tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-153226202024-03-13T05:39:19.962+00:00Painting With ShadowsThe blog of photographer Kim AyresKim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.comBlogger1208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-82731769472875881762024-01-05T11:45:00.016+00:002024-01-05T13:44:11.528+00:002023 in Photographs<p>
Every January, I like to put up a selection of my favourite images from the
past year.
</p>
<p>
Usually I enjoy spending a few days over the Christmas break, going through my
albums and carefully crafting the post.
</p>
<p>
This year, I found myself struggling. In part this was due to fewer shoots I've
done that stand out to me (both because of lack of opportunity, and several
months lost work because of extreme sciatica), but I'm also still processing
the grief at the recent loss of my brother, and this is affecting my
motivation for everything at the moment, consequently I very nearly decided not to bother.
</p>
<p>
However, I've been doing this since 2009, and I didn't really want to break the
tradition . Regardless of whether anyone else notices these posts, or
cares, I've come to realise I like having a place I can come back to where I'm able to see how my
photography has developed over the years
</p>
<p>
If you have any level of curiosity as to how my photography has
progressed over the past 14 years , then you can find earlier collections here:
<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2023/01/2022-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2022</u></i></a>,
<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2022/01/2021-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2021</u></i></a>,
<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2021/01/2020-in-photographs-and-videos.html"><i><u>2020</u></i></a>,
<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-decade-in-photos-and-videos.html"><i><u>Decade Review</u></i></a>,
<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2019/01/2018-in-photographs-and-videos.html"><i><u>2018</u></i></a>,
<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2018/01/2017-in-photographs-and-videos.html"><i><u>2017</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/2016-in-photographs-and-videos.html"><i><u>2016</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/2015-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2015</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/2014-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2014</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/2013-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2013</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/favourite-photos-of-2012.html"><i><u>2012</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/2011-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2011</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/2010-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2010</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/2009-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2009</u></i></a>
</p>
<p>As always, there's a varied selection below, so hopefully something for everyone. I'm always
interested in feedback, so if you'd care to leave a comment about which one(s)
are your favourite, or any personal observations, it would be warmly
appreciated.
</p>
<p>You can click on the images to see larger versions.</p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><b>Edd Carlile</b></p>
<p>
At the beginning of the year I went up to Glasgow to see my photo of my
daughter, Meg, which was accepted into the Monochrome exhibition at The
Glasgow Gallery of Photography. It was also a great excuse to catch up with an
old friend, Edd Carlile, who I first met about 12 or 13 years ago on a
photography website and we've been connected ever since, but this was the
first time we'd got to meet in person. In the 4½ hours we were in
each others company, I don't think the conversation paused for more than about
20 seconds! Although Edd prefers to be behind the camera, he did let me take
this photo of him on the street in Glasgow.
<br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/eddcarlile/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/eddcarlile/</a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJ3Zsv4OiATVEDfYjoJcnUtaC9f0-MeovSVIou1NzvczL28chqv4DS3cr1daT7u2IVrP2nlanHADsZNt8Y1PJQXfrf6iRFj3Wp6LEUktTrSubqZL46Bea-0-ub2g3SzYHsJS214DVBHWCBBpnMsbLKDiUDFW_rO1Oi21vbmBObw3ggKUrBiKV/s7064/Edd_02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="7064" data-original-width="4817" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJ3Zsv4OiATVEDfYjoJcnUtaC9f0-MeovSVIou1NzvczL28chqv4DS3cr1daT7u2IVrP2nlanHADsZNt8Y1PJQXfrf6iRFj3Wp6LEUktTrSubqZL46Bea-0-ub2g3SzYHsJS214DVBHWCBBpnMsbLKDiUDFW_rO1Oi21vbmBObw3ggKUrBiKV/s600/Edd_02.jpg" /></a></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><b>Ewan McClure</b></p>
<p>
Earlier in the year I had my portrait painted by the incredibly talented, Ewan
McClure - <a href="https://www.ewanmcclure.com" target="_blank">https://www.ewanmcclure.com</a>/ - which he then displayed in an
exhibition in the Kirkcudbright Galleries. Although on the surface it might
seem that portrait painting and portrait photography might be a similar thing,
I discovered that it is worlds apart. Three days of sitting for Ewan gave me
an entirely new appreciation of portraiture, commitment, and the artistic
process.
</p>
<p>Here are:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>a photo I took of Ewan while he was painting me,</li><li>a selfie of me with the finished portrait in the exhibition,</li><li>
and a portrait I did of Ewan that doesn't look like a painting, and took
considerably less time to produce
</li></ul><p></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zgVxVjIE2joJgOip6j_HV3mETh4UnoplnW2mJOZDjPd7nSkUKXOefoyj8ey58zbv7CRhQ-zDUvEdjkFMKNs56znVoyhk52K30EjlEVzX-NMBJbCRZo9cfm5rfOu4ySFoxgUZeRV-BMXj9CYKDEoXMAQD_g_oJxDVcJOJvU8oDWbaDGLim9no/s1920/web_Ewan_McClure_01_BW.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zgVxVjIE2joJgOip6j_HV3mETh4UnoplnW2mJOZDjPd7nSkUKXOefoyj8ey58zbv7CRhQ-zDUvEdjkFMKNs56znVoyhk52K30EjlEVzX-NMBJbCRZo9cfm5rfOu4ySFoxgUZeRV-BMXj9CYKDEoXMAQD_g_oJxDVcJOJvU8oDWbaDGLim9no/s600/web_Ewan_McClure_01_BW.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZA_pXNeX_U_xuEgv6QfOLS4Pw7ViIanXOagwD_pbXG_WeztWlZMRCzmJQSUueJOto9xwtdwonxe-5B3PEfbQWIwKQf_jYpNiE-OKkeJhAr7c4KPIh4LlJM9RdsqS9h1HfaUUWuyiJvn0cMa6aX7I45eESupF_CZfYJJu3OQ2pIFdESAAWGRZ/s3418/Ewan_McClure_Portrait_KBT_Galleries.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2522" data-original-width="3418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZA_pXNeX_U_xuEgv6QfOLS4Pw7ViIanXOagwD_pbXG_WeztWlZMRCzmJQSUueJOto9xwtdwonxe-5B3PEfbQWIwKQf_jYpNiE-OKkeJhAr7c4KPIh4LlJM9RdsqS9h1HfaUUWuyiJvn0cMa6aX7I45eESupF_CZfYJJu3OQ2pIFdESAAWGRZ/s600/Ewan_McClure_Portrait_KBT_Galleries.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbusaVwEiWRFHxonEDvkLKdi9veMROzuKB-JkTvhPzgTzeZlIgUl5xdqjYI5PDpGRif1YCWp6DlLMlfmi3LPbB7lLC6oq8wxcyQse2aWvVqUD4n2o9OXmjipcoIomtWDn5TE0kuUfWzkaZhVbCtsJlytHeTmwDcO8e6J7ImUQbaBUxyASsQT14/s4497/Ewan_McClure_BW.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4497" data-original-width="4493" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbusaVwEiWRFHxonEDvkLKdi9veMROzuKB-JkTvhPzgTzeZlIgUl5xdqjYI5PDpGRif1YCWp6DlLMlfmi3LPbB7lLC6oq8wxcyQse2aWvVqUD4n2o9OXmjipcoIomtWDn5TE0kuUfWzkaZhVbCtsJlytHeTmwDcO8e6J7ImUQbaBUxyASsQT14/s600/Ewan_McClure_BW.jpg" /></a></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><b>Going Cinematic</b></p>
<p>
In a world of square images designed for Instagram and social media avatars,
I've found myself increasingly drawn to creating images that have a more
cinematic, widescreen crop. These often intensify the feeling of a moment
captured in a sequence - you have no idea what came before, or what might
happen next, but you can't help speculating.
</p>
<p>
Teaming up with performer and poet, Annaliese Broughton, and her then partner,
Phil Brookes, we created some of my favourite photos ever.</p>
<p><b>Accidentally Wes Anderson</b></p>
<p>
Director, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0027572/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_6_nm_2_q_Wes%2520Anderson" target="_blank"><i>Wes Anderson</i></a>, has a cinematic style that frequently has the
characters in the middle of the screen, and an oversaturated pastels colour
palette. It hadn't been my intention to create a photo in this way, but during
the editing process, I boosted the saturation and realised this image
contained all the hallmarks.<br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lieseypeasylemonsqueezy">https://www.instagram.com/lieseypeasylemonsqueezy</a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/philbrookesuk">https://www.instagram.com/philbrookesuk</a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFKYiSxaF7T9DSv3vEApLsOC9KNRthliOGbvjCYwZFdkV88hGh0l5_jbCx4ualOV_ZKPRtAsDZ1pwddNPTxAYZWbhlss4ablcot6UzaL-szsi_7i-2mX3zIlVooLKYvUjHa6D6cgDHc6beR1xyZr_dHZIWSGAnurjTUPDz3Bf7ti-C6Ewvq-P/s2000/2000px_Ayr_Sea_Wall.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFKYiSxaF7T9DSv3vEApLsOC9KNRthliOGbvjCYwZFdkV88hGh0l5_jbCx4ualOV_ZKPRtAsDZ1pwddNPTxAYZWbhlss4ablcot6UzaL-szsi_7i-2mX3zIlVooLKYvUjHa6D6cgDHc6beR1xyZr_dHZIWSGAnurjTUPDz3Bf7ti-C6Ewvq-P/s600/2000px_Ayr_Sea_Wall.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Two Ice Creams</b></p>
<p>
Shot in the same place – the sea wall and beach at Ayr, Scotland – the editing
style here was more about indy-cinema – far away from the bright and glossy,
this is about a seaside town at the tail end of winter, where the colours are
more muted. Part of what I love about this one is it can either be read that
she is holding an ice cream for someone else, while making a start on her own,
or that she has just decided to have two ice creams herself. Either
interpretation feels part of a larger story.<br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lieseypeasylemonsqueezy">https://www.instagram.com/lieseypeasylemonsqueezy</a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTwtQM2x8d7omCNPOp3EINDikgW4VJgoyix8Lsl_84013c3f-qIHOdmM8Wns9uY7E-szUcE6T_lIAVYTouZOCQja7gFq2jSiPMBxdvrA9RwK4MqaQYQX4Fp4kubCjuRz8izS2JYRqEQvxfx2QGs-kFLeA-GWfZd-lS3wkVMm2Mu7mxvNYDNkl/s7934/C1_04_Ayr_Beach_Ice_Cream_03.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3318" data-original-width="7934" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTwtQM2x8d7omCNPOp3EINDikgW4VJgoyix8Lsl_84013c3f-qIHOdmM8Wns9uY7E-szUcE6T_lIAVYTouZOCQja7gFq2jSiPMBxdvrA9RwK4MqaQYQX4Fp4kubCjuRz8izS2JYRqEQvxfx2QGs-kFLeA-GWfZd-lS3wkVMm2Mu7mxvNYDNkl/s600/C1_04_Ayr_Beach_Ice_Cream_03.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Come The Morning Light</b></p>
<p>
This is quite possibly my all time favourite photo to date. Trying to read the
story makes you feel they have been through a traumatic night. He just climbed
into the bath with his clothes on, and then she joined him, without worrying
about her dress – comforting him was more important in that moment.
</p>
<p>
While I love working working with models, as they are past the self-conscious
stage in front of the camera – to be able to work with performers allows you
to reach greater heights. Some models can still be primarily concerned with
whether they look their best – but performers are primarily concerned with
whether the character looks authentic.
</p>
<p>
The whole experience has made me want to explore more in this direction when I
can. <br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lieseypeasylemonsqueezy">https://www.instagram.com/lieseypeasylemonsqueezy </a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/philbrookesuk">https://www.instagram.com/philbrookesuk</a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wHYWUAgnqgOuuKcNO-YYKBk0xkFcRpkwgZ7KUlvNRbeUtK-TZGq1LCvwDpvROFVz8HWQ8AKQ1A9yQ-pZFViHnX_k7OBwujIkvBfjlTZUs1E6geR9JB9qiBQuov0mgd1_-k3Kf30RfKQGPyHSSG3O132hLA95I9bjS6xXvSH_x1me-lWZJJrR/s1920/web_Cinematic_Bathroom_01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wHYWUAgnqgOuuKcNO-YYKBk0xkFcRpkwgZ7KUlvNRbeUtK-TZGq1LCvwDpvROFVz8HWQ8AKQ1A9yQ-pZFViHnX_k7OBwujIkvBfjlTZUs1E6geR9JB9qiBQuov0mgd1_-k3Kf30RfKQGPyHSSG3O132hLA95I9bjS6xXvSH_x1me-lWZJJrR/s600/web_Cinematic_Bathroom_01.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><b>Denise Zygadlo</b></p>
<p>
Denise is an artist, performer, and always good company. Although I had
originally intended to take photos of her in her studio, it was when I saw the
long oak table in her kitchen that I got excited, as I could instantly see the
possibility of looking down the length of it towards Denise. It took a
while to get the light balance I wanted, but was happy in the end with a
combination of natural light and a large softbox. We took several different
versions, but this one of her looking lost in thought was the one that grabbed
me the most. Again, I found a cinematic crop worked best for this.<br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/zygadlodenise">https://www.instagram.com/zygadlodenise</a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2yB3eQs36mweBIs3RA2dCyVAmb1_2AQKv5uu69_UQo7SEvpG7VhzU4YWmkdmZMGTvH0oJqxgB2nks_nU6RKeQtvnPnLPZ9JUdGQEK0Lq9ptaOr3JCGL-HNuzyUYVClgDnsuP5PLlp8npOwwyUxgRMP0SJNUV96TicXQiEgOEkw9smwmUvIUQ/s2000/2000px_Denise_Zygadlo.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2yB3eQs36mweBIs3RA2dCyVAmb1_2AQKv5uu69_UQo7SEvpG7VhzU4YWmkdmZMGTvH0oJqxgB2nks_nU6RKeQtvnPnLPZ9JUdGQEK0Lq9ptaOr3JCGL-HNuzyUYVClgDnsuP5PLlp8npOwwyUxgRMP0SJNUV96TicXQiEgOEkw9smwmUvIUQ/s600/2000px_Denise_Zygadlo.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><b>Brides in the Salon</b></p>
<p>
In a collaboration with Circle Vintage and Nelson Brown Hair, I decided I
wanted to have a more purposeful attempt at a Wes Anderson Style image. B
Jay's Hair Studio, where we did the shoot, had magnolia walls and a brown
floor. I spent quite a bit of time recolouring the set in Photoshop to
recreate that oversaturated pastels look.<br />
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thecircleshop">https://www.instagram.com/thecircleshop</a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/nelson_brown_hair">https://www.instagram.com/nelson_brown_hair</a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/vanessas_planet_">https://www.instagram.com/vanessas_planet_</a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/_chelsienash_">https://www.instagram.com/_chelsienash_</a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1C5cSFe_1ajRVTJzC2xqILxQDjlA3LBMi87pSx3G4AqPwJrj21L7UlrB5n7lZCEBCL0OT77Lcartp3BpQy8LsAuXlV22HIk9ACqB9DVIJE-OXcWkftPDGn5-cwHVEMP_cFtV50dtSmq65jsH1cS0bbF-rUCQUAFLid1RIVRGeF7OqGlUxmgfU/s2000/2000px_Brides_in_The_Salon_01_re-edit.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1C5cSFe_1ajRVTJzC2xqILxQDjlA3LBMi87pSx3G4AqPwJrj21L7UlrB5n7lZCEBCL0OT77Lcartp3BpQy8LsAuXlV22HIk9ACqB9DVIJE-OXcWkftPDGn5-cwHVEMP_cFtV50dtSmq65jsH1cS0bbF-rUCQUAFLid1RIVRGeF7OqGlUxmgfU/s600/2000px_Brides_in_The_Salon_01_re-edit.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><b>GE Studio</b></p>
<p>
Fellow photographer, Graham Edwards, has created a brilliant studio space in
Dumfries. In fact, it's at least 3 studios in one, with options for a white
cube space, wooden and brick wall domestic, and full length paper roll
backdrops. There is also room for product photography, a make up artist, and a
guest area with comfy sofa, big display screen and coffee machine. All the
photos he had on his site though showed the space completely empty. I figured
it would be good to see the whole thing occupied. So when Circle Vintage asked
me to shoot some models with a 90s clothes vibe, in the white cube area, it
seemed like an ideal time to create a shot that would show off the extent of
the studio in one image.
</p>
<p>
Carefully arranging the full crew of models, hairdressers, and makeup artist,
I shot 4 separate photos from one corner of the room, and stitched them
together in Photoshop afterwards. I even managed to get myself into the one on
the far right.<br /><a href="https://www.ge-photography.co.uk/">https://www.ge-photography.co.uk/</a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnu0tdS8bXnNBJri2wmiL1w4d4gLkZp8viQIBvd0vHv208i2XMKYmAixgmtJyKZ0c5OYgtRNPVrNh1e9yVP9UwJdRErmNwnLWEBxmM9xdYAaZQvQsVN-sebQ1hrpliWNEwptJNwVWwi2my-BFUic9t7FIIH5p_UBziLGRGppc0eQxpOMcF-j40/s12647/GE_Studio.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4545" data-original-width="12647" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnu0tdS8bXnNBJri2wmiL1w4d4gLkZp8viQIBvd0vHv208i2XMKYmAixgmtJyKZ0c5OYgtRNPVrNh1e9yVP9UwJdRErmNwnLWEBxmM9xdYAaZQvQsVN-sebQ1hrpliWNEwptJNwVWwi2my-BFUic9t7FIIH5p_UBziLGRGppc0eQxpOMcF-j40/s600/GE_Studio.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><b>Meg as a Model</b></p>
<p>
In both shoots I did with Circle Vintage I took my daughter, Meg, along with
me to do some behind-the-scenes photography. However, at the white cube shoot
Meg was also roped in as a model. Seeing Meg without her glasses, and with
makeup on, really caught me by surprise. As with all Dads and their daughters,
to me she will always be about 9 years old, but this reminded me she is fact a
grown woman in her mid-20s! <br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/megayres1998">https://www.instagram.com/megayres1998</a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/makeupatthemansion">https://www.instagram.com/makeupatthemansion</a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/gephotographyno1">https://www.instagram.com/gephotographyno1</a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/nelson_brown_hair">https://www.instagram.com/nelson_brown_hair</a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thecircleshop">https://www.instagram.com/thecircleshop</a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3H_rHDoW_su3gU5UnxsSLURg17XhpSFEDTbC9Rd24YmrVX31kgHiYo2OPt1owKR5hm7O45WEEk-2Ek4s62bM6jYmMhL3dbEfZbAYqqNuvd6E8AKhiuttepJEoPyccRRmz5STeKyc_OxawlUQOGwp53ixpKNqxSPnykJbRGGh-6xs_DvWOAgWX/s1005/SQ_web_RD_GES_Closeup_Meg_02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1005" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3H_rHDoW_su3gU5UnxsSLURg17XhpSFEDTbC9Rd24YmrVX31kgHiYo2OPt1owKR5hm7O45WEEk-2Ek4s62bM6jYmMhL3dbEfZbAYqqNuvd6E8AKhiuttepJEoPyccRRmz5STeKyc_OxawlUQOGwp53ixpKNqxSPnykJbRGGh-6xs_DvWOAgWX/s600/SQ_web_RD_GES_Closeup_Meg_02.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><b>Robin Yassin-Kassab</b></p>
<p>
Robin is an author, journalist and essayist with a particular expertise in
Syria and the Middle-East. He also makes rather excellent coffee!</p>
<p>
He was needing some head shots, but I was also struck by the fantastic view he
had from his writing hut in the heart of Galloway, SW Scotland. So once we
had done the official photos, I decided to capture him at work, with the
log-burner in the background and the view out of the window <br /><a href="https://qunfuz.com">https://qunfuz.com</a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2zQzXB6n-_c-2Gc0xv9YZS5yvYMATvLR_zskX1Z5P_qewys1Rd_eE108ITTLG8RitBpexijvu-3LGJj34ccS-c6mG1xVslyxlXJMzfODJ1iw0QN0H4-4TsF2dQATHk4MEg1tl4s6iCyClz3Wib0rxZIbVkSug_LwpwzDIm6zUiIRu3kTNiro/s7251/Robin_YK_06.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4677" data-original-width="7251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2zQzXB6n-_c-2Gc0xv9YZS5yvYMATvLR_zskX1Z5P_qewys1Rd_eE108ITTLG8RitBpexijvu-3LGJj34ccS-c6mG1xVslyxlXJMzfODJ1iw0QN0H4-4TsF2dQATHk4MEg1tl4s6iCyClz3Wib0rxZIbVkSug_LwpwzDIm6zUiIRu3kTNiro/s600/Robin_YK_06.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><b>Tulip</b></p>
<p>
Sometimes you have a quiet patch. <br />Sometimes you are desperate to take a photo
but no one is available. <br />Sometimes just sticking a macro lens on the camera
and wandering into the garden is a poor but quick fix. <br />Sometimes you get lucky
with a dark purple tulip after a rain shower.
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihId6LGsJJkMR0HqXsDYnXGMoieQN05s_15ozIqtOq5ghWawlOISeH2H64QiVW_x4AjOiFh6IDUw7cLUlg8k5bTPESBFYNp5mVFy1nLDxT-zw80UaOgGTbD5S8RXRSKfZeBSWP7ff9seXJHwvlE4w22b57_-0zHe_yxObiTw-l0ggXS_Bh4zGs/s6369/Purple_Tulip_with_droplets.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4372" data-original-width="6369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihId6LGsJJkMR0HqXsDYnXGMoieQN05s_15ozIqtOq5ghWawlOISeH2H64QiVW_x4AjOiFh6IDUw7cLUlg8k5bTPESBFYNp5mVFy1nLDxT-zw80UaOgGTbD5S8RXRSKfZeBSWP7ff9seXJHwvlE4w22b57_-0zHe_yxObiTw-l0ggXS_Bh4zGs/s600/Purple_Tulip_with_droplets.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><b>Gavin and Ruth's Wedding</b></p>
<p>
It was wonderful to be invited to Ruth and Gavin's wedding. It was even more
wonderful that they didn't even hint at the idea that I should bring my
camera. </p><p>Of course I did take my camera, but that's because I would have felt naked
without it. Almost everyone else I met, though, took one look at the camera on
my shoulder and asked if I was there as the wedding photographer. I found myself
continually having to politely respond that no, I had in fact been asked along as a
<i>friend</i> and I just <i>happened</i> to have my camera with me. </p><p>However, when someone
suggested it really would be lovely if there was a photo of everyone, no one
else seemed to have a camera that would be quite big enough for the job, so of
course I said yes.
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56DsSbWUIbyH33On-hEs7yJ2yV8A-nF2dOJfCQhXcJBL7YzGCDQ5iP6MZjMtBQ7q9j6bqkIJm18TBwO6gXEsqEAGCcy-lv4NHuqRJdYQNa6_iQX42YAMamSVj1rfvxN-O1p21XbaR6eEPe-FXAlJMpl7bOXWfPSFXkTeB2HKzy5-AbX8OnX69/s7812/Ruth_Gav_Witnesses.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3084" data-original-width="7812" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56DsSbWUIbyH33On-hEs7yJ2yV8A-nF2dOJfCQhXcJBL7YzGCDQ5iP6MZjMtBQ7q9j6bqkIJm18TBwO6gXEsqEAGCcy-lv4NHuqRJdYQNa6_iQX42YAMamSVj1rfvxN-O1p21XbaR6eEPe-FXAlJMpl7bOXWfPSFXkTeB2HKzy5-AbX8OnX69/s600/Ruth_Gav_Witnesses.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><b>Frances Ross</b></p>
<p>
On one of the hottest days of last summer, I did a shoot for ceramicist,
Frances Ross. Fortunately she had an air conditioning machine going at full
pelt, and kept up a constant supply of jugs of ice water. We did shots
of her at work, but also on the brief was a need for a photo that showed her
as a professional artist as you might see her in a high end gallery, not just
covered in clay. So much is in the subtleties in a photo like this that it's
much harder to pull off than you'd think, so I was very pleased with the
result.<br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/francesrossmakes">https://www.instagram.com/francesrossmakes</a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMExQja0b8VCxSKBYx1YdICN-7zEH28epl6AI3fceJDwenBQoNZ3Mdx2_wEGBTeZM151RevMWsFav2ru-j3J6BGyTcsOxh22aATmtWIc7W860iPsxQDEgDcvdz6huUNj_SG7u0FJOWMjafoUJ0H2XXUeIcVfLzN-UJrrtGIrF7lbx4jdjfLg7L/s7604/Frances_20.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4360" data-original-width="7604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMExQja0b8VCxSKBYx1YdICN-7zEH28epl6AI3fceJDwenBQoNZ3Mdx2_wEGBTeZM151RevMWsFav2ru-j3J6BGyTcsOxh22aATmtWIc7W860iPsxQDEgDcvdz6huUNj_SG7u0FJOWMjafoUJ0H2XXUeIcVfLzN-UJrrtGIrF7lbx4jdjfLg7L/s600/Frances_20.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeTacPHclLhZkDOv_nZ5-LcfDyRxArVQ0_MjyR2B_-NWr35orqjT124N3BbhlN9HM893AFX-moEQhDrG_nZ43ba6rNCRPZSD5jr_cKgxiHH4X2dpGXbO_L0-NObvZGUGFvMwpQAm1OmO2fFpJb4iUQ3TFNTyruRfKoUko77K9d_A_uopK-m05/s7796/Frances_04.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="7796" data-original-width="5035" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeTacPHclLhZkDOv_nZ5-LcfDyRxArVQ0_MjyR2B_-NWr35orqjT124N3BbhlN9HM893AFX-moEQhDrG_nZ43ba6rNCRPZSD5jr_cKgxiHH4X2dpGXbO_L0-NObvZGUGFvMwpQAm1OmO2fFpJb4iUQ3TFNTyruRfKoUko77K9d_A_uopK-m05/s600/Frances_04.jpg" /></a></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><b>Maggie and Brian</b></p>
<p>
Artist Maggie Broadley is one of those people who both my wife and I feel
we've been friends with all our lives, if not several lives before, and yet we
only actually met less than a handful of years ago. We'd been discussing the
idea of a photo shoot for a year or two before everything finally lined up.
Maggie wanted a cinematic style shoot with her husband, up at an old burned
out farm they regularly pass on their daily walks. This one of Maggie standing
on an upturned car wreck, kissing Brian, was one of my favourites as it seemed
to embody so much about the shoot that day, and their relationship. <br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/therealceramag">https://www.instagram.com/therealceramag</a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixoa8r5Fkus_8pT6eJIxFESQ8yd6dX_Qwu1WziDB_p0y02SYHrnnlDKd_KOWCqnduQ22A9jHsDUrgyia4cPL7LWY1aMlAaX0mTc0O3fwUKQUxgmWLKINUIiwh2Znf0YMs5Sp899KxTxmG8CzUpBA0ZEbu5crcmBv35x2c7mfODbI5dyidZYdrF/s8192/print_Maggie_and_Brian_16.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4474" data-original-width="8192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixoa8r5Fkus_8pT6eJIxFESQ8yd6dX_Qwu1WziDB_p0y02SYHrnnlDKd_KOWCqnduQ22A9jHsDUrgyia4cPL7LWY1aMlAaX0mTc0O3fwUKQUxgmWLKINUIiwh2Znf0YMs5Sp899KxTxmG8CzUpBA0ZEbu5crcmBv35x2c7mfODbI5dyidZYdrF/s600/print_Maggie_and_Brian_16.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><b>Steve</b></p>
<p>
Due to crippling sciatica, I wasn't able to do any professional photography
for a few months. As the pain started to ease towards manageable levels I was
contacted by Steve wanting tuition on portrait photography. We spent the day
discussing ideas and concepts, studying different approaches and examples, and
of course playing with lighting in hands-on sessions. Post-processing, or
editing, is an important part of photography, and can make huge differences to
the style and effectiveness of any portrait. One shot in particular that I
took of Steve, I knew instantly would look good in a gritty, moody, black and
white.
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJn0OUuCkQ81LG6ILDVWuOvnEO7soz32uK7eV9cwZUzyhSBtb21m3Hwq8SbynkKxFFB8zRPmAepn0HMvnIuiIEv39P3CFqT7mhI68CRiiDRI7zpJRtpvzu5uzJpbby279ulOaSV2Q9_p5T3qIqc1qu92pLdiwwDaH5YJwFCCfxjY1P7ze_ojlt/s8439/Steve_by_Kim.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="5841" data-original-width="8439" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJn0OUuCkQ81LG6ILDVWuOvnEO7soz32uK7eV9cwZUzyhSBtb21m3Hwq8SbynkKxFFB8zRPmAepn0HMvnIuiIEv39P3CFqT7mhI68CRiiDRI7zpJRtpvzu5uzJpbby279ulOaSV2Q9_p5T3qIqc1qu92pLdiwwDaH5YJwFCCfxjY1P7ze_ojlt/s600/Steve_by_Kim.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><b>Lucy and Ed</b></p>
<p>
Here is a taster photo of a day I spent with artists Ed and Lucy from the Old Mill
Gallery in Palnackie, SW Scotland. The photos have still to be edited yet, but
first scans of what I have look very promising and I'm excited by what I will
have to play with when it comes to curating and editing the images from that
day. In the meantime, here's one I love of the two of them down on the beach
at Balcary Bay, when they were out foraging for stones and plants to turn into
natural paints and inks. <br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/theoldmill_palnackie">https://www.instagram.com/theoldmill_palnackie</a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19IkCRJBWEw48RBiV_lA53YjVOz_gQs34rQCaZdlMdodAbhBsrKdhQJmjjGVkCrRC9h7DLGe-Y0ZE2NuDs1HOuFeO0e1RcdgLEDaq4qW6SGrgWA_04iMCm7LzSdBU8nMaPA3_TR2KQlDHzY_mcWxtk5dTUrY45FlCTGVm7ey8j4CcBRwk3gkO/s2000/web_Lucy_Ed_01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19IkCRJBWEw48RBiV_lA53YjVOz_gQs34rQCaZdlMdodAbhBsrKdhQJmjjGVkCrRC9h7DLGe-Y0ZE2NuDs1HOuFeO0e1RcdgLEDaq4qW6SGrgWA_04iMCm7LzSdBU8nMaPA3_TR2KQlDHzY_mcWxtk5dTUrY45FlCTGVm7ey8j4CcBRwk3gkO/s600/web_Lucy_Ed_01.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>
I hope you've enjoyed my selection - please leave a comment below with any
thoughts or observations, and let me know your favourite(s)!
</p>
<p>Wishing each and every one of you a kinder and more compassionate year ahead.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-83373377786012773902023-12-30T10:27:00.009+00:002024-01-02T12:24:11.145+00:00Brother<p>
The grief and loss we've all been feeling is still so raw, I thought I should
phone my brother, Myke, to see how he was coping with it all.
</p>
<p>Then I remembered it was his funeral I'd recently come back from...</p>
<p><br /></p>
<p>
Back in my early 20s, Myke would create epic sci-fi/fantasy war games on a
table-tennis table. Based on our Dungeons and Dragons, and Warhammer figures,
along with bits of Lego, scraps of wood, weird found objects, and anything
else he thought would make a good battle-ground, these games would last all
day, sometimes several days.
</p>
<p>
No one who ever played them would forget the improvised catapults using a
ruler, a tobacco tin, and a chewed up bit of paper. There was just as much
chance of blowing up your own troops as there was hitting the actual enemy.
</p>
<p>
With the points system Myke had devised for creating our armies, I would
always put together an elite team of space marines – heavily weaponed and
armoured. Myke, on the other hand, would go for a mass army of low-tech orcs
and goblins.
</p>
<p>
As the younger brother, I would feel an intense rivalry – an overwhelming
desire to beat my big brother.
</p>
<p>
I would meticulously and strategically secure each section of the board before
moving onto the next.
