Origami Butterfly

Highlight: Learnt some Advanced Origami

Lowlight: Due a mis-understanding of deadline ended up staying up past midnight making paper butterflies then getting up at the crack of dawn to photograph them.

Fill in: I recently got taken on by Image Brief, an agency where pictures editors can submit picture requests and photographers are emailed the details, and can submit suitable images. The deadlines are usually tight as the picture editors have obviously scoured the existing stock libraries for what they want and drawn a blank and this way of doing things is not the norm. It means that  most briefs you do not have time to get a picture unless you have it instantly at your fingertips or are free that day to shoot it. Having been a member for over a month most of the briefs I could have submitted too I was too busy at the time to get it together. However a request for an Origami butterfly in black shiny paper came in with a Wednesday deadline and I was free Tuesday night and all Wednesday. I am pretty handy at making useless craft type thingies thought I;  tons of time to buy some nice black shiny paper thought I, tons of time to learn to make a butterfly thought I; and tons of time to shoot it thought I.

I made up my mind to do it and told my long suffering partner I was off to Hobby craft to buy some shiny black paper and post off my latest job at the same time. He decided to keep me company. Two hours later, having scoured WH Smiths (only black shiny paper had multi-coloured spots on it - damn those spots), Hobby Craft (NO black shiny paper at all - damn useless shop) Sainsburys (only had red, white or blue shiny paper - damn the Jubilee) Birthdays (closing down sale - no paper at all - damn the recession) I had to admit defeat as it was nearly time for the school pick up plus I wanted to have a go at actually making the butterfly having never made anything more complicated that a paper hat before.

I got back home only to discover to my dismay that the deadline was 10 am Wednesday morning so there was no time to lose. I had a job to do in the early evening, which left me with only the late evening and early morning to get the paper, learn to make the butterfly, shoot it, Photoshop it and upload it.

Post-job at 20.00, Keith and Kyle came with me so they had to suffer the post-job sprint across town through heavy traffic to get to Paperchase at Westfield before it closed. The sat nav indicated that it was only 30 minutes away so just enough time to get there before the shop closed at 21.00 thought I. But we hit two major jams and got into the car park at 20.50. Still ten minutes thought I. But I got into the wrong lift and ended up at the Casino, yelled 'SH!T' to the surprised doorman who came up to usher me in, closed the lift doors in his face and went back to where I started in the car park and had to run up the escalators to get to the second floor to Paperchase. Got there 20.55 and roared 'Got any black shiny paper' to the poor guy who was just contemplating the end of his shift. I got a roll of shiny-ish black paper. Hurrah for Paperchase - 1st part accomplished and 11 hours to go before the deadline.

Got home, and found that cutting an exact square from a roll of wrapping paper is no easy task and it took several attempts and lots of expletives before I got a reasonable one. Then it was on to the internet to follow the on line instructions. Paper was torn, fingers were cut, but eventually two reasonable butterflies were hatched...and it was only 00.45. 9 hours to go. I decided to go to sleep and wake up early the next day to shoot the butterflies.

Overslept and got up 6.15. Luckily the conditions were perfect and got the shots pretty quickly. A bit of pruning on Photoshop and finally got the shot in by 9.30 - along with over 200 other photographers!!!! A veritable swarm of butterflies were on there so chances are mine will not make the cut! Oh well - I can get a job making Origami butterflies now...

Tech spec:. Black shiny paper! My paper was more silky so not quite such a challenge. I was lucky the dawn was overcast with sheet white clouds so the sky was at the biggest soft box ever and lit the butterflies perfectly to get an even sheen and no shadows. This showed off the texture of the paper and made it easy to do a clean cut out. I shot it on a white lightbox. I did try shooting with studio light with a large octagonal soft box but the daylight shots were best.

Related links:

Great instructions for origami butterflies

http://www.pem.org/sites/origami/

http://www.origamispirit.com/2011/05/swallowtail-butterfly/

Sony Jubilee Party

Highlight: Seeing a real live dog show inside Sony HQ.

