A look at recent product additions and how they came about

Everybody loves a Kiss, so to receive one on a gift, says it all for the recipient, I've have thought long and hard about how to present a 'Kiss' on products and in prints but I end up over thinking it. SO hopefully this simple monochrome photograph will illustrate what the gift giver wants to say, simply...

On my Redbubble page there is a variety of gifts and products just waiting for you to send someone a 'Kiss'

'The Kiss' scarf 'The Kiss' Print
Sealed with a 'Kiss@ Journal

If you haven't noticed the Cube building in Birmingham, you should take the time to look up and see the angles, the shapes, the shadows and layers created by this Brutalist architecture.
Birmingham is changing at an alarming rate and for me i think it's a mistake to get rid of the finest examples of Brutalist Architecture such as the Old Library which is soon to be a distant memory. This series of images and products pay homage to the Brutalist Architectural movement and the shapes, moods and strength it conveys.

The Cube Cushion New Street Signal Box 'Big Brum' iPad case Birmingham New street concourse ceiling

The series of photographs above are a an example of what you're missing when you don't look up... as a photograph I'm constantly looking around and observing whats going on and what my surroundings are like. The perfect picture is often hidden in the most obvious place!

If you're in Touchwood Solihull at all take a look in the Handmade Boutique for more of products and limited edition signed prints.

Carry your camera and look up!
karen

Why I love Monochrome

Some images are just meant to be seen in Monochrome, colour just doesn't do it justice, it's all about choice too but recognising which images should be monochrome is takes time to realise without constantly switching every image you upload into Black and White.

A lot of portraits look good in Black and White and it's worth experimenting with contrast and brightness to get the look of the image you want.

   

From candid shots, family sittings and events it's worth trying a Monochrome look to see if it works...




The shot below was taken at a Jazz festival and I think giving it the Black and White treatment gives it a more dramatic look and encourages the viewer to focus on the singer rather than the background.

                               

Street photography and architecture can be effective in Black and White, I find more detail is shown up and can give it a gritty look.

       

 
These were taken in Birmingham before the Old Library was demolished and some people have said Birmingham looks better in these images.

I don't know about that but I like the way the images look after being transformed into Black and White.

It's nearly summer, get your camera and take pictures.
Karen

What makes a good image?

What does make a good, brilliant, stunning, amazing or perfect image?

Well, photography is Art and so it's subjective, the saying 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' is true of any Art form as everyone has their own taste and opinion.

Technically a good photograph has had very little editing done to it save from the basic contrast, a little brightness adjustment and a little sharpening because shooting in Raw tends to blunt the sharp edges a fraction.
When deciding on your composition, again, Technically any main subject should never be central and the rule of thirds should always be observed really.

What is the rule of thirds?
On any camera, a phone camera or all singing all dancing DSLR there will be a grid setting which shows a grid on the display screen. The grid is made up of 9 squares, three sets of three, the rule is that anything of interest should sit on any of the 'lines' or any of the three points within the grid. 

The Bee sits on the bottom Thirds line and the model is positioned to the left of the image with space to look into. These are technically good but I'll let you the audience be the judge as I'm sure some of you will have a different opinion. 
Criticism is never a bad thing, it just sorts out who likes your image and who doesn't, it's thats' simple really. No one should be offended by an others opinion because that's all it is and we're free to make our own mind up.

Whilst taking the 'Rules' into account when taking pictures, there are some instances when the rules just don't apply and the image in question 'Just Works' although it may be technically wrong and break every rule in the book but rules are meant to be broken...
That's Art for you!

Two very different images saying very different things but equally breaking the rules...

The first image taken in Monte Carlo outside the casino (which is reflected in the mirror ball) is deliberately central but is two images effectively, the main image is the reflected casino (contained within the central square of the grid) and then the urban scene on the outside of the mirror ball. There is a definite separation of the two images but for some reason I feel it works and the response to the image has been extremely positive... always a bonus!

The second image is may daughter and again deliberately positioned centrally, I wanted to portray an image of a strong young woman, by making it simple and not conforming to the rules. 

I think it succeeds because of it's simplicity and it gains strength because of its positioning, the judges at an international exhibition clearly agreed with me as they accepted it into their exhibition.

So, don't be afraid to break outside of the boundaries, experiment and take chances with your photography, if it doesn't work... then it's a lesson learned.

"The whole point of taking photographs and so that you don't have to explain with words".  Elliott Erwitt

Karen

My interpretation of Photography Art and Creative photography

Hi my name is Karen Cross and I am a Photographer…  when I say that, it still amazes me that I can confidently say it and know I have a job I love,  an usual place to be with so many friends not really enjoying their job.

