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Monday 17 January 2011

The Coming of the Change



Having worked with Alex again using studio lights borrowed and not a clue how to use them. I then worked with the lovely Emma but then no one else remotely keen. I had invested in lights but no one to use them with. I decided to scour MySpace and came across a face. Unusual, haunting and beautiful. No messing around I sent a message. The same evening I was able to talk on the phone about Project Bluebells. The girl; Hannah, was already doing modelling.
 Not the greatest light for our shoot and not the venue I had planned but still we went about getting things done. Hannah asked if I was a member of MM and I had not got a clue what MM was. Well from there joining Model Mayhem has changed every aspect of my photography and that is how I arrived at where I am now. I am very grateful to Hannah and we still shoot together although our shoots are more complex these days. See for yourself. http://www.modelmayhem.com/clickmore


Sunday 16 January 2011

And So it Began

So It is strange the way things happen and the following account started my journey again as to where I was going. I think as soon as people are up to speed then the excitement can begin in earnest.


Having found the poppy field and photographed it I then looked at it's potential for portraits, I put the word out. I got a very interested reply from Alex who I had not seen since she was eleven years old. Then 18, Alex was taking her "A" Levels in preparation for university. Finding someone to come with us was hard. Eventually she found James a friend. He would help with reflectors and put Alex at ease. I am sure Alex was nervous on two counts! 1. Meeting her old teacher after seven years. 2. Posing as a model for the first time. We met up with a big hug, which was lovely and set off for the poppy field. The evening lighting was just right and with reflector and flash to offer alternative lighting for different effects. As you can see Alex was a star!!!! She was, as I had said to her beforehand someone who would add her own poses and make the pictures HERS!! Looking and sorting there are photographs which I am so happy with. We relaxed at the pub later catching up with the past years. We will definitely work together again and I am sure remain friends.  

Saturday 15 January 2011

Sunday School Girl

Recalling My Travels


Recovering from the tour of Sigiriya in the minibus my eyes as usual were sharply alert. When I am travelling I try not to miss anything going on. We passed an ox cart; the first I had really seen, as the mechanical ox has obviously taken over. It cannot replace the real thing as a view to enjoy. The minibus driver was familiar by now with my desire to collect pictorial images and stopped in front. I jumped out and stood watching the bend for the cart to round the bend and arrive at the right point in my viewfinder. All done and back in the bus in two minutes having run alongside the cart (knee throbbing a bit) chatting to the driver who gestured and mumbled through his cigarette holding mouth. Strange to find a rural Sri Lankan smoking! He smiled appreciation of my interest in his two grey oxen and over laden wooden cart.
A couple of miles down the road a very busy school could be seen. I asked the driver why the children were in school on a Sunday. (Silly question when I heard the answer). "Sunday School for Buddhist children" came the answer. He stopped the minibus and shrugged his shoulders.
"Is it OK to take Photographs?" I enquired.
"Of course! Otherwise why would I stop" he grinned. "Just ask the teacher."
I wandered up to the entrance. The children were grouped in age, some at long tables in the open, some standing listening and some on the play equipment. The boys were in their school uniform, probably the nearest to "Sunday Best". The girls however were all dressed in the most immaculate way. Pardon my lack of fashion vocabulary. They had beautiful white-tiered tops, bare midriff and matching tiered long skirts. When I was able to look up close they revealed extremely delicate stitching on hems and gatherings for the tiers.
I was immediately noticed by the younger children who came running. I signalled to a male teacher of an older group and explained I was English and interested in the school and taking photographs. Many of the older children understood what I was asking and paid more attention to me. I took a few pictures of them at tables. One young lady grabbed my attention as I stood talking to them all explaining I was a teacher and I took a spontaneous close-cropped portrait of which she was not really awareof. Noticing the picture was so natural and absolutely pin-sharp I walked gently over to show her. Her embarrassment showed as her friends clammered to see. A shy smile and a thank you from her I withdrew thanking all in the class in order to avoid causing more chaos in the lesson.
As I reached the gate throngs of younger children ran shouting towards me, surrounding me wanting to see my camera and chat. I managed to take a few more pictures of these enthusiastic young people. Every word I spoke, and gesture, was mimicked with great laughter. I said goodbye, waved and walked to the bus, followed all the way by thirty or so inquisitive and over excited youngsters. Although I was the only one to get out of the minibus, the rest of the group had found watching me mobbed by all those children highly amusing. My favourite image so far on my travels stored carefully on a memory card.

