View Full Version : A 365 thread
Inspired by Annie Lebowitz's ability to document her friends and family, the 365 threads on Talk Photography and on Flickr I'm starting up my own. I've tried twice at a self portrait one but in the end I think "God, no-one wants to see that." So instead I'm going to post photos of things that document my day. I'm already busy enough doing 2 other projects that are daily. My photoblog (http://www.vanilladays.com), but that doesn't require me to take a photo every day. The other is a book about Liverpool called 366 2008 (http://www.3662008.co.uk) and that's 6 of us trying to document Liverpool in 2008.
I really should have started it at the beginning of the year as this has been a great year so far, mostly. But anyway, middle of the year is good enough as theres still lots left. I realise some of are on TP and its kinda cross posting but most people aren't and its a nice project. Plus I need all the encouragement I can get to stick with it this time. So here's to today.
http://www.vanilladays.com/365/IMG_9280-Edit.jpg
I have to write a whole chapter by 1pm tomorrow, and I don't do mornings so its going to be a late night.
Kell_ee001
24-06-2008, 21:02
Is that a pic of a boob in the corner? :huh:
lol no :p Its the Death Star. Theres a tie-fighter chasing an x-wing next to it :p
Did you put your socks on then?
Kell_ee001
24-06-2008, 21:14
Well make sure that's the only one you miss!!
And I thought it was a star and "101"... doodles don't have to make sense!
Sounds interesting stuff :) Keep us non TP people informed :D
but you ticked the box before you took the photo. CON! FIX! MISREPRESENTATION OF FACTUAL DATA! I'll have you in court mister Carr.
tooooooday?
It'll be up soon. Its been a long day. First 5,000 words of the HDR book are done.
but you ticked the box before you took the photo. CON! FIX! MISREPRESENTATION OF FACTUAL DATA! I'll have you in court mister Carr.
I mentioned this on IRC last night. I discovered a paradox. If I tick it and then take a photo its a lie because I would have to take the photo and then tick it. However, if I take the photo and then tick it its also a lie because the photo has been taken but I haven't ticked it done. I decided to throw caution to the wind and if the universe collapsed in on itself I'd simply rant at God for creating such an easy way to destroy existance.
It clearly needs to be in some indeterminate state of semi-tickedness. Care to comment, Schrödinger? :)
I did think of taking a photo of me taking a photo of it as I was ticking it but then thought "Dear god thats too much work." :D
http://www.vanilladays.com/365/IMG_9298-Edit.jpg
I've been riding my bike this week for the first time this year. Oh god it hurts. The first 5 minutes are the worst really. Gotta push past the pain and get far enough from home so I think "Ah screw it. Keep going." This is a photo of my bike. The same bike I've had since I was 10. I should really buy a new one but I can't really justify £500 on a new bike as thats camera money, or a trip somewhere.
Kell_ee001
25-06-2008, 22:12
2 out of 2... only 363 to go :D
:D Its a long climb. More to the point, it'll be one bloody expensive book to print. Its like £1 a page.
Have you thought about a theme within a theme?
I mean the first 2 have the same kind of style in tone, both are on still object and kinda close up. Or is it going to be random? Bit of colour and there ?
You know pete, this could be your next book :D
I haven't really thought of any themes. At the mo the important bit is taking a photo. The style is simply because I found a new action I quite like :)
Kell_ee001
26-06-2008, 17:08
Looks for pic three....
Just keeping you on your toes :D
Ta :) I was just thinking about it. Theres the happy photo I could take, but at the mo I'm feeling a bit down because I need to take a photo for the 366 book and its raining. I can't think of anything. I'll probably leave it till later when I've picked up the stuff to make me happy :)
Never thought of it that way. I'm picking up the bits for pic3 around 9ish and its a 25 min drive home so it'll be a late one.
Kell_ee001
26-06-2008, 19:48
s'ok, I can wait ;)
Is it 9pm yet? :confused:
http://www.vanilladays.com/365/IMG_9352-Edit.jpg
Impulse buy. I'm a big Radiohead fan and they're playing in Manchester on Sunday. So I browsed eBay and found 2 tickets for £18. Score! 5 minutes left too. I bid £20, outbid. £25... outbid and eventually I won at £40. Sold the other ticket to a mate. £20 for a ticket rather than £42.50. Picked them up earlier and they look legit. Can't wait :D Of course it would have been nicer if I was there as a photographer but hey. One of the first albums I got was 'Ok Computer'. Karma Police and Paranoid Android are pretty much *the* finest songs ever made, imho.
Chuckles
27-06-2008, 15:58
Great start Pete :D
Any chance of embedding the EXIF into these pics, or posting the settings?
Great start Pete :D
Any chance of embedding the EXIF into these pics, or posting the settings?
EXIF is already embedded.
don't do it pete. He is in your cameraz steeling ur settings.
