Well I thought it was time for yet another blog from me. Its been a very different year in that I have got back into my photography which many people have commented was very nice to see. Its also been interesting to see how photographic styles and trends have changed over the years so taking a peek at my old backups I found a number of interesting images.
Sorry for those who like visual images this blog will not have any so you can all wait till the next one for that, this is more about thinking about where we are and where more importantly I am going in the future. 2012 was a year for reflections, about life the universe and everything (Thanks to Douglas Adams for that set of words). Ex-Wife, Ex-Daughter, Ex-Business and Ex-Business Partner. Sometimes you have to consider the past to learn lessons for the future, it brings you many new opportunities and what does not kill you makes you stronger in the coming years. 2013 was a great start to my year, new opportunities, tidying up old problems, making plans, new job and lots more besides. My restart on photography was always on the cards just when was going to be the question, later or sooner, for me it was sooner and I have found my way again with the help of a few really supportive friends.
I'm not going to mention those who helped, the backstabbers are also protected and are filed under those whom never to trust but those real friends that I have will be there for years to come and I thank them for their support. Working in the photographic industry for me is still a challenge with new equipment and materials coming by me each day for me to play with and learn about. I also write up reports on the new pieces of kit that I have access to so that people can find out what to buy and what to avoid in the future.
Taking pictures is a lifelong commitment and I shall continue to take images in various styles so that my skill is displayed for those who appreciate good photography and are happy to take note, learn, copy and create their own pieces of visual art. Those whom I have taught over the years know this to be true and the lessons that I passed on to them have not just been that of a tutor or instructor but of a person with a passion for the photographic medium to inspire them on to greatness which sadly a lot of teachers/tutors do not do as they are just in it for the money.
I have enjoyed the recent work on the Black Tape Project and am now working on a number of new ideas for the 2014 season and am busy making plans for those now. The final shoots of the year will be with some old model friends that I have worked with before and no doubt will give me even more images that I will enjoy to look back on in later years. A very big new project is also planned for the end of next year and will involve me going out of the confines of the UK to get some truly breathtaking images on mainland Europe.
Ok, ok I said that I would not name names but I feel that a few people need a quick mention to give a quick thank you for some extra special thanks for their support. Firstly Carl Hugger of Hugger Studios, a great person and lots of fun to work with, he makes each shoot such an enjoyable experience for my models and supplies the usual banter with tea/coffee and soft drinks as any good studio host does. Secondly and in a similar vein I should mention Andy Harris of Justforyou Studios again Andy is a superb guy and really makes you feel welcome every time you attend the studios for a shoot. Thirdly a big thanks to Chris Petersen (Uncle Lens-cap) as we used to call him at the old studios, his support, wit and humor makes life bearable and I know that he has not had things easy but he has always been there for me. Finally a quick mention to Gemma Lawrence (Makeup Artist) who I have know for a number of years, it was so nice to see and work with her again recently and I look forward to seeing her smiling face again soon, she has talent coming out of every pore of her body and it shows with the superb makeup results that she supplies.
Thats all for now folks, time to close the blog till next time when I will be writing about a shoot that I am doing with a good friend of mine soon and some pictures to show how she has progressed as a model over the years that we have worked together.
Paul.
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Friday, 27 September 2013
Models who last.... and stand the test of time.
Well for my next blog I decided to write a short ish article on models that I have had the pleasure of working with over the years. This also got me thinking about the lifespan of a model? Some of you out there reading this might be starting to think about this too so stay tuned and we will see where it leads us. It all began when I decided to back up some more recent images and then took a peek at my archive hard drive. This one is much older than the one that I currently use but contains a considerable number of images, it takes over five minutes to load up these days at the Terabyte drive was quite advanced for its day and fast but with it almost full when I moved on to my next one it has stood the test of time.
Looking through the endless index listing of name of models I noted that a few of them stood out for me and it got me thinking about those models who are still working in the industry after five, ten or fifteen years of modelling. Its nice to know that these young ladies still look stunning and are producing outstanding pictures for us photographers. So to illustrate this I decided to pick three girls that I have had the pleasure of working with and are still smiling for the cameras today.
Firstly the Pleasure.
Firstly Rachel Travers. Great model whom I have had the pleasure of working with on a number of time, still modelling and with a stunning figure.
Although taken in 2003 they really show what a fun model she was and still is to work with. Thanks Rachel.
