Two days, Three faces. (Less Gear, More Photo)

Simple as that, two days, three faces for me to meet this week.

Fashion portrait, Mark Ivkovic, bang Photography. Contax G2, Fujifilm Neopan ACROS 100

Fashion portrait, Mark Ivkovic, bang Photography. Contax G2, Fujifilm Fujicolor

Leica Fashion portrait, Mark Ivkovic, bang Photography. Leica M9

Tuesday saw me working with A-Models and Meg Lindow MUA. Here I had the luck to work in some beautiful light with Logan and Sophia.

Then after a rather late night call up Wednesday saw me working with Boss Models Anna Caradice-French and the always charming Thembi Mkandla MUA. Again spoilt by glorious light.

All three of these photographs used natural light, just goes to show the diversity of what can be achieved with minimal equipment.

Exhaustive kit list used for these;

Leica M9 – 50mm

Contax G2 – 45mm – Fujifilm film stock.

That’s it, about as simple as you can get. My kind of shoots these.

Frames – Refreshing Photographers

Frames – Refreshing Photographers, originally uploaded by bang*.

Day 238 / 365

Frames, a collection of shots pretty much untouched in post production, thrown together into a contact sheet type thing and delivered fresh to your monitor. A little insight into a few hours from my day.

This was going to be called “Searching for the invisible man (or woman).” Don’t ask why.

Fun from a little two days refreshing our brains.
The camera got a good pass around but I’m fairly sure I shot at least one of these frames.

Oly PEN E-P2, 35mm

I’m enjoying doing these “Frames” days so I’d expect a few more from me over the next few weeks.

Frames – Ray

Frames – Ray, originally uploaded by bang*.

Day 237 / 365

Frames, a collection of shots pretty much untouched in post production, thrown together into a contact sheet type thing and delivered fresh to your monitor. A little insight into a few hours from my day.

Some of the many faces of Ray, the happiest photographer I know. Not to mention the man who has some crazy stories to tell. Boy can this man talk.

Olympus PEN E-P2, 35mm f1.7 (or the photographers fun camera of choice as it shall now be known)

Spent a few days down in Oxford with a good group of photographers. The Olympus PEN came and seemed to be quite a hit with some of the gang, mainly for its small but hefty stature, it’s nice sounding shutter and the mighty grainy film filter. I think I need to be on commission for Olympus the number I could have sold. We photographer love a camera we can just pick up and use and abuse right away. The PEN just kind of works how you expect it should.

Portrait Art

Portrait Art, originally uploaded by bang*.

Once the safe shots are in the bag I like to try something a little off beat.
It’s the way I’ve always been when it comes to my work.
I’m not just going to shoot the brief, I’m always going to see other possibilities, risky shots that If time permits I’m going to try out. Photographic creativity is much more about experimentation than it is about technicalities & equipment.
Push the boundaries, leap outside the box, just make sure you have the shots you were expected to produce as well.

Blissful Sunday

Blissful Sunday, originally uploaded by bang*.

16 / 365

Tea & biscuits, what finer way to spend a few hours snuggled on the sofa on a Sunday afternoon.

A fine day to recoup my energy and refill my inspiration well by flicking through my tearbook of photographs I love or which interest me most. Today it’s work by Steve McCurry, famed for those who aren’t certain of the name for his Afghan Girl portrait for National Geographic.
I love his work and ability to portray so much about his subject into just one frame. If you have an interest in shooting beautiful compelling natural light portraits, take some time to study Mr McCurrys archive, there’s a wealth of beauty & inspiration in there.

Street Portraits – 10 Strangers with the 50mm

Street Portrait York

I’ve been exploring my craft a little more of late, really trying to push myself and my boundaries both creatively and personally.
I read a post on this blog
Which got me to thinking about my failed 365 portrait project, after a brief analysis of my project I realised a few points which really geed me up to shoot some more street portraits. A little linking around the web later and I remembered a video I’d seen a while back that to me really captures what I like about street work, it’s the connection with the subject. It seems that it becomes the very simplified essence of a full on portrait shoot rendered down to the bare bones.
Watch Clay in action to see what I mean –

Also check out Clay’s blog to see some really great work