Leon

Hi Everyone, hope you are well considering what 2020 has given us.

as most of you know nearly all circuits in the uk are not giving out media passes for photographers, even when I'm being invited by teams and drivers I cant get on track, and NO spectators at most places.  so, I took the plunge and started the YouTube channel I have been pondering over for a while. 

it's a niche channel, nothing else like it out there, but also a niche audience so i'll never be rubbing shoulders with Casey Neistat or Roman Atwood.  what it does do is give Motorsport drivers and riders a chance to tell their story, only Two video's in but I'm feeling hopeful it will get popular.     

The next video will be up on Thursday and features this crazy Drift car.

I'd appreciate it if you gave it a look and maybe Subscribe? 

On 02/09/2019 at 00:11, Hatter said:

My turn for POTW again - and for a change it ended up being an easy choice.  That's not a reflection on the other images posted this week either - it just had to be this one!

The King at Lackford Lakes by RogerW.

Well done, Roger!    Full thread here.

great shot!!   certainly put's mine to shame!! 

22 hours ago, Hatter said:

In the garden...

love these, especially the middle one!

The only editing was dragging the shadows right down this is the Lilly in my pond

update.

Meet with a superbike team...  been invited to all races in 2020 with hospitality, no mention of payment yet.

Applied for a job with a dealer selling Land Rover and Jaguar.   awaiting any communication , this will mean taking pictures of "High End"  cars at three locations in Warrington, Stoke and North Wales.  

Refused to send my CV in to another "carshop" as you literally are told how to photograph cars in a white room on a turntable.  

The track where I have been resident photographer for a few years are allowing me to open a stall selling prints!!  tis one could be a little gold mine, just need to find a member of staff to come with me to man the stall and print of  pictures on the day as I think these will sell easier. will mean weekend trips in my redundant trailer tent, should be a laugh and earn a few ££'s too  

so baby steps so far, but it's a start.  I am all over Linkedin but I need to learn how to sell myself via email.  any creative writers out there?  

It may take a while, and it may not exactly get me on track but I will get there one day!

Hi Guys and girls/ladies.

not sure If I mentioned it but 14 months ago I gave up my fairly well paid sales job to try and get some photography work alongside working in a community centre.  

I have had a fair amount of paid jobs but not enough to pay the bills.    I am just about to start looking for another full time job   

how many of you are professional?  how, when and why did you start?    and how long did it take?

I love little hogs,   there's a woman who rescues them on my estate, when I can and when I remember I pick some hay and newspaper up for her as she funds the rescue all on her own!

5 hours ago, Clicker said:

Just different jargon for different cameras ...

When you are on site and someone is willing to pay for an image for social media you can send it straight to them without the need for a laptop. Just touch your phone to the camera and it downloads.. 

after never ever owning a NEW camera my wifey treated me to a brand new Canon 80D.  (this is not a show off thread)

its not really much different than my 70D, much newer sensor,  faster focusing and quieter, with a few modern things like NFC transfer and a built in intervalometer.  

I'm VERY impressed with it.   

the 70D will be sent off for a service and kept as a 2nd body.

On 12/06/2019 at 15:53, Leon said:

Hi Guys.

 

last week someone very kindly gifted me a good as new Lowpro camera ruck sack, so I am offering my old bag for free to anyone who can collect or pay postage.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00V9ETXXQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

PM me please if you want it.

wow, can't even give it away.

Hi Guys.

last week someone very kindly gifted me a good as new Lowpro camera ruck sack, so I am offering my old bag for free to anyone who can collect or pay postage.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00V9ETXXQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

PM me please if you want it.

Hi Guys.

not sure how many of you know about my change of jobs (again) in August?   I simply had enough of sales, had been treated like poo too many times so I quit. I'm now the site manager (caretaker) at a local community center here in westhoughton, STRESS FREE!!!

my latest project it to convert one of the old rooms (100+ year old school classroom) into a photography studio to hire out by the hour, or day etc... the room is around 25 feet square with 20 foot ceilings, being painted all white with either a matt white or grey floor. we will be putting up black/white and grey paper backdrops. we will also be supplying basic lighting too.

my question is what in the way of furniture or props would you expect to find when hiring a studio?  I have a couple of old farmhouse style chairs, was thinking of trying to get hold of an old weathered Chaise Lounge?  

room rates are going to be about £15 per hour.  we also have a cafe on site during the day too!!

3 minutes ago, Ryewolf said:

Why not something more informal? Where people with an interest can get together and talk, like a camera club but less formal, maybe a weekly theme where the following week people show their images and talk about how it came about, or maybe something local and what caught their eye.....?

we looked into this too, the 3 towns around us have fairly large well established photography clubs.

since I posted this they have chosen to convert one of the rooms into a fully equipped photography studio abailable to rent to anyone by the hour, all backdrops and lighting will be available too!   and I get to use it

On 29/11/2018 at 18:36, Ryewolf said:

This is the sort of things a local civic arts centre holds:

Photography Group
Sewing Club
Drama Goups for kids (3-8 and 8+)
Yoga, Mum & Baby Yoga
Dance
Weight Watchers
Adult Craft Club
Line Dancing
Adult Art Class
Singing for Under 16's

we have the lions share of those groups, they are applying for a grant for sewing machines, they keep asking my misses to do the teaching.  Weight watchers is elswhere on the complex. Line dancing...if we had the room

On 29/11/2018 at 18:24, Richard said:

are you missing one obvious item? photography lessons? you could also do basic pc and internet courses for the older generation, help them get online and keep in touch with their relatives

only just seen this sorry, I keep getting asked to do photography lessons. I am not sure I am anywhere near qualified or experienced enough to deliver lessons.

and the PC thing is ongoing, we ar applying for a grant to upgrade our 20 PC's and the whole room.

thanks.

I have been watching a lot of TED X video's lately about photographers stories, this one is brilliant, especially for the street toggers out there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U8MHX-36-E

Hi Everyone.

most of you will not know that after 17 years I gave up my sales career, mostly due to job satisfaction, there was NONE!  and my health the stress levels were outrageous so I gave up. 

I am now the site manager (caretaker) at the local community center, part of the deal is that I am able to concentrate on getting my photography u and running properly, one day I will hopefully be doing it as a job full time. 

what is this post is all about?

I/we need some ideas, do you or would you go to the community center for an event?  if so what would you like to go and see or do, ideas please. 

We have a cafe but are not allowed to advertise, It's strictly for use of people coming in to use the rooms that we rent out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4Thgb7Zayg

I never knew that!!

there have been other fires locally too the 1st one was over on Saddleworth, then in Leigh, Lytham st annes and near Bury.... what makes you mad is that people are still using throw away BBQ's on the grass near the fires????

@Kobione will be used to this...

over the last week or so we have had a ,ot off wild fires, the original one started by some lowlife kid with a deranged head!  

the fires are a few hundred feet away from the stables where my daughter works at weekends... luckily,so far there has been little risk to them, except the smoke and fumes.

http://www.itv.com/news/granada/2018-07-05/winter-hill-fire-aerial-photos-show-extent-of-moor-fire-damage/

yeh clicker, nt my usual thing weddings, but he is a friend and it;s a good excuse to travel!!   I have done a couple of weddings before. as for being on here I dont get much time really, have only been to one race all year!!  I'll try and post more over the next few weeks

phil, I agree, stressfull yes but being a friend it's not as much pressure

went to London last week with work, met up with a friend who has been looking through my photo's on Facebook, he asked me to photograph his wedding next year.

I almost refused then he tells me he'll pay for the ticket to Cyprus  

welcome aboard.... 

welcome along