Friday 14 January 2011

River Bathers


The event that revived my passion.
Having left Dambulla I explained as I had at the outset where I wanted to go. My next venture and integration was to be the most memorable event to my of my whole stay in Sri Lanka. I had seen people washing and bathing in a small river just beyond the Kandalama Tank (a name for an irrigation reservoir). He said he knew somewhere better but when we got there it was rather disappointing. The river was wide and deep and huge amounts of rubbish lay around and there was no pathway to go upstream. So we settled on going where I had originally planned. I had to give him directions. I was glad I had remembered the route from passing by on the way to Minnereya. We pulled up and there were only people working in the paddy fields. I told the driver I was going to walk downstream and was not sure how long I would be. Out I got and walked down the orange sandy track. Cars went past, a mechanical ox overloaded with wood, tractors and smiling men on bicycles. As I had come to expect, people wanted to stop and talk. Trouble was that there was no sign of the subjects I had come to see. Bend after bend I looked round with anticipation. Startled Herons and Eagrets burst into the air before I could focus up with my camera. It was about the same time of day that I had seen family after family occupied in cleaning and cleanliness. I must have walked for forty minutes and was on the verge of turning back when I heard voices. There was bridge with a wide pool and about ten people, mainly children in the river. Most were playing. I noticed a wall on the other side of the bridge, which would be a comfortable and unobtrusive place to sit. I waved and noticed downstream the women were washing clothes. I chose not to photograph their activity, as I was too high up.
I sat myself quietly down on the wall. A row of smiling faces slowly formed. I smiled and said" Hello."
They replied with a variety of pronunciations of "Hello."
All sorts of questions came from one little girl with a huge smile, holding onto her little brother. We all exchanged names and I took unposed photographs as they stood in the water. Once they realised, it was a long line of excited children wanting to pose for me; in the river, on the bank and the wall I was perched on. Showing the results caused pandemonium as they called out pushed and demanded, "Show me". My screen could be turned to any angle so rather than have to get everyone in front I was able to keep firm hold of the camera. They seemed fascinated by probably meeting their first European. They got braver and one or two including the smiling girl sat down on the wall. It was then my face and beard they wanted to touch; probably because they thought it might be different. The smiling one whose name was Renuka (inspirational) wanted quiet questions and the others wandered away to play and wash. I have no idea about the content of most words but I smiled and guessed at answers which were met with smiles and mimicking my answers. I gave her a pen, which caused an immediate rush of young people towards me demanding more. I exhausted my supply and they seemed satisfied and stood wanting photographs holding their newly acquired treasure. Another girl called Keshini called to me to photograph her with soap in her hair; ending up striking a lovely smile and racing over to see the results. Keshini (one with beautiful hair) thanked me and explained most were going home now. I stood up to go and got mobbed again with touches and calls of "Tomorrow, tomorrow!"
I started to wander off waving as they called out new words of English they had learned. Down the trackpeople passed by waving as usual, a Chameleon blinked at me from a post. My head full of thought about the wonderful carefree lives of those children. One day I hope to return and meet them again armed with some of the stunning photographs of them. An hour and a half had raced by.

Thursday 13 January 2011

Where Are My Roots?

The roots for my photography go back well over twenty years. It was a hobby and nothing more. Teaching and also coaching swimming were obviously my main priorities as they brought in my income. I took photos of anything and everything. It was a matter of getting in my car and going. I was very interested in Portraits and spent many evenings printing Black and White images in my bathroom. Enduring friendships have resulted from the models I worked with.

Sam 1993

Kym 1996
Finding new models was hard and with the ever increasing demands of teaching along with more involvement with swimming coaching at a higher level; my output and creativity shrunk. For over twelve years portrait photography was firmly on the back-burner. It was only when I decided to go travelling in 2004/2005 and the advent of digital photography did things change significantly.
So there is a bit of history. Just trying to catch you up before really getting started.

Wednesday 12 January 2011

Genesis of a New Venture

I finally got round to starting. You might find new posts every day or once a week.
Important viewing:
Pete Baldrey Photography
My Model Mayhem Portfolio
My Flickr World

Feedback on any posts or photos is most welcome. I am happy to take on paid commissions. I also sell my photos in print or digital form but please remember copyright is always that of the photographer.

Because I opted for 18+ this will be an arena for my artwork which might contain nudity.

As I get used to how my Blogger works I am sure the appearance will take on a more artistic feel.