Harbour Photography in Infrared around Scotland
Hi Everyone
Like a lot of businesses, as a professional freelance photographer who normally photographs events and corporate conferences around Edinburgh and throughout Scotland, in addition to fine art photography, I have had to look at fresh markets and projects during this difficult time. However from a positive point of view, this has also enabled me to explore new ideas and extend existing initiatives that I previously had to delay due to lack of time. I have always liked photographing harbours around Scotland, nothing new in that, I hear you say and you would be right, however, this time, I am only photographing them in infrared. The harbours in question will all be located in Scotland and will include colour and infrared photos. The harbours in infrared photos include: Dunbar, Port Seton, Eyemouth, Cove Bay, St Abbs, Crail and Skye. The ones not located in East Lothian or the Borders were taken before lockdown.
So what considerations should I take into account when photographing harbours in infrared. Here they are below, for what it’s worth:
1. The usual rules for infrared photography apply ie sunshine for the best photos, as near to mid-day as possible, although on one occasion it was foggy and I still managed a few good shots
2. Check the tides, the harbour will look totally different without water and when it is shallow
3. Try and go when there is a higher likelihood of boats, ie get to know when the fishermen go out
4. Try and get the old boats in the photo ie the ones with character that look great in Infrared
5. Clouds are great for harbour photos with a blue sky backdrop to give that infrared contrast that we all love
6. Don’t just photograph the boats, there are, seagulls, nets, ropes, engines and even seals and otters in some harbours. I haven’t photographed an otter in a harbour yet, but I have managed a seal or two
7. Don’t stand too close to the edge and pay attention, I haven’t fallen in, but I did injure myself when I was concentrating too hard on the photo and not on the ground I front of me
8. Take a normal camera with you also, you may just catch a photo that needs conventional equipment
9. Don’t be frightened to include people now and again. They will help to tell a story
10. Vary your angles and vantage points for something different. You may want to be down at a low level or overlooking the harbour from above, but the main thing is to try and get something new and original
Hope this helps.
Until next time.
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com
Looking at the Finer Details for Professional Photographers in Scotland
Hi Everyone
As a professional fine art and corporate photographer working in and around Edinburgh and throughout Scotland, the lockdown and subsequent effects of this crisis has had an effect on my life and work, but throughout this period I have never lost my enthusiasm for photography. It has just taken on a different format. As you know I am an infrared photographer, working on a project to highlight infrared photography in Scotland. While looking for something different to do, I decided to expand my infrared collection to include insects, particularly bees and wasps and this combined with the fantastic colours of plants at this time of year has produced some interesting results. With infrared, you never know what the final results will be, especially with colour infrared and this time, I was pleasantly surprised, as most of the original colours came out entirely different in infrared. Let me know what you think. I am desperate to get out there and do some corporate photography work in Edinburgh and there are some signs that this could happen in the near future.
Anyway, stay safe.
Kind Regards
Colin
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com
Lockdown Strategies for Professional Photographers Scotland and New Ways of Working
Hi Everyone
Now that we have been in lockdown for a few months and we are starting to get into some kind of routine, I thought this would be a good time to examine lockdown strategies for professional photographers and how we are coping with this new normal. Whilst there are signs that things are starting to change, it will be a while until photographers feel any kind of normality, particularly event photographers in Scotland, like myself. However this strange time has enabled us to to explore different ways of working, and or new markets. Many photographers have been doing the doorstep photos, its not for me, but definately a fresh market for some photographers. From my point of view, the ability to concentrate on local projects has been my main focus. Whilst I have always taken local infrared photography and landscape photos in East Lothian, I now have the time to really examine the small details in certain locations, such as Dunbar Harbour and the nesting gulls. I have also had time to photograph waves, having the luxury of leaving whenever the conditionsa are perfect, this is something that even freelance photographers dont always have due to constant commissions. Exploring your fine art creative side is more possible and while some days you are a bit down due to the circumstances, particularly the financial implications, other days you are optimistic, I can also use the dark side of things to good effect in my photography to create good fine art images. I also think my photoshop skills have greatly improved as I have watched a number of instruction videos and had more time to explore my software. The free time also has enabled me to think more about my future photographic strategy and to update my website and enhance my networking and contact experience through social media. So to summarise, when my corporate event photography in Scotland picks up again, I will be ready and with extra strings to my bow.
So its not all doom and gloom, just get out there and create.
Until next time.
Kind Regards
Colin
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com
Preparation for photographers in Scotland coming out of lockdown
Hi All
As it looks like we are coming out of lockdown slowly but surely, although I imagine I will have to wait a bit longer as a conference and event photographer operating around Edinburgh and Scotland, there are a number of things we can do as professional photographers to prepare for working again, some you may already be doing during the lockdown and others you may not have thought about. So for what it’s worth, here are my tips for photographers coming out of the lockdown and preparing for some new photography commissions:
1. Make sure your website is up to date and has some new content.
2. Check all your gear is in working order for your first commission.
3. Practice some photoshoots and try and imagine you are photographing a paid commission, it’s easy to get rusty when you are out of action for a while, this is particularly relevant for event photographers, who will have had little opportunity to photograph large groups of people throughout the last 3 months or so.
4. Keep your social media presence up and active daily, there is no real excuse for this during lockdown.
5. I know it can be difficult at a time like this, especially as we have all lost a lot of income, but try and remain positive for the future, or at least take advantage of the days when you feel positive and use them to create and prepare.
6. Think of the useful things you have experienced over lockdown. I have extended my infrared work in Scotland and I feel I have taken some of the best photos of my home town in Dunbar, in addition to having more time for new projects like photographing waves etc.
7. Get in touch through social media with your clients to remind them you are still around.
8. Try and continue with these projects you started during lockdown, treat this time as a fresh start in some areas.
9. Hopefully we have all had some access to training over this period, even if it is photoshop or camera manufacturers videos on YouTube, it’s all useful, so remember practice your newly found skills.
10. Spend a bit of time on your appearance, we have all let it slip during lockdown and if possible, get a haircut beforehand your first job, we all look a bit like cavemen just now.
Hope that helps, anyway, until next time.
Kind Regards
Colin
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com