Ah but he doesn't have my magic wand...
http://www.vanilladays.com/365/IMG_9379-Edit.jpg
Spent a while in FACT cafe in Liverpool. Nice hot chocolate. Chatted to a friend about cameras, photography, nudists and Westlife...
Pete, you make the most boring **** in life look amazing and I've got no idea how you manage it :shocked:
Pete, there are a family of swans that live on the bit that is still wet behind our building. They have been trotting over the makeshift bridge with all their little cygnets several times a day since yesterday. Obviously you'd have to hang around to catch them but you could get an amazing shot - yesterday a big burly builder raced across to the bridge and stopped a bus right in front of the swans and the cygnets so that they could cross safely :D
Fab picture, cars and buses held up by burly workmen while ickle tiny cygnets cross the road with Mum and Dad :D
Ooooh I'll have to pop by and have a go at trying to capture that. That would be a really nice shot.
Pete, you make the most boring **** in life look amazing and I've got no idea how you manage it :shocked:
Magic camera :)
Magic mind mate, magic mind :)
Magic mind mate, magic mind :)
Yup :D
Kell_ee001
28-06-2008, 21:11
I was just going to comment how full of life that pic is :D
Where's todays?
http://vanilladays.com/365/IMG_9421-Edit.jpg
My new compact camera. Its a Canon G9. Why do I need a compact when I have such a great Canon 30D? Well, there are times when its just a bit annoying having to lug it around just incase I see something I want to photograph. It always happens so I always need a camera. I also wanted to test a compact for HDR goodness as part of my HDR book. The G9 is about the best compact with RAW support on the market. I had a quick play today and for black and white work the ISO is usable up to 800 and just about ok at 1600. Its a really nice camera. I fully expect it to be replaced in September at Photokina but I need it now and its good. I'll give it a proper field test tomorrow at the Radiohead gig.
Sunday - 29th June
http://www.vanilladays.com/365/IMG_0124.jpg
Radiohead. Live. Manchester. Just so damn awesome. I've seen people live before but when they came on I just couldn't believe it. They started playing and I went cold. "That is Radiohead playing right there." Fantastic set and god I want them to release a live album.
This was also the first real test of my G9. I became everything I hate at gigs. I was that guy holding his camera up using the video feature. I was that guy holding his camera up taking photos from so far away that I wouldn't get a good shot. I found the controls fiddly, partly because I didn't know them. I kept wanting it to be my 30D, to be so easy but it wasn't. The screen is fantastic but I kept thinking that the photos looked bad. I really didn't feel like a photographer. I know they say that its the photographer that makes the camera but I did feel that I couldn't make the camera do what I wanted. Still, I like this photo. So I guess I didn't do too bad.
http://vanilladays.com/365/IMG_0151-Edit.jpg
Todays photo is a little special. What you see on there is my book. I took this while I was at the book designers discussing various details. That isn't the final cover design, its just something we're playing around with. This is why I'm glad I'm doing a 365 project. The G9 is great because I can get good quality photos when I don't want to have to lug the 30D around. So I can capture those extra little moments like this. Plus without this project I wouldn't think to take a photo to document the lead up to publication.
Cool :)
Sorry for the lack of posts from me here, always read, rubbish at posting :D
Good stuff, another 365 for me to watch. Ive got to say of all the 365s ive seen most seem to be end up being snap-shot type photos, which is something ive never seen from you... Yours always have something about them thats great.
These so far seem to have a heavy Vignette effect, is that part of youre style or just happens to be present in these?
Cool :)
Sorry for the lack of posts from me here, always read, rubbish at posting :D
No probs :)
Good stuff, another 365 for me to watch. Ive got to say of all the 365s ive seen most seem to be end up being snap-shot type photos, which is something ive never seen from you... Yours always have something about them thats great.
These so far seem to have a heavy Vignette effect, is that part of youre style or just happens to be present in these?
Cheers. Thats the reason why I started it really. Not to take photos to branch out, or try new things but simply to document those little moments of my day so I'll be able to look back on them. If I can find one thing a day to photograph that has meaning then the day was worth it.
The vignetting is due to the processing for the most part. But its something I like.
We've got a couple of ideas for the book. One is a panoramic wrap around but I feel its too easy a photo. It just doesn't stand out enough from other Liverpool shots. I want to use my all time favourite of the reflected sunset and 3 graces but it may not work. I think thats the shot that will make people pick the book up.
http://vanilladays.com/365/IMG_9433-Edit.jpg
Todays blood sugar level. 4.2mmol is apparently the edge of normal / low blood sugar. I could feel it starting to take affect. So I had to grab food. Every time I try and diet I get this. Its hard enough trying to diet but when you get low blood sugar its a real pain. All you want is food. Crisps, chocolate, toast, coke, anything. Just anything! I shake, start sweating and find it a little hard to concentrate. Its a horrible feeling and I eat anything that'll get rid of it quickly. I've been tested for diabetes and I don't have it. I've had this problem since I was a kid. Its just something I have to live with which means I always have to carry lucozade sweets and not knowing when it'll happen.
