These days being a photographer involves spending as much time working on a computer as it does shooting images. It’s not an ideal situation but it’s the way it is if digital is the primary method of image capture, especially if you also have a website to maintain and update. The choices in computer systems is huge but if you intend running Photoshop you are going to need something fairly powerful to process images. There are two main systems to choose between; Apple Mac and OSX or a PC running a version of Microsoft Windows. Apple and Microsoft have very different ways of doing things and the respective operating systems are light years apart. MS Windows is an operating system that tries to be all things to all people and ultimately it does it as well as it possibly can considering the way it is designed and what it is expected to do, but ultimately fails to do anything really well. Windows has to support thousands of different computer systems, with very few computers having the same internal components. Patches, updates, bug fixes and service packs are the regular routine when running a Windows system, not to mention viruses and security issues. It’s like this because the PC computer world is wide open and Microsoft can’t control on which system the operating system is installed, so it tries to be a stable platform for all its users.

Apple do things completely differently. With a small range of desktop and laptop computers that Apple design, build and market it’s very much a closed loop with Apple controlling everything, and an operating system that is brilliant, extremely reliable and very fast. Apple designs are, at least in my opinion, the very best available and the Mac Pro is an amazingly powerful desktop graphics computer that can handle up to 32GB memory. Since we made the switch to Apple Mac we have found our whole computing experience to be thoroughly enjoyable and hassle free, not something we could ever say when using PC’s. I’m not trashing Microsoft or PC users in any way, but the fact is that Apple Mac’s do it better. We have used PC’s for well over 15 years and each computer has been faster than the previous one. Unfortunately we reached the point where we just could not put up with the amount of time it was taking to process RAW files to 16 bit, or the fact that after working on a batch of large images the PC would run out of memory and we had to re-boot the computer. Mix in with that the constant drain on the memory (limited to 3GB) by Windows, which gobbles it up just to keep the PC working, and we were really struggling with Photoshop CS3.

In the end we went to Apple and sought some advice. We received the best service we could have wished for and bought a 24” iMac, followed by a Mac Pro a few weeks later, and we recently added a 15″ Macbook Pro. Photoshop CS3 runs so much better on the Mac Pro and even after processing images all day it never slows down or requires a re-boot. After a while you just become accustomed to working in Photoshop without the computer needing any attention at all and that is far more productive. Although there is a slight learning curve when moving from PC to Mac, it is nothing to be concerned with and is a great deal easier than we thought it would be. Having used the Apple Mac’s for almost a year I can confidently state that we will remain with Apple. Some might think Apple Macs are expensive but if you compare like for like with PC’s you will find there is very little difference in real money. Yes it is possible to buy a cheap PC these days and for what they cost they can be more than adequate but the fact is Apple doesn’t try to make cheap budget computers, that’s not their market. Apple make quality computers that do what they are designed to do, and they do it extremely well.

A portrait is, or at least it should be, an artistic representation of a person in which the photographer conveys something of the character, personality and mood of the subject. The person doesn’t have to be a raging beauty or even have a particularly photogenic face to enable a skilled photographer to create a beautiful portrait. The secret is in the  understanding of light, shadow, texture and making a connection with the subject, with the last point being the most important factor. It’s very hard to convey a person’s personality  and sense of mood unless photographer and subject connect. These days there seems to be as much emphasis on distorted colours, bizarre camera angles and special effects as there is in creating a true portrait. I often wonder if these inappropriate techniques are used to mask the lack of photographic skills of the person operating the camera. Most of these so called ‘portraits’ can be produced on a compact digital camera by anyone with the ability to distort colours on a computer and then output the image on a home printer. It’s perfectly possibly to save a fortune doing it this way and the results can be equally as bad. I guess it’s very much like junk food. Most of us have  tried it but some people think that it’s actually the real thing. Believe me, it isn’t.

Fortunately there are some extremely skilled photographic portrait artists out there, but not enough in comparison to the junk image producers. I recently saw some prints by a well known ‘studio’ and was speechless at the amount of money paid for what can only be described as rubbish. Fads come and go, fashions change like the wind, and what is ‘in’ today is usually ‘out’ tomorrow. Anyone brave enough to continue creating great quality portraits will always find a market for their work because there are enough people out there who appreciate professionalism and don’t want to be depicted in the manner of a lunatic bouncing off the walls of a padded cell. People will pay good money for good work and there are more of them than we might think.