Next up on my list of Brill Girls is someone whom I got the chance to work with a lot and still models today mainly from her home which is superb, I mean of course none other than "Raven". others know her as MH.
Its always a pleasure to work with Raven and she always delivers top notch images just as she did back in 2004 when these were taken at a now closed studio in Sheffield which was at the top of an old mill building.
Finally on the list of Celebs I must add the name of Jocelyne Booke Hamilton to the listing she was stunning to work with back in 2005 and still delivers outstanding pictures for those who work with her. A real professional model wanting to go that extra mile to deliver.
Sadly I have only managed to work with her the once back in 2005 but it was an experience that I will never forget with her ability to put the photographer at total ease and work to produce outstanding images.
So getting back to the blog:
Lifespan of a Model?
I also wondered about the effective lifespan of a model in the industry and what she has to look forward to if she wants to make a go of being a photographic model. You only have to take a peek at the websites for models and photographers to see those who are tying to start out, a good set of images would help so many and the ability to communicate is another essential but what is their actual lifespan.
Sadly from looking around its not very long in fact they peak very quickly (No pun intended) and then vanish into the background, no replying to e-mails or phone calls. Its a dog eat dog world out there and the bitchiness really does get to a few girls who give up when they meet other models or so-called models socially or on shoots. Its also a fact of life that girls get bored, get boyfriends, get dogs(Or cats) or even get pregnant. Some come back afterwards but find well toned and more motivated models out there having taken their crown they don't want to give it back.
Attitudes to models have changed over the past ten or fifteen years in that photographers take them for granted and tend not to stick with one girl to support and move them forward. I can think of only half a dozen photographers who have done this successfully with girls that they have trained and those girls are doing really well indeed with that support. Most are left out on their own, some make a go of it others fall by the wayside, in fact more fall by the wayside because modelling is considered to be seedy by friends, family and work colleagues. Do models have a sell by date tattooed on them, well some have tattoos but that is not what I was meaning, is it just ok for a few years or do models have a time when they decide to pack it in for good and bow out gracefully as they have lost their looks or body shape?
Going back to the basics when models start acceptable training courses for models are sadly in the minority telling them the facts and laying out the reasons why they can do well and or how they can improve. To be honest we need some sort of mentoring service to advise and assist models with this to allow them to gain information that will enable them to engage with customers, become more effective and independent. So where are they now, take a look down the high street and you can see them, "Be a model, No Way, I aint taking my Kit off for nobody"! Its a shame but hopefully in time things will change and restore modelling to something of value and not something seedy and hidden away in private when mentioned in conversation.
Till next time hope you enjoyed this. Please feel free to comment. Paul Rowe
Looking through the endless index listing of name of models I noted that a few of them stood out for me and it got me thinking about those models who are still working in the industry after five, ten or fifteen years of modelling. Its nice to know that these young ladies still look stunning and are producing outstanding pictures for us photographers. So to illustrate this I decided to pick three girls that I have had the pleasure of working with and are still smiling for the cameras today.
Firstly the Pleasure.
Firstly Rachel Travers. Great model whom I have had the pleasure of working with on a number of time, still modelling and with a stunning figure.
Although taken in 2003 they really show what a fun model she was and still is to work with. Thanks Rachel.
Next up on my list of Brill Girls is someone whom I got the chance to work with a lot and still models today mainly from her home which is superb, I mean of course none other than "Raven". others know her as MH.
Its always a pleasure to work with Raven and she always delivers top notch images just as she did back in 2004 when these were taken at a now closed studio in Sheffield which was at the top of an old mill building.
Finally on the list of Celebs I must add the name of Jocelyne Booke Hamilton to the listing she was stunning to work with back in 2005 and still delivers outstanding pictures for those who work with her. A real professional model wanting to go that extra mile to deliver.
So getting back to the blog:
Lifespan of a Model?
I also wondered about the effective lifespan of a model in the industry and what she has to look forward to if she wants to make a go of being a photographic model. You only have to take a peek at the websites for models and photographers to see those who are tying to start out, a good set of images would help so many and the ability to communicate is another essential but what is their actual lifespan.
Sadly from looking around its not very long in fact they peak very quickly (No pun intended) and then vanish into the background, no replying to e-mails or phone calls. Its a dog eat dog world out there and the bitchiness really does get to a few girls who give up when they meet other models or so-called models socially or on shoots. Its also a fact of life that girls get bored, get boyfriends, get dogs(Or cats) or even get pregnant. Some come back afterwards but find well toned and more motivated models out there having taken their crown they don't want to give it back.
