Wildlife Photography, Kittiwake Chicks at Dunbar Harbour, East Lothian
Hi All
Now for something a bit different. As a corporate and event photographer, operating in Edinburgh, East Lothian and throughout Scotland, freelance photography work is starting to come back again and I just finished a commercial corporate job recently photographing a classy Range Rover car for a Luxury Car Chauffeur business, which was great fun. However, I have had a bit more time on my hands and have managed a few projects that I would have found difficult otherwise due to lack of time. Many years ago, I photographed the kittiwake chicks in Dunbar Harbour and it has been a few years since I have returned. This year, however, I have manged a few days photographing the chicks just after hatching and the related activity that you get during this time. It is interesting watching the parents fetch the fish for the little ones and seeing how they rapidly grow - some of them are a bit like teenagers by now. It is a challenging subject to photograph as you have to be quick. You need a long lens but there is no space for a tripod, so you have to hand hold, which can be very tiring on your arms and your neck hurts from looking up alll the time. However, as lomg as you keep alert and shoot at a fast speed to combat camera shake, it is well worth it in the end. If you are patient enough and stay for at least an hour, the birds get used to you and trust you more, which means they are more likely to behave naturally. Anyway there are lots of pictures on my website in the Miscellaneous section, in addition to the one with this blog. Hopefully some of the corporate event photography commissions and weddings in East Lothian, Edinburgh and around Scotland, will start to commence soon.
Anyway, until next time.
Kind Regards
Colin
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com
Return from the Wilderness for a Professional Photographer in Scotland
Hi Everyone
I have my first commission tomorrow after 3 months of virtual lockdown. After a whole load of corporate event and conference photography bookings were cancelled, it's good to get back to doing what I love ie being a professional photographer working in and around Edinburgh and throughout Scotland. Tomorrow i will be in my home county of East Lothian, where I will be photographing a classic car as a promotion next to Scotland's golf coast around this great county. I will be at Archerfield, Dirleton, Dunbar and Musselburgh Golf Club, I cant wait. I know some photographers who have taken a different approach during lockdown and who haven't really continued to shoot during this very difficult period, but although I had my moments of depression like everyone else, I have to keep taking photos and never failed to be motivated. My personal infrared project has also flourished during this time and I have made good progress on my infrared book, as well as providing a lot of new material for the publication. I also have extended my photography of harbours and waves and tried a topic new to infrared for me, namely photographing bees and insects in infrared. So all in all its been eventful, but i am eager to get back to some commercial PR and corporate photography and hopefully tomorrow will be the start of more to come. I hopefully have some motor sport photography in August and a wedding in September, so things are starting to look up.
Anyway, watch this space for more to come. Until next time.
Kind Regards
Colin
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotography.com
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