I have five copies of a Birmingham calendar produced by one of my clients, using images from the Images of Birmingham Photo Library. If anyone would like a copy posting, drop me a line.
Monthly Archives: December 2007
It has been a busy year for the Crowded Gallery. We launched a new site in January - then replaced it in December! We worked with several magazines (and one airline!) on competitions, were featured by Channel 4, as well as City Living magazine and numerous others (which have previously included Modo Magazine and the British Journal of Photography - twice). We have had photographs used throughout the world on books and in newspapers, and been listed by the Saatchi Gallery.
Next year is already looking good - with a feature expected soon in Exclusive magazine, and a potential exhibition toward the end of the year. Some of the images have been quite popular, and with a maximum of 50 of each being sold, they will shortly become unavailable. Hence, travel is on the cards for next year, along with a new project, which will add to the number of photographic prints available. I am also hoping a new book will be published.
However, it is all you nice people who buy the prints that I have to thank - so thank you - I appreciate it.
Have a nice Christmas. Craig.
I’ve just stumbled on a fashion spread I took a few months ago, that had a bit of a Christmas theme. It has been used on the cover of Select Living, and inside. Here it is…
After a really successful day photographing Birmingham as a tourism destination yesterday, it was the turn of Telford in Shropshire today.
Unfortunately, unlike yesterday the weather wasn’t on my side, so after arriving on site nice and early, I went back to the office pretty soon after. To make matters worse, one of the cameras decided to give up. That is now in the hands of Royal Mail, winging its way to the Canon Professional Services repair centre.
The above photo was taken earlier this year for stock usage.
Today has been another day in the project to photograph Birmingham in a way that will enable it to be marketed in a more contemporary way over the coming years.
Specifically, today was concerned with a more lifestyle approach to the city and its business community. Hence, I was photographing models on Colmore Row (the business district), the Raddisson SAS hotel in Beetham Tower, New Street Station, and the Great Western Arcade - before the light finally went.
The light this morning was great. When I woke to an iced over car in the dark, I started to hope that would mean clear skies and a nice sunrise. The sunrise did its job and turned up on cue during the first photos on Colmore Row.
New Street Station really surprised me. It has been years since I photographed there, but it has thrown up some photos I am really pleased with. Of course, having two great looking models helped - and someone from the station (Mike??) who made it all happen.
Location work is always demanding on the models as they get approached by some of the less desirable sections of the community - and today was no different. Siobhan, our glamorous female model, particularly came in for some stick.
After a full day, starting at 5.30am, I now have over 8GB of images to sort through. Even though my feet ache from all the walking, it was a really great day.
Out of interest, thought you might like to see the work of Richard Heeps. He has been working away as a fine art photographer for a fair few years, and doesn’t seem tempted to come over to the dark side of commercial photography…and you have to admire him for his tenacity.
I only have one print of his, shown below, but certainly worth a look. I’m not related…
I don’t mind saying that this week I have had a lot, and I mean a lot, of commissions. Which is great, but 80 hour weeks really take it out of you. It is a bit of a struggle to get up on Saturday mornings after a week like that - in fact I am typing this even though I have over 500 photos to sort for a client (and it is 10.47pm)….and next week I have seven days booked up.
As expected from a photographer, I try to relax by taking photographs. So, over the last year or so, I have been taking some photos in the woods near home. They have no real commercial value, and that is the point I guess. Here are a few.
The new Crowded Gallery web site (www.crowded.co.uk) has now been finished, and you will see that, as previously mentioned, it has more of a black and white print focus. I also prefer the more modern home page, which has almost everything in one location - including an RSS feed for new images.
As it is coming to Christmas, and I am in the mood for some merciless marketing…the next ten 22×17 inch limited edition prints ordered will be half price (you will have to email craig@crowded.co.uk direct for this! Don’t go through checkout with your image, or you will have to pay the full price!!). I’m not listing this anywhere else, so this is just for the blog readers.
A lot of time and energy has now gone in to producing the new Crowded web site, but it is not quite there yet. Fingers crossed by the end of the week it should be available.
In the mean time, it’s worth mentioning a few changes. Firstly, the site will be based on black and white photography - apart from a few exceptions, I tend to prefer this to colour (although there may be a hidden away gallery for some of the more popular colour images to reside).
Secondly, the new site will mark the end of the canvas print. I was never happy getting someone else to produce the canvas prints, it just didn’t feel right. Although, I have seen some really nice examples go out of the door (such as a seven foot rose), I much prefer to have the final say on a signed print. Plus I just think a photograph should be framed…such a snob.
Right, I’m off to photograph something.