Attitudes to models have changed over the past ten or fifteen years in that photographers take them for granted and tend not to stick with one girl to support and move them forward. I can think of only half a dozen photographers who have done this successfully with girls that they have trained and those girls are doing really well indeed with that support. Most are left out on their own, some make a go of it others fall by the wayside, in fact more fall by the wayside because modelling is considered to be seedy by friends, family and work colleagues. Do models have a sell by date tattooed on them, well some have tattoos but that is not what I was meaning, is it just ok for a few years or do models have a time when they decide to pack it in for good and bow out gracefully as they have lost their looks or body shape?
Going back to the basics when models start acceptable training courses for models are sadly in the minority telling them the facts and laying out the reasons why they can do well and or how they can improve. To be honest we need some sort of mentoring service to advise and assist models with this to allow them to gain information that will enable them to engage with customers, become more effective and independent. So where are they now, take a look down the high street and you can see them, "Be a model, No Way, I aint taking my Kit off for nobody"! Its a shame but hopefully in time things will change and restore modelling to something of value and not something seedy and hidden away in private when mentioned in conversation.
Till next time hope you enjoyed this. Please feel free to comment. Paul Rowe
Monday, 23 September 2013
Original or is anything Original at all for photography.
I have noted in recent months a number of photographers posting on social networking sites and forums on modelling sites moaning that people are copying other peoples work like sheep and following trends too much. The big complaint is that why don't people do something original for a change, which got me thinking about this for a few minutes.
Photography has been around now for well over 100 years so the chance to do something truly original is massive in that hundreds of thousands of photographers all over the world are working on many projects that might be similar or with a type or style that others will see as not original cause someone has done it before. In this time Many styles of work have been developed (No pun intended) by photographers in fields such as portrait, landscape, closeup, architecture and glamour photography.
To be truly unique in this day and age together with all the photographers past and present is not only a challenge to do but something of an impossible feat. If you consider all the styles, topics, locations and settings that photographers work in its all been done before to an extent, so nothing can be original.
So whats the point in doing it, when its all been done before by someone five, fifty or a Hundred years ago. The solution is simple and one that has escaped the notice of those complaining about copying. To truly copy something you would need to re-create the shot exactly, which unless you have a time machine is impossible to do. You might be able to copy a style to produce something similar but with all the variables you could never produce an exact likeness of a photographers picture even if you used the same gear to take the picture, the same model to work with the same lighting conditions, the same viewpoint, the same time of day to point out just a few variables, not to mention the location?
Having thought about this people blindly following trends like sheep is a bit harsh but to understand that people like to take portraits, glamour, landscapes etc., If that's it then what is the problem? Those who complain about this should take a long hard look at their own photography and think, why did you take those pictures, was it worth the time and effort to get the result. If yes from the photographer, model, viewer then it was worthwhile and it does not matter that the photographer has used a style or type that has been done before as the shot will clearly reflect the talent or lack of talent that he or she has used to get the result.
Photography is subjective, how can we learn it without copying other peoples styles or types, how then do we manage to get a better picture without practice of our art. If you think its all copying then whats the point in taking pictures? In answer you should be thinking that you have created your own unique image and that it does not matter if you have made a landscape or glamour shot its the creative style that you present it to the world that matters.
In the same way that people like some food and dislike others its all a matter of taste. I also noted that those who complain are always the ones who troll the internet sites moaning about the quality of other peoples work yet so far cannot produce good quality work that they are proud to own up to as their own.
I always think of the saying "People in Glasshouses shouldn't throw stones" as being so true for these folk.
Photography is an art form and should be considered a combination of the technical with the artistic to be creative at all times it does not matter that its been done before, the question is do you like what you see.
In finishing I will be penning more of my thoughts on photographic matters in the next few months I hope that you enjoy reading these and make you think about your own photographic art.
Photography has been around now for well over 100 years so the chance to do something truly original is massive in that hundreds of thousands of photographers all over the world are working on many projects that might be similar or with a type or style that others will see as not original cause someone has done it before. In this time Many styles of work have been developed (No pun intended) by photographers in fields such as portrait, landscape, closeup, architecture and glamour photography.
