How to be Authentic in your Creative Work

I recently took a few days off and travelled down to Lynmouth on the Devon Coast. Lately I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be authentically yourself in your photography, or filmmaking, or whatever your creative pursuits, so on top of taking photographs I decided to make a film with some of these thoughts. 

I hope it challenges you to be brave enough to be yourself in your own work.

Advice on Printing your Images

I have never professionally printed any of my images before, which, having been a professional photographer for many years now, seems like a ridiculous fact. 

To remedy this I decided to take 3 images from my recent shoot with the Himba Tribe, down to Genesis Imaging in London, and get them professionally printed. Mark Foxwell, their creative director, kindly gave me some time to share advice to camera for print virgins like myself.

I hope this video challenges you to get out and print one of your favourites.

Very special thanks to Mark and Gabrielle at Genesis Imaging: http://genesisimaging.co.uk/

Editing Landscapes (HDR and Panoramas in LR and PS)

Following my Snowdonia trip last year, quite a few of you asked for a tutorial showing how I edited the shots, so this... is that.

In this tutorial I'll show you how to combine the bracketed exposures in Lightroom to give you your HDR image, as well as showing you how to stitch multiple shots together for your panorama.

Then I'll run you through some Photoshop techniques from cloning, to sharpening, dodge and burn through to colour work.

I hope these tips help you in your own editing:

...and here's the final image:

Become a better photographer through 'visual exercise'

As photographers it's very easy to fall down the deep, dark hole of gear lust; or to get lost in reams of techy info, thinking these things will make us better photographers. They may help you learn how to use the tools, but in the same way as owning a paint brush doesn't make you an artist, becoming a great photographer is about so much more.

The following video gives some of my thoughts on how to 'exercise visually', how to open your eyes to the world around, and how to become photo-aware.

I hope it inspires you to shoot more often, with more abandon, and to develop your photography as art, not science.

Enjoy, and share it on if you found it helpful.

The War in every Portrait

I created this video recently called, 'The war in every portrait.' 

It's based on a quote I heard. Embarrassingly I can't remember where, and I've likely butchered by now but it said something like:

"Every portrait is a war between the sitter’s vanity and the photographer’s guile."

In the video I talk predominantly to portrait and headshot photographers about how to look beneath the exterior to capture the authentic person sitting in front of you. Using the example of Karsh's portrait of Churchill in '41 as a springboard I give some tips on making your subject feel comfortable, and a challenge to photographers to sit for their own portrait or headshot sessions to remind them how vulnerable it can feel, and to give them empathy when they shoot others.

But I'll shut up now and just let you watch:

If you enjoyed it, please share it on.

Here is a photo I shot of my wife during the making of this video:

...and here's one she took of me when we turned the tables:

Check her out, she's a very talented, high end retoucher (as well as a talented photographer, even though she won't admit it): www.sarahjeantucker.com

Till next time. 

Learning to risk again: A Landscape Photography Trip

Last week I packed my bags and headed off for a few days to Snowdonia in Wales. The idea was to just leave and shoot something completely different, outside my comfort zone, to keep photography fresh for myself and take it out of the daily grind. There was no guarantee the trip wouldn't be a waste as I'm not a professional landscape photographer by any means, but I think the best creativity will always come out when you are taking risks.

When I got home I edited together this little road trip movie / photography tutorial from the journey with some of the things I learnt, so I'll shut up now and let the video speak for itself:)

I hope you enjoy: 

Here's a gallery of some of images I ended up with:

...and this is a selection of images I shot and edited on the iPhone 6 Plus while I was running around up there (editing apps used were Snapseed, Darkroom, Lens Distortions, Rays and Instagram):

Your turn.