Expecting...

This weekend I took on a portrait shoot with special significance, not least for the couple. It is their first, and long hoped for child and so they asked me if I might take some pregnancy portraits for their baby album.

As with all the portrait photography I am asked to do I work informally, and where possible, utilising natural light.
No studio and flashing lights here, just the natural light falling through a netted window, where, by over exposing by a couple of stops, a soft light was able to subtly show the beauty of these natural female curves. Conversely, by under exposing, a much stronger image was achieved, which was ideal for the shots including the dad-to-be, with the reflected light just catching his eyes looking lovingly up to the two beings he loves most.

All being well there are plans for another shoot, a few more weeks further into the pregnancy. Meanwhile, I wish all three of them well.

Selfie Obsession

I can remember someone asking me as little as a couple of years ago, "What is a selfie? But unless you have been locked away for two years in an isolated place for some reason, I will not forgive you if you are still asking that question today. But just in case you have suffered the misfortune of not becoming acquainted with the term, according to Wikipedia (...please don't ask...)
"A selfie is a self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a digital camera or camera phone held in the hand or supported by a selfie stick. Selfies are often shared on social networking services such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter."

And so it was, during my recent visit to Amsterdam, I 'was got' by a selfie obsession too - not with taking pictures of me, heaven forbid! No, I was fascinated by those people actually taking the selfies and yes, I have to admit to taking the odd one or two in the past but not very well. In fact, during the weekend I and my photographer companion lined ourselves up for a quick selfie just for the lark...but I failed completely and utterly! I just couldn't get ourselves nicely positioned in the reversed camera viewfinder and by the time I pressed the shutter button, we were both bored of the whole thing. The picture was so bad, I deleted it and we never tried again, as we both agreed we were much better suited to being the other side of the camera lens. 

As with any busy tourist spot today, it wouldn't be long before a selfie-taker would pop up so I just couldn't resist collecting a series of images of these self absorbed tourists. Dam Square truly was busy on this chilly Saturday afternoon, and it wasn't difficult to merge into the masses to take these pictures without even raising the camera to my eye. Thanks to the innovation of the swing-out viewfinders, it is much easier to go undetected whilst capturing these street shots.

You may recall I promised in my previous blog that I would dedicate
a whole blog to the phenomenon.
So sit back,
scroll down,
and enjoy!

The phones are even sophisticated enough to have a count-down facility so the cosy, collective grimace can be co-ordinated for the snap taken in front of erm, 'Some fancy building in Amsterdam, innit!'

Still lining up that perfect shot!

Yoo-hoo!! Love the hats girls!

 

Of course it is more important to check for the perfect snap rather than to turn around and admire the impressive
Royal Palace.

What seemed like fun at the time...

...has probably appeared on a timeline and become the embarrassing perpetual memory of the weekend away in Amsterdam.

...aaaand still making sure she had all angles covered.

And just to prove it isn't a female-only habit...

 Anyone can be in possession of a selfie-stick...

Shhh! I will let you into a secret, I have one!! But I have NEVER used it, nor do I intend to either.
I never bought it, I wasn't given it, it just washed up my way - literally - on a Donegal beach last summer, and I kept it as an object of curiosity.


A sign of the times...the selfie times.

 

Looking Back - 2014

Wow - and what a year!

I will open by indulging with, what in my view, was the high point - in more than one way, and although this is a picture taken of me rather than by me there was a serious message to this daredevil stunt I did back in June Yup, I jumped out of a perfectly good aeroplane in aid of the RNLI, raising £580 in the process. I loved every minute of it and I will be back to do more skydiving just as soon as I can, with the aim of doing a solo freefall - yee-haaaa!

Well, that was June, what of the rest?
It has been a year full of great highs and unfortunate lows, both personally and work-wise.
It has been a year of decisions and changes.
It has been a year which has challenged my determination, my strength and my emotions.
It has been a year which opened up new experiences and ideas.
It has been a year where I have had some success and recognition.
I guess this is what you might expect through any year but the main thing is I'm still here, even if I have been a bit quiet of late, and I'm looking forward to great new challenges in 2015. (More of those in the next post) However, before we leave 2014 behind let me pick up on some of the favourite images and highlights from the year.