To be truly unique in this day and age together with all the photographers past and present is not only a challenge to do but something of an impossible feat. If you consider all the styles, topics, locations and settings that photographers work in its all been done before to an extent, so nothing can be original.
So whats the point in doing it, when its all been done before by someone five, fifty or a Hundred years ago. The solution is simple and one that has escaped the notice of those complaining about copying. To truly copy something you would need to re-create the shot exactly, which unless you have a time machine is impossible to do. You might be able to copy a style to produce something similar but with all the variables you could never produce an exact likeness of a photographers picture even if you used the same gear to take the picture, the same model to work with the same lighting conditions, the same viewpoint, the same time of day to point out just a few variables, not to mention the location?
Having thought about this people blindly following trends like sheep is a bit harsh but to understand that people like to take portraits, glamour, landscapes etc., If that's it then what is the problem? Those who complain about this should take a long hard look at their own photography and think, why did you take those pictures, was it worth the time and effort to get the result. If yes from the photographer, model, viewer then it was worthwhile and it does not matter that the photographer has used a style or type that has been done before as the shot will clearly reflect the talent or lack of talent that he or she has used to get the result.
Photography is subjective, how can we learn it without copying other peoples styles or types, how then do we manage to get a better picture without practice of our art. If you think its all copying then whats the point in taking pictures? In answer you should be thinking that you have created your own unique image and that it does not matter if you have made a landscape or glamour shot its the creative style that you present it to the world that matters.
In the same way that people like some food and dislike others its all a matter of taste. I also noted that those who complain are always the ones who troll the internet sites moaning about the quality of other peoples work yet so far cannot produce good quality work that they are proud to own up to as their own.
I always think of the saying "People in Glasshouses shouldn't throw stones" as being so true for these folk.
Photography is an art form and should be considered a combination of the technical with the artistic to be creative at all times it does not matter that its been done before, the question is do you like what you see.
In finishing I will be penning more of my thoughts on photographic matters in the next few months I hope that you enjoy reading these and make you think about your own photographic art.
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
2013 and all that....
Well it has been a long time since I posted anything. I have moved on a lot, the studios closed and I have been doing the odd job for clients over the past 12 months. I now have a new job working for a Photographic Retail Chain that I will not mention as a Camera Expert and for those wanting to know where I am these days just drop me a mailing and I will let you know. I have not been doing any studio shoots for some time but hopefully in the next few months I will be getting back to taking pictures dependent on the shifts I get allocated for working. I'm also looking at doing some outdoor location work in the near future since the weather has greatly improved.
Just to mention this blog will be under the old studios name but will in future relate to me and my varied views on photography, thats just to let you know whats going on. And now to improve your day I thought it would be nice to put in a few pictures from the past.
I will be posting more for you fans in the future. Till then Happy snapping.....enjoy the sunshine.
Just to mention this blog will be under the old studios name but will in future relate to me and my varied views on photography, thats just to let you know whats going on. And now to improve your day I thought it would be nice to put in a few pictures from the past.
Sunday, 8 July 2012
Some things never turn out right..?
As they say things sometimes never turn out like you planned. Still I'm still here, perhaps to the distain of others and will remain so. The past six months have made me look at my work and consider if I want to go on taking pictures, a lot of comments from supporters have made me feel that I should. I will be working on a number of new projects non-studio related in the coming months and will be planning for the future as always. I have a number of people I could thank for their support in the past six months and they know who they are, my thanks to you all. My equipment has been updated too an I am now a user of Canon something of a twist since for years I have been using Olympus but the move has been a good one with memories of the old AE-1 that I used to own and the A1 that I borrowed on many occasions for studio use. I'm not a Kit Whore like some people who freely admit it but I did get the battery packs for the new cameras to make them more useable for my clients and to add longer shooting time in the studio. I will comment more in the future when things are more settled and plans have been put into place. Just a quick thank you to all those who supported the studio venture in Parkgate, Rotherham whilst it was running, if you need a place to go I can recommend the superb Hugger Studios Complex in Sheffield for both service, quality and price.
Paul, Photographer.
Paul, Photographer.
Saturday, 3 December 2011
Special for December
Yep the time has come again to put away childish things and think about the future. The Studios are now on their last month, December is here and we will commence packing stuff away in January 2012 for the move. Time for an offer to take effect. For this month we will be happy to offer the studio with lights to be hired for only......wait for it. £55 for a day hire. More you want...well you get the studios for eight hours, full use of the power, lights and tea/coffee, technical support for the day and all for only £55. I think thats a bargain as many studios will charge you £100 for half a day and no lights. If you are interested in this offer and many people have already taken it up, give me a call or mailing to discuss further on the dates available for hire.
