Work Based Learning

I've finally got it together with my WBL and now I have a definite list of things to get done before the deadline in February. My main concern is arranging interviews at such short notice, it isn't very professional and I hope this doesn't reflect on me as a practitioner.

 I've e-mailed a Plymouth based photographer, Louise Sumner, she specialises in Wedding photography, Portraiture and Fashion based photography.  I find her work extremely creative, she has broken away the tradition in wedding photography and therefore her images are all very innovative. As of yet I have no reply so I'm hoping I get a response sometime soon! I've also e-mailed a photographer from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, Paul Beard. He also specialises in the same areas but he also covers public events, such as rugby games. I will be interviewing him sometime soon so I look forward to hearing what he has to say about his career and how he got into the business. I will post some info about him after the interview, but firstly I need to write up some interview questions.

Where will I be In 5 years time?

In five years time I hope to have achieved a full honours degree in photography with a good grade. I want to have moved on to exploring the possibilities in the world, finding my passion. I have always aspired to be a fashion photographer but without a goal for the imagery or inspiration, I feel this would get boring very quickly without being passionate for their purpose.  Tim Walker is my all time inspiration for this career choice. I love his surrealistic twist on fashion and he is clearly a very imaginative human being. Although fashion is my overall life ambition I think I need to appreciate the freedom, travel perhaps or do things I would never do, I basically want to find myself and get inspiration. I don’t want to be another photographer in the world, but someone with a million ideas, enthused to create bigger, bolder imagery, like Tim Walker. Even if it doesn’t make me rich, I will have enjoyed every second of it, rather than have treated it like a job.  The image top left is of my boyfriend and I hope in five years time he is still there filling me with dreams and inspiration like he always has. I consider him a big influence on my life and without his free thinking, enjoy life attitude I would probably not be here today following my dreams. The Wedding photo at the bottom is another area of photography that during this five years I want to explore. I love the idea of turning my ideas into someones lifetime imagery, something they will look back on and remember for the rest of their lives. So I guess the answer to this question is very uncertain but I can tell you something that is undeniable. In five years time I will be doing 'something', loving life, with a camera in my hand...

Today I joined Flickr!

Facebook seems to be flooded with flickr uploads from my photographic friends. I really enjoyed browsing peoples imagery and seeing the feedback they had received from other people. I thought this was a really exciting way to get peoples opinions  of work and now that I understand copyright, I don't really have concerns publishing my work on the internet.
Check it out:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zoey-roberts/

Guest Photographer: Michael Leckie

I had an amazing lecture yesterday by this London based photographer. It made me feel truly inspired to push myself to create more work & be more forward with people about freelance work. I find that I have loads of idea but I don’t enjoy approaching people to make them a reality. Obviously with the vicious competition for work between freelance photographers, this is a far from ideal trait to be holding!

Leckie talked about how he got into the industry and how he became so successful. It turns out that this approachable nature was the heart of this. He constantly approached people to get work to fund his degree, during his university years. Using his initiative & creative mind, he adapted a band shoot that he was being paid for. He acted upon his artistic ideas and changed an, ‘average’ documentary band shoot into something more creative. Taking the time to pose the band after their set and creating different imagery to what was expected of him. It turns out that Warner Music signed the band, they were pleased with his work and that’s how it all started. 

I personally LOVE how diverse this man is and how creative & different each of his pieces are from each other. I also enjoyed hearing about his influences, finding out that most derive from a photograph by photographer, Penni Smith. The picture was called 'The Clash' & was taken in 1979 & It followed him through his education. It made me feel more passionate about the power of imagery, this one image influenced Leckie's entire career. It influenced him to create one of his most famous images which was of a band called, 'Bombay Bicycle Club'. The similarities between Pennie's style and his own are uncanny in this particular image & I really hope I experience this passion in my own career. 

Pennie Smith

Michael Leckie

I got this mini bio from his website, so check it out:

“Michael Leckie is a photographer based in London, whose ability to work in, and adapt to, wide-ranging styles and subject requests have seen him work with some of the biggest names in music, fashion, designers and politicians. 

Originally from Belfast, Michael’s love of photography led him to study photography at the University of Westminster in London, where he graduated with 1st class honours. Michael’s approach to photography is that it should be spectacular and show its subject in the best possible light. He is instrumental in the planning process of each and every shoot, and helps his subjects decide on a theme and style if needed particularly for bands and models. 

Recent projects include a circus-themed shoot with dancers from the Royal Ballet, covering the Royal Variety performance and shoots for Elle Magazine, Columbia Records and Warner Music. Along side work for the RNID and Whizz-Kidz 

Michael is also a seasoned live music photographer, with a portfolio of official press images from events like Glastonbury and Offset Festival, and gig reportage with bands like Bombay Bicycle Club, The Futureheads, Mick Jones and Billy Bragg. 

Above all he is professional and efficient. His work also includes event and reportage photography. Michael has worked with some of the biggest celebrities and public figures in the UK, including shoots with London mayor Boris Johnson, pop stars Michael Buble and Katherine Jenkins and R&B superstar Toni Braxton. He works quickly and is friendly and approachable, ideal for putting his subjects at ease and getting the best out of them”

 Check out the rest of his work @ http://www.michaelleckie.co.uk 

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! :)