I studied Vocational Art and design just over 20 years ago… ok just over 25 years ago specialising in fashion design and Photography, with no computers in sight, rolls of film and a dark room as our ‘editing suite’ I think it’s fair to say I am ‘old school’ when it comes to photography… but clearly not OLD… J

I ditched traditional film photography about 18 years ago due to an increasing family and less time I bought a basic digital camera but that was frustrating, limiting and I was never happy with the results. So I decided to invest in a DSLR camera about 7 years ago, two years later I joined a Photography Society and haven’t looked back since. 

Being old school and stubborn I struggled with the Photo Club format, whilst enjoying the chance to talk to fellow photographers about techniques and interpretations of what makes a good picture I found that the parameters of Club photography doesn't really stretch outside their guidelines about what makes a good photograph and so when it comes to internal competitions the judges rigidly stick to the rules set in place. I have always found this frustrating having come from an Art College background and being taught to constantly observe everything around you and your environment, whereas in Club photography most images appeared to have been 'created to fit the criteria'.

I think Club Photography has its place and I will continue to attend as I now appreciate its format and as a result don’t enter internal competitions (I never win… boo) but I have started to submit images to external national exhibitions and succeeded in getting acceptances, which tells me I am not flogging a dead horse and the criteria is more in line with the photography I enjoy.

For me I prefer a more creative approach to photography but achieved in camera, I appreciate pictures created by manipulation in the computer and have no problem with it but I prefer a distinction between Photography Art and creative photography. 

I have found that Club Photography has some of the best Digital Artists around and their knowledge know no bounds when it comes to digitally enhancing and changing an image or just creating an image from several photographs.

My question though is this... is this photography? Or is it Digital Art?

I hadn’t considered myself a purist but I now wonder if my ‘Old School’ approach is is airing more towards that.

Some of my images have been seen by judges who have assumed were achieved in the computer and made detrimental comments to my ‘lack of accuracy’ when cutting around subjects and placing them in a new picture as they could see tell-tale signs around of the edges of the subject they thought had been added . Unfortunately for them they were completely wrong and extremely surprised when I told them that the image had had almost no editing applied and the composition was absolutely as seen.

The Image Judges thought was 'created' which is in fact a mirror ball with fountain outside the Monaco Casino with the gardens in the background.

 As it looks now (2014)

My work is now for sale in the Handmade Boutique in Touchwood, Solihull.

I met a customer in the Handmade Boutique, Touchwood, Solihull, who was appreciating my pictures and when I introduced myself he was somewhat surprised to find that the author was a woman, to me that was a compliment, it means that I am not conforming but demonstrated that I am exploring what appeals to me and not what people expect from me, although a ‘style’ hasn’t been deliberate nor obvious (well, I don’t think there’s an obvious style) but I expect others will say different which is fine maybe it says something else about me I’m not aware of.

In short my photography is a reflection of my interests and capturing a view of something others may have missed or dismissed.

The camera never lies... but a computer lies through its teeth ;-) 

Karen 

Creative Photography and Photography Art

Busy Bees and a creeping Caterpillar...

I don't do much nature photography but here are a few photos taken a couple of years ago when I first rediscovered photography. 

Lots had changed, the digital era had arrived for a start. 

No more hiding away in a dark room or waiting hours to see the results, I still miss the process of the dark room but the immediacy of digital photography overrides that. Plus you can duscard the dreadful ones and not waste any time uploading them.

Nature photography is quite challenging because to do it properly, the eyes have to be have to be pin sharp and sufficient detail elsewhere. An almost impossible task as by their nature they are fast and small, it's quute easy to cheat but that takes the challenge out and renders the whole exercise pointless to my mind. 

I try and get out of my confort zone everynow and then... this is definitely out of my comfort zone. 

Go for a walk and take your camera...

Karen

Birmingham Library

I love the curves of Birmingham's new Library and the whole layout gives he library a calm feeling... I was quite surprised at that. 

The different levels, nooks and crannies created enable readers to settle into their own literary world, coupled with the spectacular views over Birmingham AND the surrounding countryside (on a clear day) mean there's something for everyone to take in visually.

I've tried to capture a different perspective although this is difficult as so many people love photographing the Library. I'll let you make your own mind up as to whether I succeeded.
Karen

Birmingham's Brutalist Architecture, shot just before demolition started

  

Birmingham has perfect examples of Brutalist Architecture but unfortunately it's now about to be demolished to make way for more contemporary buildings. 

I'm sure it'll look amazing but it's still sad to see buildings I grew up with and what i recognise as my childhood surroundings gone forever.