</p>
<p>
Myke, on the other hand, would do things like strap a bunch of explosives to a
lone goblin on a motorcycle and charge him towards the gates of my castle.
</p>
<p>
9 times out of 10, I would easily shoot him down before he got close enough to
do any damage. But every now and then, the dice would be against me – the
goblin would get through and cause absolute devastation – to Myke's (and
everyone else who was playing) absolute delight.
</p>
<p>
But because I was methodical and strategic, and Myke was more chaotic, I would
ultimately win most of the games.
</p>
<p>But Myke always had <i>more fun</i>.</p>
<p>
Somehow this felt unfair. I worked so hard to win, so I deserved to feel the
best about it. But Myke didn't care about losing, so long as he had fun.
</p>
<p>In some ways, this defined my relationship with my big brother.</p>
<p>
I was always more ambitious, looking for opportunities to grow, achieve, and
win.
</p>
<p>But Myke just wanted to have fun.</p>
<p>
As I grew older, I became far more interested in looking at ways everyone
could win – so everyone would feel they gained from the experience. And I've
always worked hard and been strategic to make this happen.
</p>
<p>But Myke – he just wanted everyone to have fun.</p>
<p>
For decades, we would chat on the phone for about 5 minutes, once a year, when
I would phone him on his birthday. Our lives, and our outlooks, were so
different, that the conversations never really got going.
</p>
<p>
I knew he loved me, and he knew I loved him, but it never felt like we had
much in common.
</p>
<p>
During the summer of 2022, Meg and I went down to Devon to visit. Myke and I spent a bit longer
together, and finally connected at a level I hadn't thought would happen.
</p>
<p>
Because we gave each other enough time, we tuned into each other much more,
and I finally started to understand him at a different level.
</p>
<p>I am heartbroken that we didn't get the chance to build on that connection we
made last year.</p>
<p>But I will forever be grateful we had that bit of time together.</p>
<p>
<i>Michael Charles Ayres - 25th October 1962 to 25th November 2023</i>
</p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOy_VgCc6ISc3aceU5v-1gncOl0pk5-6t1Xrlrv9f5OEvPCbCEIR-v0azZ65-x5JWKXqDTfTfVkdSg0hdsbipt4z8AmpE1tc30bnXcisWhduWfCtZTDoQk96bRvlXOqaSfISx0BzQAu9EydVeFKm0tWy8Rhvaaz1KExN6q7q1ax4zuTX8uO1sf/s4841/Coralie_Kim_Myke.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="3150" data-original-width="4841" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOy_VgCc6ISc3aceU5v-1gncOl0pk5-6t1Xrlrv9f5OEvPCbCEIR-v0azZ65-x5JWKXqDTfTfVkdSg0hdsbipt4z8AmpE1tc30bnXcisWhduWfCtZTDoQk96bRvlXOqaSfISx0BzQAu9EydVeFKm0tWy8Rhvaaz1KExN6q7q1ax4zuTX8uO1sf/w640-h416/Coralie_Kim_Myke.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<br />
<p>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Siblings - photo taken by Meg in 2022 - the last one of the 3 of us
together</span>
</p>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-53318983963732285032023-10-25T19:36:00.003+01:002023-10-26T09:18:55.208+01:0057<p>As I turn 57 today, suddenly 56 seems so young! </p>
<p>
Every birthday we are reminded that we've never been this old before, but as
we move on to the next one, we realise we will never be that young again.
</p>
<p>
So those who complain about turning 50 (like I did), don't know the half of
it.
</p>
<p>And those who are worried about hitting 40? Get a grip!</p>
<p>
And those who fear turning 30? You have no idea what I would give to be 30
again!!!
</p>
<p>
However, anyone over 58 who wants to tell me I'm making a fuss about nothing
can just mind their own business...
</p>
<p>
Meanwhile, Meg, Maggie, our grandson Alfie and I took a wee trip down to The
Dhoon Beach near Kirkcudbright for a picnic lunch, where there's the remains of a ship which can be found at low tide. And once again, Maggie
spoiled me with a peanut buttery chocolate cake that was all filling and no
cake - my favourite!
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsotsalINcTTiibhsrGv3m_5VmPaMcB-Q_YWpgoRpvakUZyCevYKrLvKiWGqI5PxESjiLmxdxs-OBxLY4dQDUhpPg0eRb_S7u2lyu3-AK59-Fv_PQm6M1NDHiyapjKT_zz2YxtaaSsZRIFFywjqx41XogYX3BipVOy1c7W1GlgVOoVi8Ib8Swv/s2934/57_Kim_Alfie.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2168" data-original-width="2934" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsotsalINcTTiibhsrGv3m_5VmPaMcB-Q_YWpgoRpvakUZyCevYKrLvKiWGqI5PxESjiLmxdxs-OBxLY4dQDUhpPg0eRb_S7u2lyu3-AK59-Fv_PQm6M1NDHiyapjKT_zz2YxtaaSsZRIFFywjqx41XogYX3BipVOy1c7W1GlgVOoVi8Ib8Swv/s600/57_Kim_Alfie.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepdoDVnF2cXXtZAElXS9psp291RWWyHvcrw9koMWyt3w1QHJdAnrfpxtQWNfL0pi088-YSsDOYGDh40NeXSrz7iKpo2kgOrmjrbv2p1Ks48e9UvvYQQh58FPqPal1kRnKy2ox_TGUsh7VaNzRXNici_VCxkVWHl3IDhP167Jqd2qLOMPyttXF/s3912/57_Shipwreck_at_the_Dhoon.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="3912" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepdoDVnF2cXXtZAElXS9psp291RWWyHvcrw9koMWyt3w1QHJdAnrfpxtQWNfL0pi088-YSsDOYGDh40NeXSrz7iKpo2kgOrmjrbv2p1Ks48e9UvvYQQh58FPqPal1kRnKy2ox_TGUsh7VaNzRXNici_VCxkVWHl3IDhP167Jqd2qLOMPyttXF/s600/57_Shipwreck_at_the_Dhoon.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8e16CiOsJPPlZSfH36sm71vU4kWHUK_5Qg0alEoRyqdXmzn1ULfBuGD0A_8vr3Don3EhBgkkyY12B8FZbTVjsFw3cixMQlP5OftpkCWnbMdp4LEO9eWMGVzyKk-tBdCfxOLyN-i7nBLspx9ZXZo_JWe0V2oLH0J2r2DhbSUtMUMt9MS1wUKXL/s1790/57_Birthday_by_Holly.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1790" data-original-width="1428" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8e16CiOsJPPlZSfH36sm71vU4kWHUK_5Qg0alEoRyqdXmzn1ULfBuGD0A_8vr3Don3EhBgkkyY12B8FZbTVjsFw3cixMQlP5OftpkCWnbMdp4LEO9eWMGVzyKk-tBdCfxOLyN-i7nBLspx9ZXZo_JWe0V2oLH0J2r2DhbSUtMUMt9MS1wUKXL/s600/57_Birthday_by_Holly.jpg" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eV66UIRWnqkDH2SzcAOhyphenhyphen6HA97nITn-4uPnrnOy_b6yNRUuDhAEcMquvJj49VPcPGBWXX6Ns5AbMX3byoR8aU8ZX1uoTGfPNZbVa-XfjC6HNGhKRACkJbvQ9zh6-AgkUkiUbmujtH4zQdS1p-YGaE2xyC6LV-yUDDo-vN2rLlvmJTSYDyY6S/s4080/57_Birthday_Cake.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2648" data-original-width="4080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eV66UIRWnqkDH2SzcAOhyphenhyphen6HA97nITn-4uPnrnOy_b6yNRUuDhAEcMquvJj49VPcPGBWXX6Ns5AbMX3byoR8aU8ZX1uoTGfPNZbVa-XfjC6HNGhKRACkJbvQ9zh6-AgkUkiUbmujtH4zQdS1p-YGaE2xyC6LV-yUDDo-vN2rLlvmJTSYDyY6S/s600/57_Birthday_Cake.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p></p>
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-51376552522472231512023-08-04T17:55:00.001+01:002023-08-04T17:55:35.604+01:00One Spoon Short of a Cutlery Set...<p><b>Society</b>: This is how a typical brain operates:</p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFJWLkanJ5QiqZzQtHYNZQCQtdqF8YVZKJUAMmgjsdNwscK5aatlc_ZpJ7rrr0F6HxR1EeZnjnuSI-mtf0SfDpCi4VC9z5uUe69HIbVIEI_824Xj8RhLvO3GRMVuVBDIQY2gIwkFwlj9bCIe7JJJVxVk0iCwfdqNQBDnbcxhXoKEPaY0hNOcV/s1000/brain-type-society.jpg"><img alt="Camping Cutlery Set" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFJWLkanJ5QiqZzQtHYNZQCQtdqF8YVZKJUAMmgjsdNwscK5aatlc_ZpJ7rrr0F6HxR1EeZnjnuSI-mtf0SfDpCi4VC9z5uUe69HIbVIEI_824Xj8RhLvO3GRMVuVBDIQY2gIwkFwlj9bCIe7JJJVxVk0iCwfdqNQBDnbcxhXoKEPaY0hNOcV/w640-h640/brain-type-society.jpg" width="640" /></a><p></p>
<p><b>Me</b>: This is my brain:</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13v80eXPrJdqVFrvYz-v3T3K0MAYG_VQWRe8peJHLNKrgLLoM2L3mu0zzpvOO2BcpPqviiQYM2o6klI4hunu_rQkOsQUgPtB34tT6HicVLdOrGBjb714MxcXmm0niLRG_ju7Y7yesf2198jxZNXTrOf_kvpWQRy1pUWGcMJeDcrO73TRhKSN_/s1600/brain-type-me.jpg"><img alt="Swiss army pen knife" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13v80eXPrJdqVFrvYz-v3T3K0MAYG_VQWRe8peJHLNKrgLLoM2L3mu0zzpvOO2BcpPqviiQYM2o6klI4hunu_rQkOsQUgPtB34tT6HicVLdOrGBjb714MxcXmm0niLRG_ju7Y7yesf2198jxZNXTrOf_kvpWQRy1pUWGcMJeDcrO73TRhKSN_/w640-h640/brain-type-me.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</p><p></p><p><b>Society</b>: That's a seriously messed up brain you have there, son!</p><p><b>Me</b>: What do you mean messed up? Look at all the things it can do!</p><p><b>Society</b>: Where's your fork?</p><p><b>Me</b>: I don't really need one – I've always got by making use of the corkscrew and that funny thing for getting a stone out of horse's hooves.</p><p><b>Society</b>: You don't have a spoon!</p><p><b>Me</b>: I manage to carefully avoid situations where I would ever need one. I've become extremely adept at foreseeing when it might be an issue, and sidestepping before anyone else has noticed.</p><p><b>Society</b>: So you have <b><i>Absent Spoon Disorder!</i></b></p><p><b>Me</b>: What do you mean, disorder? Have you seen all the things I can do? I've got a long knife and a short one!</p><p><b>Society</b>: But you don't have a spoon!</p><p><b>Me</b>: Look at this - it's a file!</p><p><b>Society</b>: But you don't have a spoon!</p><p><b>Me</b>: What about this can opener? It's also got a small screwdriver on the tip!</p><p><b>Society</b>: But you don't have a spoon!</p><p><b>Me</b>: Have you any idea just how useful these scissors are?</p><p><b>Society</b>: But you don't have a spoon!</p><p><b>Me</b>: But I've got pliers, and a saw, and all sorts of other things that are really useful – don't these count for anything?</p><p><b>Society</b>: Sorry – but you definitely have <b style="font-style: italic;">Absent Spoon Disorder!</b><b><i> </i></b>We can give you some anti-depressants to ease your discomfort at having to live with such a debilitating condition, and the obvious sense of guilt and failure you will feel at never being a productive member of society.</p><p><b>Me</b>: But wait! Look, here, tucked into this little slot – tweezers! How cool is that?</p><p><b>Society</b>: Are you still here?</p><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-38201895229527726732023-05-27T09:11:00.002+01:002023-05-27T09:11:37.917+01:00Spring Fling 2023 Begins<p>
Of course, with a busy, intense day ahead it was inevitable I would be awake 2
hours earlier than I needed to be.
</p>
<p>
I tried all the usual tricks to get back to sleep, but after half an hour I
had to get up – my brain just wouldn't shut up.
</p>
<p>Spring Fling – the annual open studios event has arrived.</p>
<p>
Considering it is only 3 days long, it seems to dominate the 3 months running
up to it.
</p>
<p>Would we have enough new work to show visitors?</p>
<p>
Could we create an environment that would be conducive to encouraging people
to buy or commission our work?
</p>
<p>
How do we let enough people know about it without borderline spamming and just
getting everyone annoyed?
</p>
<p>
Like last year, Maggie and I are sharing a space – a converted outbuilding just
outside Castle Douglas – kindly lent to us by friends Carolyn and Ken.
</p>
<p>
As we sit here, an hour or so before we head down there to open up for
visitors, the doubts and fears multiply exponentially – each one demanding to
be heard, prioritised and dealt with.
</p>
<p>But what if no one comes?</p>
<p>
What if we spend 3 days just twiddling our thumbs – rejected. There are 100
artists and makers taking part this year – surely most of them will be visited
more than us, and by people with disposable income...
</p>
<p>Truth is, I have no idea how many people we can expect.</p>
<p>
We are out of town, off a wee back road, so we will not get as many as most.
</p>
<p>
In 2019 – pre-pandemic – I received nearly 200 visitors over the 3 days, and I
was in this space on my own.
</p>
<p>
Last year, Maggie joined me in the space so I was expecting at least double
the number, but in fact we only had 150.
</p>
<p>We assume the primary reasons for this were:</p>
<p>
1. The pandemic was still pretty fresh in everyone's heads and some people
were still reluctant to go to places where there would be other people. This
was not paranoia, as we all ended up catching Covid when someone visiting the
studios decided to gift it to us.
</p>
<p>
2. The traditional last weekend of May slot was moved to the first weekend of
June to tie in with the Queen's 70th Jubilee celebrations. Unfortunately
10,000 other events also decided to tie in with it, so there was massive
competition for everyone's attention.
</p>
<p>
This year there is no Jubilee, Spring Fling is back in May, and the Pandemic
is no longer at the forefront of everyone's mind.
</p>
<p>
Maggie has some of the most amazing work she has ever created, on the walls
for people to see – and buy if they wish.
</p>
<p>
Meg has been doing some home-baking, creating incredibly mouthwatering
scrumptious gluten-free delights, to help raise money for Castle Douglas Food
Bank.
</p>
<p>
And I've been getting really cinematic with my photography style - and have
new work to show that I feel is among the best imagery I have ever
created.
</p>
<p>
I'm also going to be doing photography demonstrations throughout the weekend,
showing people how to overcome their fears in front of the camera, and how a
few subtle adjustments to expression and posture can make anyone far more
photogenic.
</p>
<p>If anyone turns up that is...</p>
<p><br /></p>
<p>
If you are in this corner of Scotland anytime from 27th to 29th May, do pop in
and say hi.
</p>
<p>
Studio 44 and 45 on the Pink Route, about a mile and a half outside of Castle
Douglas.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaXshzA-9lM8nIgvk8fFbqTOvcZGNaokeRoeFMSc6ZLSUxQCgLZ3wew5wSC-F3K5DbIRbcZaVnhFGc7bdiP51B3aEb6oFp-V-IQlhNheF2c1tNgUXcIIIloFXL06F3rfBAVGyNI8THZUNIuSN60bjzyiEooLxCmdcpbPTdJFSe9fVTaSiWQ/s3595/Spring_Fling_Selfie.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" width="600" data-original-height="2345" data-original-width="3595" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaXshzA-9lM8nIgvk8fFbqTOvcZGNaokeRoeFMSc6ZLSUxQCgLZ3wew5wSC-F3K5DbIRbcZaVnhFGc7bdiP51B3aEb6oFp-V-IQlhNheF2c1tNgUXcIIIloFXL06F3rfBAVGyNI8THZUNIuSN60bjzyiEooLxCmdcpbPTdJFSe9fVTaSiWQ/s600/Spring_Fling_Selfie.jpg"/></a>
</p>
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-72740054051252590942023-03-23T18:26:00.010+00:002023-03-23T18:29:27.156+00:00Photographing a Kimono<p>
I have to confess to enjoying something of a wee smug moment during the photo
shoot.
</p>
<p>
I was photographing artist, <a href="https://www.ewanmcclure.com/" target="_blank"><u>Ewan McClure</u></a>, modelling a Kimono designed by <a href="https://www.moragmacphersontextiles.com/" target="_blank"><u>Morag
Macpherson</u></a>, in the gallery of <a href="https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/broughton-house" target="_blank"><u>Broughton House</u></a> in Kirkcudbright.
</p>
<p>
Overhead lighting is rarely great for portraits and this one had quite a
strong yellow cast which wasn't doing much for the colours of the material
either.
</p>
<p>
Primarily I solved the problem with a combination of an off-camera flash
with a coloured gel and adjusting in-camera white-balance. And at this point I could write several paragraphs about the technique.
</p>
<p>
In fact, I did, but have just deleted it as it was too full of photographer
nerd talk. If anyone is particularly interested I'm sure I'll be chatting
about it in one of my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/kimayres" target="_blank"><u>video podcasts</u></a> sooner or later.
</p>
<p>
However, the solution came from recalling a Facebook post by King Douglas (who I interviewed on this blog - see <a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2016/04/chasing-shadows-photographer-interviews.html" target="_blank"><u>Chasing Shadows: The Photographer Interviews - King Douglas</u></a>) from several years
ago. I'd understood the theory, but never put into practice – until now.
</p>
<p>I love it when my brain works.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vVYhQGLGgxCrNS60AjbNjbWloo_AXaZDSb0e3n6mJV0NkXiCoMwKPWNt_CLoHNnw2TwOG8rLwdi2YoXB-jpWSkIyPTY-FVQ6s9UM9GOix2jA7iuQQKQceIENtSLerOzBGESd7bWvcime0snz9Ec_Y9q7suIqE4JHaDRjIc9WbrGmvSce0w/s7748/Ewan_McClure_in_Kimono_01_by_Kim_Ayres.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="5224" data-original-width="7748" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vVYhQGLGgxCrNS60AjbNjbWloo_AXaZDSb0e3n6mJV0NkXiCoMwKPWNt_CLoHNnw2TwOG8rLwdi2YoXB-jpWSkIyPTY-FVQ6s9UM9GOix2jA7iuQQKQceIENtSLerOzBGESd7bWvcime0snz9Ec_Y9q7suIqE4JHaDRjIc9WbrGmvSce0w/w640-h432/Ewan_McClure_in_Kimono_01_by_Kim_Ayres.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</p>
<p>
Although I don't doubt the super-strong coffee Ewan made us before we began
helped considerably.
</p>
<p>
But probably of more interest to non-photographers is why we were doing the
photo shoot in the first place.
</p>
<p>
I've done several shoots with Morag over the years (for example, see <a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2016/05/photo-shoot-at-rural-mural.html" target="_blank"><u>Photo Shoot at the Rural Mural</u></a> and <a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2018/09/bald-and-bold.html" target="_blank"><u>Bald, Bold, and Covered in Paint</u></a>), so when she told me of an interesting
commission she'd been given, I was more than happy to take some shots of it
for her.
</p>
<p>
Lynne had a beautiful silk dress of her mother's from Hong Kong in the 1950s,
but it had been packed away for years. She had no desire to wear her mother's
clothes so wondered about repurposing it into a kimono as a gift for her son,
who lives in Switzerland.
</p>
<p>
Morag regularly makes kimonos using printed fabrics of her own design,
although they are almost always for women. However, she did have a pattern for
a male kimono, which she had taken from one in a collection of Japanese artifacts stored
and displayed at the National Trust for Scotland's Broughton House.
</p>
<p>
The idea came up that perhaps we could do a shoot at this location and the
connection might make an interesting press release.
</p>
<p>
Although Broughton House was closed to the public in February, she called
round and discovered the artist Ewan McClure was working out of the studio
there.
</p>
<p>
The building used to be the residence of Scottish impressionist artist E.A.
Hornel, and at the back of the house is a large room – 2 storeys high, and
where half the roof is a north-facing skylight, letting in a wonderful soft
natural daylight. Ewan has been using the space as artist-in-residence for the
past few years.
</p>
<p>
So if we could get Ewan to model the kimono at Broughton House then that would
add another dimension of interest to the story.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtg11rfzAPANcc8COg0xLpjexk-P10bKJClAwLY2-KaTgp83OhPOHU8RAcBWu941oyCnu5E5ZHZX-iF5wTn-GbBFOpZvPGTzOYBURxrxXZAScrhjj7N-NKjuqiJco_m3_B_IXqY_tQvjoNGwKMICQVdzeDB7Y6S6oq_S9TZtWc8QnG1gS6mg/s2519/Ewan_McClure_Cropped_Headshot_by_Kim_Ayres.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2519" data-original-width="2100" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtg11rfzAPANcc8COg0xLpjexk-P10bKJClAwLY2-KaTgp83OhPOHU8RAcBWu941oyCnu5E5ZHZX-iF5wTn-GbBFOpZvPGTzOYBURxrxXZAScrhjj7N-NKjuqiJco_m3_B_IXqY_tQvjoNGwKMICQVdzeDB7Y6S6oq_S9TZtWc8QnG1gS6mg/w534-h640/Ewan_McClure_Cropped_Headshot_by_Kim_Ayres.jpg" width="534" /></a>
</p><p>Fortunately he was up for it.</p>
<p>
The gallery was the obvious place to take a photo, although it did have
problematic lighting from my perspective – hence the need to creatively solve
the issue, which I did, and then enjoyed the smug moment I mentioned earlier.
</p>
<p>
The rest of the photos - see below - we decided to take in Hornel/Ewan's
studio space – and with the large roof windows allowing the natural light to
flood in, I decided not to use any artificial lighting on this occasion
(although I have tucked away a couple of ideas for potential future
shoots...).
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHn-QL0dWZVyNPmnw49GAJcYQ42Ak76Mm23JmdAjnC4CY3zBBDBExVWKUKIWzG6ulSHWASAfRugQCXOOfSYv2x_MXKiYUjDoMEPQdmaOMEKXQgMJpjz2uQ_dqadlZ4pD5Cxm7tNvm-GFo662hoVVKaZXzmdW78zeLWFr_U96crTIQZledfIg/s8012/Ewan_McClure_in_Kimono_02_by_Kim_Ayres.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="5344" data-original-width="8012" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHn-QL0dWZVyNPmnw49GAJcYQ42Ak76Mm23JmdAjnC4CY3zBBDBExVWKUKIWzG6ulSHWASAfRugQCXOOfSYv2x_MXKiYUjDoMEPQdmaOMEKXQgMJpjz2uQ_dqadlZ4pD5Cxm7tNvm-GFo662hoVVKaZXzmdW78zeLWFr_U96crTIQZledfIg/w640-h426/Ewan_McClure_in_Kimono_02_by_Kim_Ayres.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpFkNmMxKAvPjMvUvTfhxTEkbiK3aibnzLt_RypEd_IlJbhsNhwXDs5Ur6JWJVkCFzT6Cila4rzWrfHWAtaHC-j0bgcosMqLF6YPXUU2lWH9YnQ_aiuTOcsTgpHDK3ABZunLs_J2pZLpuGBH1-ZtO-K5P2H72pJ2fo2phKAvxb3bHQ4CkEw/s6815/Ewan_McClure_in_Kimono_03_by_Kim_Ayres.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="6815" data-original-width="4780" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpFkNmMxKAvPjMvUvTfhxTEkbiK3aibnzLt_RypEd_IlJbhsNhwXDs5Ur6JWJVkCFzT6Cila4rzWrfHWAtaHC-j0bgcosMqLF6YPXUU2lWH9YnQ_aiuTOcsTgpHDK3ABZunLs_J2pZLpuGBH1-ZtO-K5P2H72pJ2fo2phKAvxb3bHQ4CkEw/w448-h640/Ewan_McClure_in_Kimono_03_by_Kim_Ayres.jpg" width="448" /></a>
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9MjIUv-KzmtNWjYsSLj-hHtlQq0Fz_n4IXlDouDy8-dEi7nsSeVfXYaFXOuFdYJyAbXGQmliRfQ40UAEQ-6vs3s9wJaf5NXkX4swm_288gVfVMzs8K9fZ6TRtF2Yjny8vc29Sz7tGQ9-L0J3h70bs4XJ0_uQYm51ix6SbX1nDj4tGBx7jw/s8014/Ewan_McClure_in_Kimono_04_by_Kim_Ayres.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="8014" data-original-width="5346" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9MjIUv-KzmtNWjYsSLj-hHtlQq0Fz_n4IXlDouDy8-dEi7nsSeVfXYaFXOuFdYJyAbXGQmliRfQ40UAEQ-6vs3s9wJaf5NXkX4swm_288gVfVMzs8K9fZ6TRtF2Yjny8vc29Sz7tGQ9-L0J3h70bs4XJ0_uQYm51ix6SbX1nDj4tGBx7jw/w426-h640/Ewan_McClure_in_Kimono_04_by_Kim_Ayres.jpg" width="426" /></a>
</p>
<p>As Morag and I are both appearing in the <a href="https://www.spring-fling.co.uk/" target="_blank"><u>Spring Fling</u></a> Open Studios event at the end of May, this combination of photos and story was picked up by Matthew Shelley of <a href="https://www.scottishfestivalspr.com/" target="_blank"><u>Scottish Festivals PR</u></a>, and has since been used to promote the event in various local and national press.</p>
<p>Kimono: Morag Macpherson<br /><a href="https://www.moragmacphersontextiles.com/">https://www.moragmacphersontextiles.com/</a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/moragmacphersontextiles/" target="_blank">@moragmacphersontextiles</a></p>
<p>Model/Artist: Ewan McClure<br /><a href="https://www.ewanmcclure.com/">https://www.ewanmcclure.com/</a><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ewanmcclure/" target="_blank">@ewanmcclure</a></p>
<p>Location: Broughton House<br /><a href="https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/broughton-house">https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/broughton-house</a></p>
<p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-80730068193526512892023-01-30T11:41:00.000+00:002023-01-30T11:41:35.424+00:00Eva in Black and White (and colour)<p>
While I am in my element doing staged shoots with a team of people all
collaborating to help create something special, my first love was moody close up portraits
(usually in black and white) and I will still look for any
opportunity to grab one when I can.
</p>
<p>
I've photographed Eva a couple of different times over the past year and she's
great for throwing attitude down the lens. She's friendly smiles in real life,
but my camera connects to her on a different level when I bring it up to
my eye.
</p>
<p>
So at the Renaissance Punk shoot (see – <a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2023/01/renaissance-punk-at-rosefield-mills.html">https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2023/01/renaissance-punk-at-rosefield-mills.html</a>) we were
doing as part of a Re:Dress Scotland project, I thought I would try and steal
a few head shots with her, even though it was primarily a fashion shoot.
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2BVSHu6Xt4pUU6TBe7EkgGfte-6CZAstSivGYESrxC1oRFWV9sJ_J48eMkYJe2yIRT9IZaoXiF9zr76fg2QTadRPJRzBUtrBygsQ7AqIWU-0z1Jak8-jPb0vK4ZChcDiRHzJf02EMIZag9V8PZMAwEBjT7ah5Ivez2_R2cyHGELCsYE3NQ/s7464/Eva_BW_01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="5190" data-original-width="7464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2BVSHu6Xt4pUU6TBe7EkgGfte-6CZAstSivGYESrxC1oRFWV9sJ_J48eMkYJe2yIRT9IZaoXiF9zr76fg2QTadRPJRzBUtrBygsQ7AqIWU-0z1Jak8-jPb0vK4ZChcDiRHzJf02EMIZag9V8PZMAwEBjT7ah5Ivez2_R2cyHGELCsYE3NQ/s600/Eva_BW_01.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>
Aware that I was really needing to get the full length, and larger
environmental images, I only shot off a handful of close-ups, and didn't have
much time to think about what I was doing.
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbyTkjrR1rLYUrCAg7n9srOETMnP2t3cwesONTnTm-lENFcPHU6dbLA9ziO6PZDgPbo8CWTr1s_oCpHd83M6FE9WbMHkWTZnPNW6FFAmrE2O37zsHyEHIe-7f1D8vedCwm9YZh_m0zlzJvanyNsIh0NEav6dvTnWvozPW3uixc-1n_tV7uA/s8192/Eva_BW_04.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="600" data-original-height="8192" data-original-width="5464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbyTkjrR1rLYUrCAg7n9srOETMnP2t3cwesONTnTm-lENFcPHU6dbLA9ziO6PZDgPbo8CWTr1s_oCpHd83M6FE9WbMHkWTZnPNW6FFAmrE2O37zsHyEHIe-7f1D8vedCwm9YZh_m0zlzJvanyNsIh0NEav6dvTnWvozPW3uixc-1n_tV7uA/s600/Eva_BW_04.jpg"/></a></p>
<p>
However, a couple of weeks later, after I'd edited the main photos, I went
back to see what I'd got with the head shots and really enjoyed deep diving
into the editing, creating photos that made me sit back in my chair and go
"wow!"
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2W2vLJTM1Fu6HU4aj9Ut8I1KReuekZOKNO_fLh40diPqA1i3BwvlxVYjqxeihYzxXh-ETxZ04NkIV-SlYcsXGtloTkJMHiuxus9_Kyfau_0AGJMajwVdgIhwKppY8utr03A5EXl3jCygo0tJdX8njg6m8KcoX7ijX0Ot2W4l7FYgZ5fczA/s2000/2000px_Eva_BW_05.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2W2vLJTM1Fu6HU4aj9Ut8I1KReuekZOKNO_fLh40diPqA1i3BwvlxVYjqxeihYzxXh-ETxZ04NkIV-SlYcsXGtloTkJMHiuxus9_Kyfau_0AGJMajwVdgIhwKppY8utr03A5EXl3jCygo0tJdX8njg6m8KcoX7ijX0Ot2W4l7FYgZ5fczA/s600/2000px_Eva_BW_05.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>
I remember writing several years ago that over and above making the client happy, what
I'm ultimately chasing in a photo shoot is to create something beyond
what I thought I was capable of. But as I improve in my photography, this bar
gets set higher and higher, so happens less and less often.
</p>
<p>These photos of Eva triggered that elusive feeling in me.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisI8bmzPGqox18WpMUCJt4WlnLTe2XZF6m4u0MsuIZS0CqlUdQCuzAdaI8OTgi6nbqe-HiWDRLRi8irMWo7UVPqDzqhoWDfixOYguacMoV-V3T0Fuyf6KscSSV1zoJsHxJBpDnQkavV7kNS7J2977n6g9a9wu_i819KVkrPlVYvwNNhUhDqw/s2000/2000px_Eva_BW_02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisI8bmzPGqox18WpMUCJt4WlnLTe2XZF6m4u0MsuIZS0CqlUdQCuzAdaI8OTgi6nbqe-HiWDRLRi8irMWo7UVPqDzqhoWDfixOYguacMoV-V3T0Fuyf6KscSSV1zoJsHxJBpDnQkavV7kNS7J2977n6g9a9wu_i819KVkrPlVYvwNNhUhDqw/s600/2000px_Eva_BW_02.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>
However, I've also been reminded that what I'm looking for in a photo is
usually quite different to what anyone else is looking for. The response on
social media to the images has been OK, but not at the level I was secretly
hoping for.
</p>
<p>But that's alright.</p>
<p>
Most photographers will complain that what they feel are their greatest ever
images get little response, while something that was quick and easy can sometimes gain traction
and praise that feels completely out of proportion to the effort in creating
it (how often have I commented about the fact I will get 10 times the amount
of likes for a quick selfie of me and my daughter than I will ever get for a
finely crafted narrative photo?).
</p>
<p>
But over the years, I have (mostly) come to terms with that. The important
thing is for me to keep chasing some kind of aesthetic satisfaction deep
within me, regardless of anyone else's taste in imagery.