Lowlight: Missing out on the free candy floss

Checking out the competition

The Royal VIP

Beauty Contest contender

Fill in:  In celebration of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Sony were holding a Summer Garden Fete complete with face-painting, ice-cream, candy floss, burgers, raffle, craft stalls and a dog show - in their  staff canteen on the third floor of an office block of Kensington High Street. One of the senior management team topped the whole thing off by dressing up as the Queen complete with inflatable corgis to present the prizes. 10 dogs were entered for the grand compeition with every size, colour and shape from a Black Standard poodle to golden pug.Amazingly not one poop had to be scooped all afternoon. 

Tech spec:. Had one camera with 24-70 and flashgun for the press shots and one with 85mm F1.4 for atmospherics. 

Gaz Coombes

Highlight: Arriving early enough to get to front without pushing aside loads of ardent fans.

Lowlight: Not on the list! The shame. Had to use charm and wit to get in, so it was no easy task.

Fill in: Gig photography not top of my list at moment, but made an exception for Gaz Coombes. The first time I photograph him I was on tour with the Bluetones doing a rockumentary for a college project. The Bluetones had had their first photo in NME courtesy of yours truly and it was my first job for NME ever. I had been a bold lass in those days and promptly asked the Buetones if I could tour with them. They, not knowing any better agreed and they just happened to be supporting Supergrass. All of them were good lads so it was pretty uneventful but got a good college project out of it.  

Tech spec:. Not on the list! What to do; what to do? Always take the confirmation email with you. (I had that). And the name of the person who has put you on the list. ( I had that). And their number. (Did not have that). Never insist on admission - the door people and security have a job to do and if you are not on the list it is not their fault. Usually you will have to wait for the person who put you on the list to turn up but if it is a small gig, chances are they are not coming so ask to see the promoter or band manager. These people are usually to busy so will not come out just to sort out an annoying photographer, but it shows the door people you are serious. Then ask if anon from the organisation who put you on the list is coming. You will probably have to wait for them and chances are they will be late or not show up at all. Again it shows you are serious. I did all of the above with no success but I looked so pathetic the girl on the door went to find the promoter herself and got me the access. Hurrah. And there was still space at the front.

Related links:

http://www.gazcoombes.com/

For more info:

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/

Decca Artist showcases Day 2

Highlight: Discovering neon lights can make orange juice tastier.

Lowlight: Eating off slate tiles!

Fill in: The second night of this illustrious affair was held at 8 Northumberland Avenue, and the conference rooms were decked out with neon blue lighting and as a result I picked up what I thought was some glamourous fluorescent pinky, tangerine cocktail and was thinking what an exotic concoction taste it had when I heard the waitress offering the same drink to a passing MD as  plain orange juice. Who says looks don't matter. Further more I was surprised to see tender steak and crispy chips, salty scented cod, mushy peas and a cheese soufflé with pomegranate seeds and walnuts being offered to me on 3 inch square slates. I'm sure it is probably the height of food couture in the best circles but I couldn't help feeling I was eating of the best B&Q has to offer in it's bathroom flooring and when I attempted to scrape the lump of peas up with a particularly unruly fat chip the whole lot slid onto the floor. In my defence it is hard to grapple with posh vol-au-vants  when  you haves two heavy digital SLRs hanging off your neck. 

Tonights entertainment:

Classical female musicians that looked like they had just done a burlesque turn at the Venice Carnival swept the stage that had been transformed into a Tron-like interpretation of a Greek Temple. This was followed up by two acoustic acts, the innovative Ukranian pianist Valentina Lisitsa, and Venetian Violin Virtuoso Leonadas Kavakos. (Actually he is from Greece but I want to use three words in a row that begin V). Both acts went entirely over my philistine head but I look forward to hearing them again with a more educated ear when my life flashes before my eyes. Finally Natalie Duncan graced the stage walking in on four inch high heels, tinkling away on the ivories, and singing her heart out lustily - all of which I would love to be able to do, have tried to do at various headstrong moments in my life and with disastrous results - and this is all at discrete events mind you and Natalie did all three at the same time with scintillating elegance. Some people just have it and others take photos of them. 

