interviews to gain a real insight into what they lived through during the war.
I also want to take photos of certain things they've kept from the war that hold memories for them. For example, a little trinket, a ration book etc. that holds some kind of memory for them.

I'm looking for any stories; be they funny, heroic or everyday, so please talk to your grandparents and great-grandparents, let them know what I'm doing and ask them to get involved!

I want to let people get a more 'everyday' point of view of how people's lives were changed by WWII.

I will keep you all updated with how it's going and will hopefully have a few pictures to show you soon!

This project is going to be done on medium format film.

Book of the Month - August 2011.

So time has run away from me again and it's already 14 days into August! But...better late than never!

This month I've gone for a very arty book; one of my favourite photographers which includes one of my favourite photographs.

August's book is Gregory Crewdson 1985 - 2005; a collection of images from Crewdson's various projects over 20 years.
I love Crewdson's work because his images, especially his later work, are so enigmatic. You're never quite sure what's going on in the picture. It's as if he has just missed that 'crucial moment' and what we are left with is a snapshot of emotions and ambiguity which the viewer has to try and figure out for themselves.

It is obvious that the subjects are involved in some kind of drama and the viewer will never know what has really happened, leaving a sense of unease about the photographs but at the same time, making them all the more compelling.

There are so many highly crafted, beautiful, film still-like images to choose from but I've just about whittled it down to 3.

Twilight: Plate 48

Beneath the Roses: Plate 72

Twilight: Plate 46

The top image is one of my favourite photographs ever. Can't really explain it - which I guess comes with the ambiguity of the picture - but I love looking at it. It resembles Millais' famous painting Ophelia. But there are so many unanswered questions in it, it draws you in.

These images are from the series' Twilight and Beneath the Roses, some of the more recent works. But there are other, earlier works such as Hover and Natural Wonder which, although in a different style to the above series', are just as interesting and complex.

Hover: Plate 29

Natural Wonder: Plate 20

Crewdson will always intrigue me and I think I'll always enjoy looking at his images. I'd love to know what you think; if you have any interesting interpretations of his work?!

Find out more about this book here: Amazon and Waterstones