</p>
<p>
My wife will sometimes talk about scratching her bones to describe that
internal itch or drive that cannot easily be relieved.
</p>
<p>
This image was my favourite of them all. I added the anarchy graffiti on the
wall behind to contribute to the mood I was after, but so much more subtle
editing went into this, there were times I was pixel-pushing at levels no one
else would ever see or notice.
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhgPyuzv7oxZyG7jBkLverezmFdrV67ekAESkVoqD9dujNO8wEfJHUtiohN2t6WYSWMNTevLligrj_LppUA8KW0Dxquu-mJgJPxrZkJQis5z7MCo88btRixo63hLDy3FVa4wx0DPW92pG0KaV-PhdLa_L4UdlI3QlbBKeN8xhXx1apsraTg/s2000/2000px_Eva_BW_03_Edit2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhgPyuzv7oxZyG7jBkLverezmFdrV67ekAESkVoqD9dujNO8wEfJHUtiohN2t6WYSWMNTevLligrj_LppUA8KW0Dxquu-mJgJPxrZkJQis5z7MCo88btRixo63hLDy3FVa4wx0DPW92pG0KaV-PhdLa_L4UdlI3QlbBKeN8xhXx1apsraTg/s600/2000px_Eva_BW_03_Edit2.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>However, I also discovered I really liked the colour version of this too</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkIPRj6C42KFz38IdU9JTGr9rgoe8-Qoo_KstntOJa9QyATD2S1D6yw175JekMIQJ9JfYtqwhxcMVPpLWPBmOHrC32p0dx-jhdjaDJ1g6jZI9JjhRo2806HD0uoiI2eAr9Irkx7D6SRUzR1Yhe2nJNzGwG3jeI4ZtsFEpjJkWQO20ypRj5g/s2000/2000px_Eva_Colour_03.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkIPRj6C42KFz38IdU9JTGr9rgoe8-Qoo_KstntOJa9QyATD2S1D6yw175JekMIQJ9JfYtqwhxcMVPpLWPBmOHrC32p0dx-jhdjaDJ1g6jZI9JjhRo2806HD0uoiI2eAr9Irkx7D6SRUzR1Yhe2nJNzGwG3jeI4ZtsFEpjJkWQO20ypRj5g/s600/2000px_Eva_Colour_03.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>
And then, following a video I saw on YouTube, I decided to try it out with
a blue-pink colour shift, which created a cyber-punk feel (rather than the
Renaissance Punk theme of the shoot) that grabbed me as well.
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWk6bzq5Fv-107nT2iHAy0Bq8bV5hNOWG_fuMzDGOhx1Z4ZVox8jiGoILUghPKkWB5k9s8KEWbkENVOMNnMzeBu8-eXM-ic2nR00qZtETNpPjaabDNBmIvGjakjFXeXkDjWQsX3-LUNCVpthH4Q4WEOLpEHbFZE_5AA5VEVrUgPdwUhbSyrw/s2000/2000px_Eva_Colour_03a.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWk6bzq5Fv-107nT2iHAy0Bq8bV5hNOWG_fuMzDGOhx1Z4ZVox8jiGoILUghPKkWB5k9s8KEWbkENVOMNnMzeBu8-eXM-ic2nR00qZtETNpPjaabDNBmIvGjakjFXeXkDjWQsX3-LUNCVpthH4Q4WEOLpEHbFZE_5AA5VEVrUgPdwUhbSyrw/s600/2000px_Eva_Colour_03a.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>
Feedback and thoughts are always welcome – and you are allowed to admit to not
feeling the same way about these photos as I do!
</p>
<p>---</p>
<p></p>
<p>
Model: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nutbrown.hair/" target="_blank"><u>Eva Taylor</u></a><br />
Hair: <a href="https://www.nelsonbrown.co.uk/" target="_blank"><u>Nelson Brown </u></a>and his team<br />
Makeup: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/illuminate.by.alanna/" target="_blank"><u>Alanna Barszczynski</u></a><br />Outfit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thecircleshop/" target="_blank"><u>Circle Vintage</u></a><br />Location: Rosefield Mills, with thanks to <a href="https://www.dumfriestrust.org.uk/" target="_blank"><u>Dumfries Historic Buildings Trust</u></a>
</p>
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-16891801550998627892023-01-23T18:42:00.002+00:002023-01-23T18:42:42.251+00:00Renaissance Punk at Rosefield Mills<p>
<i> "The show-stopping, finale outfit is going to be worn by Angela, the key piece
of which will be a 15 metre long cape painted by artist,
<a href="https://emmavisca.art/" target="_blank"><u>Emma Visca</u></a>, and we'd really like a good photo to show it off,"</i> said Marie.
</p>
<p>
I knew from the outset that the stage set up with live audience and low-light
conditions were going to make it practically impossible to get the best
possible image of the cape on the night of the Re:Dress Slow Fashion Festival,
without disrupting the show.
</p>
<p>We were going to have to do a separate photo shoot in a separate location.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqir9YlAetVFNLzlMn-WjFj0AnlN7BoYaKVUTON1Quz1O88SDovRm8YQNV0HOcDYj88XsuYSkiukqYKHz56G78Xfi57-BASt1VeQdYa7JWmhiiIF--jghl5tio7OwybGgY6WCAV9YqlDEGzbq1_wbc197yFgA-hjil9TMgUv0JuYoeO9F9w/s1594/web_RS_Angela_01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqir9YlAetVFNLzlMn-WjFj0AnlN7BoYaKVUTON1Quz1O88SDovRm8YQNV0HOcDYj88XsuYSkiukqYKHz56G78Xfi57-BASt1VeQdYa7JWmhiiIF--jghl5tio7OwybGgY6WCAV9YqlDEGzbq1_wbc197yFgA-hjil9TMgUv0JuYoeO9F9w/s600/web_RS_Angela_01.jpg" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>
And so began the search for a suitable venue and a date when everyone would be
available. And if we were going to this much trouble, we may as well get a few
more models and outfits that reflected the ethos of Re:Dress.
</p>
<p>
Luke Moloney of the
<a href="https://www.dumfriestrust.org.uk/" target="_blank">
<u>Dumfries Historic Buildings Trust</u></a>
allowed us access to Rosefield Mills - an old building complex on the banks of
the River Nith in Dumfries, that ceased tweed production back in the 1930s.
Since then it has been slowly decaying, but a few years ago was bought by
DHBT, who are now looking into ways to raise funds to convert it for community
use.
</p>
<p>
It has one watertight building that is about 12m by 15m, while still having
the paint-peeled brickwork that gives a wonderful urban decay feel, which was
ideal for the mood and feel for this project.
</p>
<p>Luke also lent us another ladder and a wooden chair for props</p>
<p>
On the morning of the shoot,
<a href="https://www.nelsonbrown.co.uk/" target="_blank">
<u>Nelson Brown</u></a>
and his team set to work on the hair for the models, while
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/illuminate.by.alanna/" target="_blank">
<u>Alanna Barszczynski</u></a>
did the make up and
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thecircleshop/" target="_blank"><u>Circle Vintage</u></a>
the clothing and styling.
</p>
<p>
Initially I thought our models - Angela, Chelsie, Eva, Joe, Marie and Sahar –
would be arriving up one at a time, and I arrived early with Willie
Johnston, who was acting as my assistant and shooting some behind-the-scenes
video (see further down the page). However, after waiting around for a couple of hours, they all
turned up together.
</p>
<p>And then it was full on for the next few hours.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61xFPe89Umwvn81Dy9yqV6CDgmBTq8XT-60UlQYrswyXEw0Uh8ozcgFyS11wLjo4XpogTtwxuh9-Y8DszUhDVixSeGDLNJ8hXbM0O-OHK7ZFR4TPp06pPjfXBGxgejEHcrGIYdU6-JYebD1h0uT7Wzcy9IZM7Y3auwCOqvX0Rh-tR4nvjQg/s1546/web_RS_BTS_Hair_02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61xFPe89Umwvn81Dy9yqV6CDgmBTq8XT-60UlQYrswyXEw0Uh8ozcgFyS11wLjo4XpogTtwxuh9-Y8DszUhDVixSeGDLNJ8hXbM0O-OHK7ZFR4TPp06pPjfXBGxgejEHcrGIYdU6-JYebD1h0uT7Wzcy9IZM7Y3auwCOqvX0Rh-tR4nvjQg/s600/web_RS_BTS_Hair_02.jpg" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQMSIXl70Z6KoA58lxMAqfWYexNPxptYk-0QaIfbt8zrE8rnhWs76A_zabaMMJpnQtIwksU1D1fmI3WQdGsCFuw06F1dXDfOFyy39HjDPC38bEn0351JIaWWLHJxvrezL1OBIwKe4BW37naWeTbyTekNkK1SWUHqwYDHO-5ob_cJJIGyibA/s1080/web_RS_BTS_Hair_04.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="903" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQMSIXl70Z6KoA58lxMAqfWYexNPxptYk-0QaIfbt8zrE8rnhWs76A_zabaMMJpnQtIwksU1D1fmI3WQdGsCFuw06F1dXDfOFyy39HjDPC38bEn0351JIaWWLHJxvrezL1OBIwKe4BW37naWeTbyTekNkK1SWUHqwYDHO-5ob_cJJIGyibA/s600/web_RS_BTS_Hair_04.jpg" /></a>
</p>
<p>
While there was a certain amount of ambient light coming from the skylights in
the building, it wasn't creating the drama I wanted. So I set up a large
softbox as my key light, and then another off-camera flash to use as a
backlight. This gave a greater sense of depth with more shadow play coming
into action.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAT-NjZaBYPlzRpIN8MXTiZ8f501bZzsvvVKvExtMxgV0DxfzoU5fLVwHRDAb3uG-853XgO2WELmiYC8kgmeixALQUFJdaSi6kt2IhCwFvPf9_xeTxKA2TzOjF28fK5Mg4x5A0LYDe09Q1aiwC7gIgSWcKW0bKgU6ViY7qekmWaxVrp5zgdw/s1619/web_RS_BTS_Test_01.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1619" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAT-NjZaBYPlzRpIN8MXTiZ8f501bZzsvvVKvExtMxgV0DxfzoU5fLVwHRDAb3uG-853XgO2WELmiYC8kgmeixALQUFJdaSi6kt2IhCwFvPf9_xeTxKA2TzOjF28fK5Mg4x5A0LYDe09Q1aiwC7gIgSWcKW0bKgU6ViY7qekmWaxVrp5zgdw/w640-h426/web_RS_BTS_Test_01.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAL5cvHMwZklwJBQZLhfhghIMCCHPJstAxS69IeeyK_pwFHjRWOr6YaAVSOsPU_qHSfYVB_R9LPOA6KKe9AKvdUUcH1YtHbeyAtB6vv0daGQc3fG6tjwSVQ6Kmk8Wn65FTIZHZjzyzIDm-wgFvN9Tmx8sDpdF8gSqjnmDZhJR9G_dLaUWYg/s1619/web_RS_BTS_Test_02.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1619" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAL5cvHMwZklwJBQZLhfhghIMCCHPJstAxS69IeeyK_pwFHjRWOr6YaAVSOsPU_qHSfYVB_R9LPOA6KKe9AKvdUUcH1YtHbeyAtB6vv0daGQc3fG6tjwSVQ6Kmk8Wn65FTIZHZjzyzIDm-wgFvN9Tmx8sDpdF8gSqjnmDZhJR9G_dLaUWYg/w640-h426/web_RS_BTS_Test_02.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Above - test shots: Dan from Circle Vintage in ambient light, then I
set the camera to underexposed so he would only be lit by the lights I could
control.
</span></p>
<p>
Although the lighting was set up to get create photos of the models in the
outfits, I quickly realised they could be props in the shoot too. Some of my
favourite images are where you see the model and the whole set – it creates
more of a story - like this one of Mariel, a Ukrainian ballet dancer who was 8 months pregnant at the time of the shoot.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlOeF3K0kB8QeLyvpKY4r9oVJmhvP5c8DBR4sHpjV10POOwiD6R9rxhFuxYOPV8q-3lcP8Jvicfvc5HCs_BSHovCndHqIL13jhzVsBGdWmrBrFtP2fD1Ae6mRqcd7hau_riwavCvUwZMD8WLogy2mGC7a6MY6akDzFY9a40Fpnf9yfSIAYA/s1696/web_RS_Mariel_01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1696" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlOeF3K0kB8QeLyvpKY4r9oVJmhvP5c8DBR4sHpjV10POOwiD6R9rxhFuxYOPV8q-3lcP8Jvicfvc5HCs_BSHovCndHqIL13jhzVsBGdWmrBrFtP2fD1Ae6mRqcd7hau_riwavCvUwZMD8WLogy2mGC7a6MY6akDzFY9a40Fpnf9yfSIAYA/s600/web_RS_Mariel_01.jpg" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>
Willie created a great behind-the-scenes video with the footage he shot, which
I think gives a good insight into that part of the day.
</p>
<p><br /></p>
<p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/wKfpUzZMrKQ" width="640"></iframe>
</p>
<p><br /></p>
<p>
The original plan had been the photo shoot would take place a couple of days
after the fashion show, and the images would be released within the week while
it was still fresh.
</p>
<p>
Then came the possibility of getting them into a magazine, which would mean
holding them back a bit longer.
</p>
<p>
Then trying to find a date when everyone was available proved more difficult
than expected and pushed it back several weeks.
</p>
<p>Then it fell through with the magazine.</p>
<p>Then Christmas got in the way.</p>
<p>
However, thinking of ways to turn adversity into opportunity, I wondered if it might be possible to make our own online
magazine using the images from the shoot.
</p>
<p>
I thought I was having an original idea, but when I spoke to Marie it turned
out she had been thinking about creating a magazine for a couple of years, but
the world of the pandemic had diverted her down different routes. </p><p>And then we
discovered Nelson had long been thinking about creating one too!
</p>
<p>
So we are now in discussions about developing something bold and wonderful,
but in the meantime have put together what is, in effect, an early prototype to start seeing
what's possible.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyo6Jm1eo0CjOLK5ts-7-oMnIUOzLfW58d7leBhPMoOWzvTrQNCz3AEkGuc8CbGe5Yp4Vka1dPcyl2iBLtPU9JDAgYdSIfvBIzomc_6gtZA3uZ4x7NslG8OUUMzlQNlw8GWDgvRTnXFPcdIocc1jYgbSYfs6f8OdPO8zfx7OXyADB7mb1HBQ/s1080/01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="764" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyo6Jm1eo0CjOLK5ts-7-oMnIUOzLfW58d7leBhPMoOWzvTrQNCz3AEkGuc8CbGe5Yp4Vka1dPcyl2iBLtPU9JDAgYdSIfvBIzomc_6gtZA3uZ4x7NslG8OUUMzlQNlw8GWDgvRTnXFPcdIocc1jYgbSYfs6f8OdPO8zfx7OXyADB7mb1HBQ/s600/01.jpg" /></a>
</p>
<p>Scroll to the bottom of the page for the link to the online magazine
</p>
<p>
Below are a few of my favourite images.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Xp4OlI_95xEVhhL2MtRESVgSWukyFyxqAzAdjI43Yuau_WUuXoVAE2-N1YnaVXyAVRjOemCnw0cCErRmK4e86GFmjvSqf_EaoiScg33PEk-tlR9mGGRPmuzH0fAFk1PviXXe6xiDkntFekOdRuCz79feJrPss6xURMcf_sdD0Z44fV4wJA/s1080/web_RS_Angela_02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="782" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Xp4OlI_95xEVhhL2MtRESVgSWukyFyxqAzAdjI43Yuau_WUuXoVAE2-N1YnaVXyAVRjOemCnw0cCErRmK4e86GFmjvSqf_EaoiScg33PEk-tlR9mGGRPmuzH0fAFk1PviXXe6xiDkntFekOdRuCz79feJrPss6xURMcf_sdD0Z44fV4wJA/s600/web_RS_Angela_02.jpg" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheltIaerB0ZRr-L8jNxvsSIeXf3kW-GINFUxnXRRsU14Gsxi1PtjauyhcGUfvuypHli9y2Py-tip894BcQ0V2YoO3uwrnT1du87jgnmXEeRvGsJiRmtH0iP98lUhRGSwPEgiPOPR9ygZSaLKJRVHEBnAORhG4O4kvDcATg6n9FddX3NuVT5w/s1692/web_RS_Angela_05.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1692" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheltIaerB0ZRr-L8jNxvsSIeXf3kW-GINFUxnXRRsU14Gsxi1PtjauyhcGUfvuypHli9y2Py-tip894BcQ0V2YoO3uwrnT1du87jgnmXEeRvGsJiRmtH0iP98lUhRGSwPEgiPOPR9ygZSaLKJRVHEBnAORhG4O4kvDcATg6n9FddX3NuVT5w/s600/web_RS_Angela_05.jpg" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCCAaJaH_aOJKpU1IOXWzx74uytsdqIBNAgv1DGo881pGiCZ2ZGVt08R-XOa7HfRzqUa2g3XSpL9jAdIxXlrLtmV_pEv2myXlmRVMSav-Hr6ypJ7qhw0yNn7jV9c8HTFWZxqBszuoleUNt8eImTXBVDb0TAVzgYmfS8IEot2SFvWmPGdCdA/s1080/web_RS_Angela_08.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="720" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCCAaJaH_aOJKpU1IOXWzx74uytsdqIBNAgv1DGo881pGiCZ2ZGVt08R-XOa7HfRzqUa2g3XSpL9jAdIxXlrLtmV_pEv2myXlmRVMSav-Hr6ypJ7qhw0yNn7jV9c8HTFWZxqBszuoleUNt8eImTXBVDb0TAVzgYmfS8IEot2SFvWmPGdCdA/s600/web_RS_Angela_08.jpg" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5mJAqKXUe5QSqyYxuF2107UJvVZ-VxvkaZ6qYd6AFusHWpXG1EpR0MHEu4M1nriSm4Wh7OzNIt_JopUy1FRqcoFDVQyw4T3ixD2TgOi87LUsLQeEc6OWJJCAsSuZ28nLeKQUTEOnDP5uzP5LIesftg5L2XqGX_yuwP4YCOdXywKtsbf9pA/s1644/web_RS_Chelsie_01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1644" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5mJAqKXUe5QSqyYxuF2107UJvVZ-VxvkaZ6qYd6AFusHWpXG1EpR0MHEu4M1nriSm4Wh7OzNIt_JopUy1FRqcoFDVQyw4T3ixD2TgOi87LUsLQeEc6OWJJCAsSuZ28nLeKQUTEOnDP5uzP5LIesftg5L2XqGX_yuwP4YCOdXywKtsbf9pA/s600/web_RS_Chelsie_01.jpg" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84JrRwffHY36SYEYgVeA8ISL3VsUFLBHxMnmqHKerX4oZU3B34CKVQ4UvFUqKrGugkS6cxSOdEtMv0o8DjmOM5D7vOxFoJukJc4IX5hNmlhSPaxRM8lOyka4MVSDPmjMaMbS_AlUgNNBjiLKmgeOtoV7fFhGkcCEW1MDJIUVBRF8NmIZBQQ/s1080/web_RS_Chelsie_02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="723" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84JrRwffHY36SYEYgVeA8ISL3VsUFLBHxMnmqHKerX4oZU3B34CKVQ4UvFUqKrGugkS6cxSOdEtMv0o8DjmOM5D7vOxFoJukJc4IX5hNmlhSPaxRM8lOyka4MVSDPmjMaMbS_AlUgNNBjiLKmgeOtoV7fFhGkcCEW1MDJIUVBRF8NmIZBQQ/s600/web_RS_Chelsie_02.jpg" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kSe7JLbM_dP2R5M2t-2gWLv17q05tSx168WjlDNp37Fwj8CrCqPmk8KWWqrNuYJClgyCciYV8AADX-ZCv1sFXsfbmxVxxtLav76yLAYP6MWBgbEhPrCvS4SGAc-o5op1NswKKPsgpoXzRrTXvW9HXug4ipCNvDwlSO0BRywdJEsufmNIWA/s1080/web_RS_Chelsie_06.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="688" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kSe7JLbM_dP2R5M2t-2gWLv17q05tSx168WjlDNp37Fwj8CrCqPmk8KWWqrNuYJClgyCciYV8AADX-ZCv1sFXsfbmxVxxtLav76yLAYP6MWBgbEhPrCvS4SGAc-o5op1NswKKPsgpoXzRrTXvW9HXug4ipCNvDwlSO0BRywdJEsufmNIWA/s600/web_RS_Chelsie_06.jpg" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhHngSIDPBN_OXABOsobkuQxnry4i77M6OBYE5Hwr9RE7b1N4osZZqAKx5j_4SUZAog_AFPo1YD5TwQ_bWRLgTBukmaKGButdxKlPZnjfxeVXYua4DFEsT99EsL_tWgyEuYhi58RktEOpUw5bhJ41DKshYwh_LzteO3_rqE-6XNkiGoFykA/s1619/web_RS_Eva_01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1619" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhHngSIDPBN_OXABOsobkuQxnry4i77M6OBYE5Hwr9RE7b1N4osZZqAKx5j_4SUZAog_AFPo1YD5TwQ_bWRLgTBukmaKGButdxKlPZnjfxeVXYua4DFEsT99EsL_tWgyEuYhi58RktEOpUw5bhJ41DKshYwh_LzteO3_rqE-6XNkiGoFykA/s600/web_RS_Eva_01.jpg" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUfWsE9zZNbZ92of9hac6QqLO-QQNCDfLmSduLQiTBiIhSTzLz92jcnnrHuwqEQSOP6qbciorGZJRxXSGqIfm7EfMZtTypWkb7mlek8gNTkhUsc9Y8i9mM6HTMVL7pb94umWxfxGzG5p2ibuqNqDI3aIoU3otTJNRjHdhoScyMlcqIYtlqA/s1080/web_RS_Eva_02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="720" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUfWsE9zZNbZ92of9hac6QqLO-QQNCDfLmSduLQiTBiIhSTzLz92jcnnrHuwqEQSOP6qbciorGZJRxXSGqIfm7EfMZtTypWkb7mlek8gNTkhUsc9Y8i9mM6HTMVL7pb94umWxfxGzG5p2ibuqNqDI3aIoU3otTJNRjHdhoScyMlcqIYtlqA/s600/web_RS_Eva_02.jpg" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo4nd9CifubcnOEKoS07y0ajey6Z-cq-rOpaRkGu50v32SCd1el2n5_DCuKY7xg1wx26XDR5pUALtFzeR6bdQdWfr4AQe2riquNtd30PgTur26cAixmn3Pv6nNuh8p7RgyOI3M20A7jqn_3iy-APWxVrwDcwJS9wQDEE0v11fJij_kYYpEQ/s1080/web_RS_Eva_05.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="727" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo4nd9CifubcnOEKoS07y0ajey6Z-cq-rOpaRkGu50v32SCd1el2n5_DCuKY7xg1wx26XDR5pUALtFzeR6bdQdWfr4AQe2riquNtd30PgTur26cAixmn3Pv6nNuh8p7RgyOI3M20A7jqn_3iy-APWxVrwDcwJS9wQDEE0v11fJij_kYYpEQ/s600/web_RS_Eva_05.jpg" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjha0H5fTvYHDfGtky5vOcfrccS8JQIzAvSHp-W32ifdDiisKFf0SasTEKdQ76lQjN95wxcs1qeIKUMx3OAJvLwFL-Cq-ZxrfN9cWFQMxyLbSipC5Q5OJgVUaHFlFTvc3WmDSZS3on-3QlYv4V8bGSOm3Y4_52dlplH0MH0S0nExIN3uwGw/s1744/web_RS_Joe_01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1744" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjha0H5fTvYHDfGtky5vOcfrccS8JQIzAvSHp-W32ifdDiisKFf0SasTEKdQ76lQjN95wxcs1qeIKUMx3OAJvLwFL-Cq-ZxrfN9cWFQMxyLbSipC5Q5OJgVUaHFlFTvc3WmDSZS3on-3QlYv4V8bGSOm3Y4_52dlplH0MH0S0nExIN3uwGw/s600/web_RS_Joe_01.jpg" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0wgwFRTa6LDt4G8LKmqZ6V567zVRVX62Nns4WcEetgmKusW0HQeuqoEUJ9WggzqzHUNmhuBHgvIRCuIqSVR23CSCASaJQBksBNzlFsMQGNQHByvVn0r80nc4ZT6fHyIfYd8ivdZXWkPwGQqJk4ADoayZIv2KH9PrRGk8ZS-Y1OVPoyXI7g/s1619/web_RS_Joe_03.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1619" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0wgwFRTa6LDt4G8LKmqZ6V567zVRVX62Nns4WcEetgmKusW0HQeuqoEUJ9WggzqzHUNmhuBHgvIRCuIqSVR23CSCASaJQBksBNzlFsMQGNQHByvVn0r80nc4ZT6fHyIfYd8ivdZXWkPwGQqJk4ADoayZIv2KH9PrRGk8ZS-Y1OVPoyXI7g/s600/web_RS_Joe_03.jpg" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzL24dWTbQQtANW7D7jdZx2Lu3sDwIWcAsw60pjxyvCP-5wPGJpQ0-O03M8wF_HT9Z_mDqYb0xNrLWh5FUPzOTXR2ESID4RGFvWk7wJVP1O5UBtxpABLF34NGzRVI76212R7JtBDl-Wosewm0Jf27wa9Q7fT6Lk8T-oVmsWNFSxJw2DoJWw/s1657/web_RS_Mariel_02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1657" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzL24dWTbQQtANW7D7jdZx2Lu3sDwIWcAsw60pjxyvCP-5wPGJpQ0-O03M8wF_HT9Z_mDqYb0xNrLWh5FUPzOTXR2ESID4RGFvWk7wJVP1O5UBtxpABLF34NGzRVI76212R7JtBDl-Wosewm0Jf27wa9Q7fT6Lk8T-oVmsWNFSxJw2DoJWw/s600/web_RS_Mariel_02.jpg" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNRchMsYcWiOSO1aDdgvDSQP17SPTAf076SclTUY4zXBwmrEwC3o5fXX3FnHvW5gMvokpHkq9dCxOHTadU3BK19kjePZH5EW2885dKJ80JfL5qYKO3hJXXK3FMgKbuo6O0p88hcQpScHDABXPcX7TKSsnv4zhnIzcVTxTsOhGYNkcpSKs0g/s1080/web_RS_Mariel_03.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="842" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNRchMsYcWiOSO1aDdgvDSQP17SPTAf076SclTUY4zXBwmrEwC3o5fXX3FnHvW5gMvokpHkq9dCxOHTadU3BK19kjePZH5EW2885dKJ80JfL5qYKO3hJXXK3FMgKbuo6O0p88hcQpScHDABXPcX7TKSsnv4zhnIzcVTxTsOhGYNkcpSKs0g/s600/web_RS_Mariel_03.jpg" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pJFpvUjENs8kZNOx_tjypejuMq2G8eo3YZmq2Qo_aFpbRtCJWJxw59z-Px3yxv1WR-J1VmQIhQrjf_hQDph6teZrVuHn2dhw2xyHxxiJJLFDXa82q6FFOJIph_LwktubTomO1xWbytripsOV1MXvzd7DdCCOa8C_D3UtI_jImtMYCm73tw/s1080/web_RS_Sahar_03.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="720" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pJFpvUjENs8kZNOx_tjypejuMq2G8eo3YZmq2Qo_aFpbRtCJWJxw59z-Px3yxv1WR-J1VmQIhQrjf_hQDph6teZrVuHn2dhw2xyHxxiJJLFDXa82q6FFOJIph_LwktubTomO1xWbytripsOV1MXvzd7DdCCOa8C_D3UtI_jImtMYCm73tw/s600/web_RS_Sahar_03.jpg" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hZfLWh9ZwN2oNVdsvCM-rNyJqaumxnS0dqDNnJVV0xWROsnuEElrRelKvHTAbQXzVpBuma1lPk08MYe_lLOtoDIzCTtw96JLO-yHc23X5tSftFaM_kKu-B6x3SJr3df5k8UAA-0-WN8c-HPpO5y2v1Jmb0Yw8_JuEZFQsCYG-fQUp_2-kg/s1703/web_RS_Sahar_07.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1703" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hZfLWh9ZwN2oNVdsvCM-rNyJqaumxnS0dqDNnJVV0xWROsnuEElrRelKvHTAbQXzVpBuma1lPk08MYe_lLOtoDIzCTtw96JLO-yHc23X5tSftFaM_kKu-B6x3SJr3df5k8UAA-0-WN8c-HPpO5y2v1Jmb0Yw8_JuEZFQsCYG-fQUp_2-kg/s600/web_RS_Sahar_07.jpg" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfXE6oz3Ewu-0K7itbyMze2B-2aCCj09y9G40t37DLNPmelDMIsqPLDITRbKhN9AYkoXkFa1pIxIXZQYoeuhs4o7jS-9JNRonvPuUEZSj59DvMnaDlnQPN9xhhVrcdUiX3gM0FBsOVNvUAzyVZcw5n16qquDS8nCDZp_dIYfQhJWBcOPxdQ/s1080/web_RS_The_Models.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="774" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfXE6oz3Ewu-0K7itbyMze2B-2aCCj09y9G40t37DLNPmelDMIsqPLDITRbKhN9AYkoXkFa1pIxIXZQYoeuhs4o7jS-9JNRonvPuUEZSj59DvMnaDlnQPN9xhhVrcdUiX3gM0FBsOVNvUAzyVZcw5n16qquDS8nCDZp_dIYfQhJWBcOPxdQ/s600/web_RS_The_Models.jpg" /></a>
</p>
<p>Here's the link to the magazine on Issuu.com -
<a href="https://issuu.com/kimayresphotography/docs/redress_rpunk" target="_blank">https://issuu.com/kimayresphotography/docs/redress_rpunk</a>
- take a look and we hope you like what you see.