http://vanilladays.com/365/IMG_9450-Edit.jpg
Another special one today. That there is a nearly 13 meter wide panoramic that I took. 13m x 3m. Taken with my 30D no less. I used Genuine Fractals to upscale it to the required resolution. Uncompressed it was 2gb, and a very slow process editing. It was commissioned by Pizza Express and is available for viewings at their new spot by the Echo Arena across from Albert Dock. They do a lovely chocolate ice cream. I'm really very happy with the result. It doesn't look soft or pixelated as I feared and it just goes to show what my camera can really do. Oh and yes, that there is your basic 13m wide HDR image. Yeah baby :D Oh and theres a little sign under the ship with my name on "Thats me!"
Aw :D I'd be in there all the time if I liked pizza. I might have to force myself to like it just so I can go often. God I wish they did steak :D
http://vanilladays.com/365/IMG_9537-Edit.jpg
Not really a special day. Just a day. My car went for its MOT. It passed. So theres the highlight of my day.
http://www.vanilladays.com/365/IMG_9702-Edit.jpg
Another day of work. Nothing to really take a photo of so here's a photo of my hamster.
Awww :D
I want a hamster, they rock :D
They're great because they just spend their entire life nibbling food and being cute :D
Kell_ee001
05-07-2008, 23:18
Rabbit always looks good in pics!
Yeah :/ Yesterday was stupidly hectic and a client needed the images asap. I spent the evening clearing my HD so I could then do the work. I have the image but I'm off on another shoot in a few minutes so it'll be up later today.
Satuday 5th July
http://vanilladays.com/365/IMG_9945-Edit.jpg
Not really a great image, but it was a busy day. Initially it was to be a 5am start as the Grand Princess came in, but I decided to skip that. Instead I got there for about 10:30am. I tried to get some decent shots of the clipper race but with the 4th largest cruise ship in the world blocking my view it was hard. Eventually the Lord Mayor arrived and I was able to get the shots I was hired for. An exchange of plaques between him and the Captain of the ship. The view is incredible from there. A huge panoramic view from the bridge of the ship. I was on the 14th floor looking right at the 3 graces. Not often you get to see Liverpool from that perspective. Expect something good when I get a moment :) Annoyingly I had to skip lunch and a tour with the captain and Lord Mayor because of another shoot.
After I took a break and had a quick bite to eat. A bag of bbq hula hoops and a lucozade drink. Quickly checked my email on my terribly useless phone and headed off for my 2nd shoot. PR shots of a cabaret taking place on Monday. Looks to be pretty cool too. I was finished by 6pm and headed home. "Should I get a McDonalds? I am starving and only really had hula hoops to eat." I man'd up and decided to get some brown toast and rice krispies. Typically I noticed that I had about 2gb free and 6gb of shots taken. There was nothing to quickly delete so I had to sort through old work and prune the directories in Lightroom. That took time. Eventually I could get to work. The cabaret client needed the shots asap so I had to get them all done by Sunday. I really need a D3. The noise was bad, even in black and white. Canon better launch a D3 beating 5Dm2 this year. I tried some colour shots but the colour noise was just nasty. Not so bad for web usage but still, I was annoyed.
By 2am I was exhausted and not finished. I knew that I would have a few hours spare in the morning so I went to bed.
Sunday 6th July
http://vanilladays.com/365/IMG_0499-Edit.jpg
Work work work. I got up early and finished the work I had from Saturday. Quick upload and email then I was off to document the Field of Women in Liverpool. 10,000 women taking up the shape of 'Lucy' to show their support in the fight against breast cancer. Only maybe 2,000 turned up. I guess it was understandable given the thunderstorm. Despite the turnout they managed to pull off a really impressive giant woman at Liverpool cricket club. I got soaked, then baked, then soaked again. Crazy weather. I got in around 4ish and set to work clearing some more HD space, and then going through some of the shots. By around 6pm I fell asleep and awoke just before Top Gear. I finished rating the shots and I still have to process them. They're currently black and white, and while some look great they really need colour due to the pink outfits.
http://vanilladays.com/365/IMG_0824-Edit.jpg
I got in 2hrs ago after a shoot. I have 700mb free on my HD to work with. Email screwed up and a client didn't get their images on time. I've got to rework a chapter on the HDR book as its not right. I've got to check through the preview on the 'Port of Culture' book. I've got to get through todays shoot asap as they need images for press quickly. Thats on top of the rest of the work I have to do. Its going to be a long night. *sigh*
I can't figure out that pic. How much of that is due to postprocessing? Seems to be some rather interesting lighting effects going on there. :dunno:
Not got an external HD for archival purposes, or tried some file compression? You seem to be fighting a losing battle with disk space. :(
I can't figure out that pic. How much of that is due to postprocessing? Seems to be some rather interesting lighting effects going on there. :dunno:
The lighting is all real. Flare from the sunset. Its the look I was going for.
