Inspiration

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Images Over The Years

Hi,

Another post in the same day, crazy!

So I have just gone through a lot of my photographs I have taken over the last couple of years, and picked out my favourites.

Unfortunately there isn't that many of them! I would love for any of you who happen to read this to tell me what your favourites are. You never know I might even do a graph to show the results. Geek!

Thanks you,

K

Ulster Museum continued...

Here I am again.

So I woke up this morning and was greeted with a horrible rainy Tuesday morning, this put me in foul form as I wanted some more external shots of the museum.

I went up anyway, and after driving about for an eternity trying to find parking space (parking around that area is a nightmare) I parked for a limited time of an hour.

Inside the museum is all very clean, new and white. I am ashamed to say I didn't really check out many of the exhibits as I was there to look at the architecture. Im sure I looked a bit strange dandering about looking at the roof, taking the odd picture, with my film camera, my digital camera and my iphone!

When I have a project to do, I never really know how i'm going to capture the essence of my brief. I have one thought that leads onto another, and another and then I go and do something completely different.

The interior is fairly simplistic which of course is a great contrast to all the artefacts etc on show. So on that train of thought I went for some very clean basic photography, with perhaps the odd splash of colour..

Here's some examples.

So I am nowhere near done, as of course I need to get these down on film, trying not to rush into this and get a real essence of the building before moving on.

Later

Kaz

Ulster Museum (architecture)

So I got up reasonably early this morning to do practice shots for my next assignment.

I am working on an architecture theme which needs to be shot on colour transparency!

I have decided to go for the Ulster Museum as it's just about to re-open and I was hoping for some great architectural detail.

So off I went, pretty darn cold this morning, but nice and crisp with the suggestion of blue sky out there. Stopped off for a sneaky Starbucks on the way (needed change for parking, honest) I parked at the new Queens University library, which incidentally is a pretty great looking new building as well (perhaps my back up plan). I walked over to the museum but was slightly disappointed to see fencing all the way around it, it's not actually due to re-open until the 22nd, so I should have expected something like that. I did however managed to get a few abstract shots of the corners. But what it unexpectedly allowed me to do was get a real sense of the building.

I have been doing some art history work in college, which is extremely fascinating, and proving to help me a lot in my work. There is an early photographer called Frederick Evans, and something he said about his work has managed to stay with me. He tried to get a sense of the building of which he was about to photograph, if the building could speak what would it say, is it possible to capture the essence of this piece of architecture. This has helped me so much, as initially architecture was not something I was particularly fond of capturing.

So that being said, although I could take that many many pictures today, I did stand in front of the building for quite some time thinking about how the building made me feel and how I can transfer this later when I get a chance to get closer to the architectural detail.

Until I get the opportunity to get more shots, here's just the one to wet your appetite :)

Kaz

iPhone art

Hi again,

Well now I'm also working on a bit of an iPhone photo gallery. I'm using an app which works great for some quick creative editing.
I'm just going to be documenting me and the things I see around me, and I'll try to make these images as interesting as possible..
Here's what I have so far, let me know what you think :)


















-- Post From My iPhone

Feeling Good

Well, I guess it's time for a bit more web space to be taken up by a rant from me :)

Saturday was a lovely day, so it was a great opportunity to head up the North Coast with my camera.

I am trying to work on a bit of a project at the moment, I keep changing my mind on the specifics, but we'll just see where it all takes me.

I asked Pete where his favourite place was in Northern Ireland, the place he feels most relaxed and can really let go. I should have know (he's always talking about it) he picked the White Rocks Beach up at Portrush. I thought it would be a really nice idea to capture people at their happiest. We are all constantly rushing about, stressing over this and that, and working too hard these days. So I believe it's nice to capture people in their most peaceful state, it's something we don't really see too often. Maybe it's me that's rushing about too much and not noticing that people are happy and enjoying life. That said I wanted to try and get this freedom captured as naturally as possible.

Pete did a great job, he's very photogenic and was able to just take himself off round the beach and not worry about a big camera all up in his face!

Below I have a few examples of what I shot, I'm pretty happy with the outcome, lots more to come though. I just need more volunteers? Where are your favourite places, where do you go to clear the mind...

Come to think of it I don't even know where my place is...

K

Hopes and Dreams

Having positive thoughts and taking my life where I want it to is in the forefront of my mind right now. So thought I'd grab my camera and capture this little blurb..

K

The Bucket List

HDR Photography

Greetings...

I have just began experimenting with HDR photography as of today actually, so I thought I'd take to my blog and talk a bit about it.