</p>
<p>Any feedback welcome! </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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type="text/javascript">
</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-68822502856605972782023-01-01T17:25:00.010+00:002023-01-01T19:07:05.648+00:002022 in Photographs<p>Every January, I put up a post of my favourite photos from the past 12 months.</p>
<p>In contrast to most social media selections, these are not about the number of likes,
comments or shares. Instead these are the photos I was most pleased with. It might be because I felt the shoot or editing moved my photography forward a notch, or it might just be that it was a lot of fun to create.</p>
<p>Either way, I've often found that the response to my images on social media is quite often at odds with my own. Photos I thought were OK but nothing special can end up with a big response, while those I am immensely proud of can often produce reactions that are little more than tumbleweeds rolling past.</p>
<p>So if my last post (see <a href=" https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2022/12/less-surprised-but-still-faintly.html" target="_blank"><u>Less surprised, but still faintly disappointed...</u></a>)
was my bemusement at how a casual selfie can vastly out perform a carefully crafted creation, this one is the complete self-indulgence of me showing off what I consider to be my best photos of the year, to anyone who cares to view (even if it is only me in future years looking back to see what I used to think was good).</p>
<p>You'll find a varied selection of photos below, so hopefully there's something for everyone.</p>
<p>I'm always interested in
feedback, so if you'd care to leave a comment about which one(s) are
your favourite, or any personal observations, it would be warmly
appreciated.</p>
<p>
If you're curious as to how my photography has progressed since I began back in 2009, then you can find earlier years' selections here:
<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2022/01/2021-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2021</u></i></a>,
<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2021/01/2020-in-photographs-and-videos.html"><i><u>2020</u></i></a>,
<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-decade-in-photos-and-videos.html"><i><u>Decade Review</u></i></a>,
<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2019/01/2018-in-photographs-and-videos.html"><i><u>2018</u></i></a>,
<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2018/01/2017-in-photographs-and-videos.html"><i><u>2017</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/2016-in-photographs-and-videos.html"><i><u>2016</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/2015-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2015</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/2014-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2014</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/2013-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2013</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/favourite-photos-of-2012.html"><i><u>2012</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/2011-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2011</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/2010-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2010</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/2009-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2009</u></i></a>
</p>
<p><br /><b>Wave Blues Band</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnUwZr6LxZyq2kIjxqynEHRkZkymDNYaukoE8h6IKIPYD1L5Yv0WBJRCiQtNo4hF4D-O7JukYHp-PesWUyITl6rLahhynrUi989jzmCoCXlBquvFcnPDQoexeFif_kTKrJSek_DnO8Hqm816igzwkfJ0LZXoR-C2Zm_8BrEvV4NF-KZYDQw/s5116/Wave_Blues_Band_01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3207" data-original-width="5116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnUwZr6LxZyq2kIjxqynEHRkZkymDNYaukoE8h6IKIPYD1L5Yv0WBJRCiQtNo4hF4D-O7JukYHp-PesWUyITl6rLahhynrUi989jzmCoCXlBquvFcnPDQoexeFif_kTKrJSek_DnO8Hqm816igzwkfJ0LZXoR-C2Zm_8BrEvV4NF-KZYDQw/s600/Wave_Blues_Band_01.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>Bands are nearly always the best kind of people to do narrative photography shoots with. Musicians are creatives, and also performers, so narrative photography is always a good excuse to think bigger, or go off on interesting tangents - create something a bit more cinematic - something that looks like it could be part of a larger story. So instead of going for a shoot where it looked like they were playing live, we developed the idea that in a smoke filled room, 2 people could be playing cards while the rest of the band were setting up around them.</p>
<p>If you'd like to read more about the shoot (and see some of the individual band member photos), then you can read my blog post here:<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2022/01/photographing-wave-blues-band.html">https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2022/01/photographing-wave-blues-band.html</a></p><p>Or if you'd like to watch the podcast where I go into more detail about it, then you can find it here:<br /><a href="https://youtu.be/edLEIbrStz0" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/edLEIbrStz0</a></p>
<p><br /><b>A Day in the Life of Kirkcudbright Galleries</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5C1lvrWK3nEvuqZfoDKRyBoSLFo3yEDZS09xBCpiqd5KLwKP8_RZZOdC4v7iCYLSw6YjlRksmPaUWTjXMne5dgWKmcsGDTopAqOrRIBFxoVV8tjfSycVGWT7Z-DRGXSkv0zUiwRpr7PeLy4Z5Wi2X8m1fkEMQTtajhRcSMtVZNI38eWdsw/s4585/KG_Cafe_13.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2969" data-original-width="4585" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5C1lvrWK3nEvuqZfoDKRyBoSLFo3yEDZS09xBCpiqd5KLwKP8_RZZOdC4v7iCYLSw6YjlRksmPaUWTjXMne5dgWKmcsGDTopAqOrRIBFxoVV8tjfSycVGWT7Z-DRGXSkv0zUiwRpr7PeLy4Z5Wi2X8m1fkEMQTtajhRcSMtVZNI38eWdsw/s600/KG_Cafe_13.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>I was commissioned by <a href="https://www.kirkcudbrightgalleries.org.uk/" target="_blank"><u>Kirkcudbright Galleries</u></a> to do "A Day in the Life" of the building. Light was low, and I didn't want to be blinding visitors with flashes going off all day, so I decided to make a feature of slow shutter speeds and "smudging time"</p>
<p></p>
<p>If you'd like to watch the podcast where I go into detail about this shoot, then follow this link: <a href="https://youtu.be/Tjea_XrVB0g" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/Tjea_XrVB0g</a></p>
<p><br /><b>Storyteller, Renita Boyle</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjP4PV0Jkl__sHUaiD56K7wnF4QBdy9V-QtY5IrBz3JX0kPXVKMy0s5A98n4yOMD3cSviKjxP7T0xi7j88ho3pq9xxtNQ_wqjOmz8U-zvzIr9pYD7oQMf9hyw8utexNXc7CTGS-GB5ysfuZ1MdhBZMBlrkgQrz9Sn8PyWUudXBhnZWXhW0ug/s5472/Renita_02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjP4PV0Jkl__sHUaiD56K7wnF4QBdy9V-QtY5IrBz3JX0kPXVKMy0s5A98n4yOMD3cSviKjxP7T0xi7j88ho3pq9xxtNQ_wqjOmz8U-zvzIr9pYD7oQMf9hyw8utexNXc7CTGS-GB5ysfuZ1MdhBZMBlrkgQrz9Sn8PyWUudXBhnZWXhW0ug/s600/Renita_02.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>With 2022 being Scotland's "Year of Stories", I was asked by <a href="http://www.dumfriesandgallowaylife.co.uk/" target="_blank"><u>Dumfries & Galloway Life Magazine</u></a> to photograph local children's author and storyteller, Renita Boyle, who I've known for many years and is always up for a fun photo shoot. Despite the look of the dark, mysterious forest, it was in fact a sunny day and I had to play around with lighting and exposure settings to get the mood I wanted. I then played around with the editing so the trees blurred up out of the image to give it an otherworldly feel.</p>
<p>If you'd like to watch the podcast where I go into detail about this shoot, then follow this link: <a href="https://youtu.be/OLhKJ1KxoYM" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/OLhKJ1KxoYM</a></p>
<p><br /><b>The Artist</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhr_j6jw8UXqpjcpob8RtKs-IRQxnt3pN08SSvOaLJMHKZURAHwkOsufdwukI5HVDxvEnT80Sm4pPbfgvjzlrHU7p_3CwvWm1v6LOcdzhhrmc3d70xlgkQilqZKEQR7bB7-SX39eSLknP6nvCVNHUhqDA6G3uhRBitPy6lMaNKkMOtdJaPiQ/s5472/Maggie_BW.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3492" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhr_j6jw8UXqpjcpob8RtKs-IRQxnt3pN08SSvOaLJMHKZURAHwkOsufdwukI5HVDxvEnT80Sm4pPbfgvjzlrHU7p_3CwvWm1v6LOcdzhhrmc3d70xlgkQilqZKEQR7bB7-SX39eSLknP6nvCVNHUhqDA6G3uhRBitPy6lMaNKkMOtdJaPiQ/s600/Maggie_BW.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>My wife, artist <a href="https://maggieayres.co.uk" target="_blank"><u>Maggie Ayres</u></a>, was needing a headshot - and I did get one of her smiling and in colour - but during the shoot I also captured this one of her which was far more authentic in reflecting the way she was feeling on that day, with all that was weighing on her mind. She found it as captivating as I did and doesn't mind me showing it here.</p>
<p><br /><b>The Ultimate Selfie</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6nCV84tLffqHL65OFxfDt8fi-gPR4Z8A2I539K_U08yXuYEsyrKLWic7JR3mbvGSQNMSJSKyZgWaFvIA8Y232EPTSJpPxt63UTsKEpRBvspwyv7Ti3OzG5_Isck55I3Kc0key4wJDwIwIs-qsNj1LwMRecFOnGJUGeNN0QhAOO3HdFZ9LQ/s5472/The_Ultimate_Selfie.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3107" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6nCV84tLffqHL65OFxfDt8fi-gPR4Z8A2I539K_U08yXuYEsyrKLWic7JR3mbvGSQNMSJSKyZgWaFvIA8Y232EPTSJpPxt63UTsKEpRBvspwyv7Ti3OzG5_Isck55I3Kc0key4wJDwIwIs-qsNj1LwMRecFOnGJUGeNN0QhAOO3HdFZ9LQ/s600/The_Ultimate_Selfie.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>As the open studio event, <a href="https://www.spring-fling.co.uk/" target="_blank"><u>Spring Fling</u></a>, was starting to loom, for the first time in 3 years I was going to be putting up work for the public to view in the flesh rather than online. At the same time, the commissioning editor of <a href="http://www.dumfriesandgallowaylife.co.uk/" target="_blank"><u>Dumfries & Galloway Life Magazine</u></a> was talking to me about doing a feature on photography as a storytelling medium. I realised I didn't have that many narrative photos to display so it was time to get creative.</p><p>I'd been toying with the idea of doing a multiple selfie for some time, so this was the excuse to go for it. In the end I managed to squeeze 10 of me into the one shot (bonus points if you can spot the 10th one)</p>
<p>If you'd like to watch the podcast where I go into detail about this shoot, then follow this link: <a href="https://youtu.be/ctQ35dJD3Yc" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/ctQ35dJD3Yc</a></p>
<p><br /><b>My Father</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgVupQp4ergTFH9RbYjJjG6dpFLkfK87FPUMKWiI3JfW7uM4Ie27N6FjwEm7sB9En-IMszJNjUQetXoutEGTnjv7NglF64W8Eb9PrdwlRCwyq5J8yes1X2tNWx4dINKZr1brUP3oOomdWpP7N-p8hAaVn23_zYqdkKF_j8h96n8RwTBnU_A/s4979/Dad.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="4979" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgVupQp4ergTFH9RbYjJjG6dpFLkfK87FPUMKWiI3JfW7uM4Ie27N6FjwEm7sB9En-IMszJNjUQetXoutEGTnjv7NglF64W8Eb9PrdwlRCwyq5J8yes1X2tNWx4dINKZr1brUP3oOomdWpP7N-p8hAaVn23_zYqdkKF_j8h96n8RwTBnU_A/s600/Dad.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>Visiting my 85 year old father, I wanted to get a photo of him, but it was a dull wet day and not much light indoors. So I got him to sit in the doorway, while I stood outside, under an umbrella.</p>
<p></p>
<p><br /><b>Car Stories</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ojVpPLHQjqm_KlS2nHAKNJOnsDy_64B_pP_4eXkSVSvk6TCPS5EWIN6CTY3HVcpKd633OeGrU4XR76722A0RC5GyWhtQFi6iDhP-xWhTl3rWILl5knhttshqqUsrcrykgmlhHwfDKiIg7kaeMRYMJu_qeGsEjTa48x7PVWxrJJeMOey2AQ/s4466/Car_06.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="4466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ojVpPLHQjqm_KlS2nHAKNJOnsDy_64B_pP_4eXkSVSvk6TCPS5EWIN6CTY3HVcpKd633OeGrU4XR76722A0RC5GyWhtQFi6iDhP-xWhTl3rWILl5knhttshqqUsrcrykgmlhHwfDKiIg7kaeMRYMJu_qeGsEjTa48x7PVWxrJJeMOey2AQ/s600/Car_06.jpg" width="600" /></a>
</p><p>One of my favourite shoots of the year was a collaboration with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/circleshopgallery/" target="_blank"><u>Circle Vintage</u></a>, a clothes store specialising in original clothing from the 60s to the 90s. A previous client of mine allowed us to use his Citroen DS for the shoot, and Eva and Emily were our wonderful models. I wanted the photos to have a cinematic feel to them, which is reflected in the lighting and cropping style I used.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnpbwGyJFY99BIfVVKH8FmLsxh_w1C-Px6rfllrYRpu9GVLHYrPecyGiK_w6FTwoG42Cg_Uc3EA88p4g4km-1OaWQ1OmzI3RThvjOG5iktZ_hEprZBKR08lqxGFKdDYqCMAzNVC6F7dZUp_nQreBV3FbUjhoqKt4mkN22tCP182PJwc1Juw/s5472/Eva_02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3029" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnpbwGyJFY99BIfVVKH8FmLsxh_w1C-Px6rfllrYRpu9GVLHYrPecyGiK_w6FTwoG42Cg_Uc3EA88p4g4km-1OaWQ1OmzI3RThvjOG5iktZ_hEprZBKR08lqxGFKdDYqCMAzNVC6F7dZUp_nQreBV3FbUjhoqKt4mkN22tCP182PJwc1Juw/s600/Eva_02.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>Balancing the light for this one was particularly delicate, because if the inside light was too strong, then you wouldn't see the cherry blossom reflections in the window, and if it wasn't strong enough, then you wouldn't see the wonderful expression by Eva.</p>
<p>If you'd like to watch the podcast where I go into detail about this shoot, then follow this link: <a href="https://youtu.be/aMCX-E9Y32w" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/aMCX-E9Y32w</a></p><p>You can also find more of the photos in my "<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/kimayres/albums/72177720303255635" target="_blank"><u>Collaborations with Circle Vintage</u></a>" album in my Flickr account.</p>
<p><br /><b>Bath Stories</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgeeq3qQH6sj-1ghWYf5G5iPUjUsjwybQWQ3tN2jfZR6HXYJjz7HSrq3iY18bjas07R8Q_khcr9CUGD2r0OD4jU77ujLX0EFGtpbOW9-HlRGvFM1_OFGqkm3QvRQU_VWx1cMimpJ39x1IHMtKSx_vBvlLAQm94FhI9BEv8oHa9HBAaZ2Ayg/s5406/Bath_04.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3470" data-original-width="5406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgeeq3qQH6sj-1ghWYf5G5iPUjUsjwybQWQ3tN2jfZR6HXYJjz7HSrq3iY18bjas07R8Q_khcr9CUGD2r0OD4jU77ujLX0EFGtpbOW9-HlRGvFM1_OFGqkm3QvRQU_VWx1cMimpJ39x1IHMtKSx_vBvlLAQm94FhI9BEv8oHa9HBAaZ2Ayg/s600/Bath_04.jpg" width="600" /></a>
</p><p><i>"Have you seen Fiona's bathroom?</i>" asked Marie of Circle Vintage. <i>"She's got one of those baths that's in the middle of the floor, and she says she's OK with us using it for a photo shoot if we want."</i> And so began another collaboration, this time with models Chelsie, who she was going to be put in a white lace dress, and Joe, who was to be dressed in a glittery gold outfit, looking like a 70s sci-fi show spaceman (complete with a crash helmet sprayed gold and silver).</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIP2Eh9nR-vAYf31tEnwJJbcbidQqF_Wbi0-AuYvpn2Aey3HH84DviPazIdC8lAxCwcdv2tZaLWXaq7ZTcIz5iTHCVz69v2ZmvSgFWUh8j4w_w7XhWI07wXVR0Ukgcf3jnE6tVao2WEx2GaRHmbZ0wBFjkeTGyiPmUiuf0LXgMckfEemUOQ/s5384/Bath_08.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3589" data-original-width="5384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIP2Eh9nR-vAYf31tEnwJJbcbidQqF_Wbi0-AuYvpn2Aey3HH84DviPazIdC8lAxCwcdv2tZaLWXaq7ZTcIz5iTHCVz69v2ZmvSgFWUh8j4w_w7XhWI07wXVR0Ukgcf3jnE6tVao2WEx2GaRHmbZ0wBFjkeTGyiPmUiuf0LXgMckfEemUOQ/s600/Bath_08.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>If you'd like to watch the podcast where I go into detail about this shoot, then follow this link: <a href="https://youtu.be/Wl54QBo6YtQ" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/Wl54QBo6YtQ</a></p><p>You can also find more of the photos in my "<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/kimayres/albums/72177720303255635" target="_blank"><u>Collaborations with Circle Vintage</u></a>" album in my Flickr account.</p>
<p><br /><b>June Nelson</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiL1r2-2IqJ3HUFxtgsNr8Vra2DJCCSE4P5_7130Pg3hO8JnfZJUJ1V2LV1kJ4rb4KEH41Ra5iodYvRcuS4Itew8YPJvA2lb5_RwbQImfhVjJ2KkQAzSglXE2cFc5KhzjZBfKXQuwSg5wCWxFxbIKIryUSWbw-mhPpfL9azPwemM_0bJpd3Q/s5472/June_Nelson_01_BW.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiL1r2-2IqJ3HUFxtgsNr8Vra2DJCCSE4P5_7130Pg3hO8JnfZJUJ1V2LV1kJ4rb4KEH41Ra5iodYvRcuS4Itew8YPJvA2lb5_RwbQImfhVjJ2KkQAzSglXE2cFc5KhzjZBfKXQuwSg5wCWxFxbIKIryUSWbw-mhPpfL9azPwemM_0bJpd3Q/s600/June_Nelson_01_BW.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>Photographing 86 year old author, June Nelson, was an assignment from D&G Life magazine. She was wonderful company and I was delighted to capture this photo of her.</p>
<p><br /><b>Morag MacPherson Textiles</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjLE4AtmQLPcw0jzkOqexmmz50_BLuLxevXY0zY8CBqBHxJYf24vZpsAxKfd-CM9ynrxE7bHmLdaZpft2RxjqaPe4SSleu7M6qBao46wIBKZq67r60J9d79Iyhwq69aByCWq8HyaczUVKbSUlea4mmgA9Myd7Z1mKE83xP4bodvmQtZ0dnQ/s5112/MMP_Rope_Path_02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="5112" data-original-width="3444" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjLE4AtmQLPcw0jzkOqexmmz50_BLuLxevXY0zY8CBqBHxJYf24vZpsAxKfd-CM9ynrxE7bHmLdaZpft2RxjqaPe4SSleu7M6qBao46wIBKZq67r60J9d79Iyhwq69aByCWq8HyaczUVKbSUlea4mmgA9Myd7Z1mKE83xP4bodvmQtZ0dnQ/s600/MMP_Rope_Path_02.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>In my 4th collaboration over the years with textile designer, <a href="https://www.moragmacphersontextiles.com/" target="_blank"><u>Morag Macpherson</u></a>, this time we ventured into the woods with model, Anna. The lighting conditions with shafts of strong sunlight and deep shadows tested my light balancing skills to the limit, but we did end up with a set of photos we were both pleased with.</p><p>You can find more of the photos in my "<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/kimayres/albums/72177720303256043" target="_blank"><u>Collaborations with Morag Macpherson</u></a>" album in my Flickr account.</p>
<p><br /><b>Bippity - Performance Collective Stranraer</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFK1MyGwd1a_C-fF8LQTu2tDfGbRoZCTr-h5qJTwJyilAmjZeAxX--Npr9iLBOvAYGEQfAT_kqX4tktvOVGG1rl6VJ3rB2sJkEFzNFF6nyffqHy6XPjboH2i5f8GtklobL5LmrjMkHKA0VBC6jnOkFZ1zTOQ_BW0Jz68IGdCyxaXoLIDmaXw/s4309/PCS_Performance_11.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2939" data-original-width="4309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFK1MyGwd1a_C-fF8LQTu2tDfGbRoZCTr-h5qJTwJyilAmjZeAxX--Npr9iLBOvAYGEQfAT_kqX4tktvOVGG1rl6VJ3rB2sJkEFzNFF6nyffqHy6XPjboH2i5f8GtklobL5LmrjMkHKA0VBC6jnOkFZ1zTOQ_BW0Jz68IGdCyxaXoLIDmaXw/s600/PCS_Performance_11.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>Moving in a completely different direction to my staged, narrative photography, I was asked to photograph <u><a href="https://www.performancecollectivestranraer.com/" target="_blank">Performance Collective Stranraer</a></u> doing improvised live street theatre. With no control over the subjects, the lighting or the background, I had to watch really closely, tune in as best I could, and begin to anticipate their movements. It was a fun challenge.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfyX70AgDejTyBZ1AGoVA1k701xt_fYz9mFTtI3MqY2a7lzjWg4q4pfxppL_I56crU5b4DQijc06-mJGMcsWAW74x6KxToZeYhF17CHxrdSLov0YoH5EWzuUMHF-1Yv5reJSM4qMNw4LFUAip0VTVYick9NALKe4WlOGmPvJCGAWIjldclA/s5064/PCS_Headshot_Annaliese.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="5064" data-original-width="3648" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfyX70AgDejTyBZ1AGoVA1k701xt_fYz9mFTtI3MqY2a7lzjWg4q4pfxppL_I56crU5b4DQijc06-mJGMcsWAW74x6KxToZeYhF17CHxrdSLov0YoH5EWzuUMHF-1Yv5reJSM4qMNw4LFUAip0VTVYick9NALKe4WlOGmPvJCGAWIjldclA/s600/PCS_Headshot_Annaliese.jpg" /></a>
</p>
<p></p>
<p>During a break though, I made couldn't resist getting some portraits. I still find photographing faces close up completely irresistible.</p><p>If you'd like to watch the podcast where I go into detail about this shoot, then follow this link: <a href="https://youtu.be/j_duGEK4EyQ" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/j_duGEK4EyQ</a></p>
<p><br /><b>Generations of the Ayres Family</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzv4RZJWE3xwUKsJw7_2J58FsJ_HgwIVfehD4LKC-wtHZo0ph_3xI7iAmMxyRi9LlNZRgRnXc5vPMPfs49sbWxOU2CFwlez3CTiv43RHczF0KV12cY8y5gzBd4AV3KCuhGCW2uW5dIbEQzlsynViBjUXTYOAR23Xolc2yIPCEC9_-TIgUX-w/s4429/Ayres_Generations_.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2671" data-original-width="4429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzv4RZJWE3xwUKsJw7_2J58FsJ_HgwIVfehD4LKC-wtHZo0ph_3xI7iAmMxyRi9LlNZRgRnXc5vPMPfs49sbWxOU2CFwlez3CTiv43RHczF0KV12cY8y5gzBd4AV3KCuhGCW2uW5dIbEQzlsynViBjUXTYOAR23Xolc2yIPCEC9_-TIgUX-w/s600/Ayres_Generations_.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>Back in the summer on one of the hottest days of the heatwave, my niece, Holly, got married and asked everyone to wear something colourful - not a straightforward request considering at least half of us are most comfortable wearing black, or at least very dark colours, most of the time. </p><p>However, it's a long time since we had this many of the Ayres family together, so I handed my camera to the wedding photographer and asked him to get a shot of us. With the exception of my son, Rogan, and my sister's other daughter, Kesha, who weren't able to make it, this is the most complete photo we have of my father with his direct descendants.<br />(Left to right: Callum (my brother's son), Holly (my sister's daughter), Charlotte (my brother's daughter), Coralie (my sister), Meg (my daughter), me, Donald (my Dad), Myke (my brother)</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><br /><b>The Galloway Players</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBQcSc9TAZRuOIWmqjLQ-6G9FCe03WIXcv7xCbML8BgkEH2kO8_pzUzX-3dz-C96mf2_CIYDFKV-2zON3na2HazQ6_zxwW6SYsiH4nzx9PaxZqRcQHmPu_1ICkwMH-e8nbj8AI4G21wBPX_UjokxD-oHNNkatnx_MC6BA1uWSNWMWUIV3Vg/s7154/Galloway_Players_Duo_03.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="5118" data-original-width="7154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBQcSc9TAZRuOIWmqjLQ-6G9FCe03WIXcv7xCbML8BgkEH2kO8_pzUzX-3dz-C96mf2_CIYDFKV-2zON3na2HazQ6_zxwW6SYsiH4nzx9PaxZqRcQHmPu_1ICkwMH-e8nbj8AI4G21wBPX_UjokxD-oHNNkatnx_MC6BA1uWSNWMWUIV3Vg/s600/Galloway_Players_Duo_03.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>Rebecca and Iain are amazing musicians. They met a couple of years ago and formed <a href="https://www.gallowayplayers.com/" target="_blank"><u>The Galloway Players</u></a>. I also did a set of photos against a white background with a 2 light set-up, but when I tried a single softbox set-up against a dark background, the whole thing became very painterly, and I was really pleased with the images.</p><p>This was also the first real set of photos I did with my new Canon R5, where I finally felt I was working <i>with </i>the camera, rather than wrestling against it. Whenever I get a new camera, the quality of my photography falls off for a month or so while I work out how to customise the settings and create a new muscle-memory for where everything is. And I was delighted to realise there is a quality to these images that I wouldn't have been quite able to achieve with my previous camera.</p>
<p>If you'd like to watch the podcast where I go into detail about this shoot, then follow this link: <a href="https://youtu.be/-agTnV7MmsU" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/-agTnV7MmsU</a> </p>
<br /><b>Rock for ReDress</b><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSXeZL8m2FJyyXrFsooVPVXjlvnciozPr9_ejzi-bMFP2IDfty5cF49q75Coc9mxg1ttTUiUaD7gCopc_GKH3JBS0lRKUIVMiZcHh8mbfZUCtYXxGSb7fHQHxMDMIeHQyHIajRyLJhqnrcW4hZIiT3d_vJW6vvp3jNRX5WhCxB0zHue5fQw/s1754/web_RFR_22_Kim_Ayres.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSXeZL8m2FJyyXrFsooVPVXjlvnciozPr9_ejzi-bMFP2IDfty5cF49q75Coc9mxg1ttTUiUaD7gCopc_GKH3JBS0lRKUIVMiZcHh8mbfZUCtYXxGSb7fHQHxMDMIeHQyHIajRyLJhqnrcW4hZIiT3d_vJW6vvp3jNRX5WhCxB0zHue5fQw/s600/web_RFR_22_Kim_Ayres.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>In 2021, Circle Vintage launched the Dumfries Slow Fashion Movement with a fashion show at the Theatre Royal, featuring upcycled, recycled, vintage and eco-friendly clothing. In Autumn 2022 it shifted up a level when they moved to Loreburn Hall, which allowed them to have a full length catwalk, and a VIP lounge for sponsors. The lighting on the catwalk was very low, and a couple of other photographers gave up with their cameras and reverted to their phones to try and get some shots.</p>
<p>Initially I didn't think I had any hope of getting some decent images, however the new camera had much further limits to be pushed to than my old one, and I was delighted to end up with a batch of photos that were good enough to be printed in D&G Life magazine.</p>
<p>If you'd like to watch the podcast where I go into detail about the low-light, catwalk part of this shoot, then follow this link: <a href="https://youtu.be/d1QKo25Zlhw" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/d1QKo25Zlhw</a></p><p><br /><b>In The Alcove</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBA4YjUMFXGRJejKrhiMm6x9hlElDwKxO0RNfYMYn05FC0-0ntOwAznxvj6lDt5LoO5KjHcMzA_X5QpiNkPQrPiZsazliTETEPEOjpQeuRCm_oBhsTlUq2MVy6l0pQvhFYnr5M0bp1yCVW4V1WOejiUPZXSF40d2PRZPyWBjeX2l-m4r0OqQ/s5368/Rock_ReDress_01_Kim_Ayres.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3104" data-original-width="5368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBA4YjUMFXGRJejKrhiMm6x9hlElDwKxO0RNfYMYn05FC0-0ntOwAznxvj6lDt5LoO5KjHcMzA_X5QpiNkPQrPiZsazliTETEPEOjpQeuRCm_oBhsTlUq2MVy6l0pQvhFYnr5M0bp1yCVW4V1WOejiUPZXSF40d2PRZPyWBjeX2l-m4r0OqQ/s600/Rock_ReDress_01_Kim_Ayres.jpg" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4gqoVNd2Yh_ecdRjbL3peTVONx1LhG_8B7auZUBpkCtoLKQXo0G9NMYW2LEIj0EmYnH-TrUhbvJErX4yT4-a2ZfwyfRSxJBKZvIgFbN8fJHcblbggOzXPNPUIzkR3k8kiZIwgucc3M-IjLkyxyXAOTita1asCIM64GvQEc0N9FvoTI2c5A/s4935/Rock_ReDress_12_Kim_Ayres.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3224" data-original-width="4935" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4gqoVNd2Yh_ecdRjbL3peTVONx1LhG_8B7auZUBpkCtoLKQXo0G9NMYW2LEIj0EmYnH-TrUhbvJErX4yT4-a2ZfwyfRSxJBKZvIgFbN8fJHcblbggOzXPNPUIzkR3k8kiZIwgucc3M-IjLkyxyXAOTita1asCIM64GvQEc0N9FvoTI2c5A/s600/Rock_ReDress_12_Kim_Ayres.jpg" width="600" /></a></p><p>Strongly suspecting in advance that the low light of the catwalk could be problematic, I set up a mini-studio with a single light in a small alcove in the VIP lounge to try and get some interesting fashion shots with some of the models. I deliberately used a wide-angle lens pushed to its maximum - not only to fit them in, but to create an off-kilter, slightly unsettling feel to the photos. You might recognise Chelsie from the bath shoot in the first one, along with Joe from the bath shoot and Eva from the car shoot in the second.</p>
<p></p>
<p>If you'd like to watch the podcast where I go into detail about this part of the fashion shoot, then follow this link: <a href="https://youtu.be/SEaJUv7Sr4M" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/SEaJUv7Sr4M</a></p><p>You can also find more of the photos (including the ones from the 2021 fashion shoot) in my "<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/kimayres/albums/72177720303255635" target="_blank"><u>Collaborations with Circle Vintage</u></a>" album in my Flickr account.</p>
<p><br /><b>Emergency Pottery Photography</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsKwtKL7tn2_83W1mGP51MApCBFOe5BaqjRoQh0doHbXqfhKWzPXf-bIulUZ3VKhkcOi6Z6erri2MNuq13DUJOM7HTLzSXNTbYwMIopd2D2X_BUsivHQbmJfVPhvYehcnhVOej4re2D33qNjTY8xkU1TfLQLaiqCSUwp4Y1iEMMOf8Y-Ycg/s3944/BTS.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2464" data-original-width="3944" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsKwtKL7tn2_83W1mGP51MApCBFOe5BaqjRoQh0doHbXqfhKWzPXf-bIulUZ3VKhkcOi6Z6erri2MNuq13DUJOM7HTLzSXNTbYwMIopd2D2X_BUsivHQbmJfVPhvYehcnhVOej4re2D33qNjTY8xkU1TfLQLaiqCSUwp4Y1iEMMOf8Y-Ycg/s600/BTS.jpg" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>My potter friends Doug and Hannah - <a href="https://fitchandmcandrew.co.uk/" target="_blank"><u>Fitch & McAndrew</u></a> - found themselves in need of some emergency photography when their usual product photographer wasn't available, and they had a set of creations they needed images of for their annual autumn online exhibition. This was quite new to me and it took a wee while to get a set up I was happy with.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkQkVmuy_WZIFFblEScTrELAvolCzUsRV8zrE7onLoyMG1LCwMmetkB5pc3SqcpMX8d9qfro1whPG0iPyteqeM8VzNNo3H-WZOgVLeJMmNUGiu7v-Rf0SPu2hvBuCMQh7XcAGJPEvNpqMMgHMXeCMPzPJ4A8CNOwL5krQdx1QweXCN9QUlA/s4677/Fitch_02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4673" data-original-width="4677" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkQkVmuy_WZIFFblEScTrELAvolCzUsRV8zrE7onLoyMG1LCwMmetkB5pc3SqcpMX8d9qfro1whPG0iPyteqeM8VzNNo3H-WZOgVLeJMmNUGiu7v-Rf0SPu2hvBuCMQh7XcAGJPEvNpqMMgHMXeCMPzPJ4A8CNOwL5krQdx1QweXCN9QUlA/s600/Fitch_02.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>In the end they were delighted with the photos but later, when I later looked at the way their usual photographer does it, I realised my images were shot in a way that were more like portrait than product photos</p><p>If you'd like to watch the podcast where I go into detail about this shoot, then follow this link: <a href="https://youtu.be/hCxVokMTdZU" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/hCxVokMTdZU</a></p>
<p><br /><b>The Firelight Trio</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgW245tcv59j61jvaab1T6M-VQFm1pgQRNsx4ic2FHugNGmv_F07Rnpcsmo646LJ6mT-aJ8WTozUgUjkcAcHcqgjwWpgB7rpl-bBu2-md3y15Lpr2lyA89mG-G5ptZznkfislwAu26ilQWnSr4cvi66x4hMx68kX-hrBToOXgQ5aiulDUHfQ/s7386/Firelight_Trio_01_by_Kim_Ayres.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4903" data-original-width="7386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgW245tcv59j61jvaab1T6M-VQFm1pgQRNsx4ic2FHugNGmv_F07Rnpcsmo646LJ6mT-aJ8WTozUgUjkcAcHcqgjwWpgB7rpl-bBu2-md3y15Lpr2lyA89mG-G5ptZznkfislwAu26ilQWnSr4cvi66x4hMx68kX-hrBToOXgQ5aiulDUHfQ/s600/Firelight_Trio_01_by_Kim_Ayres.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>I've photographed Ruth and Gavin as part of Bellevue Rendezvous, Journeyman, and Whirligig. This time, however, they have teamed up with accordionist, Phil, to form the Firelight Trio, who will be officially launching their new album at Celtic Connections later in January. However, I'm feeling smug about the fact I already have a copy of their wonderful CD, which they gave me at the photo shoot.</p>
<p><br /><b>The Curious Case of the Red Hat and the Half-Eaten Mince Pie...</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkjtgbmTlU6iYWEsUuoeiyCp61a48qJgYN1kt71T0uyWdWZ19CC1KRr2LaSiMsBLYOcVb1WklLwfNT7ONNGrtdg9rfNZNZcUN3VShZbow2eFYmM1iec1xXwKzLEQv4tudMEZhrWN3ptwMkcMP7RfBAqqrhF7zE2Cdygzrb8dON78gzQ2vqw/s2000/2000px_Mince-pie_and_Santa-hat.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkjtgbmTlU6iYWEsUuoeiyCp61a48qJgYN1kt71T0uyWdWZ19CC1KRr2LaSiMsBLYOcVb1WklLwfNT7ONNGrtdg9rfNZNZcUN3VShZbow2eFYmM1iec1xXwKzLEQv4tudMEZhrWN3ptwMkcMP7RfBAqqrhF7zE2Cdygzrb8dON78gzQ2vqw/s600/2000px_Mince-pie_and_Santa-hat.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>Several times over the years I've attempted to do a Christmas-themed self-portrait where I wanted to create a Scrooge-like character who was annoyed by the event. I've never successfully managed it. Instead I have several folders of photos which never quite worked. </p>
<p>This year I had the idea of approaching it more like a detective story. What if someone didn't know about Christmas and came across a red hat and a half-eaten mince pie? This time it felt like I'd finally succeeded in creating the photo I set out to make.</p>
<p><br /><b>Anarchy</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPDmE4A-zNR_dTK2yW5_K1jk_s5KYGMqGY7KoTulAZFvlHz36huzorX464D9qq9xUTWkBbUELaSdEBUA0nbISGcg8_VNjOs_rMQfq7oFsDjvvub4xSwf-0Mf7V0xbWMoGXERt01pDJAWEnzO3-0Sw1RBYzlfRS1OSbdIFc1gVjubsuj2L2A/s2000/2000px_Eva_BW_03_Edit2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPDmE4A-zNR_dTK2yW5_K1jk_s5KYGMqGY7KoTulAZFvlHz36huzorX464D9qq9xUTWkBbUELaSdEBUA0nbISGcg8_VNjOs_rMQfq7oFsDjvvub4xSwf-0Mf7V0xbWMoGXERt01pDJAWEnzO3-0Sw1RBYzlfRS1OSbdIFc1gVjubsuj2L2A/s600/2000px_Eva_BW_03_Edit2.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>This is a bonus shot from another collaboration with Circle Vintage, but the photos have yet to be released (one or two may well appear in next year's "Best of 2023" blog post). Although most of the photos are fashion shots, I couldn't resist doing a quick set of portraits of Eva (from the car and alcove shoots above). We were in an old warehouse building - part of the same complex I did the "Peaky Blinders" themed shoot a few years back. I added the anarchy graffiti afterwards in the editing, as I felt it really intensified the mood of the image.</p><p>As of this moment (and of course it could change in anything from a few minutes to a few months), this is quite possibly one of my all time favourite photos, although judging by the response on social media and photography sites, few other people see it in the same way I do...</p>
<p>---</p>
<p>I hope you've enjoyed my selection - please leave a comment below with any thoughts or observations, and let me know <i>your</i> favourite(s)!</p>
<p>Wishing each and every one of you a less stressed 2023.</p>
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-74676662144374362522022-12-30T18:18:00.011+00:002022-12-30T18:51:48.665+00:00Less surprised, but still faintly disappointed...<p>
In a near identical re-run of this time last year (see my blog post,
<a
href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2021/12/me-vs-instagram.html"
target="_blank"
><u>Me Vs Instagram</u></a
>), my Instagram "best 9" hasn't included any of the photos I'm most proud of
having created across 2022.