Not got an external HD for archival purposes, or tried some file compression? You seem to be fighting a losing battle with disk space. :(
I have a spare HD sitting here but I'm on a laptop so I like to keep my work with me. I clear 4gb of space, go out the next day and shoot another 4gb of images. Its a constant battle. I've also just found that Lightroom's preview file is 24gb! That needs sorting. I'm just waiting on it to finish optimizing.
Aye, I thought it was flare but it was the gradations that stood out - unless you've got a dirty window of course. :p
It's an outrage that this hasn't been stickied yet TBH. Incredible talent you have Pete.
http://vanilladays.com/365/IMG_0983-Edit.jpg
One of those days.
Hopefully :) Tomorrow is another day, as someone once said, but tomorrow is another day.
I'm dipping in here periodically by the way. Interesting window to your thoughts/life Pete :)
Cool :) I have yesterday's to post and todays to take :/ Getting destracted by work and stupid thoughts like "Hmmm I could do with a cleaner room" at 10pm.
You have 4,200 seconds left. Or you could just claim you were working on Alaska/Hawaii time today. :)
Wednesday 9th July
http://vanilladays.com/365/IMG_1012-Edit.jpg
A long day writing and sorting out random bits of work. By around 11 I gave up and decided to take a break. Its been a few weeks since I sat down with my 360 and I've missed it. I had a quick play on Soul Calibur on XBLA and loved it. Took me straight back to '99 when it came out on the Dreamcast. Awesome fun. After I loaded up GTA4 and went on a crime spree. Nothing quite like random mass murder. I spent about half an hour making cops fly from the blades on my helicopter. I couldn't stop :D
Thursday 10th July
http://vanilladays.com/365/IMG_1016-Edit.jpg
Another one of those days. I got the writing I needed to finish done and submitted. After I noticed my phone battery had died, again, and set it to charge. Typically I had missed a call. My 2pm photoshoot that was to take place on top of Radio Merseyside had been cancelled due to health and safety. I only got this at 1pm as I was just leaving thanks to my phone. So I had to quickly find out if I could go on top of the Echo Arena, but I couldn't contact the right person. In the end I figured I'd head into town and see if there was anyone around looking Beatlesish, as its Beatles Day. I needed that photo. As you can imagine there wasn't a single person. Through a stroke of luck I bumped into my 2pm photoshoot at the Rat & Parrot. They managed to move the gig there instead. In the end I got some nice photos of 'The Beatelles' performing to the city of Liverpool. Just what I wanted. All in all one of those days where it starts off being really annoying and ends ok.
Huh no way, cool :D I had no idea that was coming up.
Where's the Friday photo eh?
Sorry :( Spent most of the day playing with the iPhone and working. Then I had a late 10pm shoot and just got in for 11:40 to take the photo and went to bed. It'll be up shortly :)
Nooooo http://vanilladays.com/images/emoticon_ShiftyEyes.gif
Awww, I want a classy photo of it :D
Which is extra sad considering I can just look at mine really ;D
Friday 11th July
http://vanilladays.com/365/IMG_1774-Edit.jpg
I really wanted to get the iPhone when it came out last year but the simple fact was it was a stupidly expensive phone. So instead I got a Motorola Razr 2. Great design and thats it. Absolutely rubbish phone. The battery would die after 1 day even if you didn't use it. Around March I cracked and bought the 32gb iPod Touch. The theory was one device for music and one for a phone. It was going great until I started to get annoyed that my iTouch didn't have a phone on it. It really was the one thing missing from the device. I was annoyed that I had to carry both devices around because the iTouch was brilliant. I used it for email while I was out and occasional browsing but the problem was that I always had to find an open wifi hotspot. So when Apple announced the iPhone 3G at the exact time that my contract was up I decided to go for it.
I made a few calls on Thursday and found out that my local Carphone Warehouse would not be getting *any* iPhones to sell. The ones they had were all reserved. "What?!" I visited the Liverpool 1 store while I was out and they had 13. 10 8gb and 3 16gb, all reserved. Later I called the Cheshire Oaks store and score! 2 16gb models, none reserved. "Put my name down!! I'll be there at 9:30am waiting!" I got there at 9:30am for their 10am opening and I was 2nd in the cue. I chatted with the others and they were at the o2 store for 7am. They missed out on getting one at 8am by 1 place. Now thats a kicker. I was glad that I could just turn up and buy one.
I've had it for 24hrs and I love it. It is the phone I've wanted ever since mobile internet appeared. I don't have to check my email every 30 mins while I'm out because it works like SMS. I don't have to hunt for a free wifi hotspot as I can use 3g, and BT Openzone AND that cloud thing. As a freelancer my office is where-ever I want but most days I don't want to lug a laptop around. The iPhone solves all that. No more emailing via a stupid mobile phone keyboard either.
