Into The Distance

This is a shot i took quite a while back using my 35mm film Canon camera. The uncrowded image contains strong contrast of the dark trees in the background and her shadow with the highlights of the grass and the outline of the model. This helps to give the image a feel of isolation. That, along with having the subject just off-center staring into the light source, helps to give a sense of wonder to the image. 

Thanks to the gorgeous Alex Edden for being such a great model. As always visit my work on Instagram at peterboothphotography, and check out Alex on Instagram too at alexmedden.

I'm Ready For My Close Up!

"I'm ready for my closeup!" - Norma Desmond Chairman Meow

I've always been the kind of photographer that likes my digital photography pin sharp and perfect, and my analogue photography a little bit rough around the edges. This is probably because with digital you can take thousands of photographs in a sitting so there isn't much of an excuse for it not to be sharp and in focus, yet with analogue it's no more than 30 shots. Some images will be over exposed, some under. Some will be in focus, and some inevitably out of focus. But this gives 35mm and other film photography an edge in some ways. It makes you think about the story of the image more as well as making you a technically better photography. It makes you think more about what was happening when that picture was taken. Those "mistakes" become quirks of the photograph making them more intriguing. You don't stop to criticise what is wrong with an image, however makes you consider whether that "mistake" makes the photograph what it is. 

While trying out my first roll of Agfa APX 100 (which is now my standard black and white film i shoot with when going analogue), i thought i would grab a couple of shots of Chairman Meow, the most dog-like cat the world has seen. The problem with that is he didn't stay still like a cat. Instead he bounded forward straight into the camera head first. Some might look at this image and think straight away "why is it not in focus..?". Others might look at it and think clearly that cat loves his picture taken! 

Either way, the point of this blog is to explain that in some forms of photography there is room for error or mistake to make a photograph so much more than a pleasing piece of art to look at. You can plan and plan a shoot until the cows come home, but the ting which makes it will be something you didn't expect. However areas such as product, advertising, and landscape photography will tend to benefit from perfect, sharp, crisp images as you're trying to sell something or show something as being beautiful and perfect. But in others don't be too quick to dismiss an image just because a part you wanted to be in focus isn't. 

As always visit peterboothphotography on Instagram to see more of my work and give it a LIKE, and give me a FOLLOW! 

Cornwall

A couple of months ago i took a weeks holiday down in a little place in Cornwall, called Trevone, with my girlfriends family. I think it was my second ever time in Cornwall and as soon as i arrived in to the sun soaked beaches i knew exactly why i fell in love with the place the first time i visited. 

It was sunny every day except for one where it wouldn't stop raining for about 24 hours. But when it was sunny my time was spent walking along the beach filled coast, learning to surf, body boarding, taking photographs of nearly everything i could, and getting sunburned. (Wasn't even that hot...) 

Due to wanting to travel light i decided to just take my trusty Canon A1. I pretty much take it wherever i go now. I also brought with me the two types of film i always use now, which is the Agfa Photo Vista Plus 200 colour film, and the Agfa Photo APX 100 black and white film. The Vista Plus film gives really nice green/blue and washed out red tones to the photo. Both of these films are fairly cheap if you bulk buy and can be found on Amazon so you don't have to shell out loads for them.

These are just a small selection of the photographs i took, and more can be seen on my Instagram account at peterboothphotography, so go visit me there and give me a follow, like, and comment if you want! 

35mm Canon A1

This isn't going to be a long post, sorry. Just a little one to tell you all about my film camera. I'm sure in a previous post i've shown a couple of pictures from a 35 black and white film, but i didn't talk much about the camera.

Most of the time i use my Nikon D90. Being the modern age as it is all photographers use digital. It's quicker, you can take loads of images quickly and quietly, check them straight away. Over all it's pretty much better. But years ago my dad got me a Canon A1 35mm. I didn't really use it much as i hadn't got a clue how to use it but now i know how i've always got it. Not so much for professional work but more for just if you spot something nice on a walk. The feel of winding the film on and hearing the shutter is just an amazing feeling (i'm not weird, trust me). 

If you don't have a 35mm you should definitely get one. Decent ones can be more expensive, but if you  want one for a more vintage feel then look in charity shops for old ones for a tenner. But i can't think of anything better than my Canon A1.

(the A stands for automatic as it was the first 35mm camera with a semi automatic setting so it was slightly easier to use than others.)

1st Of December!

Today is the 1st of December! The start of Christmas! I'm definitely a Christmas person. I love the snow, music, mince pies, everything! (See i do like things other than photography and wildlife).

This time last year though i remember getting an early present. My dad got an old Canon A1 35mm passed down in the family and i loved it. But he loved it more and wasn't going to give it to me… But he did surprise me with my own! And a bag full of lenses and film to go with it which apparently he got on the cheap. Needless to say i was very excited to use it. My very first film camera!

During the course of the next few months i went through the film very quickly, especially the black and white film. I couldn't think of anything better than photographing snow in black and white film. Anyway, as it was my first time with film the pictures weren't all perfect. I'd say they have a rustic feel to them. Here are a couple of ones which (for my first attempt) i quite like.