</p>
<p>
In fact, it even includes a photo I repeated from the previous year for Star
Wars Day (May the 4th), and a photo of a photo taken nearly 25 years ago.
</p>
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5SOoV4ouNwPLXB-dwaTZ_G0_jUzatYf7FaxJf9lQjlKj4rqOHJE1HewbYqsaKa87cynVPo88Gdi5piI7mrzdfCUXRviXwSYoVfBj4vzTfkX6b3iJ8pZgUNfpWArnQmtAEKcsuaSGG-cdX9JkJUF2n97kOU42_Qg6F1rkVt7Bm--LzQ2UKg/s1038/Instagram_top9_2022.jpg"
><img
border="0"
data-original-height="1038"
data-original-width="1038"
height="640"
src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5SOoV4ouNwPLXB-dwaTZ_G0_jUzatYf7FaxJf9lQjlKj4rqOHJE1HewbYqsaKa87cynVPo88Gdi5piI7mrzdfCUXRviXwSYoVfBj4vzTfkX6b3iJ8pZgUNfpWArnQmtAEKcsuaSGG-cdX9JkJUF2n97kOU42_Qg6F1rkVt7Bm--LzQ2UKg/w640-h640/Instagram_top9_2022.jpg"
width="640"
/></a>
<br />
<p>
With the exception of the D&G Life cover, which was about the feature the
magazine did on my photography, all the rest are selfies of some kind.
</p>
<p>
And the ones with the most likes are the ones of me with Meg, with the highest
scoring of all being the one of me, Meg and Maggie.
</p>
<p>
I know, I know... there's a reason social media has the word "social" in
it.
</p>
<p>
Of course I love being with my wife and daughter, but is the way to increase
my Instagram following really just to put up a constant stream of photos of me
and Meg picking brambles and sitting in cafés?
</p>
<p>Probably.</p>
<p>
But how would that help me grow an audience for my actual photography
business?
</p>
<p>Last year it caught me by surprise.</p>
<p>This year, not so much because of last year.</p>
<p>
However, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little disappointed that
the photos I strive so hard to create - the ones where I stretch my abilities and
grow as a photographer - don't even get a look in...
</p>
<p>Still, my next blog post will be "2022 in Photographs", where I will show you the photos I feel most proud of from the past 12 months - stay tuned...</p>
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-30961456099577308932022-11-28T21:20:00.000+00:002022-11-28T21:20:55.586+00:00Apparently I'm the picture of health<blockquote
style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"
>
<p>
<i
>"Let's see... according to the blood tests your liver is fine; your
kidneys are fine; you don't have any inflammation; glucose levels no
problem; cholesterol very good; white blood cells are neither small nor
large so that's fine; PSA is perfectly normal... Nothing's flagging
up."</i
>
</p>
<p>"So I have the body of someone a decade younger?"</p>
<p>
<i
>"Well, you have the body of someone your age who's been looking after
their health..."</i
>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p>
Following on from my visit to the doctor a few weeks back (see previous post,
<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2022/10/i-still-have-it.html"
><u>I Still Have It...</u></a
>), I saw the nurse who took some blood and sent it off for a raft of tests.
</p>
<p>Today I returned to see the doctor to discuss the results.</p>
<p>It seems I'm in pretty good shape.</p>
<p>
Given I'm now at an age where some people seem to suddenly drop dead
unexpectedly ("He was out for a run/eating his breakfast/delivering a
powerpoint presentation when he suddenly had a heart attack/fell face first
into his rice crispies/went completely blue in the face and dropped to the
floor... AND HE WAS ONLY 56!"), it's a great report to get.
</p>
<p>
But it also means the doctor feels it gives her even more reason to stick to
the original CFS/ME diagnosis.
</p>
<p>Part of me was really hoping something would show up.</p>
<p>Part of me was also a bit terrified that something would show up.</p>
<p>
Let's face it, I wouldn't want the reason for my fatigue being I had some
terminal illness with only a few weeks to live.
</p>
<p>
I guess what I really wanted was something like my zinc levels were low and I
could take a daily supplement with my breakfast and miraculously my energy
levels would be restored.
</p>
<p>
But no. It looks like whatever I have is here to stay with no explanation.
</p>
<p>
Maybe after 15+ years I have to move on to the next stage of grief beyond
denial and into anger - but that would take a bit too much energy...
</p>
<p><br /></p>
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-75259397276556318432022-10-31T22:04:00.002+00:002022-11-01T09:12:03.121+00:00 I still have it...<p>
It was around 14 or 15 years ago I was given the label, CFS/ME – Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome – after a good couple of years of trying to get to the bottom of why
I was so bloody tired all the time.
</p>
<p>
Initially I was delighted that my unexplained condition was recognised, and I
could no longer be accused of just making it up to disguise some form of
laziness.
</p>
<p>
However, because CFS/ME is a diagnosis by omission, it means the medical
profession have no idea what causes it, and therefore no idea how to cure it.
</p>
<p>
Essentially you are given the usual raft of tests, but nothing shows up: the
body doesn't appear to be producing extra white blood cells to fight off
infection, you're not lacking in vital minerals or vitamins, you're not
suffering from sleep apnoea, there are no rashes or raised temperatures, and
so on.
</p>
<p>
So with nothing being flagged up, and no other indicators of known illnesses,
they run out of things to look for and at that point, give you the CFS/ME label.
</p>
<p>
It's a way of saying, “<i>we accept something is wrong – we don't think you're
making it up – but there's bugger all we can do about it so now go away and
live with it. Oh, and if you need some anti-depressants to cope, just give us a shout...</i>”
</p>
<p>
Over the years, by being a bit more careful with my diet, doing all the sleep
hygiene stuff (no TVs, tablets or phones in the bedroom, for example), and
trying to use meditation and mindfulness techniques, I've lessened the
all-consuming intensity it originally had on my life.
</p>
<p>
But it has definitely not gone away and it's effects and impact are felt and
dealt with every day of my life.
</p>
<p>
However, we humans are extraordinarily good at normalising, and on not so bad
days I can sometimes wonder if I am just making a fuss about nothing... until
suddenly I crash, the brain fog descends, and I can barely string a sentence
together through slurred words.
</p>
<p>
Still the nagging doubts have persisted.</p><p>What if the doctor who originally
diagnosed me (now retired for over a decade) had missed something more
obvious? <br />What if there are new tests that can pinpoint what is actually
causing my symptoms? <br />What if there are new treatments that could dramatically
improve my quality of life?
</p>
<p>With this in mind I went back to see my doctor this week. </p>
<p>
I've not actually seen her in person for several years because apart from the
Chronic Fatigue there's never really been anything else wrong with me. The B12
jabs I have every 3 months, and the pint of blood I have removed a couple of
times a year because of my haemochromatosis (both discovered in the original
search for what was wrong with me, but neither actually having anything to do
with the CFS/ME), have only required interaction with the nurse.
</p>
<p>
After chatting with the doctor for a wee while, discussing my symptoms and my
desire to revisit the diagnosis, she said she was as convinced as ever that
CFS/ME is what I have. In particular, the fact that nothing new has developed
over the intervening 14 years was a pretty good indicator that it wasn't
anything else that had been missed. If it had been something else, then it
would have got worse to the point where it would have become more obvious what
it was.</p>
<p>
Still, I'm in my mid-50s, so now is probably a good time to have a men's
health MOT and have a thorough check up for all the usual stuff, so that's
been booked in for the not too distant future.
</p>
<p>Perhaps something might show up, but it seems unlikely.</p>
<p>
So if I turned up fresh today with all the symptoms I have, I would still be
given the CFS/ME label.</p>
<p>
The only hope is the appearance of Long Covid, which is incredibly similar to
CFS/ME.</p>
<p>
Basically the medical companies don't invest in research and development
unless there's a profit to be made, and there have never been enough people
with CFS/ME (or even enough acceptance within the medical profession), to make it
worthwhile spending the millions or billions required.</p>
<p>
But with so many more people around the world suffering from Long Covid, it
might just start to become a possible money maker for the company that can
find a cure.
</p>
<p>
And if they can do that, there's a damn good chance it would work with CFS/ME too.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, I'm left with complex feelings over this visit to my GP.</p>
<p>
On the one hand, I definitely have CFS/ME, so maybe I can now let go of the
imposter syndrome fear that perhaps it was just something I subconsciously
made up and there's nothing actually wrong with me.</p>
<p>
On the other hand, I still have CFS/ME and it's not going away any time soon, if
ever, so I will continue to have to live with the impact of the symptoms on a daily basis.</p>
<p>And that's not an easy thing to feel OK about...</p>
<p><br /></p>
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-91164206818461686622022-10-29T19:00:00.006+01:002022-10-29T19:48:04.029+01:00Creating a "best of" collection<p>
For a long while, I've wanted to have some kind of "best of" collection available online, of the photos I've created since turning professional well over a decade ago.
</p>
<p>
You'd be surprised just how difficult it is to curate, when I have literally
thousands of fully edited photos littered across hundreds of folders scattered
over several hard drives.
</p>
<p>
I came across a folder where I'd attempted this once before - back in 2014.
Nothing had been added since, and many of those in there I no longer
consider worthy of display.
</p>
<p>
Then there's the issue of where to put them?<br /><br />I remember having a
debate with my web designer when I'd enthusiastically told him I wanted to
have galleries - lots of galleries! He very firmly told me that
actually, on my website, I only needed enough images to demonstrate to
potential clients that I was worth contacting for a business enquiry, and that
I shouldn't overwhelm and confuse them with hundreds of photos.
</p>
<p>He eventually won the argument.</p>
<p>
But it's never stopped me having a nagging feeling that my photos are too
spread out. If someone wanted to really look at more than a handful, they
would have to keep hunting and scrolling across multiple platforms.
</p>
<p>
Even Instagram, where I've uploaded many over the years, just displays
everything in square format until you click on the image.
</p>
<p>
And very few of my photos are square, so they never look quite right on
that 3x3 grid.
</p>
<p>
Then I remembered <i>Flickr</i> - it was one of the original photo sharing sites, and
back in the early days I did use it quite frequently to display my images. But
as Facebook and Instagram became so dominant it slipped away into fuzzy memory
territory.
</p>
<p>
However, it's still actually going, and my login details still give me access,
and I'm allowed up to 1,000 photos on a free account.
</p>
<p>
And it has the added advantage of allowing you to sort your images into
albums.
</p>
<p>
So for the past few days I have been finally creating the online gallery I've
always wanted.
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTopq8EaDYC56gBRBT84eVe7t74bUqyrw6XMqto9SU6KU1VBAtXwBJC01e9Yb3zI0eiduAXON0fKKNyuwrB6vIiGrzILmIieyKzBHOpxz9hnw61b_JKvNSrIQvAHQTFZNRC6GlCPi1YwfEogFTxOeHrcO0T6w--Jdl5YbWOewkEoYjhkf3w/s1580/Flickr_Screenshot.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="1580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTopq8EaDYC56gBRBT84eVe7t74bUqyrw6XMqto9SU6KU1VBAtXwBJC01e9Yb3zI0eiduAXON0fKKNyuwrB6vIiGrzILmIieyKzBHOpxz9hnw61b_JKvNSrIQvAHQTFZNRC6GlCPi1YwfEogFTxOeHrcO0T6w--Jdl5YbWOewkEoYjhkf3w/s600/Flickr_Screenshot.jpg" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>
I don't expect anyone to stumble across it accidentally, but I now do have a
place I can point people to if they'd like to see over 350 of my favourite
creations, or wish to explore albums such as "Narrative Photography",
"Portraits", "Black and white" or various collaborations.
</p><p>It contains a few photo shoots I've never quite got round to blogging about, so you may well find something new - especially as I've put all the images in reverse order, with the most recent first and the oldest ones at the end.</p><p>These are purely my favourites. Others may well have chosen differently, but for whatever reason each of the photos here are ones where I can look on them with a certain level of internal satisfaction.</p><p>Click on this link to explore - <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/kimayres/" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/kimayres/</a></p>
<p>It doesn't include any of my not-people photography - flowers, insects, macro, landscape etc. At some point I might have to create a separate account for them...</p>
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-7602266211472119382022-10-26T12:01:00.004+01:002022-10-26T23:12:25.910+01:0056<p>
Looking back at last year's post about turning 55, I realise the world has
moved on a bit.
</p>
<p>
None of the cafes have barriers between tables, or people serving while
wearing masks, and the whole general sense of going out feels more pre-Covid
than than anytime in the past 2½ years.
</p>
<p>
Having said that, if I have to open a door to a building with my bare hand, or
someone shakes my hand, I still don't feel comfortable touching anything else
until I've had a squirt of hand gel.
</p>
<p>
Is it simply being precautious, or has an element of OCD crept into my way of
being?
</p>
<p>
Plans for a picnic lunch and an afternoon Mocha were cancelled because the guy
fixing our stove promised he would be round that afternoon to deal with it.
</p>
<p>
Of course he never turned up nor responded to my text until late in the
evening when he suggested he could come the following afternoon.
</p>
<p>
First world problems, though – we're not starving, being attacked, or being
screwed over by an incompetent corrupt government... (well, maybe the last
one).
</p>
<p>
However, Maggie, Meg and I did have time in the morning to visit Kirkcudbright
Galleries for a coffee and scone.
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubcAtyF_VKpxiWy3_T2QKEko_O_rCCj4RCYfv2maeHTsFE_uPBhaAiwdrASLQvkVNFf2G9U0o0Zn7WfVtlO4RkwTNflY4TnIphl7h3NJS7E_7hP1Dwd0P_MKeFpB4zqb8mXH4mF1dxA69rMn6fQaZbdkcGW9_qxWJUX1LOl3w-OVAejze7Q/s2726/56_Kim_Meg_KBT_Birthday.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" width="600" data-original-height="2226" data-original-width="2726" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubcAtyF_VKpxiWy3_T2QKEko_O_rCCj4RCYfv2maeHTsFE_uPBhaAiwdrASLQvkVNFf2G9U0o0Zn7WfVtlO4RkwTNflY4TnIphl7h3NJS7E_7hP1Dwd0P_MKeFpB4zqb8mXH4mF1dxA69rMn6fQaZbdkcGW9_qxWJUX1LOl3w-OVAejze7Q/s600/56_Kim_Meg_KBT_Birthday.jpg"/></a></p>
<p>
And then we went to look at an exhibition showing the amazing illustrations of
Raymond Briggs (The Snowman, Father Christmas, Fungus the Bogeyman etc). It
was stunning to see the original drawings with notes around the edges, as well as all
sorts of quotes and comments about his life and approach to storytelling.
</p>
<p>
It was inspirational, and just made us want to pick up pencils and crayons and
start sketching.
</p>
<p>As always, Maggie's birthday cake for me was incredible</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoBBeqgiXaHds2o7ExwLISV42VLjCTnpmIdr82ZvTciHQR8v50tLqVVTxxoQRu5oyBjSt-KRg41CI5jHlIL7h_5y5PMZBSQqaHnM_4qKeml96YhL_mt_Df73OJpUJXUXKvoN3qpKwRc2VrHSqFLxGJaUueL0MmuuXrMboXV2tMyjk6DJjNw/s5947/56_Birthday.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="600" data-original-height="5947" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoBBeqgiXaHds2o7ExwLISV42VLjCTnpmIdr82ZvTciHQR8v50tLqVVTxxoQRu5oyBjSt-KRg41CI5jHlIL7h_5y5PMZBSQqaHnM_4qKeml96YhL_mt_Df73OJpUJXUXKvoN3qpKwRc2VrHSqFLxGJaUueL0MmuuXrMboXV2tMyjk6DJjNw/s600/56_Birthday.jpg"/></a></p>
<p>
This one had a peanut-buttery-rocky-road base, with a cheesecake middle and a
chocolate ganache with drizzled peanut butter topping.
</p>
<p>She knows me so well!</p>
<p>A second slice was not advisable...</p>
<p>It never is, but then that kind of advice is never listened to.</p>
<p>
I was stuffed to bursting point, but also enveloped in the warm love of my
family.
</p>
<p>I really couldn't ask for more.</p>
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-20684375608837338952022-07-24T20:30:00.001+01:002022-07-24T21:52:32.092+01:00A Little Bit Intimidated<p>
Having ended up with a busier and more distracted week than I'd intended, I
realised I didn't have quite as much time left to prepare for my live video podcast, <i>Understanding Photography with Kim Ayres</i>, as I
would have liked.
</p>
<p>
This week I was revisiting the topic of Self Portraits – something I last
addressed back in episode 51, some 16 or so months ago.
</p>
<p>
I think it's a fantastic genre to really stretch your photography –
technically, emotionally, and imaginatively. It's one which can take us way
out of our comfort zone, but we can also learn huge amounts from attempting.
</p>
<p>
With the limited energy available to me due to living with ME/CFS I couldn't
pull an all-nighter and still expect to be able to deliver the podcast the
following day, so I decided to watch episode 51 to remind me of the different
aspects of the topic it would be worth conveying to the viewers.
</p>
<p>
So I started watching Mr-16-months-younger-me, and as the podcast progressed I
found the panic rising as I realised he seemed to know so much more about the
subject than I did.
</p>
<p>
He came across as relaxed, confident, and definitely knew what he was talking
about. Despite not having a script in front of him, he delivered so much
information – even his tangents seemed full of rich extras.
</p>
<p>There's no way I could live up to that!</p>
<p>Even his beard was bigger.</p>
<p>
I tried scribbling down some notes, but before I knew it I had a page of
half-formed sentences, single key words, and an awful lot of dashes - and
ellipses...
</p>
<p>
I was never going to be able to mould all that into shape before the podcast.
</p>
<p>
It was no good – I was just going to have to do it in my own limited way, and
hope the viewers wouldn't feel too let down by my inadequacies.
</p>
<p>
I wondered whether, with that amount of knowledge and confidence, he'd gone on
to have his own series on Netflix by now.
</p>
<p>In the end, I don't think I did <i>too</i> badly.</p>
<p>
I bluffed my way through it by projecting a level of confidence only available
to me after a strong cup of coffee.
</p>
<p>
And with the caffeine surging it's way through my brain, I found the knowledge I
do have flowed fairly easily, and I got across pretty much all the points I
wanted to.
</p>
<p>
When I watched the podcast back afterwards I thought I looked like I actually
knew what I was talking about, which was in direct contrast to how I felt
about it.
</p>
<p>
Strangely, this latest me presenting the podcast came across far more like
that previous me, than the me sitting here typing about what felt like a very
near miss...
</p>
<p>
Below is Episode 116</p>
<p>Below that is Episode 51 if you feel the need to see which
presenter looks more confident and self assured...
</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_sQycb_08dU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vs1Sz6vEWGE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-32579495348437720372022-06-17T19:57:00.000+01:002022-06-17T19:57:08.603+01:00Gender Confusion<p>
"We were trying to work out if you were her mother," said one of the visitors
to Maggie during <a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2022/06/returning-to-live-spring-fling.html" target="_blank">Spring Fling</a>.
</p>
<p>They were not talking about Meg - they were talking about me.</p>
<p>
They had seen that Kim Ayres was sharing the same studio space as Maggie
Ayres, so presumably I must be her daughter, or perhaps sister, or maybe they
wondered if I was her wife.
</p>
<p>
However, I'm not even sure that Maggie pointing me out across the room and
saying I was her husband – the one with the beard – would necessarily have
cleared up any confusion.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMFLcbResmgU6bI3KT08qQVGwP5H8ca1C3X5Ttzuoiu9NBjptUypRJK3TprJ8UQSo0txX_eUt6xUHmGomZZhyg7HeR5TAGr7W8PbyGYO1KEAFp6JUPo7qRihuW2Oa8yyHVUntad2i24W7EwyCnofDkWAyuVjakpqVkItVyb_Ikib72Fu6fw/s2216/Day_1_2022.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2216" data-original-width="2216" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMFLcbResmgU6bI3KT08qQVGwP5H8ca1C3X5Ttzuoiu9NBjptUypRJK3TprJ8UQSo0txX_eUt6xUHmGomZZhyg7HeR5TAGr7W8PbyGYO1KEAFp6JUPo7qRihuW2Oa8yyHVUntad2i24W7EwyCnofDkWAyuVjakpqVkItVyb_Ikib72Fu6fw/w640-h640/Day_1_2022.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<br /><span>Dad, Daughter, and Mum... or is it?
</span></p>
<p>
There was a time when being called Kim created a pretty straightforward
mistake of assuming I was a woman instead of a man. However, upon seeing me
most people would then be able to dredge from some part of their memory that
on rare occasions men could be called Kim too.
</p>
<p>
Indeed I wrote about my lifelong experience of dealing with people's
assumptions about my name on this blog 14 years ago in a post called "<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2006/01/boy-named-kim.html" target="_blank"><u>A Boy Named Kim</u></a>"
</p>
<p>
However, in more recent years there has been a rise in the number of letters
placed after LGB, and debates on Trans rights and gender fluidity.
</p>
<p>
While for some, their opinions are strong enough to instantly unfriend anyone
with them who disagrees (or hesitates too long before agreeing), for others
there can be just a sense of awkward confusion where they are terrified of
inadvertently causing offence.
</p>
<p>
So the fact that a bearded person with a deeper voice has what they perceive
to be a female name means it's no longer a given that I'm definitely a man and
they need to adjust their definition of what counts as a "girl's name".
</p>
<p>
It's just as possible that I was previously called David but have decided to
self declare as a female, or I was born female but have had a certain amount
of surgery and/or FTM (female-to-male) testosterone therapy.
</p>
<p>
On
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimayres/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>
there is now the option to have he/him, she/her, they/them next to your name
to clear up any confusions as to how you wish to be addressed.
</p>
<p>
It has certainly helped in reducing the number of times I'm addressed as Ms,
but I've definitely seen an increase in the mental gymnastics behind a
person's eyes when they meet me face to face...
</p>
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-68989889696855831422022-06-10T13:03:00.003+01:002022-06-13T10:14:11.454+01:00Returning to the Live Spring Fling Experience<p>
Spring Fling Open Studios is back in the physical world again – having been
virtual-only for the past 2 years.
</p>
<p>
It was the 20th year of the event, and this year, instead of the usual last
Saturday to Monday in May, it was moved to the first Thursday to Sunday in
June, to tie in with the extra national bank holidays due to the Royal
Platinum Jubilee.
</p>
<p>
Maggie and I are not royalists. We've nothing personal against Her Maj – I'm
sure she's a lovely person – it's just the office she represents doesn't sit
well with us. Quite simply, the idea that someone is born to rule over the
rest of us, and we should all doff our caps in respect to that privilege is
bollocks of the highest order.
</p>
<p>
However, Maggie and I were neither born to positions of power, nor have we
acquired it during our lives, so what we say or think on the matter makes not
one iota of difference to the world, other than it meant we didn't have Union
Jack bunting hanging over the studio door (rebels or what?)
</p>
<p>
I used the same space to welcome visitors, display my photos, and do
photography demonstrations, as I did 3 years ago
(See <a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2019/05/spring-fling-studio-50-on-orange-route.html" target="_blank">https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2019/05/spring-fling-studio-50-on-orange-route.html</a>).
My friends, Carolyn &
Ken, have converted an outbuilding (I think it might originally have been a
cow byre), that has a waterproof roof, lighting, and power sockets.
</p>
<p>
It's the size of a small village hall – way bigger than I actually need
- so this time Maggie shared the space with me.
</p>
<p>
It was the first time we've ever exhibited together, which is hardly
surprising given our very different modes of creative expression.
</p>
<p>
Maggie paints abstract art, while I create cinematic and theatrical style
narrative photography. Not natural gallery companions, but it was quite
interesting to see our work hung in the same space.
</p>
<p>
I knew I wasn't going to be able to do my usual weekly live video podcast,
<i>Understanding Photography with Kim Ayres</i>, on the Sunday, so I thought I
would make an attempt at some other social media stuff.
</p>
<p>
During the setting up of the space I did 2 “YouTube Shorts”, where you can do
something up to 15 seconds long.
</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="498" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DCHugeKprZU" width="600" youtube-src-id="DCHugeKprZU"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="498" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6oLCYQgteEY" width="600" youtube-src-id="6oLCYQgteEY"></iframe></p>
<p>
I intended to do more, but to be honest I kept forgetting. I was in Spring
Fling mode, not talk-to-the-camera mode. Besides, 15 seconds isn't a lot for a
man who is used to talking non stop for over an hour every Sunday at 3pm into
a webcam.
</p>
<p>
Needless to say at the end of each day I'd suddenly think of all the things I
could have done, but back in the studio space they would all shoot out of my
head again.
</p>
<p>
One of the things I really should have created a short film of was our
daughter, Meg, who was also with us. She'd done some home-baking as an extra
level of hospitality for visitors, with a wee jar for donations towards to the
Castle Douglas Food Bank. Across the event she raised £67 and received a huge
number of delightful compliments.
</p>
<p>
It was difficult to guess how many visitors we would have. In 2019 I received
around 200 over the event. With Maggie in the same space, I felt we could
expect at least double that. Although there would be some overlap of people
who would naturally have visited our studios separately, there is also the "<i>hub effect</i>" in Spring Fling.
</p>
<p>
With 90+ studios to visit across a county more than 125 miles from one end to
the other, it's impossible to see all of them. And no one wants to spend more
time in the car than they are in the studios. So the places where there are
more than one artist or maker tend to get exponentially more visitors, and the further
off the beaten track you are, the fewer you can expect.
</p>
<p>
So while post-Covid caution and rising fuel costs might have reduced numbers a
bit, having the 2 of us in the same space should have counteracted that.
</p>
<p>
We opened the doors on Thursday, and it was pretty quiet. We had a total of 24
people visit, although it was not spread evenly so there was plenty of time
twiddling our thumbs and wondering if anyone else was going to turn up. I only
did one photography demonstration the whole day. However, in some ways this
did allow us to get settled and modify our processes for greeting and
interacting with visitors.
</p>
<p>
Friday was considerably more lively with more than twice the number of
visitors, many of whom were very engaged and asking lots of questions. We had
quite a few in within minutes of opening, which meant it was well after 12pm
before we got our morning coffee, and after 3pm before we were able to grab a
bite of a sandwich. I did 4 photography demonstrations and made 3 voucher
sales on discounts for future photo shoots.
</p>
<p>
Saturday is always the busiest day of Spring Fling, so we were there early,
hyped up and ready to receive the heaving throngs.
</p>
<p>Half an hour in and no one had arrived.</p>
<p>
I thought I would use the time to do a studio tour for those who couldn't make
it along. I was thinking particularly of many of my podcast following regulars
who are spread across the world – as far flung as the USA to South Africa to
India.
</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="498" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5GEAzu6a28E" width="600" youtube-src-id="5GEAzu6a28E"></iframe></p>
<p>
By 11.45am I was convinced there must have been an accident somewhere that had
closed the road. I got in the car and drove the ½ mile down the track to the
main road, but cars were zooming back and forth as usual.
</p>
<p>Baffled, I returned to Maggie.</p>
<p>
12.10pm we received our first visitors. By now we were adjusting our
expectations.
</p>
<p>
We had fewer people than Friday, but those that did turn up were again very
engaged. I did 3 photography demos and sold another 3 vouchers
</p>
<p><i>Comment of the Day: "Oh, are you two related?"</i></p>
<p>
Traditionally, Sundays can often be as busy as Saturdays, but this time it was
quieter again. 3 demos, and I sold 1 voucher.
</p>
<p>
The vouchers were the same as I did 3 years ago – for only £10 you could by a
£100 discount voucher off your next shoot. Although last time I sold 12, only
half converted into actual photo shoots. This time, I suspect the same might
happen. 3 of them I'm pretty sure will get used, 1 I'm less sure of, and 3 I
would be quite surprised if I'm contacted again.
</p>
<p>
During a quiet patch I decided to record the photo demonstration with Meg as
my able assistant.