\o/
You've made it look so impressive :D
Thanks :) I probably should have gone for something minimalistic and clean but at 11:50pm there just isn't a chance of that happening. So I figure its life, and life isn't clean.
I really like it :) Captures the screen very well.
The e-mail function you mention is push e-mail, and is an established feature of many Windoze Mobile handsets :p
Still, the iPhone UI is WIN.
The e-mail function you mention is push e-mail, and is an established feature of many Windoze Mobile handsets :p
Still, the iPhone UI is WIN.
I know its push email, it says so everywhere and I *am* an Apple fanboy. Anyways, I had email on my phone before Windoze Mobile existed so ner :p Simple fact is I can now use it without worrying about data costs.
Saturday 12th July
http://vanilladays.com/365/IMG_0010-Edit.jpg
I spent most of the afternoon running around buying frames. I needed 8 for an urgent client request. 5 x 80x60cm and 3 x 50x40. They all needed to be the same colour and I normally buy black but naturally B&Q were all out. So I went to another, all out. In the end I decided to go with oak. Nice enough. I found the iPhone was again super useful today. Instead of running around all the B&Q's I put the code number of the frame I wanted while in store and checked if another local had them. So off I went to where I thought the store was. Turns out it wasn't but yey for GPS. I got directions to where it actually was. Funnily enough after turning the first corner I found a new superstore that wasn't listed on the B&Q site and bought all my frames. Yey for iPhone. Oh and my car is now a giant speaker phone too, which is uber handy while on the road.
This shot was taken on my iPhone for funsies while I was waiting for the mounts to be cut at Gallery 2000 in Neston.
Think that photo's just proven yet again to me that it's the person behind the camera not the camera that does it.
My iphone photos are shocking ;D
I got lucky really. You should see the others :)
Something about that photo that makes it appear to be a model. :huh:
The gallery place that is, it looks like a doll house, why anyone would have a doll house with a photo framing company inside i dont know but still...
Sunday 14th July
http://www.vanilladays.com/365/IMG_0213-Edit.jpg
Lovely Sunday afternoon spent at Parkgate enjoying ice-cream from the best ice-cream store in the North West.
Monday 15th July
http://www.vanilladays.com/365/IMG_1815.jpg
Life just isn't as good as advertised.
http://www.vanilladays.com/365/IMG_0227-Edit.jpg
Bit of a boring day today spent sorting prints. My Dad put them onto the mounts while I cut my fingers on the frames. Then I had to wrap them all in bubble wrap and deliver them. It takes a surprisingly long time to package 8 30x20'' prints. After I went to Starbucks for a vanilla creme frappuchino and brownie. I'm still loving my iPhone and used it to quickly chat on IRC and check my email while I relaxed.
Loving the "olde" style of 12th and 14th, perfect subjects for that style of photo too imo :)
That brownie looks gooooooooooood.
It was too :D Nicely chilled but I'm sure it was smaller than it used to be.
http://www.vanilladays.com/365/IMG_1824-Edit.jpg
Thinking, thinking. So this here 365 is about me, but how much of me should I put out there? I could go for broke. Emo myself up and put the real me online through photos. My pitfalls, personal problems and what its really like being me on a day to day basis. Now I could do that, I mean how hard is it to discuss things with a web page? Its not really. But thinking about it real people do read it. You wouldn't do this in real life would you? "Hey random stranger. This is a photo of how messy my desk is. Here's another showing <insert random life problem here>." You don't do it. There are things you keep from people you've just met because you want to make a good impression. If I've been having a rubbish day do I bitch and whine about it online to people I don't know?
I just can't decide how to play this. If I'm not honest then I'm lying to myself to hide problems and also deceiving people about who I really am. Of course its great to simply show the best bits of your life but life isn't brilliant every single day of the week. I'm reminded of an episode of Scrubs, 'My lunch' A recurring character dies and has her organs donated to other patients that need them. However it turns out she had rabies and the patients also got that. 2 of them die and Dr Cox is feeling down. The 3rd one dies while Cox tries to save him. It completely floors him. It has to be one of the best episodes of the series simply because it shows just how real he is, how human he is. 3 minutes in 7 years of the show is all it takes. This is the clip from that episode (http://youtube.com/watch?v=RzDoqGGs1IM).
I think it simply comes down to this. Is it better to be seen as a good photographer or a good photographer who despite flaws overcomes them all to get those good photos. Are Superheroes better when they're perfect or when they're flawed? At least thats one way of looking at it. People may just see the flaws, so why make them public?
Kell_ee001
16-07-2008, 22:41
eeeerrrrr..... I'll get back to you :D
Oooh thought provoking.
I'll go for the wimpy answer: It's down to you and how you want to be perceived, which no one else can decide for you.