So HDR (high dynamic range) is basically taking the same photograph in 3 different exposures and then merging them together later in Photoshop. You have to use a tripod so as every scene is captured in exactly the same position.

Today was a great day so I headed off to Castlewellan to see what I could find (incidentally I did this after stopping off at tesco to take advantage of the great wine offer they have on at the moment) Anyway, yes so I arrived at Castlewellan, and obvious as it is I headed for the castle as I figured this was the best place to start. I had a magazine with an article about capturing the images with me, (you didn't think I could do it without some point of reference did you?)

I set up my gear and proceeded to take what I needed, it was lovely just getting away on my own, I even packed a lunch! I didn't feel particularly inspired to capture anything else so I headed home to get to work on some post production.

So below we have to of my best efforts, lots more to practice on in this area, got to try and think what else what be a great subject... Feel free to suggest something :)

It's a great new thing to try, and I believe it gives the pictures a great bit of punch. but got to be careful not to over do it.

K

The Final Piece

Here we have my final piece for the very last assignment for this year.

This is it all framed and ready to go to college tomorrow, complete with plastic still around the edges, oh and complete with a reflection of me, have to give the sense of glass ya know ;)

It turned out pretty decent, but sure true to form I've looked at it that much i'm not really a fan... The workbook is nearly complete, not the best work I've ever done, but it goes in to pretty decent detail about what I was trying to achieve here, maybe you'd like to put your own spin on that?

Hope you like..

Kaz x

set

set, originally uploaded by Karen McClintock.

Here's what I have come up with so far regarding my latest assignment. I'm not entirely sure it's working just yet. Think I need to go for a walk here, and come back and take another look at it. You can look at something too long and really not get a proper sense of it anymore.
I am thinking I like the stool image, but I'm not sure the Hockney montage is working. What do you think?

K

Nikon

From Polaroid to the polar opposite, the Nikon D300.
This is my new baby, haven't had much time to play with it, but straight away I am in love, yeah in love with an inanimate object!
I'll not tell you how much I spent on it and accessories. Let's just say I'd like to start making a bit of money :)
Really getting stuck into my latest assignment at the mo, I'll try put some stuff up surrounding it soon..

Kaz


-- Post From My iPhone

Polaroid

So I've finally loaded film into my Polaroid camera. It's really quit exciting!
I am definitely going to be incorporating this into my current fine art photography assignment. I'm still working through ideas at present, but watch this space for further updates.

Kaz

Ps loving blogging from my iPhone


-- Post From My iPhone

The Belfast Marathon

Well it certainly has been a while since I've blogged, so I thought after completing the Belfast marathon was a good a time as any to post!

So Yesterday I woke up reasonably early as you can imagine my mind was full of all sorts of things, will I be able to complete it, please don't let it be pissing down like it was in the middle of the night, and I hope I have some supporters along the way :)

I made my breakfast and was surprisingly very hungry, nerves didn't suppress my appetite thankfully. Adrian left me into town for about 8am, it was pretty darn cold and miserable at this stage but I was too pumped to care..

I wandered about a bit trying to keep warm, then Matt D popped by on his way into work, it was great to chat to someone as I was pretty much on my own at this point. Later on I thought right I gotta pee before this thing kicks off. I was just about to walk into one of the portable loos when I realised there was a huuuge queue, I stood waiting for about half an hr, finally got in did my thing, and rushed to the starting line!

So I wasn't standing long before everyone started moving, I don't even think I heard the starter gun, but just followed the masses over the start line..

This was it I was on my way, Tina's ipod strapped onto arm entertaining me on the way.. I felt good at this point, I was going nice and easy and just trying to keep a steady pace. The first spectators I recognised were Jennie & Andrew along the Hollywood road. Great to to see them and they were happy to see I was ok at the early stages, this was probably only a few miles in.

On I trotted up to the top of the airport road, there was a girl pushing another girl up the hill in a wheelchair, amazing strength!

Down past the airport was pretty dull, nothing to really look at and no spectators, but I kind of zoned out and kept on going really well. This all seems like a blur at the moment, I'm trying to remember where I went next haha. We headed back through town and up towards the Falls, everything still felt grand and I think we were coming to the 8 mile point. There were lots of water points along the way, I threw most of it round me, not cos I was hot, just because it's damn hard to drink out of a cup and run at the same time. There were a few coughing fits along the way, but nothing to hamper my performance ;)

I was very aware of the Antrim Rd coming up next, it's a long steady incline, I was not looking forward to it.. So I had a wee Dextrose energy sweet which helped, and on I went.