</p>
<p></p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="498" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lsBlcVzarYQ" width="600" youtube-src-id="lsBlcVzarYQ"></iframe></p>
<p>
In total, across the 4 days, we had 150 visitors – way down on expectations.
It seems that in addition to post-Covid caution and rising fuel prices, there
were also a mass of other events on where organisers were wanting to cash in
on the extra days of the Jubilee holidays, so the competition was just a bit
too fierce.
</p>
<p>
And yet not only were Maggie's sales on a par with other years, her
experience was a much better one.
</p>
<p>
In previous Spring Flings, Maggie has been based in her studio in
Kirkcudbright, in a building full of other artist's studios, which has made it
something of a <i>mega-hub</i>. Typically she would get in the region of 900 people
coming through her small studio. However, a number of them weren't necessarily that
interested in her work, but were just having a quick look because the door was
open.
</p>
<p>
What this meant was the space could quickly be too full for anyone to be able
to move round much, and sometimes there were people who were genuinely
interested who couldn't get in, or have the time to properly chat to Maggie.
</p>
<p>
In our space this time, though, the only people who turned up were those who
had circled our studios in the Spring Fling Brochure and were making a point
to come and visit either me or Maggie.
</p>
<p>
With the larger space and fewer numbers, it meant visitors could take their
time, view the images from different distances, and ask questions in a
less pressured environment.
</p>
<p>
Consequently, not only was the visitor experience better, but the host
experience was too.
</p>
<p>Additionally there was something very comforting about being able to just periodically
glance over and see Maggie just a few feet away, and then be able to chat
and have coffee together during quiet periods.
</p>
<p>
There's no doubt we could happily have dealt with more than twice the number
without any drop off of the quality of the experience on either side,
but we still felt it was better than if Maggie had been in her usual place.
</p>
<p>
One less welcome gift from the Spring Fling event, unfortunately, is after
more than 2 years of being hyper-vigilant, we managed to contract Covid 19.
</p>
<p>
There is part of me that definitely wishes our society had adopted more of a mask-wearing culture just as an ongoing thing, rather than dropping it at the first opportunity.</p>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-21049716222608457612022-04-14T12:42:00.001+01:002022-04-14T12:42:46.567+01:00 Smug Awards, and the 2nd Anniversary of the Podcasts<p>
Episode 104 of <i>Understanding Photography with Kim Ayres</i> was the 2nd
anniversary of my live video podcasts.
</p>
<p>
As a bit of fun I decided to hand out “Smug” Awards to various regular
contributors for things like being the furthest away in the world from Castle
Douglas in a particular direction, for turning up regularly, and for
submitting photos I'd be really chuffed with if I'd taken them.
</p>
<p>
I pinned a few balloons to the bookshelf behind me, and Maggie brought me in a
wee cake with 2 candles on shortly after I'd started broadcasting.
</p>
<p>
It was a fun, engaging episode designed to celebrate the achievement of
creating 2 years worth of live video podcasts about photography.
</p>
<p>
And yet, away from the webcam, microphone and comments on my YouTube channel,
there's a voice in my head that likes to tell me about all the things I
haven't actually achieved with the podcast – like global domination, for
example.
</p>
<p>
I do in fact have people tuning in all over the world every week – from West
Coast USA to South Africa to India, and occasionally someone staying up really
late in Australia.
</p>
<p>
However, they have never been at the numbers I envisaged, hoped for, or even
expected to achieve.
</p>
<p>
Far from being a “YouTube Sensation” with millions of followers, so far, after
2 years and 104 episodes, it doesn't feel much bigger than the size of a
camera club.
</p>
<p>
There are a little over a dozen who comment throughout the live broadcast,
every week (and a few more who pop in and out less regularly), another handful
who watch but don't comment, and the stats seem to show there are quite a few
more who watch the recordings, although it's rare for me to reach as high as 3
figures.
</p>
<p>
The regular commenters, though, do allow me to respond, interact and take the
podcast away from being a purely instructional video, into the realms of fun
and friendliness with a certain amount of unpredictability.
</p>
<p>
There is nothing polished about doing a live show with no script in front of
me. However, I believe it makes the connection I do have with the viewers
considerably more authentic. Quite simply, if you met up with a few friends in
a café for a chat and just pulled out your pre-written script as your
contribution to the conversation, then I don't think you'd get invited out
very often, no matter how interesting or relevant your words were.
</p>
<p>
If I am looking for the real "achievement" of the podcasts, then it has to be the
sense of community that has been developed over the past 2 years.
</p>
<p>
My frustration, though, is the amount of work that goes into creating the
content week in, week out, for so few people to watch and engage with. Ideally
I would like to be able to add a good couple of zeros on to the end of the
number count.
</p>
<p>
And a part of the struggle with the content is the continued fear I am going
to run out of things to talk about.
</p>
<p>
When I began the podcasts back in April 2020, I worked out 3 months worth of
content. A few weeks in and I realised I probably had another 4 months or so I
could add on afterwards. So I was particularly surprised to reach the first
anniversary last year and find I was still going.
</p>
<p>
Over time it keeps getting tweaked and adjusted, with some things becoming
more streamlined, and other things being added or removed.
</p>
<p>
In many ways, one of the biggest achievements has been that I have been able
to come up with 2 years worth of content, regardless of the number of people
watching.
</p>
<p>
But while I have been panicking more recently about feeling I really have
almost exhausted everything I can podcast about, while I was driving back from
a trip to visit my father this week, I had a brainwave for another strand I
could start to explore.
</p>
<p>
And part of that has come from trying to deal with the periodic overwhelm of
<i>imposter syndrome</i>.
</p>
<p>
I don't have a problem with talking with a certain amount of authority when it
comes to portrait and narrative photography, but I am not an expert in most
other kinds. Landscape, wildlife, still life, macro, street, architecture,
product etc. – all these are things where there are many more people who are
far better at them than me.
</p>
<p>
And one of the problems with the followers of my podcasts is, for the most
part, they are more interested in improving their skills in all these other
kinds of photography.
</p>
<p>
So who am I to think I could help them improve in anything other than my own
speciality?
</p>
<p>
However, part of the revelation during the drive home from seeing my father,
was a good coach doesn't have to be stronger, faster or more skilled – what's
required is they have a deeper understanding, insight, and an ability to
communicate it.
</p>
<p>And I do have that.</p>
<p>
I might not be able to take landscape or wildlife or product photos to the
level of the experts in those areas, but I do have a deep understanding of
light, composition and narrative in photography. This in turn means I
understand how the images are taken and why particular technical and creative
decisions were made.
</p>
<p>
Although I don't have the 10,000 photos experience in those particular genres,
I do know how to explain them to someone else.
</p>
<p>
And for most of the people who watch my podcasts, they don't need the top
expert in the world – they just need someone who knows more than they do and,
critically, knows how to explain it in a non-threatening, easily
understandable way.
</p>
<p>
I remember my mother saying to me many years ago, a good teacher doesn't have
to know everything – they just have to be a page ahead of the students. The
skill is in the teaching.
</p>
<p>
This way of looking at things I think is going to free me up to explore
photography much more alongside the podcast viewers – I can be journeying with
them rather than feeling I always have to be the expert.
</p>
<p>
Perhaps the real achievement is being able to dismantle another part of my ego
that lives in fear of being found out to be “less than.”
</p>
<p>---</p>
<p>
Below you can enjoy Episode 104 of<i>Understanding Photography with Kim Ayres</i>, with the dishing out of <i>Smug Awards</i>.
</p>
<p>
If you decide to click through and watch it directly on YouTube (rather than
here on the blog), then you can watch the Live Chat Replay and see the
comments people are writing in real time as the podcast progresses.
</p>
<p>---</p>
<p>2:06 - Welcome to the SMUG AWARDS - 2 year anniversary of the podcasts<br />
4:10 - An anniversary cake!<br />
4:47 - comments and greetings<br />
7:26 - what podcasts are usually like, but why this is different<br />
6:12 - Greetings and comments<br />
8:39 - Smug Award to my wife<br />
9:27 - Smug Award to my biggest fan<br />
11:30 - Smug Awards to most geographically distant from Castle Douglas,
Scotland
<br />15:18 - Smug Awards to those who turn up every week, barring emergencies<br />
19:00 - Smug Awards to those who are less regular visitors, but still
contribute and make their presence felt
<br />
20:35 - Smug Awards to those who turned up to the live version of today's
podcast
<br />21:50 - Special Smug Award to Pat<br />
23:08 - Special Smug Award to Viji<br />
25:27 - Special Smug Award to Robert<br />
26:55 - Special Smug Award to Alex<br />
27:47 - Special Smug Award to Ben<br />
30:25 - Special Smug Award to Rose-Marie<br />
31:49 - Special Smug Award to April<br />
34:57 - Photos I've been hugely impressed b<br />
37:10 - Photography Smug Award to Alex<br />
37:53 - Photography Smug Award to Anne<br />
40:26 - Photography Smug Award to Ben<br />
44:17 - Photography Smug Award to Bennitito<br />
46:14 - Photography Smug Award to Garry<br />
49:06 - Photography Smug Award to Jacqui<br />
51:39 - Photography Smug Award to Nicola<br />
52:50 - Photography Smug Award to Robert<br />
55:29 - Photography Smug Award to Viji<br />
1:01:44 - Coming up next week - Critique<br />
1:03:22 - End</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AKpNptHYTpg" width="560"></iframe>
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-53447281076751246052022-02-11T12:36:00.000+00:002022-02-11T12:36:00.516+00:00Never Ending Story...
<p>
You know the kind of person who never says much, but when they do, they are
precise, to the point, say their piece, and then they're done?
</p>
<p>That's not me.</p>
<p>
I'm the sort who takes at least half an hour between the time they say, "Well
I'd better head off now," and actually leave, and will still probably keep you
on the doorstep for a further 20 minutes.
</p>
<p>
In essence, I have a problem with ending conversations. Something else always
pops into my head that feels pertinent and worth saying.
</p>
<p>
And if I happen to be in the company of someone else like this then I'd better
text my wife to let her know not to wait up.
</p>
<p>
In my past life as a web designer, 20 years ago, I used to go along to weekly, business networking, breakfast meetings, that were created to introduce you to
other businesses and build business relationships. They started at 7am and
finished promptly at 8.30am so they wouldn't interfere with your working day.
</p>
<p>
I met a graphic designer there and we became good friends. After each meeting
we would wander out to the car park and would continue chatting for the next 2
to 3 hours. </p><p>We'd never go and get a coffee somewhere, because somehow that would have been admitting we weren't going to get any work done that morning. Instead there would be at least a dozen times one of us would begin, "Well I'd better get back to the office," before we launched into another topic.</p>
<p>
I've become even more aware of my inability to close a conversation since I began
my podcasts. </p><p>I'm never entirely sure quite how to end them.
</p>
<p>
I'll finish talking about the final photograph, and start saying, "Well that's
it for this week..." and then remember to check the chat box to see if anyone
has said anything. They usually have, so I'll respond to that, and then start
the closing comments, and then remember to let people know what's coming up
next week.
</p>
<p>
Then I'll check the chat again, and by the time I do get round to saying
something like, "Have a good week and I'll see you next Sunday. Take care.
Cheerio. Goodnight. Or I guess it's only good night in Asia as it's still
afternoon here in Europe and Africa. And it's still morning in the
Americas..." if you look carefully just before the end screen appears you
might just notice my eyes flickering as I'm worrying I might have forgotten to
say something important.
</p>
<p>
There's a craftsman I know who has a fascinating skill at being able to be
warm and friendly, answer my questions, and yet deftly steer me out the door in
under 5 minutes, before I've even had a chance to go off on my second tangent.
</p>
<p>
I have no idea how he does it as I'm always out on the street before I realise
it's happened again and I've forgotten to ask him.
</p>
<p>But I'm dead impressed.</p>
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-10959064954928844512022-01-30T20:52:00.009+00:002022-01-31T19:35:00.615+00:00Photographing Amanda Simmons - Glass Artist <p>
When I tentatively decided to set myself up as a portrait photographer back in
2009, glass artist, <a href="https://www.amandasimmons.co.uk/" target="_blank"><u>Amanda Simmons</u></a>, was one of my first real clients. She
needed a few publicity photos of her at work in her studio, with an emphasis
on processes.
</p>
<p>
We got on well. <br />She was pleased with the photos.<br />I was pleased with the
photos.<br />And it helped with my confidence to move forward with the idea of
presenting myself as a professional photographer.</p>
<p>
So I was delighted when she got in contact last year to
say she was after some more photography from me.
</p>
<p>
This time, however, while she would be wanting some action shots, she wanted
it to be less about processes, and more about creating some images that reflected a
mood and sense of who she feels she is at this point in her life.
</p>
<p>
There are many artists who may appear bright and cheerful on the outside, but
are projecting a well honed personality that isn't always feel in keeping with
their more introverted nature. So she was after some photos to create a sense of
space, even isolation and aloneness in her workshop.
</p>
<p>
So for most of the shots I decided to use just a single off-camera flash to
light her up, but not the whole of the studio space. </p><p>Although in some it looks
like she is lit by window light, she isn't – it's just photographic lighting
tricks – if you follow the shadows you'll see they don't quite match up.
</p>
<p>Here are a few from the set</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIW-pBnhpqWcr6n613vH4ZcrpqdYB1_CDi6IcOMUtfYSaXZm4Z-gfrQt758yV0B3BRymXwuZnxQOTzlkK1PuRRPuPg7-m8AGmWKFGJnKZ7-PoWJX6J-PuP5O5bBoQZbZre5z_Uu7CROgl5kdOtkp0oB53ubNmh78fRLqEO3MWij93tHhmUFQ"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1920" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIW-pBnhpqWcr6n613vH4ZcrpqdYB1_CDi6IcOMUtfYSaXZm4Z-gfrQt758yV0B3BRymXwuZnxQOTzlkK1PuRRPuPg7-m8AGmWKFGJnKZ7-PoWJX6J-PuP5O5bBoQZbZre5z_Uu7CROgl5kdOtkp0oB53ubNmh78fRLqEO3MWij93tHhmUFQ=w640-h413" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixje8KJe_LAqn7T9h7VkSW5ps_cWyf0vpAhc2bjvHS1DLHkqYE0UA6Gr7l094PHLRpYvrBMctLVk0KS-R7iOMSxZDDtM_9CWQYUlrTGBoxcLgEVOt_vHHkM8jzWaovojQCfUuXk2O4zGdOdczx0LKZfQhj2_5CFosZsS4NRUXB2gJ3lbQVLA"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="761" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixje8KJe_LAqn7T9h7VkSW5ps_cWyf0vpAhc2bjvHS1DLHkqYE0UA6Gr7l094PHLRpYvrBMctLVk0KS-R7iOMSxZDDtM_9CWQYUlrTGBoxcLgEVOt_vHHkM8jzWaovojQCfUuXk2O4zGdOdczx0LKZfQhj2_5CFosZsS4NRUXB2gJ3lbQVLA=w451-h640" width="451" /></a></p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPQ3iKq5M1ug9dzd2_mnayCptSUQFGPx0nHVqfaLSxpRSAObLNeixr8DhLTmiGIuVLF2vIRy7rD6s1HlqqBZ8HZXkybqhMZDk8_6ZNSr80LMG5CXzem2POFmRe3CHx2KrsyQ9Ug0vE3jtO663WobVtfExN_dekLOvERxA95YhPdr0Fxpvy4Q"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPQ3iKq5M1ug9dzd2_mnayCptSUQFGPx0nHVqfaLSxpRSAObLNeixr8DhLTmiGIuVLF2vIRy7rD6s1HlqqBZ8HZXkybqhMZDk8_6ZNSr80LMG5CXzem2POFmRe3CHx2KrsyQ9Ug0vE3jtO663WobVtfExN_dekLOvERxA95YhPdr0Fxpvy4Q=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNJC8v591ZNkg23WZNlc1FBPNQvIPclJJBTehOHsCstPKKP6EURPDv0CN9U3L-6ZtBITizAq5GbDopQSi2V3zwgkcUL2zliHIUBbu3hcNt4_PUVHctkLIWWGJoYo0cr6ZtRZY0mYVNiAWumD2XRENfT2OLY59UOrn2ZUZXHppvBAXjA-Lc4Q"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNJC8v591ZNkg23WZNlc1FBPNQvIPclJJBTehOHsCstPKKP6EURPDv0CN9U3L-6ZtBITizAq5GbDopQSi2V3zwgkcUL2zliHIUBbu3hcNt4_PUVHctkLIWWGJoYo0cr6ZtRZY0mYVNiAWumD2XRENfT2OLY59UOrn2ZUZXHppvBAXjA-Lc4Q=w640-h427" width="640" /></a></p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiMMUdcY50HFDuguybnUOjD8rqvGR5dTjn5eRtKGdxBheeFQRb6H5p5Uhe1Bp3I_jmVbZu9tEk3uXsolsr1yv3c0555jwnh2eMyml5XmhZRupEvricBcIu9GbiXfoeGQPhfY4qBX0nC_ktcRccXNFh__BI_BGkFqmGyzPacRN6gLMQ-1lvnw"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiMMUdcY50HFDuguybnUOjD8rqvGR5dTjn5eRtKGdxBheeFQRb6H5p5Uhe1Bp3I_jmVbZu9tEk3uXsolsr1yv3c0555jwnh2eMyml5XmhZRupEvricBcIu9GbiXfoeGQPhfY4qBX0nC_ktcRccXNFh__BI_BGkFqmGyzPacRN6gLMQ-1lvnw=w640-h427" width="640" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPxMJ3UrtSFFA9O8CdviVbh1gdZL56eZ-hdKr9ONnPp9PNY-ycgJrccrjZkohdnTXlASlcMGCoQ5J9P5zt0Hg_FbQg61KcOS_GAAgi34U-GW1ApGbvaIig9othfLL3dkUGq-l8D2wR8tMgTX9u16hTUlcZSzfUQPgsbrZKiynQckUItu6Xdw"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPxMJ3UrtSFFA9O8CdviVbh1gdZL56eZ-hdKr9ONnPp9PNY-ycgJrccrjZkohdnTXlASlcMGCoQ5J9P5zt0Hg_FbQg61KcOS_GAAgi34U-GW1ApGbvaIig9othfLL3dkUGq-l8D2wR8tMgTX9u16hTUlcZSzfUQPgsbrZKiynQckUItu6Xdw=w640-h427" width="640" /></a></p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjnQlIcX8iQsSWiGSu_TSCxa3XqXCA8AygXU25j1HoazJn92Ul3DxYIDX83EB95jSNc1is28lLIow6g0cuccwpi9dxvmCaj5K-VdVFtlJ0hZ9PjYmbgsZsjitosx2A3HBDW690fbnkcb6PjEoL2pxcw8epeH9n76jYgWrQtqKJ5ddSkCOIFw"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjnQlIcX8iQsSWiGSu_TSCxa3XqXCA8AygXU25j1HoazJn92Ul3DxYIDX83EB95jSNc1is28lLIow6g0cuccwpi9dxvmCaj5K-VdVFtlJ0hZ9PjYmbgsZsjitosx2A3HBDW690fbnkcb6PjEoL2pxcw8epeH9n76jYgWrQtqKJ5ddSkCOIFw=w640-h427" width="640" /></a></p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA44iTn7ZeKQQCJUJqstStLL0zzTy3lzWWlpmaUwYs8O5c1jJmCHkxFmj5WrOmHXhGh9uqvBkPbh-RaDLyWnthoQ6PRehDHQ-TwBTrjDpL80j2XDKmdeK0y49TROOL3ZossgYLSkqO_IUqJjjese2xLhpoqg7MHk89XHlMySgcxgkgpW5SNA"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA44iTn7ZeKQQCJUJqstStLL0zzTy3lzWWlpmaUwYs8O5c1jJmCHkxFmj5WrOmHXhGh9uqvBkPbh-RaDLyWnthoQ6PRehDHQ-TwBTrjDpL80j2XDKmdeK0y49TROOL3ZossgYLSkqO_IUqJjjese2xLhpoqg7MHk89XHlMySgcxgkgpW5SNA=w640-h427" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>
Amanda also wanted a shot of her tattoo, which she got in the year before
Lockdown. I used my favourite large softbox with a grid, which gives such
beautiful almost creamy shadows, but also isolated her from a fairly busy
background of shelves full of tools and materials.
</p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0yMMZ0M_wu_TM3P9Of45JrNb14HjbwnuWD_ahbEjTJ3OU_yywX4mRG4byUdCB3NAbtxa7Kcy2sD8ZiWtuF1GJh-L2vCwvSMMkciseU0krLQRIRROzgQJ4nukVnPGEDgc6BTYjfGXY9vocrhwih4NtVM_WmTA_tQu81UsLEZpZFTXUOONj_A"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="790" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0yMMZ0M_wu_TM3P9Of45JrNb14HjbwnuWD_ahbEjTJ3OU_yywX4mRG4byUdCB3NAbtxa7Kcy2sD8ZiWtuF1GJh-L2vCwvSMMkciseU0krLQRIRROzgQJ4nukVnPGEDgc6BTYjfGXY9vocrhwih4NtVM_WmTA_tQu81UsLEZpZFTXUOONj_A=w468-h640" width="468" /></a></p>
<p>You can find out more about Amanda's amazing work on her website at<br /><a href="https://www.amandasimmons.co.uk/">https://www.amandasimmons.co.uk/</a></p><p><br /></p>
<p>If you're interested in listening to me talk about this shoot in my weekly live video podcast, <i>Understanding Photography with Kim Ayres</i>, then click on the video below. The general welcome, greetings and comments conclude at around 5 minutes in, and then I start talking about the photography.</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OXwSRltyAJw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-49519233593892070432022-01-10T12:03:00.001+00:002022-01-10T12:07:31.381+00:00Photographing The Wave Blues Band<p>
In my experience, bands are nearly always the best kind of people to do
narrative photography shoots with. Musicians are creatives, and also
performers.
</p>
<p>
With any live gig, there's an element of theatricality – thought is given not
just to the music, but how the band will look on stage – no matter how tiny
the gig. And even if your base player is just wearing a Metallica t-shirt –
you can be certain s/he made a conscious decision to do so – it will not have
been an accident.
</p>
<p>
Although you might only be playing to 2 people and a dog, in your head you're
at Wembley Stadium in front of 40,000 screaming fans.
</p>
<p>
For most bands playing at a local level, just a half-decent live shot, where
you can at least see most of the members (drummers usually have to put up with
being obscured by the others), will be desperately yearned for. Of perhaps
they can find a mate who can photograph them looking moody standing in front
of a garage door.
</p>
<p>
So narrative photography is always a good excuse to think bigger, or go off on
interesting tangents. Let's create something a bit more cinematic; something
that looks like it could be part of a larger story.
</p>
<p>
The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/wavebluesband" target="_blank"><u>Wave Blues Band</u></a> had managed to get hold of
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Coach-and-Horses-123146221090600" target="_blank">
<u>The Coach and Horses</u></a> pub in Dumfries for the day. A consequence
of the ongoing pandemic is it is no longer open every day, but landlady,
Heather, was more than happy for us to use it as a set to create our photos.
</p>
<p>
I met up with the band during their rehearsals on two occasions before we did
the shoot, to discuss the mood and feel they were after and bounce some ideas
around.
</p>
<p>
We could have gone for a playing live look, but instead settled on an idea
where in a smoke filled room, 2 people could be playing cards while the rest
of the band were setting up around them.
</p>
<p>
Smoking is of course banned in pubs these days, however, I have a small smoke
machine which is ideal for times like this.
</p>
<p>
I set up the lighting, and got everyone in place to do a test shot, and was
quite surprised to find it didn't look too bad.
</p>
<p>
There are never any guarantees.
</p>
<p>
Every shoot I go in to I have my starting
point, and from there we set about adjusting and honing until we have the best
version of that shot we can manage. However, sometimes that first shot is so
wildly out from what I was expecting, we have to abandon the idea all together
and come up with something new on the spot.
</p>
<p>
Although that happens less and less as I become more experienced, part of me
is always expecting it and is always pleasantly surprised, if not outright
relieved, when those first test shots show I'm in the right ballpark.
</p>
<p>
I swapped the coloured gels over, we put a bottle of whisky on the table, then
I activated the smoke machine. After that it was little more than tweaking –
getting people to angle their body this way or that so the flow of line and
form would draw the viewer seamlessly through the image.
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqNup7R4lCy6Lf1fXK3gsWQMTgMasDVNU3OM67FOLcA1q8YqgKPwA4iflNFLjo4BBwO8tsu8oer6qcuNZpIJRvph1H2IvK7EAP3QBvEKsqFb07UcZY1PP1lGmm4hfs-vKl2HQ8yS0XFLO9vnPLq5N8zmNip7AOYJATNtHM7D4a9oIKxEglOg=s1920"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqNup7R4lCy6Lf1fXK3gsWQMTgMasDVNU3OM67FOLcA1q8YqgKPwA4iflNFLjo4BBwO8tsu8oer6qcuNZpIJRvph1H2IvK7EAP3QBvEKsqFb07UcZY1PP1lGmm4hfs-vKl2HQ8yS0XFLO9vnPLq5N8zmNip7AOYJATNtHM7D4a9oIKxEglOg=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>
After a break for lunch it was down to doing individual band member shots.
Unfortunately the smoke machine gave up on me, so I was unable to create that
extra layer I wanted, but in the end I don't think it really mattered.
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0g21LauH-P5jOpk6_-CqEwadb06iPVw0YRIfxX24CRdhuVHH4waOKMIx9Iy5LnKLn8awB2GFMfUAoRYeqEQBA1PkeC7aBat1NnkmMhiWjedq9k6fY53o5CRU7mkpI-ES-ewJoB60rGI9bM6UgNnlDoJpkdI_B2F26ndjkUMIH_DJsgSl_3Q=s1080"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="792" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0g21LauH-P5jOpk6_-CqEwadb06iPVw0YRIfxX24CRdhuVHH4waOKMIx9Iy5LnKLn8awB2GFMfUAoRYeqEQBA1PkeC7aBat1NnkmMhiWjedq9k6fY53o5CRU7mkpI-ES-ewJoB60rGI9bM6UgNnlDoJpkdI_B2F26ndjkUMIH_DJsgSl_3Q=s600" /></a><br />Eric
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgna7oZkJQWvvmcDeQyy0d-vofVUra4ucKnwEtkt6AW3PPHMF5TcPITFVtMQTyW8p_bSc6MPlFzHsFzuEJyT1VJi6JZzoQeS6OPDE5-AeTV35-HVF2dNSBiK86EWRzjw-MU-0ptzM-XV9cAbpcs_1j38rLWoYzBuDcTBnR3qiID-xhqiT4V4w=s1080"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="789" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgna7oZkJQWvvmcDeQyy0d-vofVUra4ucKnwEtkt6AW3PPHMF5TcPITFVtMQTyW8p_bSc6MPlFzHsFzuEJyT1VJi6JZzoQeS6OPDE5-AeTV35-HVF2dNSBiK86EWRzjw-MU-0ptzM-XV9cAbpcs_1j38rLWoYzBuDcTBnR3qiID-xhqiT4V4w=s600" /></a><br />Brian
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0Gzzud46FuXz_1Tv1WlwB2EFILY0I-s_Zthg4KTx3-k0gAcHqrT84aFfi67yVhMSCL6RLsSlW5boFGvOOEjjTawT2eU0xOStTwNtqToVYySMpP6sWGSucvKiG_G5-GCNRDmPFSVyorIOFLRNzGNngEm8qIUr980sl-N9uIbiebuq4xkosUQ=s1080"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="789" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0Gzzud46FuXz_1Tv1WlwB2EFILY0I-s_Zthg4KTx3-k0gAcHqrT84aFfi67yVhMSCL6RLsSlW5boFGvOOEjjTawT2eU0xOStTwNtqToVYySMpP6sWGSucvKiG_G5-GCNRDmPFSVyorIOFLRNzGNngEm8qIUr980sl-N9uIbiebuq4xkosUQ=s600" /></a><br />Susi
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIKT7lVEz8Rn2KiyVT94UjIYmFFvtrjJq1agSbXoY01EGbPECzKT_MbXajOWDzlWJp0nI8Gml8x07eOQgdnn98bOvwuzXrde3MK-MBnR5H32nqtjEvzCqbd3iYSGEoeUrTmd8SjrOqxat5HpVQW3beJf3co6B9YyBidUFmeZXfyjCYbaMQQA=s1080"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="789" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIKT7lVEz8Rn2KiyVT94UjIYmFFvtrjJq1agSbXoY01EGbPECzKT_MbXajOWDzlWJp0nI8Gml8x07eOQgdnn98bOvwuzXrde3MK-MBnR5H32nqtjEvzCqbd3iYSGEoeUrTmd8SjrOqxat5HpVQW3beJf3co6B9YyBidUFmeZXfyjCYbaMQQA=s600" /></a><br />Ken
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOLikiY69LQnrJezKoivEHmkVnFnNk2VTPTZDfWEFf9KiQGQ7Wd8gKSu5YSMoK2gJ2gEdLECZj6XiTtF246-I86uIOxCtUWhPW4SwfnNqJ3hHIaHvxRHb3GR8k-KNGQ5m1lhqNKKHYiAIdkztubQ_HUUO1LoCo7gXiz7zlz3eeV2yL8Jqo1A=s1080"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="789" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOLikiY69LQnrJezKoivEHmkVnFnNk2VTPTZDfWEFf9KiQGQ7Wd8gKSu5YSMoK2gJ2gEdLECZj6XiTtF246-I86uIOxCtUWhPW4SwfnNqJ3hHIaHvxRHb3GR8k-KNGQ5m1lhqNKKHYiAIdkztubQ_HUUO1LoCo7gXiz7zlz3eeV2yL8Jqo1A=s600" /></a><br />Dave
</p>
<p>
In a sign of the times we live in, everyone did a lateral flow test earlier
that morning, and even though all were negative, I kept my mask on the entire
time.
</p>
<p>
This wasn't paranoia on my part, but the fact I had a stinking cold where it
hurt every time I swallowed and if I coughed it was like gargling broken
glass. The simple fact was, I kept my mask on so no one else would get
it.
</p>
<p>And here's a bonus shot from the day - Brian was playing while we were on a lunch break. I couldn't resist quickly moving a light into place and getting a shot of him.
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidOh6_ac7tmkJAMeNT06NgAtCV901EA8mtkMNFzZRVDQ-FlUMZEMGXbMntzLm7_SAhOVppSg826J-7Enxtsoa5QpJTuKbCZ1toqN_v34SjvskzqV9oqRv3rnbGkY2qudg-L5Gg4aVEPBpoYzxReFLlm-L77tYPdwYQmgi9guaq_Sp25mae0A=s1920"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidOh6_ac7tmkJAMeNT06NgAtCV901EA8mtkMNFzZRVDQ-FlUMZEMGXbMntzLm7_SAhOVppSg826J-7Enxtsoa5QpJTuKbCZ1toqN_v34SjvskzqV9oqRv3rnbGkY2qudg-L5Gg4aVEPBpoYzxReFLlm-L77tYPdwYQmgi9guaq_Sp25mae0A=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>If you're interested in listening to me talk about this shoot in my
weekly live video podcast, <i>Understanding Photography with Kim Ayres</i>, then click
on the video below. The general welcome, greetings and comments conclude at around 6 minutes in, and then I start talking about the photography.</p>
<p></p>
<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/edLEIbrStz0" width="560"></iframe>
</p>
<p><br /></p>
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type="text/javascript">
</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-68685446412169769082022-01-01T18:44:00.001+00:002022-01-03T12:32:35.032+00:002021 in Photographs<p>
Every January, I put up a post of my favourite photos from the past 12 months.
I usually put up a small handful of behind-the-scenes videos too, but because
of the way things have gone since the arrival of Covid, I didn't have any
shoots this past year where I was able to create one.