That and I think either can work well depending on how you do it :)
I'd prefer the latter. Dunno why because it doesn't make the second photographer's work any better, but I would. It's about honesty and bravery and that's what makes us British, goddamnit! ;)
PS... I probably would go for the former if it was me doing it. I'm not brave enough!
Exactly. In all honesty its easier to sit back, hide all the crap and say "Oh I'm doing books, working for these guys, photographing big names and I'm amazing." People are often more impressed with that than "Hi. I'm 30, living at home and often depressed. Oh but I did this the other week." Superman vs Batman. Batman is often recognised as the better superhero because of his demons. Superman is a girl because nothing can hurt him. He has no fear and can do anything. I think there are days when I'd like to be Superman.
Is it worrying that the Batman/Superman analogy made it all go click in my head? :o
In which case, go for Batman :D
Is it worrying that the Batman/Superman analogy made it all go click in my head? :o
In which case, go for Batman :D
Haha. I don't think so :) People respect Batman more because he's just a guy who has troubles but fights them and the evil in Gotham at the same time.
wouldn't you feel daft wearing your trolleys outside your jeans though?
To be perfectly honest, I think being more honest makes you more inspirational, but it's your call.
Ah but with the cape it'd all work ;) I think its partly how do I face the world knowing that they know me? I've bumped into people in town who read my photoblog and its always a little surreal. How surreal would it be chatting with a complete stranger who already knows you?
Davey_Pitch
18-07-2008, 15:05
The best superhero is Spider-Man. He has a real life, he has real troubles, but he always rises above it to show the best of himself. It's what makes him inspirational :)
Besides, I don't think you'd suit a cape Pete :p
I have a similar problem at the moment : 2 books - sending to publishers. One an autobiographical type, which has stuff in that I cringe thinking my friends might find out about. The other is easier. Fun, fluffy and I'm happy with it but just doesn't have that 'edge' to it. Or is that just to me because I 'know' it's real, wheras the other one isn't?
To really go for it I'm gonna have to go with the 1st. But I don't know if I can yet. And of course, I can lie about my name ;D Sadly for you it's too late to go for a psuedonym now!
You just gotta face it Pete, you're climbing the celebrity iceberg. I keep getting info about you in my email inbox and no doubt I'll be seeing you in Heat Mag soon ;)
Real is what people like to hear about. I was listening to Radio 2 while driving yesterday and they were criticising the South Bank show's episode with Billie Joel. The show focused on the tracks not the man and they really wanted to know the man. I guess its why people buy biographies too. Good luck with your books and I'll be on the look out for something by "Kittens McSouser" ;)
The best superhero is Spider-Man. He has a real life, he has real troubles, but he always rises above it to show the best of himself. It's what makes him inspirational :)
Besides, I don't think you'd suit a cape Pete :p
Thats true. They really played on that in Spiderman 2. Also Spiderman is called Pete and he's a photographer by day! Closest I can come to web slinging is making web sites. I can sling a mean CSS statement. Oh and I would have to wear a cape. You don't wanna see my ass in spandex ;)
Well on the subject of behind the scenes I'm going to wing it.
Thursday 17th July
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The long road. I had a wedding shoot in Cardiff to get to. Nearly a 4hr drive there and another 4hrs back. Now the shoot was simple as it was all documentary, no staged. I was still nervous as hell. I'm still kinda shy and driving across the country to document someones family life who you've never met is a little nerveracking. So what would you think is the worst thing to happen 20 minutes before hand? Forgetting the memory cards? No batteries? No camera? Nah, thats nothing. 20 minutes before hand I decide to get some gum to have nice minty fresh breath. After a few chews my temporary filling comes out. WHAT THE HELL?! I'm doing a sporty 70mph on the motorway and I suddenly about 80% of my wisdom tooth falls out. I just got the damn thing put in on Wednesday to avoid any issues during the wedding. I did not need it to fall out 20 minutes before hand.
The wedding goes according to plan and is lovely. Half way through I get an email and quickly check it. "Your sample chapter isn't working out. We think its best to cancel the HDR guide book." Oh thats just ginger. I'm in Cardiff on a semi-stressful job and my life is falling apart, literally. I put it aside and focus on the job. I'm getting great shots so I'm happy. The location was stunning. The filmed part of Dr Who there, where Donna goes on holiday and London gets nuked. Really nice people, lovely location and great shots.
After I get in my car and sigh. 4 hours to home. 4 hours before I can just crawl into bed and sleep. The plan was 2hrs on the way home to get a lovely Little Chef meal. Its something we did as a family and I haven't had one in years. I was looking forward to reliving the memory. I couldn't do that. No comfy hot chocolate when I got home in case there was immense pain. Just 4 hours on the road. So thats Thursday. The long road.
