All posts filed under: Learning how to take photos

Finding inspiration for paintings

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I’m no wizard with a camera, but I love the opportunity to combine my love of exploring with my love of seeking inspiration for paintings!  It was a warm, stormy Sunday today- the perfect chance to get out there and take some reference photos. I’ve taken plenty of photos that I can’t wait to turn into images on a canvas.  There’s something slightly hypnotic about dramatic skies and the unique quality of light that stormy days create.  Stay tuned over the next few weeks for my latest works 🙂

The Gift Of Photography: A Few Handy Basics

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If you read my previous post ‘The Gift of Photography’ you will know that I was recently given an SLR camera for my birthday-EXCITING.  From this, you may also know that I have no idea how to use it! I decided that I would embrace my newbie photographer status and share the lessons that I learn along my little journey of discovery with this remarkable piece of equipment.  Last time I ventured out into the world with my camera, I was literally just pointing and shooting using automatic mode (which I like to refer to as THE SAFE GREEN BUTTON).  Although I liked some of the photos that I took, I was well aware that I could do better with a bit more ‘know how’.  This weekend I had an accomplice who knows a thing or two about photography- my brother James.  He showed me a few handy basics that any newbie photographer can start to experiment with.  I think it is important to point out that I did not go out with the intention of taking fantastic photos, but to …

A Beautiful Dream

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I love how enchanting hot air balloons look floating gently across the sky. To me, they represent a whimsical form of escapism from reality. I cannot help wondering where they are going, and like to think it’s somewhere magical.   As an artist, they are ultimately a HUGE source of inspiration for me, and feature in several of my recent works.   So imagine my SHEER EXCITEMENT when two beautiful hot air balloons appeared happily in the sky on my doorstep this evening.  I was on my way back from the corner shop (picking up wine- thank god it’s Friday) when they graced my vision with their presence.  Needless to say I quickly scooted back to the house, bolted up the stairs, grabbed my camera, and ran back out into the evening sun like a CRAZY PERSON. I am a ‘newbie photographer’ as well as an artist and thought this was an excellent opportunity to improve my photography skills as well as provide me with reference photos for my  painting.  Here are the results.     …

The Gift Of Photography

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As an artist who is relatively new to sharing my art via the internet, I soon realised that it is VITAL to be able to take high quality photographs of my work in order to share them with others.  It was almost pointless sharing my slightly blurred, low quality phone-camera images because they simply did not do my work justice.   Luckily, I am fortunate enough to have a very supportive and generous man in my life who happened to beautifully surprise me with a DSLR for my birthday.  Yipeee! Needless to say I was absolutely delighted, and immediately began taking millions photographs of my art and its processes. Whilst my new toy seemed to do the job perfectly, I have not really ventured away from the safe little green button- AUTO.  In fact, I had not really taken pictures of anything OTHER than my art.  It occurred to me that this was, and still is, ridiculous.  This piece of equipment is expertly designed and capable of taking some breath taking images (in the right hands of course).  …