</p>
<p>
Like last year, the majority of my photographic experiences have been expressed
through the weekly, live video podcasts, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/240842990388815/" target="_blank"><u>Understanding Photography with Kim Ayres</u></a>, which began shortly after Covid 19 hit our shores and Lockdown was
initiated. However, I have still been pushing my boundaries and stretching
both my photography and editing skills whenever I can.
</p>
<p>There's a varied selection, so hopefully something for everyone.</p>
<p>
I'm always interested in feedback, so if you'd care to leave a comment about
which one(s) are your favourite, or any personal observations, it would be
warmly appreciated.
</p>
<p>
If you're curious as to how my photography has progressed across the last
dozen or so years, then you can find earlier years' selections here:
<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2021/01/2020-in-photographs-and-videos.html"><i><u>2020</u></i></a>,
<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-decade-in-photos-and-videos.html"><i><u>Decade Review</u></i></a>,
<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2019/01/2018-in-photographs-and-videos.html"><i><u>2018</u></i></a>,
<a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2018/01/2017-in-photographs-and-videos.html"><i><u>2017</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/2016-in-photographs-and-videos.html"><i><u>2016</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/2015-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2015</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/2014-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2014</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/2013-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2013</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/favourite-photos-of-2012.html"><i><u>2012</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/2011-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2011</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/2010-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2010</u></i></a>,
<a href="http://kimayres.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/2009-in-photographs.html"><i><u>2009</u></i></a>
</p>
<p><br /><b>Amanda Simmons - Glass Artist</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfaQ9LZfj4lgnK4_yrjAFQv1P1fTC9UI1n-YURrl3Fhy2kC9EAR-ygvQymVIVlxhxaKttMDymhzmcWlYtJbsX57msyc10xo4D_u5wtN2-6XtAVSPWJSzEAedJjdqigw9RflWOMum0N7WkL2SYcwltryh2x2qeAeQ8QEnNR8LIO4BEOwbaPvA=s4946"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3195" data-original-width="4946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfaQ9LZfj4lgnK4_yrjAFQv1P1fTC9UI1n-YURrl3Fhy2kC9EAR-ygvQymVIVlxhxaKttMDymhzmcWlYtJbsX57msyc10xo4D_u5wtN2-6XtAVSPWJSzEAedJjdqigw9RflWOMum0N7WkL2SYcwltryh2x2qeAeQ8QEnNR8LIO4BEOwbaPvA=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>Glass artist, <a href="https://www.amandasimmons.co.uk/" target="_blank"><u>Amanda Simmons</u></a>, was one of the very first people to commission me for portraits when I set myself up as a professional phtographer a dozen years ago, so I was delighted when she contacted me at the beginning of 2021 to do some more photography for her. During this time, not only has she grown as an artist, she wanted photos that had a different sense of how she sees herself. These images were to give the viewer not just a sense of space, but also the aloneness, even isolation in her workshop.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMWdVNCFYHn-qjaFNZEy1P9elPsSvG_YYI3gVJF22n1piwIKV62rUkgULPBp4uCyyj7beP_2-lcE7qvxPcZNZCMJGTzxh1jDOUEoUHIX4slIM5Pa609JaAGcxWrWnInktCLbx8Sz5ehTY90p1ngRbRon-pnhpnz8XJJTuMOGRFXq3rmYD7uA=s4584"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4584" data-original-width="3354" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMWdVNCFYHn-qjaFNZEy1P9elPsSvG_YYI3gVJF22n1piwIKV62rUkgULPBp4uCyyj7beP_2-lcE7qvxPcZNZCMJGTzxh1jDOUEoUHIX4slIM5Pa609JaAGcxWrWnInktCLbx8Sz5ehTY90p1ngRbRon-pnhpnz8XJJTuMOGRFXq3rmYD7uA=s600" /></a>
</p>
<p>Amanda also wanted a shot of her tattoo, which she got in the year before Lockdown. I used my favourite large softbox with a grid, which gives such beautiful almost creamy shadows, but also isolated her from a fairly busy background of shelves full of tools and materials.</p>
<p><br /><b>Still Life</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi72LHTsIkDE2jAa5iR8zxxPWzZv9Q6M-Xhna29nz9LNcIxgC8kjjefNulrLZtK4v8TMAP5rBwbq8DNJSjwXQU9kZYaZYjLoEe7kVZ1zTYakjRZ-hgNikzpXtpP6x2GJsa-8tNewKBnsxKA8sOJTYTxcNvoM1DsVDvHuzjcztjPOsNg5ZFdgA=s5154"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3365" data-original-width="5154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi72LHTsIkDE2jAa5iR8zxxPWzZv9Q6M-Xhna29nz9LNcIxgC8kjjefNulrLZtK4v8TMAP5rBwbq8DNJSjwXQU9kZYaZYjLoEe7kVZ1zTYakjRZ-hgNikzpXtpP6x2GJsa-8tNewKBnsxKA8sOJTYTxcNvoM1DsVDvHuzjcztjPOsNg5ZFdgA=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>Following several suggestions to my podcast for more information about <i>Still Life</i> photography - something that most people could attempt while still in Lockdown or social isolation conditions - I decided to do a podcast about traditional still life painting through history, and how to reproduce it with photography. The key thing here being that if you use the lighting and compositional techniques, as well as the colour palette, of the old masters, your photograph will look remarkably painterly.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDr9PZljKzAyj9M3ikXSv7iurPkrY2lP-V2HynumdNdbakvBjtQ1Wqnl1a0WHDCKO9G4ALO9k0g3hXqD8_T1KRhsMB9idsgZEM2jPl-a3EOWXu64Am4iVZLwocYn_l6tEa8MqbfuEmu_3Ef4HJDJ6_9-ilPeMgyRDKSUAIgD3lnGpNctaInQ=s5472"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3432" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDr9PZljKzAyj9M3ikXSv7iurPkrY2lP-V2HynumdNdbakvBjtQ1Wqnl1a0WHDCKO9G4ALO9k0g3hXqD8_T1KRhsMB9idsgZEM2jPl-a3EOWXu64Am4iVZLwocYn_l6tEa8MqbfuEmu_3Ef4HJDJ6_9-ilPeMgyRDKSUAIgD3lnGpNctaInQ=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>Once you've got the hang of the techniques, it's much easier to put modern twists and styling into this genre of photography too.<br /></p><p>Although I knew the theory behind all this, by actually creating the images for the podcast audience, I learned a huge amount in the process. <br /></p><p>If you'd like to see the podcast where I go into detail about all this, then follow this link: <a href="https://youtu.be/zE7k110tDSc " target="_blank">https://youtu.be/zE7k110tDSc </a></p>
<p><br /><b>Meg - like a painting</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCkGKZ6SO9fa3Rk2MIf-lwxopvt71_Co86_4htn_9jRfc465nNqn-cAFSsK7CQNCDkHbwrxqVFpr6mLrCzIkbOCEhT4hy-kL3NvlWJUmJttgugbF07aktCYlg9h2abxS5q55t3UKm_vYMjF7P15CPjaLv_6tQb8crQsLOt8dFlL2XnUuBAew=s4486"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4486" data-original-width="3274" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCkGKZ6SO9fa3Rk2MIf-lwxopvt71_Co86_4htn_9jRfc465nNqn-cAFSsK7CQNCDkHbwrxqVFpr6mLrCzIkbOCEhT4hy-kL3NvlWJUmJttgugbF07aktCYlg9h2abxS5q55t3UKm_vYMjF7P15CPjaLv_6tQb8crQsLOt8dFlL2XnUuBAew=s600" /></a>
</p>
<p>A month or so after the Still Life photos above, a portrait was submitted to the podcasts that several people said looked quite painterly. All the same things I'd talked about still life applies also to portraits - if you use the same tropes, lighting, etc, you can make a portrait look like a painting. So I used my daughter, Meg, to illustrate the point I wanted to make.<br />For a bit more about this, you can read my blog post here:<br /><a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2021/02/inspiration-from-failed-photos-and.html">https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2021/02/inspiration-from-failed-photos-and.html</a></p>
<p><br /><b>Self Portrait and May the Fourth be With You</b></p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLT1RZdqePYEgDklipcgMZlnp6YHlaz9HZxJzAbAyFW2B7FHXjqzttryyGXWbnfENZZfP2et5mWrNJBqb4N7OzQD3eVkwlk9MAxb3_hVYxLHi2dqXiQFh6NV6x4AP9AzTEk30puxe9VZsmE4DmEqsy3v7yethPR5Nd67Mip4wTpCVFgu3e4g=s5472"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3405" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLT1RZdqePYEgDklipcgMZlnp6YHlaz9HZxJzAbAyFW2B7FHXjqzttryyGXWbnfENZZfP2et5mWrNJBqb4N7OzQD3eVkwlk9MAxb3_hVYxLHi2dqXiQFh6NV6x4AP9AzTEk30puxe9VZsmE4DmEqsy3v7yethPR5Nd67Mip4wTpCVFgu3e4g=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>I had an idea for a lighting set up I wanted to try out, but this was still pre-vaccines and so I was extremely limited in the amount of photography I could do involving anyone else. With a Lockdown Beard, and an unironed shirt, I thought a character shot was the way to go. Although real whiskey was tempting, it's actually week tea in the tumbler. I shot against a black backcloth and added the brickwork in once I started editing.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHosTf5ou8iu13oymAUa3GYQpPwQ02FIauxU1AVhdI-UkYJfv4G9QLCY0eATF5Bn-SnON0dh06nKVNLobGdP9LU2btXTYDCnAGsd-R91cLqk3uFrJ23eLh5Un6s9mRRJgn-yk8gFmWFojJeBucfHaDhOHnJQmc5mbaGaGvEi8geOO9_P9oZQ=s5472"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3405" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHosTf5ou8iu13oymAUa3GYQpPwQ02FIauxU1AVhdI-UkYJfv4G9QLCY0eATF5Bn-SnON0dh06nKVNLobGdP9LU2btXTYDCnAGsd-R91cLqk3uFrJ23eLh5Un6s9mRRJgn-yk8gFmWFojJeBucfHaDhOHnJQmc5mbaGaGvEi8geOO9_P9oZQ=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>
</p>A month or so later, for the podcast I was talking about the use of the colour red, and the effect it has in composition. I set a "Red Challenge" for the viewers and because it tied in with "Star Wars Day" (May the fourth), I decided to create a lightsabre effect coming from the whiskey glass. <br />If you'd like to see how I did it, you can view the podcast episode here:<br /><a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2021/05/tripped-up-again-and-episode-58-of.html" target="_blank">https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2021/05/tripped-up-again-and-episode-58-of.html</a><br /><p>
<br /><b>Meg - with attitude</b></p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3-pjhNVeq5RVSyGqM4W205T7wW2OafFuZ0u4u6ioLc09Vm5_cvMFug5CldJnDHDAfCrr2tx2ZvtihR-Nedc7mGd4NOFJtQhkw9QSifX8_y-4FAEyiBTg6uYZ1Ph661kbJfuhIlQe-l4CYUH6VdXclhvmzHBJkuQai0bUSAtB0EF3TIhx5ag=s5291"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="5291" data-original-width="3485" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3-pjhNVeq5RVSyGqM4W205T7wW2OafFuZ0u4u6ioLc09Vm5_cvMFug5CldJnDHDAfCrr2tx2ZvtihR-Nedc7mGd4NOFJtQhkw9QSifX8_y-4FAEyiBTg6uYZ1Ph661kbJfuhIlQe-l4CYUH6VdXclhvmzHBJkuQai0bUSAtB0EF3TIhx5ag=s600" /></a>
</p>
<p>A couple of fairly prestigious portrait photo competitions were coming up - ones I've never done particularly well in - and I wanted to try something different. Still living in social isolation conditions, Meg once again was my only option. However, with the exception of the painterly photo you saw earlier, most of the photos I have of Meg are where she is wearing her glasses, and smiling. </p><p>This time I wanted her in modern clothing, staring uncompromisingly into the camera. What I ended up with caught me by surprise. I saw Meg in a way I hadn't before. She was the faerie child from 20 years ago, but now grown up.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRUumm5KmJ3pQx18MdjeodSP-5opGEF2MsNS4dAuHHkIOGbBoDaOz4w2X9z9C2DvqqP7mok9xKd6o-00_LL67RAy1rm1QggGvp3LP-Z1lSQAE7ormN1DPvrknmePdR1w-cWbvtCQGPOK2tuJ7AhLUTe0PQXUkYSZmS099SROpv0JAI1D7fsw=s5098"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="5098" data-original-width="3398" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRUumm5KmJ3pQx18MdjeodSP-5opGEF2MsNS4dAuHHkIOGbBoDaOz4w2X9z9C2DvqqP7mok9xKd6o-00_LL67RAy1rm1QggGvp3LP-Z1lSQAE7ormN1DPvrknmePdR1w-cWbvtCQGPOK2tuJ7AhLUTe0PQXUkYSZmS099SROpv0JAI1D7fsw=s600" /></a>
</p>
<p>If you would like to read more about the taking of these photos, then click on this link to the blog post:<br /><a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2021/09/photographing-faerie-child-and-episode.html" target="_blank">https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2021/09/photographing-faerie-child-and-episode.html</a></p><p> </p>
<p><br /><b>Macro Lens</b></p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqZM-_nuqd1zmu28A_veMZ_LCD5HA156kwBSfjCt0OzKY4CiZHPHNgvRd7IuFsXtx-9JTSKSwkb3Ps_ZdOe7xeBZHvJkzefOVtxHbRW95Snv03PYbjr8xYgAXBsDDhmUIDVhSfFqc-2tfwAaXhQ2owiS7y96xogRPlbnVdKkbm4a5m7WK1vw=s4888"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3184" data-original-width="4888" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqZM-_nuqd1zmu28A_veMZ_LCD5HA156kwBSfjCt0OzKY4CiZHPHNgvRd7IuFsXtx-9JTSKSwkb3Ps_ZdOe7xeBZHvJkzefOVtxHbRW95Snv03PYbjr8xYgAXBsDDhmUIDVhSfFqc-2tfwAaXhQ2owiS7y96xogRPlbnVdKkbm4a5m7WK1vw=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>At the end of 2020, I finally bought myself a macro lens - something I'd been thinking about for years, but had found it difficult to justify the expense when my photography business is built around portraiture. <br /></p><p>However, with Covid and Lockdowns, and finding much of my photography was limited to stuff around the house or in the garden, it suddenly felt like quite a useful lens to have and to explore with. It also meant there was more I could share with the podcast viewers.</p><p>I had to wait until Spring before I could get the close up dandelion seeds I'd been thinking about for some time.</p><p> </p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5k_1fXf2ESOaXmzsnma99T91VBdgNW02_V7Ckw58QEUHZYId4ECSrJJfwLvwLHBhG4tM8daC7zFGiIoMVu_o_oQHxTlPo2UkKz9kN6PPIZ8T7xEb4iQu7lm4V0RGTFS_kK93J-h0VEhQOOH6qxt23uNLekqCXkWOt2tltUDRNObDOaUI1xQ=s3917"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2753" data-original-width="3917" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5k_1fXf2ESOaXmzsnma99T91VBdgNW02_V7Ckw58QEUHZYId4ECSrJJfwLvwLHBhG4tM8daC7zFGiIoMVu_o_oQHxTlPo2UkKz9kN6PPIZ8T7xEb4iQu7lm4V0RGTFS_kK93J-h0VEhQOOH6qxt23uNLekqCXkWOt2tltUDRNObDOaUI1xQ=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>I'd also always fancied trying to get a bee on a flower. It has to be said that even with a good macro lens it's still extraordinarily difficult because the wee buggers keep moving. After many many attempts, when I did finally get the shot I was after, I discovered this particular bee was soaking wet. I have no idea how or why, but at least it was still able to fly.</p>
<p><br /><b>Alexis Fleming and the Animal Hospice</b></p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXThPbJ25g58IZMAYfItT358P-grjlHQVK1uYfNtftEakOr2E25T6gvEMfX6jZsilVNnBPO1Wm2RLuC9cVmsE1X7M36nUO2_ffffsfnjEl6Cr1guKauafl1Lobu2mCGF8q78S5aoFUWNaQgLUyh7ooaXbUMqHBIHHG7dBWcxHU6MlOLuiRkw=s5061"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="5061" data-original-width="3518" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXThPbJ25g58IZMAYfItT358P-grjlHQVK1uYfNtftEakOr2E25T6gvEMfX6jZsilVNnBPO1Wm2RLuC9cVmsE1X7M36nUO2_ffffsfnjEl6Cr1guKauafl1Lobu2mCGF8q78S5aoFUWNaQgLUyh7ooaXbUMqHBIHHG7dBWcxHU6MlOLuiRkw=s600" /></a>
</p>
<p>I got a panicked call from the commissioning editor of Dumfries and Galloway Life magazine saying the photographer she had lined up for a shoot with Alexis Fleming, had to drop out at the last minute - would I mind stepping in?</p><p>Alexis runs an animal hospice for abandoned terminally ill and neglected pets and farm animals. At this point she had over 160 goats, pigs, dogs, chickens etc with more turning up all the time. Her commitment and dedication is phenomenal.</p><p>Fortunately it was a bright, clear day, so I was able to shoot without worrying about extra lighting, and this freed me up. This particular photo was my favourite of the bunch, where the lines and composition all seemed to fall into place.</p><p>She has a book called "No Life Too Small" which you can find out more about on her website:<br /><a href="https://www.themaggiefleminganimalhospice.org.uk/" target="_blank">https://www.themaggiefleminganimalhospice.org.uk/</a></p>
<p><br /><b>Sarah Stewart - Print Maker</b></p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVN4yJqMfkG89-008p1c0rng_Kezwdd06cyPoVhFhvTgr-CDLSD3ibxOTO414Z2yT2cnHYyqGkWDMHgOcBrnchIInu4gVAsCD_syKAq-DDfSlsNwlsD975L07uXVOria4JGF-HmM3fVWgee0qU_DcHhPUhpcVYO4Gb_hJ-nGlLFgIVgq69Pg=s5472"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVN4yJqMfkG89-008p1c0rng_Kezwdd06cyPoVhFhvTgr-CDLSD3ibxOTO414Z2yT2cnHYyqGkWDMHgOcBrnchIInu4gVAsCD_syKAq-DDfSlsNwlsD975L07uXVOria4JGF-HmM3fVWgee0qU_DcHhPUhpcVYO4Gb_hJ-nGlLFgIVgq69Pg=s600" /></a>
</p>
<p>Sarah Stewart is a printmaker with a love for creating images based on old designs - from images of typewriters to toy cars to the lids of old tins of drawing pins. She also has a wonderful old press dating back many decades. She wanted photos of her at work in different stages - from mixing paints to screen printing.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-Rodi9PRAB1ROLUhEqafHkIlBiJr6cAEdbEFh5oAHcFKL8_HFMHUYWCXGcrY5qb9PPuQpfypih7zVlPqyIyu1buBTH1aAShuVJESWvdtLYkCOuovqDe5wPaXxB9ZIXCZyAQsvvd_e1GFOBz7oAvL9ySoTQfLGPb_wPCfy9QF9gFiZ8Vxmyw=s5472"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3199" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-Rodi9PRAB1ROLUhEqafHkIlBiJr6cAEdbEFh5oAHcFKL8_HFMHUYWCXGcrY5qb9PPuQpfypih7zVlPqyIyu1buBTH1aAShuVJESWvdtLYkCOuovqDe5wPaXxB9ZIXCZyAQsvvd_e1GFOBz7oAvL9ySoTQfLGPb_wPCfy9QF9gFiZ8Vxmyw=s600" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>For a fun final shot of the day we bounced ideas back and forth before she put on a colourful dress, a pair of heels, and covered her arms in ink with a roller.</p><p>If you'd like to find out more about Sarah and her work, then visit her website here:<br /><a href="https://sarahstewartprintmaker.co.uk/ " target="_blank">https://sarahstewartprintmaker.co.uk/ </a></p>
<p><br /><b>Nith Inshore Rescue</b></p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitIyp8XEXMpawkD2O_4hHRNdgAdJHCGyW6WaIiCqEjA2hCSA0sVFRroS4rk99eF0g2Z7zR7dpyIvZ54WURd1iz-qels5hG4byD4R4qk2ThJft3fn0RmWD3R72Yt-Scy6fOqMxFPvguLvvR8qYv9q6mDedx5MYvAeaA86Jm7aZbDtZgElwxOQ=s5368"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3528" data-original-width="5368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitIyp8XEXMpawkD2O_4hHRNdgAdJHCGyW6WaIiCqEjA2hCSA0sVFRroS4rk99eF0g2Z7zR7dpyIvZ54WURd1iz-qels5hG4byD4R4qk2ThJft3fn0RmWD3R72Yt-Scy6fOqMxFPvguLvvR8qYv9q6mDedx5MYvAeaA86Jm7aZbDtZgElwxOQ=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>Some of you might remember a couple of years back I did a project for the Solway Firth Partnership called "Fishing Faces" (see - <a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2019/10/fishing-faces.html" target="_blank">https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2019/10/fishing-faces.html</a>). One of a dozen different photo shoots was with Nith Inshore Rescue. <br /></p><p>Earlier in the year they contacted me to see if I could do some updated action photos for them as they had new engines and sponsorship logo they needed shown in their promotional imagery, as well as needing a few more recent images for their website. Once again the highlight for me was being taken out on the water at high speed in their RIB. </p><p> </p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHeN0DA5IbmWLW9TqiHGkjpjyK11c0sr9kW5zvOOxf0MCBTFGnisaotmyOY67v0hMp0okOPAjuUQ8fRHR6Gih5Nu_mgfzMN_xV9jZIg5GBe1pwavjN8sPfNlopW29BB39WhfH9ASY8HdDubccjzy2CyUcsIHD1r91_dqZClmvBL94MEyeLPA=s5480"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="5480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHeN0DA5IbmWLW9TqiHGkjpjyK11c0sr9kW5zvOOxf0MCBTFGnisaotmyOY67v0hMp0okOPAjuUQ8fRHR6Gih5Nu_mgfzMN_xV9jZIg5GBe1pwavjN8sPfNlopW29BB39WhfH9ASY8HdDubccjzy2CyUcsIHD1r91_dqZClmvBL94MEyeLPA=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>This time, the evening light made for a more interesting sky and I was really pleased with some of the images I managed to create for them.</p><p>If you'd like to find out more about Nith Inshore Rescue, then visit their website here:<br /><a href="https://www.nithrescue.org.uk" target="_blank">https://www.nithrescue.org.uk</a><br /></p>
<p><br /><b>Geoff Forrest - Steel Sculptures</b></p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsNIBpMcho09eNyHecXqoBoFfMkFe7IQQnJs3cCS7g3FCnO77Oq0YCQhGqWIcRqnF2BiHzxQzvGsWNUtPTR4iOraRsPNB0L55z7uRbIo-773uWbnm47poPz2MQxTzkomcNJZKj5Tv3xmd6WWddzsvy0MYu9k6ITOSLmyDafV2pxuAjMDvMzA=s5010"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3207" data-original-width="5010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsNIBpMcho09eNyHecXqoBoFfMkFe7IQQnJs3cCS7g3FCnO77Oq0YCQhGqWIcRqnF2BiHzxQzvGsWNUtPTR4iOraRsPNB0L55z7uRbIo-773uWbnm47poPz2MQxTzkomcNJZKj5Tv3xmd6WWddzsvy0MYu9k6ITOSLmyDafV2pxuAjMDvMzA=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>When I first met <a href="https://www.geoffforrest.co.uk/" target="_blank"><u>Geoff Forrest</u></a>, he worked in willow, but over the past few years he's transitioned to creating sculptures in steel. Back in the summer, he had an exhibition of several pieces at the <a href="Caerlaverock Wildlife and Wetland Trust" target="_blank">Caerlaverock Wetland Centre</a> and asked me to photograph them in situation. This turned out to be much trickier than I originally anticipated, primarily because his sculptures are three-dimensional outlines so you can see the background through them. Now while people with normal vision can easily separate them out, the camera operates in 2 dimensions and it wasn't so easy to make out their forms in photographs.</p><p>A few members of the Wetlands Trust helped to move the geese sculptures up onto a ridge, so I could photograph them against a textured evening sky. Although not one of the final promotional images, I love the shot above where you can see the people silhouetted as they move the 3rd sculpture into place. It gives a real sense of the scale of them.</p><p> </p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0UzqurML4hwYKY0lbwKmtzkR4YrE4MVBx_uCDcs8qDtzApzBetMHGBdCmRJeJ9o07vkYdwvE4exuyEWo7XCnRRYIYOxmUbx4MUZy1ZBWiKLv9nVEBPZGvPV7reIkMpAvVZQaFICj57cTmmQw-ND7oeKCyRsKJbLGyETIlNhap1h0Jtt51hA=s5472"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3440" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0UzqurML4hwYKY0lbwKmtzkR4YrE4MVBx_uCDcs8qDtzApzBetMHGBdCmRJeJ9o07vkYdwvE4exuyEWo7XCnRRYIYOxmUbx4MUZy1ZBWiKLv9nVEBPZGvPV7reIkMpAvVZQaFICj57cTmmQw-ND7oeKCyRsKJbLGyETIlNhap1h0Jtt51hA=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>On a separate day, in different weather conditions, I went back to photograph some of the other sculptures, and the Dragonfly proved to be particularly difficult, as so much of the grass had grown up through it. However, once again, trusty assistants helped to move it to a place where I was able to get under the sculpture and shoot it against the sky. This was my favourite of the whole set I did for Geoff.</p><p>If you'd like to watch the podcast where I talk about this shoot, click on this link: <br /><a href="https://youtu.be/w_1cnEtEkx0" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/w_1cnEtEkx0</a></p>
<p><br /><b>Maggie's Birthday</b></p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6R0f8j4sUJAJVNyDX4XuqG-U-TMwp8RbzL58d4Y29LhOoYrm_QYTzYVK9TZhQKeA10MKQMqrX6irq4VPAkm9BxbaZjEB4LkVuJ-5jwGIq-KepJR5ZUMxhNC-ep_IIPuoniRKkrz3TUCPSNEdbxo1DEF5af7sbKg2AX-qvV2sdRt7DFyUvRA=s4720"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3226" data-original-width="4720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6R0f8j4sUJAJVNyDX4XuqG-U-TMwp8RbzL58d4Y29LhOoYrm_QYTzYVK9TZhQKeA10MKQMqrX6irq4VPAkm9BxbaZjEB4LkVuJ-5jwGIq-KepJR5ZUMxhNC-ep_IIPuoniRKkrz3TUCPSNEdbxo1DEF5af7sbKg2AX-qvV2sdRt7DFyUvRA=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>On Maggie's birthday, she said she'd quite like a photo that showed her as an artist with a bit of confidence and attitude. Using a wide-angle lens, and tilting the camera means every straight line in the photo is a diagonal - which, if you've ever watched my podcasts, you'll know adds energy and removes any calming effect. I did both colour and black and white versions of this. Maggie preferred the colour, and I preferred the black and white.</p><p>To see more of Maggie's art, check out her website here:<br /><a href="https://www.maggieayres.co.uk/" target="_blank">https://www.maggieayres.co.uk/</a></p>
<p><br /><b>The Kippford Mermaid</b></p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdoc5Om_fKOcuKMm3w17XXZn0PhUEv0fgu18QybvkdPQhM5-u8mzfPIyCekbqw7h2neec5dqxgViNebG93-SXB8WBAYakCrB-_OeweHwC19IPray4hXppC6ZeS-h40aEj31uiElaqgclTbzDWuQLFw70y83ejIxSBRFoM7jySSRm9rhFZm3A=s5250"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3489" data-original-width="5250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjdoc5Om_fKOcuKMm3w17XXZn0PhUEv0fgu18QybvkdPQhM5-u8mzfPIyCekbqw7h2neec5dqxgViNebG93-SXB8WBAYakCrB-_OeweHwC19IPray4hXppC6ZeS-h40aEj31uiElaqgclTbzDWuQLFw70y83ejIxSBRFoM7jySSRm9rhFZm3A=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>The Kippford Mermaid was a promotional shoot for "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ArtsEndOfSomewhere/" target="_blank"><u>The Arts End of Somewhere</u></a>" - a group for people with profound and multiple learning difficulties, who had created a book about a local tale of a sailor who falls in love with a mermaid. One of my bigger shoots of the year, it was also the first indoor one after vaccinations and flow tests allowed for it.</p><p> </p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYwbRGNdaoCI47aYPE0_txLvobhhxt1h0OMrxgWCMkVPDGTfAJiSu7Qz6G52E0H9-EMijftUgFXoxa4O0M-Iy_ZNt5-GNuzGBcfOrxVbUoW5GDN4CJe6_HBEKAvetXPLcCobSwp5kwavFH3JI6JYR-tXgrMP2rIJopJoU_mDTj4gAyp-9l6w=s5472"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYwbRGNdaoCI47aYPE0_txLvobhhxt1h0OMrxgWCMkVPDGTfAJiSu7Qz6G52E0H9-EMijftUgFXoxa4O0M-Iy_ZNt5-GNuzGBcfOrxVbUoW5GDN4CJe6_HBEKAvetXPLcCobSwp5kwavFH3JI6JYR-tXgrMP2rIJopJoU_mDTj4gAyp-9l6w=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p><p>As well as the main photo, I did individual shots of the members as either sailors or mermaids, and this one of Zoe, who is a wheelchair user, was my favourite. It was also the hardest one to create, and stretched my Photoshop skills to new levels.</p><p>If you'd like to find out more about the photo shoot, the group, and the book, then visit this blog post:<br /><a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-kippford-mermaid.html" target="_blank">https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-kippford-mermaid.html</a></p>
<p></p><br /><p><b>Odin's Chair</b></p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJhy87lRIC7QeIqll5wzGZtrGQum_IXrZKiIo6ih-qw9i3s2MODJJE3E3gYZQZRy8x3h5rWhp3NEgUJMOTDBdFB0u5KY2n5WNsSCGkrkqIFQIxcwdMUhzrLy6DD7CJj2saL8c5-MoljqgxZyE4-5V-7rwyx4BworNjHXMhG0nN8-ZeB_Q2wg=s3561"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3561" data-original-width="3561" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJhy87lRIC7QeIqll5wzGZtrGQum_IXrZKiIo6ih-qw9i3s2MODJJE3E3gYZQZRy8x3h5rWhp3NEgUJMOTDBdFB0u5KY2n5WNsSCGkrkqIFQIxcwdMUhzrLy6DD7CJj2saL8c5-MoljqgxZyE4-5V-7rwyx4BworNjHXMhG0nN8-ZeB_Q2wg=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>When the Galloway Viking Hoard came to the <a href="https://www.kirkcudbrightgalleries.org.uk/" target="_blank"><u>Kirkcudbright Galleries</u></a> to be displayed, Ian Cameron-Smith was commissioned to create Odin's Chair - a giant (3 times size) Viking throne to be placed just outside the Stewartry Museum, just along the road. Ian also brought in his son (also called Ian), who researched and carved the runes, and Callum King who made giant ravens to perch on the chair (tying in with Huginn and Muninn from Norse mythology).</p><p>Dumfries & Galloway Life magazine commissioned me to take some photos of the makers with their creation, but part of the problem was it made everyone standing next to it look tiny (see photo above, where I look distinctly hobbit-like).</p><p> </p>
<p> <a ref="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDrpq8rYGmbhvvPBFo7L1sJ7IN_GxOBwx7341VemrPxpSagtjpLqwO5mKXBf3WVaARPZlwp68NjMKFDZybgWjQ9z8Y1N2CNUPC1iVpfGIQ5WlcZJ6DpC3Tv7jTVrfzL980GGirOU0H2k5_5LMDxPhFssJhRosV5kUnBfgf3eP686Lc28E_GA=s4824"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4824" data-original-width="3648" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDrpq8rYGmbhvvPBFo7L1sJ7IN_GxOBwx7341VemrPxpSagtjpLqwO5mKXBf3WVaARPZlwp68NjMKFDZybgWjQ9z8Y1N2CNUPC1iVpfGIQ5WlcZJ6DpC3Tv7jTVrfzL980GGirOU0H2k5_5LMDxPhFssJhRosV5kUnBfgf3eP686Lc28E_GA=s600" /></a>
</p>
<p>My solution was to get in close with a wide-angle lens, which distorted the scale somewhat, and had the effect of making it more dramatic. I was also pleased with the lighting set up I created. While it was a sunny day, the chair was in the shadow of the building next to it, so I needed to be a bit more creative.</p><p>If you'd like to know more about the shoot and see other photos from the session, then click through to my blog post here: <br /><a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2021/11/odins-chair-and-episode-85-of.html" target="_blank">https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2021/11/odins-chair-and-episode-85-of.html</a></p>
<p><br /><b>Re:Dress - Slow Fashion Show</b></p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcnc4amN9f0WQVb_lQYQLfkxp5R8h86j6kcvk0axgxv6Q7ihvRjqBj2R8vaqpR_6kXvC4G5RAg7Kz9kgnW11SdnVRGIPRp7L62-qnOnkAJrDiPqC-_UPke-qN4uUM0qarTCOtZSm7Tm3B5tYVDoiYur6KxzpVgRW7kgO7eQxak_snei7INkw=s5233"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3409" data-original-width="5233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcnc4amN9f0WQVb_lQYQLfkxp5R8h86j6kcvk0axgxv6Q7ihvRjqBj2R8vaqpR_6kXvC4G5RAg7Kz9kgnW11SdnVRGIPRp7L62-qnOnkAJrDiPqC-_UPke-qN4uUM0qarTCOtZSm7Tm3B5tYVDoiYur6KxzpVgRW7kgO7eQxak_snei7INkw=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>The photo shoot that stretched me the most this year was, without doubt, the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dumfriesslowfashion" target="_blank"><u>Dumfries Slow Fashion Movement</u></a> fashion show, Re:Dress.