Friday 18th July
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Various small errands took place and I've yet to think about the HDR book because the other errands needed sorting. I got the tooth filled again and so far its holding. Here's hoping it holds out for the weekend because as you can see I just got my press pass for the Tall Ships event. It's one of the big highlights for the Capital of Culture and should be really fantastic, assuming the weather is ok and the crowds aren't insane. I last saw the Tall Ships in 1992 and first in 1984. The parade of sail on Monday should be stunning.
Its been a busy 4 days so here's what happened.
Saturday 19th July
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I had a great day at the Tall Ships event. I took a ride on a rib around Albert Dock to get some photos. Really fun. After I went to Wellington Dock to photograph the larger ones and the weather was perfect. Great day out.
Sunday 20th July
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Another day with the Tall Ships. I started with some photos of the cruise ship Crystal Symphony and headed over for sunset. I just made it. Things went a bit weird after that. I was looking at the menu for Circo and noticed the girls inside giggling. One came out and also started looking at the menu. "Odd" I thought. Then I realised that her friend was taking a photo of her through the glass. There was a clown face on the glass you see. It wasn't until later that I figured they noticed it because of where I was standing looking at the menu. Super. After I went and got me some nice dusk shots.
Monday 21st July
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The big event. The Tall Ships parade of sail. This was taken on the top of a nice yacht that I was able to use for the day. I am super sunburnt but it was totally worth it. As we moved from one dock to the other we were attacked by sailors with water bombs. They scored a direct hit. We had to wait nearly 2hrs before we could go out onto the Mersey. I took a video of that for fun but had the darn thing set to time lapse so its about 5 seconds long now. Fun day speeding around the Mersey on a yacht though. I still haven't properly been through the photos. After I had a shoot for the launch of the new media wall in Liverpool. Its huge and insanely bright. So bright it is literaly like night and day there. We had to put it to the lowest setting to get a balanced photo.
Tuesday 22nd
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Its a Tuesday.
That's a big catch up :D
How do you manage to make a piece of paper look so good? :p
I cheat with Photoshop ;)
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5 minutes before I was going to out and relax in Chester with mates an urgent request comes in. Its been one of those days. Nearly 10pm and I still have another shoot to process for tomorrow.
Thursday 24th July
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I had a nice afternoon out on Crosby beach with my sister and nephew. While it was warm it wasn't exactly blue skies n sunshine, but it was nice to walk barefoot along the beach, occasionally in the cool water.
Friday 25th July
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Friday was one of those days. I got up around 10ish, browsed the web and checked my email. My sister called and wondered if I would like to visit the farm. I said I needed to get a shot so sure. We went and saw about 5 animals. Not exactly the best farm. I then had to dash off and buy a frame, mount and mirror plates for a client before heading to the dentist. I was a bit stressed and arrived late, which he made a point of despite the waiting room being empty and there no need to rush. I had my new filling put in and went for a drive to relax. After about 6hrs the numbness went and I found that the new filling hurt like hll if I ate anything. Super.
Saturday 26th July
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A rather busy day. I started at 10am photographing a cruise ship, then I went to the new Apple store to get a iPhone 3G dock. I nearly bought an Apple TV box but figured theres no real point. I was having one of those days where everything feels pointless. Why? Well because while eating breakfast the 2nd temporary filling I had put in came out from eating toast. I couldn't eat on the left and now I couldn't eat on the right. Such a small silly thing but it just added to everything. What if I got low blood sugar, what could I eat? So here I am sitting on the steps of Liverpool 1 very slowly eating a sausage roll. I headed off up through town to see the L1 festival, stopping to grab some shots of some rather lovely ladies. I spent some time chilling at the L1 festival and headed back to Wirral to get photos of the cruise ship leaving. I nipped home for some toast and then out to see a mates exhibition. Great to see real photos not just tiny little ones on Flickr. After I raced to Albert Dock to photograph PIzza Express at sunset and dusk. Annoyingly after sunset there's like a 30-45 minute wait until the perfect dusk light. I got the shots I needed and headed home once again.
Sunday 27th July
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Sunday. My sister, her boyfriend, my nephew and I took a trip to Southport. We were there only for 2hrs but it was great. I was back in time for Top Gear which was simply classic.
Monday 28th July
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Popped over to Liverpool to drop off a print. I found they were filming something but I was told I couldn't take photos. I had a discussion with some random crew guy who moaned about the culture year not offering enough for locals, to which I said that I've seen plenty and our book has documented plenty of it. But no, according to him and his mate there was nothing. After I went for a Starbucks and a drive round Toxteth which is such a culture shock compared to Liverpool city center.
Tuesday 29th July
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In the hottest week of the year so far a big storm hit Merseyside. While I was out taking photos I noticed huge puddles appeared in minutes. You can just about see a man in this photo. He had been out with his son cycling over Thursaston when it hit. He said it was amazing to watch and yet a little worrying as they were on one of the highest points of Wirral.