Why is it that actors and actresses, singers, musicians, authors and professionals the world over choose photographers who posses the necessary skills to create a quality image? Quite simply it’s because they want to be portrayed in a realistic and artistic manner and for the image to convey something of their ‘essence’. Realistic doesn’t mean boring or old fashioned at all and some of the most stunning portraits have been created using time honoured techniques, which are as relevant today as they ever were. Just because the whole world is embracing new technologies we don’t need to abandon  proven quality imaging. An image is not about the technology employed, it’s about seeing beyond the visible and using whatever techniques work best. Many photographers still use film when the occasion calls for it, or the demand is there, and large format imaging in particular is very much alive and doing very well.

A great portrait is priceless and within this fast changing world there are still plenty of people who want, even demand, the very best skills from a photographer. Machine gun imaging can remain the preserve of the idiot high street studio camera operator and those who are daft enough to pay for over priced and cheaply produced prints. At the end of the day quality and style will always win over quantity and gimmicks. There  will always  be enough room, and an ever expanding market, for photographers who stick out for quality and style and can look their subject in the eye knowing they are giving their very best.

If ever there exists a ‘city of dreams’ it is Venice. Yes there are times when you have to battle through the crowds and there are the cheap trashy tourist shops (rarely run by Italian’s) but get through the initial shock of one of the busiest ‘must see’ destinations in the western world and a magical experience awaits you. There are quieter places but there’s none more peaceful, and certainly nowhere as magical as Venice. Forget the hustle and bustle of the tourist trade and take an espresso or a spritz at a bar frequented by the locals and allow yourself to drift into the Venetian pace of life. Life here is drifty, until it needs to drop down a gear, hit the throttle and quickly speed past the tourists. It then eases down again into the rhythmic pace of life that can only ever be Italian. Imagine a city without cars, vans, trucks, busses or trains, and a place where the only transport is by foot, water bus (Vaporetto) or if you are feeling really flushed there are the high powered and beautiful water taxi’s.

Photographically, Venice has to be the most intriguing place on earth, with a picture at every turn. It can be visually overwhelming when you first arrive, but pace yourself and allow it to take control. There are the famous sights but most of the real beauty is found in the backwater canals and buildings. There are a surprising number of seemingly decaying and derelict palaces and lesser buildings to be found in this city but each of these has it’s own unique beauty. I say ‘seemingly’ because things Venetian are often not quite what they appear to be. Perhaps this is a part of the true magical quality of this unique city. At first glance there does seem to be a sense of decaying splendour but look carefully and you will see the ‘decay’ is skillfully managed due to the continual program of restoration and preservation taking place.

If you want to shoot architecture, there’s nowhere better; reportage, perfect; night time images, stunning. Wherever you point the camera, there’s an image. Venice has it all, and it has it in some style. The best light is usually during September and October but just about any time is pure photographic heaven. Whether it’s film or digital Venice is such a beautiful place and surely worthy of stepping up to a 5×4 field camera and Kodak Tri-X B&W film, or if colour is your preference, Fuji Velvia. There is an amazing tonal quality with 5×4, and this city is certainly deserving of the highest quality images available.

Getting to know the Venetians is delightful and there are so many wonderful characters in the city. The food and drink is not expensive if you do your homework and eat where the locals eat. If you are staying in an apartment (thoroughly recommended) the local fish market is an unforgettable and essential port of call. Once you have visited this market you will return home wondering why we have to accept such poor quality and extortionately high prices for seafood in the UK. There is such a wide variety of freshly caught fish and the salads and vegetables in the adjoining market are so reasonably priced and of truly sumptuous quality. Buy some seafood, a bunch of peperoncino’s for €1.50 and a huge bag of porcini mushrooms for €6.50. Wander off in search of local pasta, a bottle of wine and smile all the way back to your apartment. The food in Venice is truly excellent, just dig beneath the surface and follow your instincts and some wonderful tastes await you.

If you want to see the finest leather bags in Venice, visit Balducci’s. Balducci’s sell hand made leather bags, designed and made by Franco Balducci himself. He uses the finest Tuscan leather, brass fittings, and when you pick up a Balducci bag you will see why they have a world wide reputation for the very best in quality and style. Balducci’s also sell shoes, boots and belts so when you are in Venice, call in and be amazed.

Whether it’s sunny, foggy, raining or freezing cold, Venice is a city that always has a warm and welcoming heart. Photographically, it doesn’t matter what the weather is doing because it looks just as good in the pouring rain as it does at any other time. If you can, don’t make yours a one off visit; come back again, and take more time to see and feel the very real magic of this captivating place.