January

2014 arrived with gusto, when we felt the full Atlantic force down in West Cork.

A first visit to the wonderful city of Glasgow for Burns weekend. So much to see, including the fabulous Transport Museum. A return visit is a must.

February

Big changes! The decision was made to stop hiding and transform as Celia Bartlett Photography - a new look and a new website 

Still finding time for going out to enjoy a favourite place with a favourite walking companion

March

Back out to another favourite place - West Cork, with lots of plans to mull over

Visiting an interesting location on a shoot for a well known, quality supermarket - now one of my regular clients.

April

Another new work association with a great name - and one we already have a personal interest in to boot!

Who can't resist a bluebell wood?!

May
 

Private view for my Open Studio - with special guest.
Two weekends in April / May

Back to the stunning scenery in West Cork, with plans now starting to take shape.

June

A selfie with a difference! Admiring one of the many motorbikes at the annual Meldreth charity motorbike show.

Reaching the middle of the year with an early start for the Summer solstice sunrise at Lowestoft

July

Theatrical photography, now a regular feature throughout my working year, whether it be outdoors or indoor



 

Covering big events is also part of the working year - and the biggie of the year was the Tour de France but look who stole the show?!

Delighted to have had a sell-out souvenir book off this once in a lifetime event.

August
 

Photographing politicians - one of two I had the brief to fulfil this year:- The Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst MP

A visit early on in the process of the Tower Poppies - just amazing!

September 

Another ride out to the Ace Cafe London for the buzzing Annual Reunion

An extra special early-morning photo shoot at the stunning Glendalough upper lake, Co Wicklow, Ireland.

Magical!

October

Surfed back in to Ireland ahead of the West Cork Photography Weekends I had been planning for months.

A reflective evening just before my first guests finally arrived for the Photography Weekends.

And so successful they were, I am rolling them out again in Spring 2015!

November

The first of the regular annual events that take place in November - the big noise of the fireworks ...

...contrasted with capturing the serenity of the Remembrance Sunday Parade.

December 

Rounding off the year covering an event that would bring joy to many families - the Homecoming Parade - the troops had returned home from Afghanistan in time for Christmas

I would like to thank you for your support over these past twelve months and may I now take this opportunity to -

Wish you all a Very Happy New Year.
May it be full of joy and happiness!

I look forward to sharing 2015 with you.

Day 12 - August Challenge 14

Challenge - "The Rt Hon Haselhurst"

Suggested by - Enna via Facebook

The clock on the church struck ten as I waited at the Conservative office in Saffron Walden, as that was where
Sir Alan Haselhurst, MP for Saffron Walden had kindly agreed to meet me this morning, ahead of a busy day of his constituency duties.

My challenge today was "The Rt Hon Haselhurst" (sic) - Conservative MP for Saffron Walden, an area slightly larger than that of Uttlesford. He had been elected as MP in 1977 and has held a veritable accolade of roles during that time. The most intriguing has to be "Chairman of Ways and Means" which also encompassed the role of Deputy Speaker, a position he held until 2010. As we settled into the front room of the office for the portrait session, we chatted more about his education in Birmingham and Cheltenham. We touched on cricket - a game close to his heart, spoke of the thorny subject of housing, electric cars, fracking... Indeed, we chatted about many things, including the fact that both Sir Alan and my better half share the same birthday. However, it was as the session was coming to the end, that talk of an upcoming family holiday brought the smile to his face which was caught in the last frames of the shoot. How many times have I said that it is either the first or the last frame that ends up being the one?!

By half past ten, I was on my way again, leaving our long-serving MP (but not quite the longest currently serving MP) to continue with his duties.

My grateful thanks to Sir Alan for affording me his time this morning.

Tomorrow, Day 13

"Turpin"