Wednesday 30th July
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A bad day. Having had 2 productive days where I completely cleaned my room and got a lot of work done naturally things went tits up. Such a small thing again but I decided to take a risk and look forward to something. End result is I get abuse, I'm the bad guy and I'm left feeling like crap. All because I wanted to go to the cinema...
Thursday 31st July
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Not a bad day really. I had to go out and photograph the new Pizza Express in Liverpool. One of the strange requests was that they needed photos of the toilets. They wanted a visual record of the interior. So I mentioned this to the manager, she was ok with it. Off I went. I turn around to be greeted by another woman who wonders why I'm in the toilets with a camera and tripod. I explained, she was cool about it and I carried on. I did get some odd looks from the visitors when I left. Thankfully no-one came in while I was there. After I treated myself to a real burger and a sit down. Instead of going to McDonalds for a 5 minute break I went to Circo at Albert Dock for a good 2 hour sit down. The burger was really nice, but the chocolate ice-cream had a random green pepper in and completely ruined it. Still, I was happy to find half decent food at Albert Dock.
Friday 1st August
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'Are you happy?' When I took this I was. I've only ever been to the cinema with mates and the idea of going alone seemed strange, even though I hate people who talk in there. It just seemed like I was one of those people who had no-one to go there with, so I didn't. The new Batman film was out and it required me to shrug off that silly notion. One of the great things about being freelance is that if work is too much I can go off and have a break. So I did. I went off for the 11:15am showing and it was almost empty. Just perfect, well they had no coke but hey. Loved the film and after I loved the fact that I could chill out in the cinema's cafe rather than just head home. After I went into town and bought Ninja Gaiden 2 as it was on offer. I walked back up Duke Street and saw this and thought "Ya know, I am." Naturally by the time I went to the evening event in Newsham Park to photograph I wasn't because I was stuck in the crowd unable to get photos but at least I was.
Saturday 2nd August
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Carnival! Another long day. Started around 12pm with the Brouhaha street parade which ended in Princes Park with an afternoon of performances till around 5:30. I came home for tea and then off out again to see another carnival right through town. I never normally use flash but as it was going to be dusk I figured I'd take it. I'm really glad I did. I got home around 11:30. Nearly a 12hr day.
Sunday 3rd August
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The sun sets over Thursaston and the River Dee. To the left you can just about see some of Wales. Its a really peaceful place Thursaston. Great to sit and take stock of your life as the sunsets. Funnily enough since becoming a photographer I haven't been back here to photograph, despite how stunning it is and despite always going there since I was a kid. I couldn't see Shore Cottage though. Its a house right on the beach owned by a family who I knew in primary school.
Monday 4th August
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A long day of sorting photos and sorting things.
Tuesday 5th August
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I had a scare on Sunday when my main photography HD stopped. I think the fan has died so its overheating. It scared me enough to throw £400 at a proper solution. A new 1tb external usb drive for my photography which is backed up to a new Apple Time Capsule. The initial backup is taking hours, well its looking like days. Also I've made the decision to dump the original style I was using for this 365. I found a group of photographers who use it and what hit me was that you couldn't tell their work apart. Its totally download a style and off you go. I don't like that. People say they like the processing on these photos and all I did was push f8 to run the action. That doesn't feel right. So I'm dumping it and going back to learning more rather than coping out.
Kell_ee001
06-08-2008, 07:58
Sunday 3rd August
Pic
The sun sets over Thursaston and the River Dee. To the left you can just about see some of Wales. Its a really peaceful place Thursaston. Great to sit and take stock of your life as the sunsets. Funnily enough since becoming a photographer I haven't been back here to photograph, despite how stunning it is and despite always going there since I was a kid. I couldn't see Shore Cottage though. Its a house right on the beach owned by a family who I knew in primary school.
Wow. That's beautiful.
I love that picture too! Any updates Pete?
Pete, as someone who is just about to embark on a solo photography career, your work is nothing short of inspirational.
cleanbluesky
12-09-2008, 15:50
Do you have your camera with you all day?
I love that picture too! Any updates Pete?
I've probably got pictures for each day but I dunno. I've just been too busy to really think about this. I mean on the one hand I'm busy, on the other hand when I'm not busy its probably cos I'm depressed and well thats a fairly rubbish photo. I'm already doing 2 daily projects so it all takes time.
Pete, as someone who is just about to embark on a solo photography career, your work is nothing short of inspirational.
:) Good luck.
Do you have your camera with you all day?
I do. I'm working on a book that requires me to.
Do you have your camera with you all day?
I would say so, seeing as its what he does for a living :)
cleanbluesky
12-09-2008, 16:12
What books are you working on?
Or is that...
*HUSH HUSH*
?
A book documenting 2008 in Liverpool.
cleanbluesky
12-09-2008, 17:02
A book documenting 2008 in Liverpool.
Commissioned or your own personal project?
Personal project between 6 photographers. www.3662008.co.uk.
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