Many photographers lamented the slow but inevitable demise of traditional B&W film photography and fibre based printing papers. Most 35mm camera manufacturers rapidly discontinued their ranges of film cameras and digital was seen as the death of true B&W, and I tended to share that view. Photography was heading into the new digital age and many of us wondered where it would all lead us. Treasured names like Contax and a whole host of other camera manufacturers went out of business caused by the relentless march of digital imaging. B&W film imaging is still possible but it’s primarily an enthusiasts niche market with large and medium format cameras now dominant. Most commercial darkrooms have closed and the entire photographic imaging market has changed beyond recognition.

Having spent what seems like half my life using films such as Kodak Tri-X, Ilford Pan F, Fuji Neopan and Agfa Portriga printing papers I struggled with the new digital age and soon realised that rather than hold onto what was clearly coming to an end, I urgently needed to embrace the digital age and develop the skills necessary to enable me to produce high quality B&W art prints with today’s new technology. Yes I hesitated and it wasn’t until I bought a Canon 1D Mk.II that I really started to see the emergence of the image quality that I now almost take for granted with the latest generation of digital imaging tools.

It has been an extremely steep learning curve and there were many times when I wondered if digital B&W would ever have the ‘look or feel’ of the traditional media I had used for so many years. In truth I have to say that these days I am more comfortable with digital imaging than I ever thought I would be. The ability to create an image from conception through to the finished print is now within the means of most photographers. I can’t say it’s possible to replicate the exact look of a particular B&W film due to the fact that each batch of film is different and the processing chemicals and techniques are so varied. We can however create B&W art prints as we conceived them and to us, that is the whole point of creating an art print.

Looking at the quality of the B&W art prints we create with digital equipment, I often prefer the look and feel of the prints we create today. With pigment ink digital printers and the truly wonderful printing papers from Hahnemühle, today’s fine art prints can be astonishingly beautiful. We also have the advantage today that it is no longer necessary to endure an existence of a bat when printing, or suffer the noxious fumes from chemicals that can be close to lethal. Digital B&W techniques owe much to the days of the darkroom. The real difference is the hardware employed, with our darkroom and Durst enlarger being replaced with a computer, Photoshop and a large format printer.

Far from lamenting the demise of traditional B&W print making, digital has heralded in a new age where just about anything is possible. If you have a real love of Black & White imaging and you would like to develop your techniques then drop us an e-mail or call any time. We will be delighted to help.

It has become clear over the past few years that there is a very real requirement for a ‘Photographic Art Community’ in southern England, in which like minded photographic artists and art models can enjoy close working creative relationships and mutual artistic, technical and promotional support. We have long held the view that it would be extremely beneficial to form a small close-knit artistic community for the development and creation of fine works of photographic art. There is a growing appreciation for fine art photography, yet there are very few working communities in which this medium is explored or encouraged. Many of us work in isolation, but during many conversations centred around fine art imaging with a numerous colleagues and models it has become quite obvious that many artists would enjoy, even thrive, in an artistic environment with closer creative relationships.

If you are interested in exploring the various avenues of fine art photography, creative techniques, marketing and promotion and feel you experiences and skills lead you in that direction please feel free to contact us via e-mail from the ‘Contact’ page on the website. There are already a number of us working closely together and we are always interested in hearing from any photographer, model, make up artist, stylist or designer who has a genuine heart and desire to create photographic art images. If you feel you have something creative to express or contribute you can be assured of a very warm welcome.

The ‘blog’ is a new venture for us so hopefully visitors to the website will find it useful. Over the coming weeks and months there will (hopefully) be some interesting articles on photography, imaging and related info. Much seems to be readily available these days via the web so we thought it would be a good idea to chip in with our thoughts etc.

We have been evolving a great deal of our imaging recently and we have begun to move in a different direction to some of our previous work. We are continuing to work with highly skilled dancers to increase our body of work but we are also devoting a great deal of our energy towards Fine Art imaging. We are delighted to be working with a small team of exceptionally talented models, stylists, dancers and designers with the creative restults appearing on the website over the coming weeks & months. During 2008 & 2009 we will be spending a lot of our time in Italy but we have continual access to our website and will continue to update the general site and also this blog, as and when we have the time.

The majority of the blog articles will be photographically  and art related but with such an incompetent and useless government pretending to run (read ruin) this country there may well appear ‘political rants’ from time to time. Feel free if you want to join in but try to keep things objective and profanities, unless directed at New Labour, will be deleted.