Have a great christmas and new year break and see you on the new blog in 2012.
Paul, Rowe Photographic Studios.
Have a great christmas and new year break and see you on the new blog in 2012.
Paul, Rowe Photographic Studios.
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
The Long road to the future.
Well its about time that I wrote again and gave you an update about whats happening in the studios. Its been a long time since the last update and for that I am sorry to say its all been my fault. Yep being busy does have a few disadvantages. Since I last posted I have entered into a formal business partnership with a long time friend of mine LANCE BURKITT and between us we have been planning for the last 12months to develop a full partnership together with our various business concerns and to establish a new studio centre in Rotherham. Well as they say the best things come to those who wait!
Its been a long time coming as over the past 5.5 years the Studios at Parkgate have served their purpose hosting many events, model days, hirings and other activities for models, photographers, makeup artists, stylists and other creatives. Its now time to close the studios so this will be the last blog on this forum. We are closing the studios as at the end of December 2011 and will be opening the new ones mid January 2012. Those few weeks may feel like an eternity to many but will be transition over to the new way of working that Lance and myself have been developing for some time.
The new Studio complex will be run under our parent group Aperture Creative Group or ACG for short as we both have been calling it, the web-site is ready the new studio location is waiting for us and we hope that this will be a commercial business venture that will be both exciting and fun for all connected. ACG will comprise of the following organisations Lance Burkitt Photography, Genesia Photography, Pink Lint Films, Rowe Photographic and Melody Beauty & SFX Makeup. As you will be able to tell from the lineup this is a great creative selection of businesses which will be able to provide for clients needs in the Digital Still and Movie areas. We are also working closely with other creatives from Fashion Designers to Product Manufacturers to provide services for them at the new premises.
Ok, ok, the wait is over where is the new place going to be sited, well since the lease has now been signed I can of course tell you that our new location will be at Unit4 the Mews, Station Road, Rotherham. Only 3 minutes from the Rotherham Interchange Bus & Train Station and less than 10 minutes drive from the M1. If you want to know more about this please feel free to ask Lance and Myself about it but we both believe that this venture will be the start of something big and we are currently working with some big names in the Modelling Industry who have agreed to come to our new place from the UK and the USA, keep watching our pages on facebook, twitter and the new website when it comes online in January.
Ok last thing thought you might like to see the new Logo for the business so here it is.
Well thats all folks, thanks for watching and reading this, see you all soon.
Its been a long time coming as over the past 5.5 years the Studios at Parkgate have served their purpose hosting many events, model days, hirings and other activities for models, photographers, makeup artists, stylists and other creatives. Its now time to close the studios so this will be the last blog on this forum. We are closing the studios as at the end of December 2011 and will be opening the new ones mid January 2012. Those few weeks may feel like an eternity to many but will be transition over to the new way of working that Lance and myself have been developing for some time.
The new Studio complex will be run under our parent group Aperture Creative Group or ACG for short as we both have been calling it, the web-site is ready the new studio location is waiting for us and we hope that this will be a commercial business venture that will be both exciting and fun for all connected. ACG will comprise of the following organisations Lance Burkitt Photography, Genesia Photography, Pink Lint Films, Rowe Photographic and Melody Beauty & SFX Makeup. As you will be able to tell from the lineup this is a great creative selection of businesses which will be able to provide for clients needs in the Digital Still and Movie areas. We are also working closely with other creatives from Fashion Designers to Product Manufacturers to provide services for them at the new premises.
Ok, ok, the wait is over where is the new place going to be sited, well since the lease has now been signed I can of course tell you that our new location will be at Unit4 the Mews, Station Road, Rotherham. Only 3 minutes from the Rotherham Interchange Bus & Train Station and less than 10 minutes drive from the M1. If you want to know more about this please feel free to ask Lance and Myself about it but we both believe that this venture will be the start of something big and we are currently working with some big names in the Modelling Industry who have agreed to come to our new place from the UK and the USA, keep watching our pages on facebook, twitter and the new website when it comes online in January.
Ok last thing thought you might like to see the new Logo for the business so here it is.
Well thats all folks, thanks for watching and reading this, see you all soon.
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