Monthly Archives: January 2008

Well, I have cancelled two days worth of commissioned photography due to the expectation of bad weather - it was my decision - but I am sitting in the office looking at the sun start to set, lighting up some gorgeous clouds on a blue sky.  Makes you smile.

The following photo was taken in Paris.  I had travelled over to photograph Bastille Day celebrations, but a slight mishap with the alarm clock meant that I completely missed the street marching (although to be honest I didn’t really go for the marching - more the people celebrating on the sidelines).  Anyway, once outside, the people were still having a good time and I managed several photos I like that day.  But it was on the way back to where I was staying that I stumbled accross a park, and some shelter where I could change the films in the cameras.  No sooner had I sat down when a group of children started running around the building.  Snap.

Children playing, Paris (2002)

Snow has now started forming on the window.

Exclusive Magazine feature the Crowded Gallery

The Crowded Gallery gets a three page spread in Exclusive Magazine.

Pete Ashton, of Created in Birmingham fame, spreads the love and mentions sites he likes, and even mentions this site.  I was wondering why my site stats were up….

 ”The Crowded Gallery blog from photographer Craig Holmes is a nice example of how you can add a small amount of informal chat and revolutionise your web presence. “

Saying that - I have been spending today photographing a chief executive (and others) and been trying to get arty in a recycling centre.  Strange but true.  Back to marketing Birmingham for the rest of this week.

The process of upgrading all the PC’s (I really wanted to change to Macs - but the software was ridiculously expensive) is now fully complete - and the printing of large images has turned in to a pleasant experience - rather than an absolute nightmare that makes me want to cry.  Thanks to Dave Beckerman in New York, who pointed out the best practice for printing via Lightroom - I owe you one!

Right, first night off for a fortnight….

Imaginary Binoculars

Boy in coffee shop.

Windscreen colours

 

Contradicting the last post, this wouldn’t have looked right as black and white….arrived much too early for a commission.  Rain on windscreen, Church Street, Birmingham, 6.50am.

 

UPDATE: as an experiment, this image was made available for sale in my stock library.  It was licensed, and in the next few weeks will be used in a high class brochure for an up-market shopping centre.

I’m making 2008 the year of black and white photography.  OK difficult with commissioned photography (although I am trying to persuade a magazine to let me do a fashion shoot in black and white…I can’t see it happening though, as it is all about Spring fashions), but a lot of my work could be done in black and white.

For that reason, all non-commissioned photography will be taken in black and white for a while…and here is the first photo, from a walk around Birmingham between commissions (of the Snow Hill redevelopment).  I am sure this has no commercial value, so it may not end up on the stock libraries, but it may end up in the next Birmingham book.

Birmingham architecture 

Speaking of which, a book I have been working on for the Royal Institute of British Architects on Birmingham architecture has reached the final proof stage.  Fingers crossed, this means after four years work, the book will soon be published (start of March is planned).  The city of Birmingham often gets knocked (not by me!), but love it or hate it, some of the architecture is cutting edge.

Carrying on the Birmingham theme - our ‘Images of Birmingham’ stock library has had a face-lift, bringing it a bit more up to date.

I decided after two of the networked PC’s both gave up over Christmas that I wouldn’t just replace them, but that I would upgrade all the software for photographic workflow.  So, I purchased Photoshop CS3, Lightroom and some HDR software (which can potentially improve any architectural photography taken in challenging conditions), then I decided to upgrade all the screen calibrators.  Although this has been one of the most challenging weeks of my life with regards to computers (mainly due to Microsoft Vista not mixing with professional photography), I can see how it is providing me a lot more opportunities when it comes to satisfying clients needs.  Lightroom in particular looks as though it can cut hours off my post processing workload, whilst at the same time giving clients a ‘bit extra’, such as online proofing for example.