Tech spec:. I had to ensure the shutter was opened up enough to get the front projection of the Greek Temple but fast enough to freeze the swirling outfits and movements of the musicians. During the acoustic turns I was reduced to ducking between the crowds and clicking when the music got a bit more enthusiastic. The nature of the events means the artists do not move much and the small stage limits the lighting rig, but the technical team at these events more than make up for lack of space with innovative and creative lighting which means you are constantly metering as every act and song is lit differently. (No room for auto exposure here; the lights glaring straight into camera means manual only for spot on exposures)

Related links:

http://www.intermusica.co.uk/kavakos

http://www.myspace.com/valentinalisitsa

http://www.natalieduncan.com/

Decca Artist Showcases Day 1

Highlight: The Toilets in One Whitehall. 

Lowlight: Not being to explore every room!

Fill in: Artist showcases for the label management are always a tense affair. Not the easiest of gigs for artists, who are normally debuting their new work or even performing for the first time, they have to impress a room full of seen-it-all, been there, done that senior international music bods all of whom are at the top of their game. The event is usually held in some top notch hotel or hip and trendy hideaway and this time the venue was Gladstone's favourite place to be when solving the country's problems - One Whitehall. Even entering the building you are filed with historical wonder as a young Winston Churchill glares down at you from an archway and an assortment of  dukes, earls and barons litter the staircase walls. From the various intriguing doors sounds of all description spewed out from Jazz music to deep political conversations. It was like being in the hallway of Alice in Wonderland where each door seemed to promise a land of surreal entertainment behind its heavy, wooden panel. Tonight's entertainment was provided by the sumptuous guitarist from Montenegro - Milos, and the evocative singer Melody Gardot who can make an intake of breath sound like a whisper from heaven itself.

Tech spec: The brief for this is easy - DO WHAT YOU'RE TOLD. The artists are usually very nervous and very often not open to having photographs at all so you have to make them and everyone around them feel at ease - that means keeping happy (in no particular order) the event organiser, the head of the record label, his or her PA, the stage manager, the sound person, the lighting person, the PR, the artist manager, the hotel manager, etc.etc. For this gig I was to be not seen and not heard, so I talked a couple of Managing Directors from Sweden into standing in front of me whilst I shot between their heads using the quiets cameras I own - Nikon D7000 and Nikon V1 - and only shooting in the noisy bits of what was an acoustic set. 

Related links:

www.milosguitar.com

http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/melodygardot/

APPJAG Awards

Highlight: Meeting Acker Bilk.

John Prscott, Acker Bilk, Lord Tony Colwyn, Jamie Cullum, Fran Nevrkla, Peter Leatham 

Jamie Cullum, John Prescott

Acker Bilk, Moira Stewart

Lowlight: Getting stuck in the disabled entrance.

Fill in: This annual event has become the highlight of the Jazz world calendar being the only Jazz Awards ceremony of any note. Held at the House of Commons, it can take 30 minutes to get through security, so I dutifully arrived early with cameras in tow. Usually I get stuck in the revolving door with my rolling box, but the kind security guard had amazing foresight and ushered me into the disabled entrance which had a nice wide door. It was one of those 'air lock' affairs where one set of doors opens,  you enter, get closed in and the interior doors then open to let you through. Unfortunately the interior doors did not open and it was so busy it took a few minutes of rapping on the glass panels, being watched by amused passer bys, getting ultra paranoid that it was all a conspiracy to rid the world of photographers and that I was to be evaporated off the face of the earth at any moment, when the guard saw my predicament. After a few tense moments, whilst they prised the doors open, I eventually popped through the other side. 

Tech spec: The brief for this is to catch various groups of people networking, which people hardly ever do at these events, choosing to stay in their neat and familiar huddles so it was a case of cajoling and wafting the right people together. Tonight was not so hard as Acker Bilk was the guest of honour and most people were eager to have a shot with him. He was a complete stalwart and obligingly posed with anyone that asked. I use two cameras, one with flash for the guest shots and one set for low light to get the speeches and awards, mainly because if I used flash, the PPL logo on the back board, who I am shooting for, would not come out as well otherwise. 

For more details;

PPL:

http://ppluk.com/en/About-Us/News/Winners-announced-at-the-Parliamentary-Jazz-Awards-2012/

JAZZ AND JAZZ

http://www.jazzandjazz.com/2012/05/acker-bilk-presented-with-special-appjag-award-at-the-houses-of-parliament/

Bishopsgate Portraits

Highlight: Great organisation from the administrator.