</p><p>While full of people with amazing outfits, hair and makeup, I only had a few minutes with each of the ones I photographed as the shoot had to happen on the night of the show.</p>
<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEVyQKESggNfT7hqIsUA-FPKtvLfD0ClhiC72dan2k3BhvKOG4dB4D8O4xlht7S8k1DE_dSZIXbQWLDMLj4wP7hJRP--Q9Rb9E8uiALmZK6SuKrfoWGbGOacs0xwj2MBNWzSc1wx7bcBL3MXBG23MgbhGqXTRVFbjYtwd4OiFmjCNxeQekqw=s4787"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3388" data-original-width="4787" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEVyQKESggNfT7hqIsUA-FPKtvLfD0ClhiC72dan2k3BhvKOG4dB4D8O4xlht7S8k1DE_dSZIXbQWLDMLj4wP7hJRP--Q9Rb9E8uiALmZK6SuKrfoWGbGOacs0xwj2MBNWzSc1wx7bcBL3MXBG23MgbhGqXTRVFbjYtwd4OiFmjCNxeQekqw=s600" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>Lots of advance planning and work, combined with sleepless nights and a really stinking cold (not Covid, but it's still not much fun wearing a mask for several hours when you have a runny nose).</p>
<p>However, in the end I managed to create a set of images that both I and the organisers were really pleased with.</p><p>If you'd like to see more of the images and find out more about the photo shoot and the Movement, then click through to this blog post: <br /><a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2021/12/photographing-redress-dumfries-slow.html" target="_blank">https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2021/12/photographing-redress-dumfries-slow.html</a></p>
<p>---</p>
<p>I hope you've enjoyed my selection - please leave a comment below with any
thoughts or observations, and let me know your favourite!</p>
<p>Wishing each and every one of you a kinder and more compassionate 2022.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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type="text/javascript">
</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-17555299772269410762021-12-31T18:20:00.000+00:002021-12-31T18:20:26.072+00:00 Me vs Instagram<p>
As the end of the year approaches one of the modern social media traditions is to
show off your Instagram Top 9 – the images you posted that received the most
likes across the year.</p>
<p>
If you don't want to scroll back through every post to count up your "likes",
then there are various apps you can download that will do it for you, in
exchange for data harvesting everything about you and everyone you're
connected to (who reads the consent blurb these days anyway?). Some of them
will even kindly put their logo boldly in one corner for you too.
</p>
<p>
What shouldn't have surprised me, but completely did, was the mismatch between
the images I was expecting to appear, and what actually did.
</p>
<p>
While 2021, for obvious reasons, has not been my busiest year, I have done a
few photo shoots I'm proud of, that have gained positive feedback, and I feel
have stretched and grown me as a photographer.
</p>
<p>
If I was hoping for images from the Re:Dress Fashion Show, or Odin's Chair, or
The Kippford Mermaid to show up, then confusion was sure to follow.
</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgc8U2h1z_treISFO0CiYvqeqmlibgoh8QjWbpP0UnAWmfhn2Kkaz1SPCRflO2z3PYo-BdhY1QAXgXhRuSdytE3pCzRFgI6zwt9OaSdMo-Uk1Wmt486GA_nahE75XYn_VcntrMMTyqwqfSNAKNNhKKNj392qtM511nw5dkYlpzMAKGSBNeFQw=s902"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="902" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgc8U2h1z_treISFO0CiYvqeqmlibgoh8QjWbpP0UnAWmfhn2Kkaz1SPCRflO2z3PYo-BdhY1QAXgXhRuSdytE3pCzRFgI6zwt9OaSdMo-Uk1Wmt486GA_nahE75XYn_VcntrMMTyqwqfSNAKNNhKKNj392qtM511nw5dkYlpzMAKGSBNeFQw=s600" width="600" /></a></p>
<p>
With the exception of a black and white photo of Meg, every other image was
some kind of selfie, or a quick fun photo taken because I was bored and wanted
to try something out.
</p>
<p>
The fact that Meg appears in 6, my wife in 3, and me in 7 of them means
clearly those who follow me on Instagram respond more to family pics and
selfies than they do to my professional photography.
</p>
<p>Perhaps the clue is in the fact it's called "Social" media.</p>
<p>And on one level, that's fine, I get it. I really do.</p>
<p>
But how on earth I'm supposed to build followers to expand my business, I have
no idea, and am just left feeling as lost and cynical as ever.
</p><p><br /></p><p>Tomorrow I will put up my traditional New Year "Best Of..." post, where I show and write about my favourite photos from the past year - which from a photographer's perspective look quite different from the ones above.</p><p>And on Sunday, my Understanding Photography with Kim Ayres live video podcast will be featuring the best photos submitted by the viewers of their own work.</p><p>Perhaps that will leave me feeling a little more inspired.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the meantime, I wish everyone a wonderful Hogmanay, and hope hangovers and trips to the hospital are kept to a minimum!</p><p><br /></p>
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-11779236873194690752021-12-20T11:46:00.006+00:002021-12-20T11:55:28.672+00:00Photographing Re:Dress - the Dumfries Slow Fashion Movement Show<p>
Fast Fashion has become endemic in the modern world. Trends move so quickly, and
production has become so cheap, that millions of tons of clothing are bought,
worn once or twice and then discarded.
</p>
<p>
The problems of this are hugely damaging from environmental, ethical
and social points of view.
</p>
<p>
From the appalling human exploitation in terrible working conditions in 3rd
world countries to produce many of the cheaper items, to the environmental
cost in their production and disposal, to the social anxiety about being
judged for being seen wearing the same outfit twice – the cost to all of us is
so much more than the pennies spent on the clothing.
</p>
<p>
The idea of slow fashion, then, is that items are made to last, be reused,
recycled or even upcycled to create something new.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjymKkzSlqZB9zD4JrRiBO0LIuBbe9fH6L2nJ_i7pW3De-I3yi0HnOJuKzkqPUv4hrg8W9tOYp_B_LDNOaiTan_ldPaz5bPhY5OvRBjQICu94GaJPJ6OZODfbusmHUDrta0Uh-nA42yoq3nfDl3YbwPsvL3HzzYmPOy_QYuzLf66IGFqILMhg=s1658"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjymKkzSlqZB9zD4JrRiBO0LIuBbe9fH6L2nJ_i7pW3De-I3yi0HnOJuKzkqPUv4hrg8W9tOYp_B_LDNOaiTan_ldPaz5bPhY5OvRBjQICu94GaJPJ6OZODfbusmHUDrta0Uh-nA42yoq3nfDl3YbwPsvL3HzzYmPOy_QYuzLf66IGFqILMhg=s600" width="600" /></a>
</p>
<p>In many ways it's the how things were always done.</p>
<p>
When I was a kid, patching my jeans when they got a rip was the norm, rather
than throwing them out. Making new garments out of old ones was something my
mother did all the time. And when I did a photo shoot with a 4th generation
bespoke tailor, he was telling me how certain hand made coats and jackets used
to be passed down the generations, and were designed so adjustments could
easily be made for a different sized wearer.
</p>
<p>
Marie and Dan set up <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thecircleshop" target="_blank"><u>Circle Vintage</u></a> about 3 years ago, where everything you
buy is an original, second-hand or pre-loved item mostly from the 1960s to
90s.
</p>
<p>Being stylishly retro and individual has never been so easy.</p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgX592gEo118koZk8Rr5K1Jgg70DM9zd__L3wMnhzjLJtkh5fQk1omQwKLqor1P2qRnqL86pwTS2QaQpHwT6iPl5bBjsweQ93pvqCXxsjE_iAmTod3gwovLVMsowwQXKRuLgc-gDi1vO9TgiMNa5MrJS09F6e2D9Po7VnuiacCKHoBvPcJiKQ=s1526"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1526" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgX592gEo118koZk8Rr5K1Jgg70DM9zd__L3wMnhzjLJtkh5fQk1omQwKLqor1P2qRnqL86pwTS2QaQpHwT6iPl5bBjsweQ93pvqCXxsjE_iAmTod3gwovLVMsowwQXKRuLgc-gDi1vO9TgiMNa5MrJS09F6e2D9Po7VnuiacCKHoBvPcJiKQ=w640-h452" width="640" /></a>
</p>
<p>
Combining their love of clothing with a strong sense of environmentalism, they
recently set up the
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/dumfriesslowfashion" target="_blank"><u>Dumfries Slow Fashion Movement</u></a>
CIC (Community Interest Company - a special type of limited company which
exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders), and
launched it with Re:Dress – a fashion show at the <a href="https://www.theatreroyaldumfries.co.uk/" target="_blank"><u>Theatre Royal</u></a> in Dumfries,
where all the clothes were reused or upcycled in some way.
</p>
<p>
I was oblivious to all this when I wandered into the shop to have a wee chat
and catch up with Marie for the first time since the original Lockdown in
early 2020. We'd originally met shortly before the pandemic, when I stumbled
across their shop and thought there could be potential for working together on
a photo shoot.
</p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinTfwPlz5rJaLDt73mZ6wBtxv3leo-S2l38yAz5dKezK4J4Z3vc2HQJ0TlcPik0tvk63S3-qpteIzmjI_sIZErzUqnnIQGlwJmV6nkdJrFafCLYyqwVSh2qG-fU-N98AiFyws4JwOX4TR8zOZpkgXH0f1dTHtES9U-c9qFQ_HWlv_zCRIT_w=s1080"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinTfwPlz5rJaLDt73mZ6wBtxv3leo-S2l38yAz5dKezK4J4Z3vc2HQJ0TlcPik0tvk63S3-qpteIzmjI_sIZErzUqnnIQGlwJmV6nkdJrFafCLYyqwVSh2qG-fU-N98AiFyws4JwOX4TR8zOZpkgXH0f1dTHtES9U-c9qFQ_HWlv_zCRIT_w=w640-h640" width="640" /></a><br />
<p>Marie quickly told me all about the fashion show and asked if I'd help out
with the photography as they wanted to document the event. They had a few
other local photographers and students who would be taking images, so I
suggested perhaps I should concentrate on creating some set pieces – the kind
of shots you would expect to see in a magazine.</p>
<p>
Initially I thought I could do this in advance of the show, but it turned out
this just wasn't going to be possible – not only would trying to organise
models, clothes designers, make up artists, hairdressers and the venue in
advance be extraordinarily unlikely, some of the outfits were basically being
constructed onto the model on the night.
</p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiadA3UbyzXwmuw7wHdLhr6HisNP3ORogUAvDFM5uk1_wrxxuL9PVdsnbXxNT7dCMEYyrJt7J4gZ7vYePKBuZLYF5jLyNLGkZnGIH7VJuwzOIzjX_oaTAtLh4K3zlmhMHRNBOVuTm-F_AbBrJIzNf8KZVoldcpvsso5dLj9jvhQN1JT3Ya41w=s1080"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiadA3UbyzXwmuw7wHdLhr6HisNP3ORogUAvDFM5uk1_wrxxuL9PVdsnbXxNT7dCMEYyrJt7J4gZ7vYePKBuZLYF5jLyNLGkZnGIH7VJuwzOIzjX_oaTAtLh4K3zlmhMHRNBOVuTm-F_AbBrJIzNf8KZVoldcpvsso5dLj9jvhQN1JT3Ya41w=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>The shoot was going to have to happen at the same time the fashion show was
going ahead.</p>
<p>
The main thought, then, was to create images that looked like they were
backstage and behind-the-scenes, except they would be carefully crafted.
</p>
<p>
Over the next week or two we shaped the ideas, set up a Pinterest Board, and
went out to the Theatre Royal so I could work out potential places to set up.
</p>
<p>
The key was going to be preparing as much in advance as I could so I would
be able to grab models either shortly before going on stage, when they came
off, or during the mid-interval break.
</p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBoEGgW_sKJXrgP1F0ZAZlXRkJSr6mdlVqUr_8gablqFINKQczuCY5bGxo1ZSb6tejuXbtki7mh2tRTqwSgqaaIaBfu68Uwyr7wO5f5Q5mVnFIK-N9lrl6fwkuaaMpufKMT42AVzcvxKI6djbVd1ARvMb9e2-NsrRS1ltNbjk9S6BUYtFldA=s1080"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1079" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBoEGgW_sKJXrgP1F0ZAZlXRkJSr6mdlVqUr_8gablqFINKQczuCY5bGxo1ZSb6tejuXbtki7mh2tRTqwSgqaaIaBfu68Uwyr7wO5f5Q5mVnFIK-N9lrl6fwkuaaMpufKMT42AVzcvxKI6djbVd1ARvMb9e2-NsrRS1ltNbjk9S6BUYtFldA=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>In the end I decided on 2 different spaces, and styles of shoot.</p>
<p>
One would be in the wings of the stage, with a large single softbox to one
side, and another off-camera flash with a coloured gel, slightly behind to
create a back-stage look with a theatrical feel.
</p>
<p>The other was to create a dressing room scene.</p>
<p>
There are 3 dressing rooms at the Theatre Royal. The 2 larger ones were going
to be used for outfit changes, hair and makeup, while the small, 3rd one, was
going to be empty, so I could have that.
</p>
<p>
While you might think that's the set sorted, all I need to do is place people
in it, in reality actual dressing rooms are nothing like as rich, atmospheric
and theatrical as they are portrayed in the movies. They tend to be much
sparser and utilitarian.
</p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGnSDTSoe0R_nQyoAzG2lQbqEQ3ZIeqtq6rPOK9MpEWdNSs7ebi3n6fHeUec-F6bEj4LYykjU3CP_TsJy583sAWuAQn-OCB3QSv6CceoiTiiuRjoqclXB5ILaVmTbVYGNxcKxX9fETt8o_xo1Rr4IsoEbQIApv5YJEOrsAK1nq4LgAsM4aYw=s1080"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGnSDTSoe0R_nQyoAzG2lQbqEQ3ZIeqtq6rPOK9MpEWdNSs7ebi3n6fHeUec-F6bEj4LYykjU3CP_TsJy583sAWuAQn-OCB3QSv6CceoiTiiuRjoqclXB5ILaVmTbVYGNxcKxX9fETt8o_xo1Rr4IsoEbQIApv5YJEOrsAK1nq4LgAsM4aYw=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>At this point, we brought in Marie's friend,
<a href="https://vmworks.co.uk" target="_blank"><u>Penny</u></a>, a visual merchandiser who creates window displays.</p>
<p>
We had access to the theatre the day before the show, as it was being used for
dress rehearsals. Penny and I raided the clothing and props departments and
set up our wee space to look like the kind of dressing room you would expect
to see – with racks of clothes, mannequin heads with wigs, and a chaise
longue.
</p>
<p>
I then had to figure out how to light it, as the bulbs around the mirrors
weren't enough, and the overhead lights destroyed any sense of mood and
atmosphere.
</p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinnPZH2gE9HXxFNyDZIxJswz8GYcQCoaAgtYcGjCXDjzO-Ri05QEX49xpFF3msV1NVu051y6zaLkl02hr5Xubzcr7jU5uSk21lLJU_Vfb5ptNII0hzrYE18BZeP3htDiyGX2I1_HMLqkGPyhkQKDokWKnVApHU7jteFA6JopepHLH63z1j0g=s1620"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinnPZH2gE9HXxFNyDZIxJswz8GYcQCoaAgtYcGjCXDjzO-Ri05QEX49xpFF3msV1NVu051y6zaLkl02hr5Xubzcr7jU5uSk21lLJU_Vfb5ptNII0hzrYE18BZeP3htDiyGX2I1_HMLqkGPyhkQKDokWKnVApHU7jteFA6JopepHLH63z1j0g=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>I managed to grab a couple of people to try things out, and while I started to
make progress, I couldn't get a look I was completely happy with. I didn't
want my off-camera flashes in shot, but it was such a small space there didn't
seem to be any options to get in back and side lights.</p>
<p>
I got home that evening feeling frustrated and deflated. I slept badly,
continually waking up with it all running around my head. And I hadn't even
had the chance to try out the stage wings idea, so if my best guess on that
failed too I wasn't going to be able to produce anything remotely close to my
original visions.
</p>
<p>
At some point, the idea of a standard lamp leapt into my head. I've used this
solution before a couple of times. The trick is to place an off-camera flash
with an orange gel where the bulb would have been. It creates a much stronger
light, while appearing to be just a natural lamp in the photo.
</p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhloHBngdBGUvBAwtBaHA8xovV5bWnkXCx2Ler3Rey3Rr-euJM5Rsyq2AtAgFwOCQV-_rnXFtxbCHAodLYevGnhh063Mig7uvJ3bdm13y57FVya34zWsEJe7wuyOdGWLeXF-H0QhmEQHTwX_QoYUwcsWy4j1XPXqLOJ8AHXE7bm6mYVXh8maw=s1587"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1587" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhloHBngdBGUvBAwtBaHA8xovV5bWnkXCx2Ler3Rey3Rr-euJM5Rsyq2AtAgFwOCQV-_rnXFtxbCHAodLYevGnhh063Mig7uvJ3bdm13y57FVya34zWsEJe7wuyOdGWLeXF-H0QhmEQHTwX_QoYUwcsWy4j1XPXqLOJ8AHXE7bm6mYVXh8maw=w640-h436" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>Fortunately, when I arrived at the theatre a couple of hours before the show,
they were able to find me one in the props department.</p>
<p>
I also tucked another off-camera flash down between the clothing racks on the
right, thereby lighting up whoever would be on the chaise longue, which
otherwise would have been lost in shadow.
</p>
<p>
To my delight, and relief, this worked exactly how I hoped, and I was finally
able to get the look I was after.
</p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghYJypas_1Q4Hk4CptKOfW1z1XjRk5OY9Hgyn83uC3UL-EA4lxgVsrEUCB25QaEUlTSej2fEkHUh3yYqe8TO29-7J36s1bD45EFa0DmNcIOYlyqtsX_Q6aSVWs9hRk5kdFKFNbEOChOtKAFJ2BLAlq0XvAd2VuJUaxKqJEQIETYo2kHqv9EQ=s1570"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1570" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghYJypas_1Q4Hk4CptKOfW1z1XjRk5OY9Hgyn83uC3UL-EA4lxgVsrEUCB25QaEUlTSej2fEkHUh3yYqe8TO29-7J36s1bD45EFa0DmNcIOYlyqtsX_Q6aSVWs9hRk5kdFKFNbEOChOtKAFJ2BLAlq0XvAd2VuJUaxKqJEQIETYo2kHqv9EQ=w640-h440" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>Sometimes it feels like you're just not in the right flow and every step is
difficult and energy draining. And then other times it feels like you're
completely in the zone and everything flows almost effortlessly.</p>
<p>
When my first test shots in the stage wings also worked almost perfectly, I
felt like I had suddenly shifted from the former to the latter.
</p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8zRhpDhoDqKbVs3PlwdN1eqe5tUlTqwYpIaLhJej1odARsNIgyezeJGUNdTMpgUI3de3_4PcYt2w9cRfnpWhiJR-g7lnldOJOgXRULzA6Mb92MxvBWPjoq_4Ya7jiOLc1HkTbu8NI1eze1CoWmDb0wPYf5c_DzHlHpyVyt7W8XhAUw373zA=s1080"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="755" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8zRhpDhoDqKbVs3PlwdN1eqe5tUlTqwYpIaLhJej1odARsNIgyezeJGUNdTMpgUI3de3_4PcYt2w9cRfnpWhiJR-g7lnldOJOgXRULzA6Mb92MxvBWPjoq_4Ya7jiOLc1HkTbu8NI1eze1CoWmDb0wPYf5c_DzHlHpyVyt7W8XhAUw373zA=w448-h640" width="448" /></a></p>
<p>The finale of the show featured the wonderful Angela Green, who some might
remember I photographed on an aeroplane at Dumfries Aviation museum a few
years ago in a promotional shoot for Mrs Green's Tearoom (see – <a href="https://kimayres.blogspot.com/2014/10/up-in-air-with-mrs-greens-tea-lounge.html" target="_blank"><u>Up In The Air
with Mrs Green's Tea Lounge</u></a>).</p>
<p>
During the mid-interval break I photographed her both in the stage wings, and
in the dressing room – although with her massively wide dress, it was a bit of
a squeeze!
</p><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8f8mEQ_3EnRGqQYYCKg8BJXR-_z4xV7oBV4O2q39AO3u0w5iNb7TzJwGrAanuoaj2fpB8L0PDbfK2lrDsF5KNGY9WbsKZ89dsDfW2piLlyxn1aRnjEJBpjdwlAkwFDibyufnw26SFu-y7JkoBKVEth_fbUuzFdM6ZsRksXSpU2VY58n4csQ=s1080"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8f8mEQ_3EnRGqQYYCKg8BJXR-_z4xV7oBV4O2q39AO3u0w5iNb7TzJwGrAanuoaj2fpB8L0PDbfK2lrDsF5KNGY9WbsKZ89dsDfW2piLlyxn1aRnjEJBpjdwlAkwFDibyufnw26SFu-y7JkoBKVEth_fbUuzFdM6ZsRksXSpU2VY58n4csQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></p>
<p>I spent several days editing the images, polishing them up and pushing pixels
around the screen until I had them honed the way I wanted, then sent them off
to
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DandGLife/" target="_blank"><u>Dumfries and Galloway Life magazine</u></a>, where commissioning editor, Andrea Thomson, had told me she was going to be
doing a feature article on both Circle Vintage and the Re:Dress fashion show.</p>
<p>
In the end she used half a dozen of the images, and I was delighted how they
looked in print.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjn88MI_8KCcP5cqwzwKYJMAfweNkUgpkW7Yk04freV5gU6lc5PG3rFRrOKMKdzLYM5_QnzDXrFtisj9pfOfAUusbb048Pe9orl3FiJ-cvQ9rxNCdDZ17ECF0PfMgZtrhCezStQ7ZUqIAvcxmMrY5YsU4A1Wa8KRrMkburNTuHcCU6DfvaazQ=s7128"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="7128" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjn88MI_8KCcP5cqwzwKYJMAfweNkUgpkW7Yk04freV5gU6lc5PG3rFRrOKMKdzLYM5_QnzDXrFtisj9pfOfAUusbb048Pe9orl3FiJ-cvQ9rxNCdDZ17ECF0PfMgZtrhCezStQ7ZUqIAvcxmMrY5YsU4A1Wa8KRrMkburNTuHcCU6DfvaazQ=w640-h228" width="640" /></a></p><p>If you're interested in listening to me talk about this shoot in my
weekly live video podcast, <i>Understanding Photography with Kim Ayres</i>, then click
on the video below.</p>
<p></p>
<p>And scroll to the bottom of the page for the full list of credits</p>
<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/31ej5eAn4sk" width="560"></iframe>
</p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><b>CREDITS</b></p>
<p>
<b>All photography: </b>Kim Ayres<br /><b>Location: </b>The Theatre Royal,
Dumfries<br /><b>Concept and Execution:</b> Circle Vintage, Dumfries Slow
Fashion Movement
</p>
<p>
<b>Dressing Room:</b> Background clothes and props supplied by the Theatre
Royal <br />Set styled by Penny McNeish
</p>
<p>
<b>Reclaimed cardboard animal head</b> wearable sculptures by Norval Forrest
</p>
<p>
<b>Hair and Makeup</b> (All shots)<br /><b>Hair:</b> team led by Nelson Brown,
with Joyce Money and Caitlin McDonough, assisted by Katie Maxwell.<br /><b>Make up: </b>Abbie Turner and Claire Robson, assisted by a team of S5 & S6 pupils from
the ASDAN Hair & Beauty course at Dumfries Academy (accompanied by their
teacher, Mrs Esther Papworth).
</p>
<p><b>Outfits</b></p>
<p>
<b>Designers and Makers:</b><br />Marie McKinnon<br />Daniel McKinnon<br />Fiona
Gordon<br />Lorna Nee<br />Trash Nerd Clothing<br />Morag Macpherson<br />Emma
Visca<br />Claire Hamerton<br />Emily Major<br />Julia Mesnikoff
</p>
<p>
<b>Models:</b><br />Angela Green<br />Julie Ward<br />Joseph Harper<br />Emily
Major<br />Isla Wilson<br />Kate Langton<br />Tim Zhovreboff
<br />Lizzie Craufurd<br />Sarah Vose<br />Katy Brown<br />Jessica
Sweeney<br />Katy McLaughlan<br />
</p>
<p><br /></p>
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</script></div>Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-59514155547937791222021-12-03T17:48:00.004+00:002021-12-08T17:25:18.064+00:00Podcast and Blog Changes<p>
Last Tuesday evening's live video podcast of
<i>Understanding Photography with Kim Ayres</i> was the last podcast I'm doing
on a Tuesday.
</p>
<p>
In a couple of days it will have a new home on Sunday afternoons at 3pm UK
time.
</p>
<p>After 86 weeks, why the change?</p>
<p>In essence, it's my attempt at reducing the time spent around it.</p>
<p>
When I started the podcast back in April 2020, the world was in Lockdown, my
photography business suddenly had an indefinitely empty calendar, and I could
pretty much devote as much time to is as I wanted.
</p>
<p>
Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm felt like an ideal time for those who did evening classes,
or attended camera clubs (of course I was thinking primarily of a UK audience at this point).
It also meant I could spend most of the day preparing for
it, while Wednesdays could be used for reviewing how it went, editing it if necessary,
writing a blog post that was probably related to something from the podcast,
and then doing all the social media stuff of putting photos and links across
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn to encourage anyone who'd missed it
to go and take a look.
</p>
<p>
And if that meant by the time I got to Thursday I was an exhausted wreck and
all I could do was sit about, dribbling into my chest, then that was fine – it
wasn't like I had any meetings or photo shoots to attend to.
</p>
<p>
As time went on, I realised that if I overdid things on a Tuesday during the
day, it seriously impacted my ability to do the podcast in the evening. I
couldn't push through with a coffee because that would mean I wouldn't really
sleep that night and my ability to do any of the rest of the stuff on a
Wednesday would be screwed. So I found I was starting to use quite a bit of
Monday for podcast preparation too in order to do less on a Tuesday so I could
conserve my energy.
</p>
<p>
Basically, the best part of half of my week was taken up with the podcast in
one form or another.
</p>
<p>
But it was also exciting that I was building something where it would only be
a matter of time before I achieved global domination, and I would have tens of
thousands of followers contributing via <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/kimayres" rel="nofollow"><u>buymeacoffee.com/kimayres</u></a>. Finally I
might actually be able to make the income I always dreamed of without the
Chronic Fatigue limiting me. Simply put, the same amount of work goes
into the podcasts whether I have 10 viewers or 40,000 so the potential seemed
limitless.
</p>
<p>
However, after more than a year and half, the podcasts have failed to attract
more than a handful of regular viewers. These people are wonderful, amazing
and I love the interaction with them every week. I cannot believe there are
not more people out there who would enjoy the podcasts just as much, but I the
reality is I don't have the marketing skills to find them.
</p>
<p>
Despite what the social media platforms would have you believe, just creating
something awesome and putting it out there every week, isn't enough.
</p>
<p>
So as the vaccines have rolled out, and I'm continually looking for real-world
photography jobs again, at this point spending half my available week
dedicated to something that's bringing me in only a small handful of donated
"coffees", is utterly unsustainable.
</p>
<p>
I don't want to drop it though – I get a huge amount of enjoyment and pleasure
out of helping people get a deeper understanding of photography.
</p>
<p>
The only option then, is to find a way I can contain the whole thing within
one day.
</p>
<p>
After lots of soul searching, head scratching and conversations with my wife,
I decided that if I did the podcasts in the middle of the afternoon on a
Sunday with a strong cup of coffee, instead of having my usual exhausted doze,
then I might just be able to get away with it.
</p>
<p>
3pm also has the advantage of making it available to a much wider part of the
world. 7.30pm UK time meant that the whole of Asia was in bed, while being on
a Tuesday meant most of those located in the American continents would be at work in their
afternoon. This new time means that far more of Asia will be awake in their evening, and most
of the Americas will be able to tune in on a Sunday morning with their breakfast or mid-morning coffee.
</p>
<p>
So the plan is to spend the morning doing the preparation, pushing through the
podcast with a good strong coffee, then do all the social media stuff in the
evening.
</p>
<p>
If it works, then I will have contained everything to within one day, be more
accessible to more people around the world, and it will free me up to continue
my career as a real-world photographer.
</p>
<p>
However, one casualty is likely to be this blog. It's highly improbable I will
be able to fit writing a blog post into the day along with everything else
that needs to be done.
</p>
<p>Which I have some regrets about.</p>
<p>
For me, it's felt like a bit of an achievement to produce a blog post every
single week since the podcasts began.
</p>
<p>
From the pre-Facebook days when I used to post up to 3 times a week, the blog
had tapered off over the years to the point where I was often writing less
than once a month.
</p>
<p>
But when I began the podcasts, I decided to use the blog to explore either
things that were happening with it, or the emotional impact it was having on
me, or just allow myself to shoot off on some wild tangent.
</p>
<p>
I always enjoyed creating blog posts, but with limited time, energy, and
income, it had steadily got pushed down the priority list. However, by
creating a regular slot every Wednesday morning where, before I'd even
looked at my email, I would sit at the computer and write a post, I was amazed
to find that I never failed to actually write something. Not all of them
have been Pulitzer-Prize winning stuff, admittedly, but there are a few I'm
particularly pleased with.
</p>
<p>
While some are purely informative – ideas and thoughts for the next Podcast
Photography Challenge, for example – many are explorations of thought and
feelings where I have always strived for an emotional authenticity, and
occasionally peppered with a bit of wry humour.
</p>
<p>
In an earlier incarnation of this blog, I used to have on the header,
"Everything in this blog is true! And some of it actually happened..."
</p>
<p>
I never received a single comment about it, so clearly "wry humour" is in the
eye of the beholder...
</p>
<p>
Anyway, the point is while I do still have every intention of creating blog
posts whenever I can, realistically they are not likely to be happening every
week any more.
</p>
<p><br /></p>
<p>
Unless it turns out that having more time by streamlining the podcasts gives
me more space to write...
</p>
<p>
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</p>
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