We were nearing the top of the hill, and a woman shout keep going half way point! I looked up and saw the sign saying 13 miles! I was so glad to be feeling grand and reaching this point! Then I was immediately traumatised because I had to do the exact same distance all over again :)

What also kept me going here was the fact that my parents were due to be at the top. I first saw my dad, looking all concerned and checking to see how I was. I then say Lisa form work taking a pic on her iPhone, which I knew would end up on Twitter. The I saw my mum with the camera out, she didn't really look at me, more concerned with getting a good pic, (just like me) I then saw my bro and his mate a few seconds later. So that was a great wee bunch of people to see at the summit, it kept me buzzing for in the incline. My mum commented aftwards that I guy reached the tope and shouted "Thank Christ it's down hill now" To be honest the downhill was nearly worst, it's a bit sore smacking the legs down, but it's nice to know your are coming down at the same time. Half way down the hill there was a lady handing out wee bits of choc biscuit, absolutely perfect timing!

The downhill continued right down to the Abbeycentre, still feeling ok here, wee bit of pain the old muscles, but plenty of strength left. This is were I saw Tina, asked how I was and took a picture of me, I think I was smiling :) Further on along there was an energy station, The were handing out orange wedges, Brilliant! I took two!

The next main point was down near Hazelbank in preparation for the jaunt along the motorway. Here I saw Jill's mum & Dad, they had just seen Jill off on her relay leg, and decided to wait and see if I turned up :) Then just a bit further on I saw Ali & Stu, I felt really pumped here and was all "yeah, high five'! A woman shouted at me "why are you not in pain'!! At this point I have no idea why I wasn't in pain this I think was about the 18 mile point, but not sure...

I started to feel it a lot more along the end of this stretch, strange that it wasn't any of my previous injuries. No knee pain, no ankle or hip pain! It was my muscles that were just beginning to scream a bit.. I said to one guy running beside me "are you enjoying yourself" with a wry smile! He said no, and I told him to keep er lit!

This part just lasted for so long, but finally we came to the Dargan Road part, this was a depressing point, all very industrial and no spectators. I had to stop and walk a bit as my muscles were aching and needed a good stretch. Also to stop for a pee, it was getting a bit dangerous to carry on, and I didn't fancy pulling "a Paula"

Finally we were coming back into town for the finish, I was a but delirious at this point at I thought at 22 miles I only had one more mile to do, forgetting that the marathon was actually 26 miles! Coming in round corporation street I saw my bro and his mate again (he later said he didn't think i was gonna make it, lookinga bit worse for ware at this point) Seeing him must have given me another energy burst though, because just round the corner I saw Robyn, and then andrew and they seemed to think I was looking good!

Not far to go now, I kept telling myself! Down the side of the embankment, with a bit more walking and jogging. Out I came onto the bridge on Ormeau, this is were I saw Richard from work with his big SLR I managed a smile and a thumbs up, this was at the 23 mile point! (the point were I thought it was over haha)

On through Ormeau park was next, this park has never seemed so big, it seemed to take forever to trample through it, and avoid random walkers out enjoying their day. The worst part was clearly the uphill Ormeau road, I had to walk a lot of it, and my face must have been a picture!

There was a volunteer at the top saying come on this is it all downhill now. So that was it I started running again and was determined not to stop until the end. Down the Ravenhill road, nice and steady, past my old abode at Oakleigh, the BP garage, and round the corner! few more leaps and bounds and I was running into the Ozone were it all ended. I had a strong finish, wouldn't call it a sprint, but pretty steady! Over the line, done! I completed the Belfast marathon in 4 hrs 54 minutes!

I don't think it has really sunk it what I have achieved, at the moment I don't see it as such a big thing. I'm just really glad I can strike it off my to do list. But more importantly I'm glad I was able to raise over a grand for Lupus UK,

strained smile in Ormeau park, Picture by Richard Lavery :)

Hi there,

Time for another update!

Just been out for a lovely mothers days lunch, I have lots of work to do, but just waiting for the few glasses of wine to wear off before I get to it ;)

I am currently very very keen to do a world trip, and to document it with a polaroid and a blog, I'd also like to take a proper SLR with me, but the main focus would be on the polaroid. I'd like to follow it up on my return with a book on the entire adventure. It's fills me with lots of inspiration, I know I'm not much of a writer, but I would try and do as much of a written accompaniment as possible. I would need to think of a theme though... something like how much we don't know about how other people live, how we are so caught up in our own lives, we have blinkers on, and turn a blind eye to suffering and what hardship really is... Or something like a day in the life of people from different cultures.

I'd love to know what you think of this idea.. give me some feedback please.

Kaz x