Lowlight: Parking hell. 

Fill in: This was a straight forward series of headshots of the trustees for the website, but as they wanted a white background there was a fair amount of kit and the offices were right on one of the busiest streets in London on a double red route, so no unloading and I had to circle the place three times before eventually coming into land. Then it was a case of heaving a highlight backdrop, light stands and accompanying cables, brollies, spills and syncs, cameras and lenses down a cobbled road. However a superb room was ready for me and everyone turned up on time. Result.

Tech spec: I used a standard white highlight set up and shot everything landscape. This is so the pictures can easily be used landscape for the web, cropped to portrait for magazines and to square for classic layouts. I do this as invariably only one shot gets selected so at least it can be used in a variety of circumstances. I shoot a few shots from each side, face on and sitting and standing to get a range of poses very quickly. As a vertically challenged person most people are taller than me and as the best angles of most people are from eye level or above I use my Stanley Rolling tool box to stand on to get a good view. This has the added effect of breaking the ice when I leap onto it.

London Assembly

Highlight: Having a car pass for underneath City Hall.

Lowlight: Missing the Assembly members not re-elected.

Fill in: Despite the politics I do get quite attached to all the Assembly members and all their quirks and foibles, so for the fourth time doing this, I was now counting the ones that had been there since the beginning almost on one hand. As the Chair so eloquently put it, they are the theatre nurses to the Mayor's surgical role of taking care of London and their dedication often goes unsung. So I feel quite privileged to be able to work with these guys even in a small way otherwise I would be totally unaware of their hard work too.

Tech spec: Despite the current fashion for a white background, blue or grey works best from most complexions so I was relieved when the Comms. officer requested a grey backdrop. As well as making my lighting easier it meant I could get a car pass. Driving down into the bowels of the building is quite something as it is another world down there of underground cycles racks, dustbin lorries, trucks, trollies and racks and a few sparse parking spaces for the chosen few of which I was one for the day. However the entrance is quite hard to deduce as it is nowhere near City Hall and I didn't remember it from last time.There were five new members but quite a few came down to have a photo, so either they hated the last one so much they wanted a re-take or they loved it so much they wanted another. Either way it was pretty hectic.

Vaisakhi 2012

Highlight: Great food backstage. Seeing the wonderful Deepa Rai again.

 

Lowlight:The threat of rain all day. It didn't but the threat is sometimes worse than the actual.

Fill in: Vaisakhi is the Sikh New Year celebrations and I have photographed it before for the GLA. It is quite a hefty brief, having to capture sponsors posters, VIPS backstage, performers on and off stage, crowd shots, over view shots - in short as full a documentary as possible of the whole event.

Tech spec: Whatever the weather for festivals I always take wet weather gear consisting of a storm jacket for my camera (a £50 plastic sleeve) and a poncho for me (a £1 one which is basically a piece of clingfilm in a bag). OK so I look like a blue jellyfish and my camera looks like it is wearing a huge condom but we are dry and happy thank you. OK So Deepa looks amazing, but she is cold - I need my comforts at my age. I can thoroughly recommend the storm jackets as they work and are simple. If you are handy with needle and thread you could probably make one from an old cagoule sleeve.

The Poetry Society

Highlight: Visiting The Poetry Society Cafe as I get to be egotistical and admire my pictures on the wall.

 

Lowlight: Not having time to get anything to eat.

Fill in: I was called the day before to get some images of the cafe, which the society wants to hire out as a space and to set up a few shots of one of the staff members tutoring a young person.

Tech spec: I always find it quite difficult to set up these shots as a natural set up is not good for camera angles, so it needs placing and requires a bit of acting ability from the subjects. Luckily my subjects knew each other well and getting them to interact was not hard. Both were a bit self conscious but that doesn't matter as you get the smiles as they look at each other.

Bev Lee Harling

Highlight: Bev Lee Harling launches her album

Lowlight: I have wretched cold and can't go

Fill in: Took photos for Bev's album - see previous blog and she is having the launch party tonight. I am feeling wretched, but gutted I am going to miss it.

Here are the original photos and the final artwork: